5/20 in Yankee History
2006: A uniform worn by Joe DiMaggio in his final World Series game is sold for $195,500 during the
second day of an auction of his memorabilia. The previous day,
DiMag’s 1947 AL MVP award plaque was sold for $281,750, which included a 15
percent buyer’s premium. It was his third MVP award, but it was the only
plaque. The two-day auction features more than 1,000 items of Yankee Clipper memorabilia, also including a leather-bound album featuring autographs
from DiMaggio’s teammates and members of
the Red Sox, a typed note signed by Frank
Sinatra, and a signed photo of DiMaggio’s one-time wife, Marilyn Monroe.
The aution is held by Hunt’s Auctions Inc. in New York. A portion of the proceeds will
benefit the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.
1976: At the Stadium, Carl Yastrzemski clubs 2 homers‚ giving him 5 in two games‚ to tie a ML
mark. Boston win‚ 8-2. Boston pitcher Bill Lee injures his arm in a fight
with Yankee players‚ ending up on the bottom of a pile of players. Lee
never really recovers from the injury although he will win 16 games with
the Expos in 1979. The brawl starts when Lou Piniella‚ running on Dwight Evans, is gunned down at the plate and barrels into Carlton Fisk. Both come
up swinging and both benches clear. Lee then blames Martin for
espousing a fighting style that brought the brawl on. In 2006, Lee gives
an interview to the Marin Independent Journal where he recounts how the
Red Sox treated his injury “They’re going, ‘Here take this, take this,
take this.’ Afterwards I’ve got sterazolidin, butazolidin, Clenerol,
Indicin. I’ve got everything in me. I can pitch in the American League,
but I couldn’t run in the Kentucky Derby. Holy cow, I’m glowing in the
dark.”
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1976/B05200NYA1976.htm
1959: The Yankees
sink to last place for the first time since May 25‚ 1940‚ as Detroit drub
them 13-6. Fittingly‚ it is Yankee Killer Frank Lary who wins it‚ improving his lifetime record against New York to
18-5.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1959/B05200NYA1959.htm
1952:
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Playing center field and batting third, Mickey Mantle displays his switch-hitting skills by collecting two singles
from each side of the plate. His first two hits are against righty Ken Holcombe, while the last two come off lefty Chuck Stobbs. Johnny Sain scatters six White Sox hits to win‚ 3-1. 
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1952/B05200CHA1952.htm
1948: At Chicago‚ Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle and adds another homer to drive in six
runs‚ as the Yanks coast‚ 13-2. DiMag almost has a 6th extra base hit‚
but left fielder Ralph Hodgin makes a spectacular catch at the wall. Johnny Lindell adds a homer to back Vic Raschi’s pitching over Orval Grove, who lasts 5 innings. DiMaggio is the first Yankee in eight
years to hit for the cycle. DiMag last cycled in 1937‚ when he also
added a second homer: He remains the only Yankee to cycle twice.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1948/B05200CHA1948.htm
1946: A state Supreme Court justice has armed the Yankees
with an injunction against the raiding Mexican League‚ and the Dodgers and the Cardinals
have also turned to the courts for protection and damages. Before any
of the relief becomes permanent‚ however, Max Lanier, Fred Martin and Lou Klein jump back to the Redbirds.
Also off the field, future Yankee star and broadcaster Bobby Murcer is born. We miss you, Bobby – RIP.
1945: In St. Louis, Pete Gray stars as the Browns sweep a pair from the Yankees, 10-1 and 5-2. Gray has 2 RBI on 3 hits in the opener‚ and in the
nightcap he scores the winning run and hauls in 7 fly balls‚ 3 on
spectacular catches.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1945/B05201SLA1945.htm
1940: The Yankees slide back into last place‚ getting scalped by the Indians 10-2. Al Smith allows just 3 NY hits.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B05200CLE1940.htm
1934: Yankee prospect and San Francisco Seals (PCL) star Joe DiMaggio tears the cartilage in his left knee exiting from a jitney
taxi and will miss six weeks of action.
1925: At Cleveland, the Yankee bullpen collapses as the Indians score 6 runs in the last of the 9th to win 10-9. Tris Speaker scores the winning run from first on a single. Waite Hoyt takes the loss for the Bombers.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1925/B05200CLE1925.htm
1922: Babe Ruth and Bob Meusel (and since-traded pitcher Bill Piercy)‚ suspended on October
16‚ 1921‚ by Judge Landis‚ are reinstated and return to the New York
lineup, going hitless in New York’s 8-2 loss to the rallying Browns at
the Polo Grounds. The Browns‚ down 2-0 after 7‚ score one in the 8th and
7 in the 9th‚ six of them coming after the game-ending out is called by
ump Ollie Chill at first base. Pitcher Sam Jones‚ taking the throw at first from Wally Pipp, apparently makes the third out and fans swarm the field. But
Jones does not hold onto the ball cleanly in the judgement of plate ump Brick Owens, and the chief arbiter
instructs Chill to make a safe call. The tying run scores on the play
and‚ when the action resumes 15 minutes later‚ Wally Gerber singles to make the score 3-2. Walks to George Sisler and Ken Williams
force home another run‚ and Baby Doll Jacobson clears the bases with a grand slam into the right field stands
to complete the scoring. Winner Urban Shocker allows just three hits‚ including a two-run homer by second
baseman Aaron Ward. The loss to Jones starts him on a 10-game losing streak‚
while a severe Ban Johnson will let umpire Ollie Chill go after the
season.
1920: Infielder Wilson ‘Chick’ Fewster reports back to the Yankees.
Fewster was beaned in spring training and spent a month in a Baltimore
hospital.He will recover sufficiently to get the first hit in Yankee Stadium history on April 18, 1923, in a Red Sox uniform.
1913: The Yankees obtain 22-year-old shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh from Cleveland‚ sending in exchange pitchers Bill Stumpf and Jack Lelivelt. Peckinpaugh played in fewer than 100 games over 3
seasons‚ but will start in New York. The Yankees win today‚ beating the Browns
6-3‚ but St. Louis will shut out New York in the next 2 games.
1907: In the Highlanders’ 4-1 win over Boston, New York shortstop Kid Elberfeld becomes the first player in American league history to steal home twice in one game. The thefts account for half of his team’s total tallies.
1897: Wilcy Moore, mainstay of the Yankee bullpen on the championship teams of 1927 and ’28, is born.
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