Category Archives: History

This day in Yankee history

November 11 in Yankee History

Posted on by
  • On November 11, 2015, the Yankees traded utility player Jose Pirela to the San Diego Padres for righthander Ronald Herrera. Herrera pitched 24 games (all starts) in the upcoming season for AA Trenton and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (just one game) to a 10-8 record. He appeared in two games for the Yankees in 2017, both in relief, taking one loss. In 14 minor league games, all starts, he went 0-1 with the Gulf Coast Yankees, 8-0 in Trenton, and posted no record in Scranton/Wilkes Barre in two games. Herrera was traded in November 2017 to the Ranngers for minor leaguer Reiver Sanmartin. Continue reading →

    • November 10 in Yankee History

    Posted on by
  • The Yankees and Rangers made a major trade on November 10, 1978. The Bombers sent Sparky Lyle, catcher Mike Heath, infielder Domingo Ramos, and pitchers Larry McCall and Dave Rajsich south and in return received pitchers Dave Righetti, Mike Griffin, and Paul Mirabella along with outfielders Juan Beniquez and Greg Jamison. In Sparky and Rags, the Yanks spent a former Cy Young Award winner for a future Rookie of the Year (which Righetti would cop in 1981). Continue reading →

    • November 7 in Yankee History

    Posted on by
  • The Yanks engineered a great deal on November 7, 1997, a judgment we can make before we even know who the infamous “Player to Be Named Later” (PTBNL) was, although the plot just took another twist in the 2006 ALDS. Kenny Rogers made three starts for the Yanks in the 1996 playoffs and put the team in an early hole all three times. Jimmy Leyritz‘s homer off Mark Wohlers rescued the Yanks in Game Four of the World Series, but Kenny had to go. But not only was he sent to Oakland for a PTBNL, that no-name would become eventual 1998 World Series MVP Scott Brosius. Brosius wore no. 7 with the A’s, so the later-arriving Jason Giambi was forced to settle for 16; its parts add up to seven, as does his 25 in New York. The connection is that both Scott’s and Jason’s fathers were big fans of Mickey Mantle. Brosius’s stingy defense, classy demeanor, and ability to provide clutch offense was huge, and it culminated with the game-tying home run he hit in the bottom of the ninth of Game Five of the 2001 World Series. But the postscript, of course, is that Rogers had a part in sending the Yanks home in 2006. Continue reading →

    • Ganzel’s Bellwether Blast

    Posted on by

    Port Chester, N.Y., May 10, 2013 — On Saturday, May 11, the Yankees will be in Kansas City, playing a road game. Nothing unique there; they’re in a stretch where they’ll play 26 of 40 away from home. But 110 years ago the at-the-time Highlanders were on the road too, facing Detroit in Bennett Field, as described by Ray Istorico in “Greatness in Waiting: An Illustrated History of the Early New York Yankees.” They had played 16 games in their initial New York season, 10 of them away, with an 8-8 record, and that day’s 8-2 win pushed them one game above .500. Continue reading →