Take your pick, and most take The Streak, but he was MVP twice (in a career during much of which that award was a once-a-lifetime honor), and won the Triple Crown. He homered in four consecutive at bats in one game and led everyone with 23 career grand slams for eight decades until he was tied, then passed, by Alex Rodriguez). He had a .340 lifetime batting average, gathered 175, then 174, rbi’s in 1927 and 1930, respectively, and the 184 in 1931 are the most ever in the American League. Yes, this Yankee hero, Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse, was born on June 19, 1903. It’s another Hallelujah day in Yankee Land.
The visiting A’s pounded a struggling Domingo German to a 5-1 lead into the fifth on June 19, 2021, with the carnage beginning with Tony Kemp, whose homer in the first was his second in two days. But the Yankees stormed back in the late innings, cashing in a 7-5 win, largely on two rbi’s apiece by DJ LeMahieu and Gio Urshela. Kudos to Nestor Cortes, who shut out Oakland for three innings while his teammates rallied.
Tampa lefty Blake Snell had a nightmare outing in Yankee Stadium on June 19, 2019, surrendering six runs on three hits and four walks while failing to finish the first inning. Among those hits was a Gary Sanchez three-run homer, though he would cede offensive star of the game honors to Gleyber Torres, who drilled a grand slam in the six-run seventh that sealed the 12-1 final score. CC Sabathia, who went six, was the happy recipient of all the offense.
Young righty Domingo German gave a big hint of what he was to offer in 2019 in a 7-2 win over Seattle in Yankee Stadium on June 19, 2018. A leadoff double scored off him in the first, and Nelson Cruz homered with one down in the seventh for the only two hits he would allow, as he struck out nine and walked none while retiring 21 Mariners batters. A Giancarlo Stanton homer tied matters in the first, and the Yanks took command on two-run taters from Miguel Andujar and Aaron Hicks in the fifth.
Despite allowing two early runs, Adam Warren had an excellent start on June 19, 2015, going eight full innings in a 7-2 win over visiting Detroit. He allowed seven hits and no walks, and struck out seven. The highlight of the offense was a long ball off the bat of Alex Rodriguez in the first inning, the 3,000th hit of his career. Brett Gardner also went yard, and notched three rbi’s on four hits.
Game one of a day/night doubleheader in Yankee Stadium vs the Dodgers on June 19, 2013, was necessitated by a rainout the night before, but this day, the Bombers got their first eye-opening look at Yasiel Puig, who was out stretching a single into an attempted double in the first, tried to throw Thomas Neal out at first on a single to right in the second, and doubled and homered in the two games — 6-4 win by New York, 6-0 win by LA. But Hanley Ramirez was the Dodgers’ star, going 6-for-8 with four rbi’s and three runs scored. The Yanks rode a two-rbi double by Lyle Overbay and three runs driven in with a home run from Ichiro Suzuki that helped ex-Dodger Hiroki Kuroda to a “W” in the opener, but their bats fell silent against veteran southpaw Chris Capuano in the nightcap. Newly announced NBA Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the night game.
Riding a 10-game winning streak, and 2.5 games in front of Baltimore in the AL East, the Yanks dropped a 4-3 decision to the Braves in Yankee Stadium on June 19, 2012, with Tim Hudson outdueling Hiroki Kuroda. A two-run Nick Swisher double was all the home team could manage, as the third run scored on an error by third baseman Chipper Jones, making his final appearance in the Bronx, as he would retire at the end of the year.
Mickey Mantle hit his 100th career home run on June 19, 1955, in Yankee Stadium, as the Yanks took a pair from the White Sox, 7-1 and 5-2.
Three times was a charm in the transition of Joba Chamberlain from reliever to starter, as he pitched very well in his third Yankee Stadium start in a 2-1 win over San Diego on June 19, 2008, even if he did not get the win. Chamberlain was lifted when he struck out Chase Headley, his ninth K of the game on his 100th pitch, for the second out of the sixth inning. Joba allowed one run on four hits, and the Yanks won with a tie-breaking run in the bottom of the sixth when Melky Cabrera, on via a walk, scored on Jose Molina‘s sac fly after having stolen both second and third base during the Yankee catcher’s at bat. Ex-Yankee second baseman and longtime Padres broadcaster Jerry Coleman moved the games-counter indicating tilts remaining in Yankee Stadium from 46 to 45 in the fifth inning.
Alex Rodriguez crowned a four-run fourth against (at the time) Cubs rookie Sergio Mitre as the Yanks swept the Cubbies in their first visit to the Ballpark since being also swept in the 1938 World Series, as the Yanks won 6-2 in the third of three on June 19, 2005. Four defensive gems were turned in at second base, two by Robinson Cano, and two by (more often than not) defensively challenged ex-Red Sox Todd Walker.
The first few Brian Rose starts for the Red Sox found the Yankees at his mercy, but the Bombers had figured him out by June 19, 2000, to such an extent that they beat him, and the Sox, severely about the head and shoulders, to the tune of a 22-1 win. Ramiro Mendoza got the win before a hushed Fenway crowd.
“Pinball Baseball,” I called it. An early-season experiment keeping baseballs in a humidor-like storage facility had dampened the wild offense that has generally dominated Coors Field in Colorado, until the Yankees arrived in town for interleague play. After an almost normal 10-5 victory the day before, the Yanks overcame a seven-run Rockies fourth inning in a 20-10 win on June 19, 2002.
Billy Martin managed his first game in his second stint behind the Yankee bench on June 19, 1979, in front of 36,000-plus in the Bronx, but the Yanks fell to the Blue Jays, 5-4. The Yanks had announced plans to return Billy to the helm for the 1980 campaign at the ’79 season’s start, but became impatient with the results under incumbent Bob Lemon.
On June 19, 1951, Mickey Mantle homered with four rbi’s in a first-game 11-9 win over the White Sox, although he struggled in the field. The White Sox took the nitecap 5-4 despite another Mantle homer.
The 1978 Boston Massacre can be considered revenge when seen through the prism of the series-ender in which the Sox bashed the Yanks with five home runs in an 11-1 thrashing on June 19, 1977 in Fenway Park. It culminated a three-game sweep where they outhomered the visitors 16-0.
On June 19, 2023, the Yankees optioned righthander Greg Weissert and shortstop Oswaldo Cabrera to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
On June 18, 2018, the Yankees optioned righthander Giovanny Gallegos to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. The team also signed righty Marcus Evey.
On June 19, 2016, the Yankees activated lefthander Chasen Shreve from the 15-day disabled list, and optioned him to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
On June 19, 2015, the Yankees optioned righthander Chris Martin to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders; and placed righty Sergio Santos on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 15, with a right elbow inflammation. The club filled those spots by recalling righties Branden Pinder and Bryan Mitchell from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The team also signed four free agent pitchers, Carlos Santana, Luigence Thomas, Anthoniris Santana, and Anderson Acevedo, to minor league contracts.
Taking care of some draft paperwork on June 19, 2014, the Yankees signed outfielder Dominic Jose; shortstop Tyler Palmer; first baseman Chris GittensJacob Lindgren, Jordan Montgomery, and Derek Callahan; and righthanders Mike Noteware, Sean Carley, Lee Casas, Corey Holmes, and Austin DeCarr.
On June 19, 2013, the Yankees signed two draftees, first baseman Jimmy Falla and lefthanded pitcher Ian Clarkin. The club also signed free agent lefty Eric Wooten to a minor league contract.
On June 19, 2011, the Yankees assigned Cody Grice to the Staten Island Yankees; they signed first baseman Zachary Wilson, righthanders Gabriel Encinas and Taylor Morton, and infielder Taylor Anderson; and also signed free agent catcher Jon Hurst.
On June 19, 2012, the Yankees signed catcher Christopher Breen.
On this day in 1970, Jim Bouton‘s controversial (at the time) Ball Four was published.
The 2007 experiment with Josh Phelps as the righthanded hitting first baseman, the first Yankee rule-5 acquisition in years, came to an end on June 19 following an ugly Phelps error on a throw past second base. He was released this day, with the up-and-down first baseman/infielder Andy Phillips being recalled from AAA Scranton to take his place.
The Yankees returned righthander Steven White outright to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 19, 2008.
The Yanks cleared some roster room on June 19, 2006, releasing veteran righty Scott Erickson and outrighting infiielder Nick Green to AAA Columbus.
Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie‘s 5-for-6 led the Cleveland offense that bested the Highlanders 12-3 on June 19, 1905.
On June 19, the same day that Paul Waner joined Cap Anson and Honus Wagner in the 3,000-hit club in 1942, the Reds’ Pete Rose and the Dodgers’ Willie Davis each got their 2,000th, both in 1973.
On this day in 1897, Wee Willie Keeler‘s NL-record 44-game consecutive hit streak came to an end. Keeler would play several seasons with the Yankees later in his career.
Despite Hall of Famer Walter Johnson‘s uncharacteristic wildness on June 19, 1909, the Senators beat the Highlanders 7-4 in the first of two as he allowed but three safeties. Johnson gave up seven walks, threw four wild pitches, and hit a batter. The New Yorkers won the nightcap 6-3.
The Highlanders split a double dip with St. Louis on this day in 1904, winning the first game 4-3 on newly acquired Patsy Dougherty‘s first two Yankee hits. The Browns took Game Two, 1-0.
Not all was perfect once the Bambino arrived in New York. On June 19, 1922, the Yanks lost their eighth straight, 3-2 to Cleveland, and Babe Ruth received his fourth suspension of the young season for taking Umpire Bill Dinneen to task on a call at second base.
The Yankees signed lefthander Sam Elam on June 19, 2009.
For a couple of years, June 19 was Sign Darryl Strawberry Day, or so it appeared. The Giants signed him in 1994, the Yanks one year later, on that same exact day.
Kansas City hurler Steve Busby threw a 2-0 no-hitter against the Brewers on June 19, 1974. And Carl Erskine of the Dodgers denied the Cubs any hits in a 5-0 shutout on this day in 1952.
Pitching still for the Mets, future Yankee starter Dwight “Doc” Gooden won his 100th game in a 5-3 victory over the Expos on June 19, 1989.
Two more June 19 highlights involving players who spent time with the Yankees begin with the game this day in 1907 when diminutive future Yankee field boss Miller Huggins astounded a New York Giants crowd with a leadoff home run in a Reds 3-2 win over the home team. Also on June 19, perhaps the Yankee braintrust was already considering acquiring eventual (1989) Bombers pitching staff “anchor” Andy Hawkins when he got off to such a great 1985 start. When the Dodgers tallied four in the seventh to beat Hawkins 5-1, it was his first loss that season in 12 decisions.
Players Who Have Died This Day
Three of six June 19 Yankee player deaths feature a player with double-digit games for the Yanks, including first baseman Tom Jones (1923), who makes the list by virtue of the 37 games he played debuting with the 1902 Baltimore Orioles, who would relocate to New York as the Highlanders the following year. Jones, who collected 14 rbi’s in 159 at bats that year, ended up with four home runs and 336 rbi’s after playing from 1904-1910 with the Browns and the Tigers. New to the list, righthanded outfielder Bill Renna (2014) hit two home runs with 13 rbi’s debuting with the 1953 Yanks, then increased those numbers to 28 and 119 playing for Oakland in 1954 through 1956, and with the Red Sox in 1958 and 1959. Righty George Frazier (2023) pitched in 140 games (no starts) with the 1981-1983 Yankees to an 8-9 record with 12 saves. He also went 0-3 with the team in the 1981 World Series. Though taller, Frazier looked (but did not pitch) like Ron Guidry. George’s overall 35-43 record with 29 saves in 415 games (again, no starts) was accumulated with the 1978-1980 Cardinals, the 1984-1986 Cubs, and the 1986-1987 Twins. Righthanders Eddie Quick (1913) and Art Goodwin (1943) each pitched in just one major league game, Quick in a start to no record with the 1903 Highlanders, and Goodwin also to no record in a relief appearance with the 1905 Highlanders. Finally, righty Brady Neal (1947), who debuted by pitching to a 1-0 record with no saves in four games (two starts) with the 1915 and 1917 Yankees, had an overall 2-3-1 record after a stint with the 1925 Reds.
Pitchers who threw from opposite sides, a shortstop, and a third baseman comprise the list of noteworthy nonYankee June 19 deaths. Southpaw Jake Weimer (1928) posted most of his 97 wins, 69 losses, and two saves from 1903-1909 with the Cubs and the Reds; and Charlie Getzien (1932) went 145-139-1 mostly with the Wolverines, and later the Beaneaters from 1884-1892. Finally, shortstop Wally Gerber (1951) hit most of his seven home runs with 476 rbi’s from 1914-1929 with the Browns; while infielder Gene Freese (2013), playing third the majority of the time, hit 115 home runs and drove in 432 runs from 1955 through 1966, playing most of his games with the Pirates, the Reds, and the White Sox.
Players Born This Day
The first Yankee June 19 birthday will always belong to Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig (1903), feted above. Lou is still known as the Iron Horse for his long streak playing every game, and he is also sadly remembered by the horrific disease that carries his name, and took his life at much too early an age.
Infielder Fernando Gonzalez (1950) was the only other Yankee June 19 birthday until 2007. His contract was purchased from the Kansas City Royals on May 5, 1974, and he was released exactly one year later. He played in 51 games for the 1974 Yankees, notching one home run and seven rbi’s. Gonzalez went on to split three more seasons between the Pirates and the Padres.
First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz (1974) joined the Yanks in 2007. Doug, who dazzles afield, played years with the Twins, and won a ring with the 2004 Red Sox. He played for the Mets too, and the Royals in 2006. Doug’s 2007 season in the Bronx was interrupted by a broken wrist, but along with stellar defense, he did contribute five home runs and 24 rbi’s.
An injury-riddled Yankee bullpen welcomed Blake Parker (1985) into the group in early August 2016 when the team selected him off waivers from Seattle. After collecting one win and one save in 16 appearances (no starts) in pinstripes that year, he was in turn taken by Anaheim that October. Blake was drafted in the 16th round in 2008 by the Cubs, for whom he pitched in 74 games over three seasons. Including that tour, one game with Seattle, the New York stop, and a 5-4 mark and 22 saves with the Angels in 2017 and ’18, he saved 10 games with the resurgent 2019 Minnesota Twins. He posted a 5-1 mark with the 2019-2020 Phillies, and went 2-1 with Cleveland in 2021.
Other birthdays start with righthander Eddie Cicotte (1884), who won 208 while losing 149 from 1905-1920, most of them with the White Sox; and third baseman Bob Aspromonte (1938), a 60-home run hitter with 457 rbi’s for Houston. Next there are two other very good righties: Jerry Reuss (1949), with the shock of white hair and a 220-191 mark with the Pirates and Dodgers (primarily) from 1969-1990; and Jim Slaton (1950), with a 151-158 record from 1971-1986, almost all of it with the Brewers. Others: Johnnie LeMaster (1954); Butch Davis (1958); Yasuhiko Yabuta (1973); Willis Roberts (1975); Dustan Mohr (1976); Bruce Chen (1977); Claudio Vargas (1978); Dusty Brown (1982); Collin McHugh (1987); Devin Mesoraco (1988); Jacob deGrom (1988); Logan Verrett (1990); Tyler Heineman (1991); Christian Villanueva (1991); Austin Brice (1992); Oscar Taveras (1992); Cody Sedlock (1995); Casey Legumina (1997); and Cody Bolton (1998).
