Author Archives: Dan McCourt

October 12 in Yankee History

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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 →

    • A Bear Poked

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    Lakeland, Fla., February 24, 2024; Yankees 22, Tigers 10 — The 2023 Yankees barely posted a .500 record, garnered a fourth place finish, and missed the playoffs altogether. A not pretty season to be sure, but it was uglier than that. In both August and September 2023, this team suffered losses in nine different games in which they failed to score as many as three runs. Continue reading →

    Fun, After the Sun

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    Tampa, Fla., March 6, 2023; Yankees 9, Pittsburgh 2 — There are a couple of things that need to be said about this Spring Training game. First, although many (assuming there are many?) reading this cannot presently appreciate it, the pleasure we experienced tonight is one you’ve all enjoyed, though we got to do it on March 6. It was a perfect baseball night, high 70s under a largely cloudless sky, as a full moon arose over the center field wall. Your day is coming, friends, but we were privileged to an early sight. Continue reading →

    When 8 > 3 + 5

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    Northport, Fla., May 5, 2023; Yankees 10, Atlanta 6 — Early, it looked to be a tough day for the Yankees in their game visiting the Braves at CoolToday Park Sunday afternoon, as the superb trio at the top of the home team’s lineup pounded new Yankee starter Carlos Rodon for five quick runs. Down 1-0 to an Oswaldo Cabrera home run to right in the top of the first, table setter Ronald Acuna Jr. started the first and third innings with well-struck shots, for an infield single, then a double, both down the third baseline. First baseman Greg Olson drove him in both times with a home run and hard single, and third sacker Austin Riley followed the latter with a two-run home run to left. Continue reading →

    Not a Forfeit …

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    Bradenton, Fla., March 2, 2023; Yankees 9, Pittsburgh 1 — Yankee fans visiting Lecom Park, formerly McKechnie Field, for a 1 pm Yankees/Pirates game Thursday afternoon didn’t have to wait long to get into the spirit of things, as uber shortstop prospect Matthew Volpe, leading off and playing second this day, homered deep to left on a 2-2 pitch. Yankee offense would come early and late, but attention must be paid to the pitching too, as it was exceptional. Continue reading →