Christmas came both early and late for Yankee fans in 2008. First, the team gave them two huge presents exactly one week early when they signed free-agent lefty CC Sabathia to a seven-year deal, and then righthander A.J. Burnett on for the next five years on December 18, 2008. Then more than 10 months later, the presents bore fruit as the Yanks took home Championship No. 27.
To the enjoyment and appreciation of an entire generation of Yankee fans, “The Scooter,” the at-the-time recently retired shortstop Phil Rizzuto, signed on as a Yankee radio and TV announcer on December 18, 1956. He would pass the cannolis, gab about birthdays, root like the devil, and crack Yankee fans up for more than four decades, and was still roundly cheered when he made an appearance at the Stadium right up to the end. Sadly, Phil passed away on August 13, 2007.
The biggest news of this 2019 day is that the Yankees signed free agent righthander Gerrit Cole. But the team also designated righty Chance Adams for assignment; activated first baseman Luke Voit; and signed free agent righthander Adam Warren to a minor league contract.
The Yankees signed free agent lefthander Richard Bleier, who would throw significant innings in the Bronx in the coming season, to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training on December 18, 2015. The team also signed free agent right fielder Juan Silva to a minor league contract.
On December 18, 2003, the Yankees signed free agent righthander Juan Escorcia to a minor league contract.
It was a bizarre time in baseball and in Yankee land when on December 18, 1973, the team announced the signing (as manager) of Dick Williams, who until recently had held that position with the A’s. Oakland owner Charlie Finley threatened to sue, and AL President Joe Cronin stepped in and blocked the move. Dick never would manage in the Bronx, though he did advise the owner for a while.
Twenty years later on this day in 1993, one of the most frustrating days for a team trying to struggle back to respectability after years in the second division, the Yankees’ overall first-round draft pick and bonus baby Brien Taylor injured his shoulder in a bar fight, and it was an injury from which he would never recover well enough to pitch major league baseball.
When the Yankees sent Josh Spence outright to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on December 18, 2012, it was their only transaction of the day, but not the only one to affect the club. At the same time, Cleveland was designating left fielder Russ Canzler for assignment. The Yankees would sign and keep Canzler for a brief time in the days ahead.
When the Yankees signed free agent center fielder Dewayne Wise on December 17, 2011, fans probably did not anticipate how much Dwayne would help them during a season in which their starting left fielder would go down in April, providing three home runs and eight rbi’s and solid defense in 56 games.
At first glance the December 18, 2003 Yankee trade of southpaw reliever Chris Hammond to the A’s for two minor leaguers seemed a bit of housekeeping, as Hammond had failed in the lefty setup role he was acquired to fill. But righthander Edwardo Sierra, one of the pieces the Yanks received from Oakland, showed promise, pitching 45 games, all in relief, for the 2004 Tampa Yankees. But better still, Sierra would net Shawn Chacon in a late 2005 season trade from the Rockies. And Chacon helped rescue the season, going 7-3 in the Bronx down the stretch. Chacon’s magic did not carry over into 2006, and he was traded to Pittsburgh for Craig Wilson.
Outfield great Tommy Henrich, known as “Old Reliable,” hung up his spikes after his fourteen-year career with the Yankees on December 18, 1950. A lefty, he played only for the Bombers, and he amassed 187 home runs and 795 rbi’s from 1937-1950. Yankee fans mourn that we lost Old Reliable when he passed away in late 2009.
Lefthanded Red Sox outfielder Duffy Lewis was traded to the Yankees upon his return from the military after World War I on December 18, 1918. He would blast 11 homers and knock in 150 runs in the Bronx during the 1920 and 1921 seasons.
Slugging lefthanded first baseman/third baseman Pete Ward of the White Sox was traded to the Yankees for portsider Mickey Scott on December 18, 1969. Pete would hit one homer and drive in 18 runs in 66 games, ending his career with the 1970 Yankees, while Scott posted an 8-7 record with Chicago.
You don’t want to overestimate the value of what you see in one postseason, particularly when it negates all your earlier impressions about a player. This is the mistake the Yanks made on December 18, 2001, when they re-signed free agent lefty swingman Sterling Hitchcock to a two-year contract. After posting four scoreless innings and a win in the 2001 World Series, Hitchcock would go 2-5 the following two years for the Yanks, with era’s of 5.49 and 5.44.
The Bombers signed Todd Zeile as a righthanded backup at third base and DH on December 18, 2002. He would hit six homers with 23 rbi’s in 66 games before being released.
Some big names with big (and recent) accomplishments make the list of December 18 player moves affecting former or future Yankees, with three of the four on December 18, 2001. On that day, the Cards signed Tino Martinez to a three-year deal; second baseman/outfielder Chuck Knoblauch agreed to terms with the Kansas City Royals; and the Reds traded for lefty Gabe White. And on December 18, 1995, the Padres inked former Yankee prospect Bob Tewksbury. Perhaps starter Tim Belcher qualifies in this category too, as the Yanks drafted him in January 1984, then lost him to the A’s due to a clerical error three weeks later. Belcher signed a two-year contract with Anaheim on December 18, 1998.
Darryl Strawberry was under contract with the San Francisco Giants when he pleaded not guilty to tax evasion charges on December 18, 1994. Once the Giants released him the following February, he would sign on with the Yankees in June 1995.
Players Who Have Died This Day
No Yankee players have died on December 18.
Righthander George Caster (1955), who posted a 76-100-39 mark pitching for the 1934-1940 A’s, the 1941-1945 Browns, and the 1945-1946 Tigers, is one of four noteworthy nonYankee players who have passed away on December 18. Southpaw Art Nehf (1960) won 184 games, lost 120, and saved 13 pitching for the 1915-1919 Braves, the 1919-1926 Giants, the 1926-1927 Reds, and the 1927-1929 Cubs. Catcher John Clapp (1904) cleared two fences and drove in 178 runs playing two years with the Brown Stockings and one year each with five other teams from 1876-1883; and lefty-hitting outfielder Harry Hooper (1974) hit 75 home runs and drove in 817 runs with the 1909-1920 Red Sox and the 1921-1925 White Sox.
Players Born This Day
One of the three Yankees born December 18 had a memorable career in the Bronx, another experienced a career more noteworthy for its moves than its stops along the way, while the most recent birthdayer suffered through a painfully inept half season with the 2017 club. Signed as a free agent before the 1950 season, Bill “Moose” Skowron (1930) started posting big-league numbers with the club in 1954 and had recorded 165 dingers, 672 rbi’s, and even 14 stolen bases by the time he was traded to the Dodgers for Stan Williams in 1962. He increased those career numbers to 211 and 888 after one season with the Dodgers, one with the Senators, and four with the White Sox.
Righthander Scott Nielsen (1958) also made his big-league debut in the Bronx, managing a 6-6 mark in 19 games (11 starts) for the 1986 and 1988-1989 Pinstripers. Scott was drafted by Seattle in 1983, was traded to the Yankees in 1984 for infielder Larry Milbourne, then went to the White Sox in 1987 with minor leaguer Mike Soper for Pete Filson and Randy Velarde. Scott then returned to the Yanks after the ’87 season along with Richard Dotson in an exchange for Dan Pasqua, Mark Salas, and Steve Rosenberg; he was finally shipped to the crosstown New York Mets for Marcus Lawton in 1989.
Signed as a free agent after a 40-homer season for Milwaukee, first baseman Chris Carter (1986), who was supposed to be Greg Bird‘s backup, got most of the starts once Bird was injured early. While Chris did homer eight times and drove in 26, what sticks with most watching is the 76 strike outs in 62 games. He batted .201 until he was released in July.
Other birthdays: Legendary Hall of Famer Ty Cobb (1886), who hit 117 home runs and knocked in 1,937 runs from 1905 through 1928, almost all of it with the Tigers. But what Cobb did best was score runs, 2,246 of them. Also: Zoilo Versalles (1939); Roy Howell (1953); Jim Clancy (1955); Scott Bailes (1961); Willie Blair (1965); Joe Randa (1969); Lance Carter (1974); Jose Acevedo (1977); Jeremy Accardo (1981); Jordan Brown (1983); Rex Brothers (1987); Taylor Jungmann (1989); Micah Johnson (1990); Eric Haase (1992); Scott Barlow (1992); Byron Buxton (1993); Brendan McKay (1995); Luis Liberato (1995); Michael Grove (1996); Adonis Medina (1996); Brandon Marsh (1997); Grant Hartwig (1997); and Ronald Acuna, Jr. (1997).
