7/02 in Yankee History

The red-letter day:

1941: Joe DiMaggio becomes the sole owner of the record for longest hitting streak in Major League history. With a homer off Boston’s Dick Newsome at the Stadium, the Yankee Clipper extends his streak to 45 games, eclipsing Wee Willie Keeler’s long-standing mark that he had tied the day before. The blast also contributes to an 8-4 win.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1941/B07020NYA1941.htm

On other 2nds of July…

2008: Right-handed journeyman Sydney Ponson seems headed for a loss when two-run,
sixth-inning homers by Milton Bradley and Kris Davis give the
Rangers a 7-6 lead at the Stadium, but the first five Yanks
to bat in the seventh score. 8 runs will come across in the frame, and 3 more in the 8th, to carry them to an 18-7 win. Jason Giambi drives in six with a grand slam
and a two-run double, Bobby Abreu (below) and A-Rod deliver
three RBI each, and Johnny Damon has three hits, and scores three times while driving in two.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B07020NYA2008.htm

1978: After the opener of a doubleheader at the Stadium, Ron Guidry is now off to the best start of any pitcher in Yankee history, having bested the Tigers 3-2 to raise his record to 13-0. Controversy arises when Detroit outfielder Mickey Stanley waits for a fan
interference call on a long drive by Mickey Rivers that never comes, and Rivers legs out an
inside-the-park home run to tie the game at two. Goose Gossage gets the win in the nitecap as the Yanks gain a walkoff win, 5-3.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1978/B07021NYA1978.htm

1970: The Yankees fall to the Tigers and Joe Niekro 5-0. Horace Clarke breaks up a no-hit bid by the Detroit knuckleballer with a single in the 9th, the third time this month that the Yankee second baseman has spoilt a no-no with a safety in the final inning.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1970/B07020DET1970.htm

1966: The struggles of the Yankees (who are heading for their first last-place finish in 54 years) are reflected in the fortunes of Whitey Ford, who continues to be winless so far in the campaign. Washington’s Frank Howard, Don Lock and Ken McMullen hit back-to-back-to-back homers against the fading lefty on the way to a 10-4 victory. Mike McCormick gets the complete-game win for the Senators.

00 Ford.jpg

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1966/B07020WS21966.htm

1962: In a game with the A’s at the Stadium, Mickey Mantle walks in three out of his four In trips to the plate. He takes advantage of the one good pitch he sees to blast it into the upper deck, helping the Yanks to an 8-4 win.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1962/B07020NYA1962.htm

1946: With nearly 70,000 in attendance at the Stadium, Yankee hurler Spud Chandler gets off to a shaky start, walking nine Red Sox batters in the first four innings. Still, he carries a no-hitter into the 9th, when Bobby Doerr singles with one out, and then closes the door for a 2-1 victory.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1946/B07020NYA1946.htm

1943: Nice effort, shame about the 4th inning… The
Indians score all 12 of their runs during that frame in a 12-0 win over the
Yankees. The roof falls in on New York starter Marius Russo (shown below), who takes his third loss of the year without a win.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1943/B07020CLE1943.htm

1938: Hal Reniff, pitcher for the ’62 Yankees World Championship team, and member of the ’63 and ’64 pennant winners, is born. Happy 73rd, Hal!

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/R/Prenih101.htm

1922: The Yankees beat the A’s 9-3. Two of Philadelphia’s 3 runs come on solo home runs by outfielder Tilly Walker (shown below), who will finish the year with 37 round-trippers, two more than Babe Ruth’s total.