October 14 in Yankee History

  • The Yanks were going back to the Series after a 15-year absence! George Brett‘s three-run homer in the eighth had tied it, but Yankee first baseman Chris Chambliss hit a moon shot that appeared to scrape the back of the wall in right off Mark Littell in the bottom of the ninth on October 14, 1976, and all was beautiful bedlam in the Bronx. It’s almost quaint to view the TV feed today and see thousands in a pre-“global terror” world swarming the field as Chambliss fights his way to the Yankee dugout. He would touch third base and home plate afterward with a police escort. Continue reading
  • October 13 in Yankee History

  • It was Ron Guidry‘s year, and he got the Yanks’ first World Series victory of the 1978 season, 5-1 over the Dodgers, on October 13. But what will (rightly) most be remembered from this game is the incredible defense Graig Nettles provided at third base, saving multiple Dodgers’ runs with one outstanding play after another. Continue reading
  • October 12 in Yankee History

  • Typing words I hope to change sooner rather than later, the Yanks had their last great postseason moment on October 12, 2012, when they finally prevailed in a scintillating five-game ALDS over Baltimore with a 3-1 win in Yankee Stadium. Shocking not only the O’s but many of the fans, Mark Teixeira, on via a leadoff fifth-inning single, stole second and then scored on Raul Ibanez‘s rbi single to get it started. Ichiro Suzuki doubled Derek Jeter home in the sixth, Curtis Granderson homered the next frame, and CC Sabathia pitched a nine-inning, three-hit, complete game in the 3-1 pinstriper win. Continue reading
  • October 11 in Yankee History

  • On October 11, 2022, the Yankees won the opener of their ALDS Series vs the Guardians on a two-run home run from Anthony Rizzo, and a singleton shot from Harrison Bader, displaying a power surge that would show in the playoffs, but sadly not in 2023. Gerrit Cole struck out eight over seven, the only blemish being an early blast from Cleveland left fielder Steven Kwan. Continue reading
  • October 10 in Yankee History

  • If there were a few Yankee fans too shy to yell “R-R-A-A-U-U-U-L-L-!-!-!” before October 10, 2012, his exploits that night probably put them over the top. With Baltimore’s Miguel Gonzalez barely outpitching Hiroki Kuroda, the 2-1 lead the O’s took to the ninth had them set to take that same lead in games in the five-game ALDS, after the teams had split two in Baltimore. But Joe Girardi made the controversial call and pinch hit Raul Ibanez for Alex Rodriguez with one down, and Raul tied it with a homer to right off Jim Johnson. And three innings later, Ibanez sent 50,000-plus home happy by homering off Brian Matusz for the 3-2 Yankee win. Continue reading
  • October 9 in Yankee History

  • The most bizarre of seasons came to en end for the Yankees, as they lost the fifth game of the ALDS to Tampa on October 9, 2020. Gerrit Cole pitched brilliantly for New York, not allowing a hit until Austin Meadows homered leading off the fifth, wiping out the 1-0 lead the Yanks had built on Aaron Judge‘s home run in the fourth. The game was tight, and stayed that way, until Mike Brosseau beat Aroldis Chapman in a 10-pitch at bat in the eighth, homering to forge the 2-1 final score. Continue reading
  • October 8 in Yankee History

  • The Yanks evened up their 2020 ALDS with Tampa at two games apiece on October 8, 5-1. Jordan Montgomery went four innings in this one, but relievers Chad Green, Zack Britton, and Aroldid Chapam finished up. Contributing to the Yankee offense were Luke Voit and Gleyber Torres with home runs. Continue reading
  • October 7 in Yankee History

  • The 2009 Yankee postseason got off to a great start on October 7, with the Captain and the ace leading the way. Once the Twins reached CC Sabathia for two third-inning runs on three singles, a double play, and a passed ball, Derek Jeter equaled matters almost immediately with a two-run home run following an earlier single, then walked twice and scored two more runs in the 7-2 Yankee win in Yankee Stadium. CC struck out eight pitching into the seventh, and Hideki Matsui got his superb postseason going with a two-run jack of his own. The Wednesday evening game got off on a surprisingly early 6:07 pm first pitch. Continue reading