4/09 in Yankee History
1996: Before an estimated crowd of 50‚000
for the home opener with Kansas City‚ the Yankees snowball the Royals‚ 7-3‚ behind Andy
Pettitte. The final tally is 7 runs‚ 10 hits‚ and 2 inches – of snow. The day will have a second highlight when the Yankee front office offer a free ticket to one of three upcoming games to all who had
suffered through the conditions. (Some cynics will draw attention to the fact that the tickets are offered only to games against opponents not expected to draw well in the Bronx).
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1996/B04090NYA1996.htm
1990: After weeks of sometimes tense negotiations, Don Mattingly signs a five-year deal for almost
$20 million. It will be his last player contract.
1989: Rickey Henderson steals his 800th career base, though the Yankees fall 4-3 to the the Indians.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1989/B04090NYA1989.htm
1985: David Robertson is born. Happy 26th to D-Rob!
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/roberda08.shtml
1981: Before 55‚123 at the Stadium‚ the Yankees gun down the Rangers‚
10-3. Bucky Dent and Bobby Murcer hit homers‚ with Randolph following
Murcer’s blow with a triple. Dave Winfield‚ in his New York debut‚ has
two hits and two walks‚ and Tommy John scatters 7 hits in 8 innings to
win over Jon Matlack.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1981/B04090NYA1981.htm
1971: The A’s trade outfielder/first baseman Felipe Alou to the Yankees
for pitchers Rob Gardner and Ron Klimkowski. Klimkowski will come back
to the Yankees next year and Gardner will return in 6 weeks.
1967: Graeme Lloyd is born. Thanks for the ’96 October magic, Graeme, and happy 44th!
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lloydgr01.shtml
1965: President Lyndon B. Johnson joins 47‚878 fans for the opening of
Harris County Domed Stadium (better known as the Astrodome). The Astros
win an exhibition with the Yankees 2-1 in 12 innings on a Nellie Fox
single. Mickey Mantle hits the first home run in the new park.
1963: In the Opener at Kansas City‚ Ralph Terry pitches a complete game
8-2 win for the Yankees. Led by Joe Pepitone’s two homers and a double‚
New York collect 13 hits. Elston Howard adds a homer off A’s starter
Diego Segui.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1963/B04090KC11963.htm
1953: In an exhibition game at Forbes Field‚ Mickey Mantle gets all of
a Bill MacDonald curve and hits it over the right field roof‚ joining
Babe Ruth and Ted Beard as the only hitters to accomplish that since
the upper deck was added in 1925. Ruth’s homer over the structure was
the 714th and last of his career.
1947: Commissioner Happy Chandler suspends manager Leo Durocher of the
Brooklyn Dodgers for the entire season for incidents detrimental to
baseball. Larry MacPhail and the Dodger organization are fined $2‚000
each‚ and Yankee coach Charley Dressen is sent down for 30 days. A feud
involving Durocher‚ MacPhail‚ and Dodger officials rocked the training
season. The Yankees’ signing of Dressen and Red Corriden‚ longtime
Brooklyn coaches‚ charges of consorting with Cuban gamblers against
MacPhail‚ and charges and counter charges that Durocher had sought-or
been offered-the Yankee managerial post were included in the hearing
before Chandler.
1916: The Yankees turn down an offer by the Red Sox to trade Tris
Speaker for cash and Fritz Maisel (below). Boston will ultimately swap the star
outfielder, who did not take well to the notion of his salary being cut‚ to
Cleveland, for Sam Jones, Fred Thomas and $50‚000. Speaker will hold
out for $10‚000 of the purchase price: AL President Ban Johnson will finally
intervene and Speaker will collect.
bennybengoughsmitt
