3/15 & 3/16 in Yankee History

On the 15th of March over the years…

2012: Oft-injured pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, slated to be the Nationals’ fifth starter, has to leave a Grapefruit League game after landing awkwardly when he fields a slow grounder off the bat of the Yankees’ Russell Martin in the 3rd inning. Wang crumples to the ground after touching first base and has to be assisted in leaving the field.

1979: Current Yankee third baseman Kevin Youkilis is born. Happy birthday, Youk, and good luck this year!

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Kevin_Youkilis

1960: ’80s Yankee fan favorite Mike Pagliarulo is born. Happy 53rd, Pags!

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/paglimi01.shtml

1946: Bobby Bonds in born. Although his one year in with the Yankees is perhaps remembered more for the players involved in the trades that brought him to New York and sent him away (to the Yanks from the Giants for Bobby Murcer, and to California for Mickey Rivers and Ed Figueroa), he put up 30/30 (32 home runs, 30 steals) in 1975 for the Bombers.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bondsbo01.shtml

1926: At St. Petersburg‚ the Braves beat the Yankees 6-2 for their third win in a row over the Miller Huggins crew. After Tony Lazzeri protests a called third strike in the 6th‚ he is tossed‚ along with his manager and the entire Bomber bench.

1919: The third long-time Yankee named Ray in less than a month is sold off as Ray Fisher is shipped to the Reds. Rays Keating and Caldwell were flogged off in February.

…and on the 16^th…

2012: Andy Pettitte ends his retirement after one year when he signs a minor league contract with the Yankees. The 39-year-old is expected to join the big club’s starting rotation as soon as he has worked himself back into game shape.