The red-letter day:

1946: Reggie Jackson is born. Happy birthday, Mr. October!

On other 18ths of May…

2011: The Yankees and the Orioles [lay a wild one. The tems are tied 1-1 when the Yanks score two runs off Mike Gonzalez, who is then ejected for beaning Chris Dickerson, shattering his batting helmet and sending him to hospital. Out of pitchers, the O’s have to bring in the next day’s scheduled starter, Jeremy Guthrie, to complete the inning. Hector Noesi throws 4 scoreless innings to earn the win in his major league debut; called up by the Yanks 16 days earlier, he had yet to pitch before the marathon game forces manager Joe Girardi’s   hand. Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the 15th, the Orioles then put two runners on base, but Matt Wieter’s ground ball headed for right field just nips the foot of baserunner Brandon Snyder, and he is called out for interference, snuffing out the O’s best chance to tie the game.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2011/B05180BAL2011.htm

2010: Another day, another Yankees-Red Sox donnybrook. Today, the Yankees play the game under protest,  claiming the Sox did not properly signal an injury before removing pitcher Josh Beckett trailing 5-0 in the 5th inning, thus giving reliever Manny Delcarmen  more time to warm up than warranted. For the second night in a row, the Sox come back from a five-run hole, taking a 7 – 5 lead in the 9th thanks to an error by right fielder Marcus Thames on Marco Scutaro’s fly ball. Jonathan Papelbon, who blew a save the previous night, allows a run in the bottom of the 9th, but strikes out Randy Winn with runners on second and third to end the game. The contest starts almost an hour late because of rain, is played in a constant drizzle, and lasts 4 hours and 9 minutes, making it the longest nine-inning game played so far this season.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2010/B05180NYA2010.htm

2005: The Mariners defeat the Yankees‚ 7-6‚ to snap New York’s 10-game winning streak. Tom Gordon takes the loss for the Bombers.

2001: The Yanks stop Seattle’s 8-game win streak by a 14-10 margin. Ex-Mariner Tino Martinez is 4-for-5 with a homer and 4 ribbies. John Halama is the loser with 7 runs in 3 IP. Ichiro Suzuki is 3-for-6 with 2 steals to extend his hitting streak to 23 games.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2001/B05180SEA2001.htm

1999: Joe Torre returns to the dugout for the first time since being treated for prostate cancer. The Red Sox spoil the party, however, by beating the Yankees 6-3 behind Pedro Martinez.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1999/B05180BOS1999.htm

1976: The Yankees trade  pitcher Ken Brett and outfielder Rich Coggins to the White Sox for outfielder Carlos May.

1974: Former Yankee co-owner Dan Topping (right) dies at the age of 61.

1969: Joe Pepitone is the Yankees’ offense today as his mates sweep the Angels 3-1 and 1-0. Pepi hits a 3-run homer in game 1 to give Mel Stottlemyre the victory and his walkoff blast  in the nitecap off Hoyt Wilhelm hands the victory to reliever Steve Hamilton.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1969/B05181NYA1969.htm

1962: Mickey Mantle suffers a groin strain and torn muscles in his right thigh‚ and injures his left knee trying to leg out an infield hit that becomes the final out of New York’s 4-3 loss to Minnesota. He will be sidelined for a month.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1962/B05180NYA1962.htm

1956: Mickey Mantle homers from both sides of the plate for the third time in his career‚ eclipsing the mark of Jim Russell. The shots come off Billy Pierce and the Dixie Howell‚ the second tying the game. Mantle and Yogi Berra‚ the AL’s top home run hitters‚ combine for 20 bases as the visiting New Yorkers nip Chicago 8-7 in 10 innings.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1956/B05180CHA1956.htm

1955: At the Stadium‚ Mickey Mantle’s 8th inning grand slam off Mike Fornieles powers the Yankees past the White Sox‚ 11-6. In the play before Mantle’s blast‚ a grounder was ruled a dead ball after Hank Bauer interfered with Nellie Fox at 2nd‚ leaving the sacks jammed. The Sox lose Minnie Minoso for 2 weeks with a hairline fracture of the skull after he is hit by a pitch from Bob Grim.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1955/B05180NYA1955.htm

1947: Early Yankee star Hal Chase dies at the age of 64.

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Hal_Chase_1883

1940: The Yanks vacate last place by beating the White Sox‚ 3-0‚ behind Monte Pearson’s 2-hitter.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B05180CHA1940.htm

1930: George Pipgras tosses his third shutout of the season as the Yankees again back his pitching by bombing the Red Sox 11-0 in Boston. Babe Ruth clocks an Ed Morris pitch over the right field bleachers‚ one of the longest homers ever at Fenway.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1930/B05180BOS1930.htm

1926: In the 8th inning at the Stadium‚ rookie sensation Tony Lazzeri clouts a long drive over center fielder Johnny Mostil’s head that he will leg out for an inside-the-park grand slam, as the Yanks come from behind to beat the White Sox 5-3

1919: The Yankees sell veteran Dutch Leonard‚ acquired in December from Boston‚ to Detroit.

1909: The Yankees sell infielder Neal Ball to the Cleveland Naps. On the 19th of July, in a game against the Red Sox, Ball will execute the first unassisted triple play in modern MLB history.

The red-letter day-

1998: David Wells hurls the 13th perfect game in modern major league history with a 4-0 win over Minnesota. Wells fans 11 batters in his masterpiece.  Bernie Williams strokes 3 hits for New York‚ including a home run.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1998/B05170NYA1998.htm

On other 17ths of May…

2012: Yan Gomes (below) becomes the first Brazilian player in Major League history when he is inserted in the Blue Jays’  starting line-up at third base in today’s game against the Yankees. taking over for Brett Lawrie who is beginning a four-game suspension. Gomes goes 2 for 3, but it is homers by Jose Bautista and J.P. Arencibia which lead the Jays to a 4 – 1 win.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2012/B05170TOR2012.htm

2010: It’s another epic battle between the Yankees and the Red Sox at the Stadium. The Yanks take a 5-0 lead in the 1st inning against Daisuke Matsuzaka, but the Sox storm back to take the lead with five home runs, two by Victor Martinez, and one each by David Ortiz, J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis. Then, in the bottom of the 9th, Jonathan Pabelbon gives up a pair of two-run homers, to Alex Rodriguez and Marcus Thames, and the Bronx Bombers end up on top, 11 – 9.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2010/B05170NYA2010.htm

2002: After the Twins score 3 times in the top of the 14th‚ the Yankees come back to win‚ 13-12‚ on Jason Giambi’s one-out grand slam‚ hitting the first pitch from reliever Mike Trombley over the right field fence. It is the 21st time in history that a player has hit a walkoff grand slam with his team down by three runs. Babe Ruth‚ in 1925‚ was the only previous Yankee to have performed the feat. Giambi’s shot is one of 6 by New York as each team has 20 hits. The last time that two teams reached 20 hits was also on May 17, in 1996. Baltimore beat Seattle‚ 13-12 on 41 hits total.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2002/B05170NYA2002.htm

1977: Sparky Lyle‚ in relief of Ron Guidry‚ pitches 6 scoreless innings and the Yanks push across 3 runs in the 15th to defeat Oakland‚ 5-2.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1977/B05170OAK1977.htm

1967: Behind 8-2 to the Indians at the Stadium‚ the Yankees score 5 runs in the 7th inning. The big blows are back-to-back homers by Tom Tresh and Mickey Mantle into the right field bleachers. New York fall short‚ losing‚ 8-7.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1967/B05170NYA1967.htm

1964: In the opener of a doubleheader with the A’s at home, Mickey Mantle’s 2-run blast in the 1st starts the scoring and New York outscore KC 11-9. In the nightcap, Whitey Ford tosses a 4-hitter as the home side roll, 8-0.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1964/B05171NYA1964.htm

1961: Rogers Maris connects for his 4th homer‚ and his first of the year at Yankee Stadium‚ against the Senators. The slugger  will hit an incredible 24 homers in his next 38 games.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1961/B05170NYA1961.htm

1953: In the first game of a twinbill, the Yanks and Browns use 41 players to set a new Major League record – the Bombers will use 23 men in winning 6-5 in 10 innings. The Browns jump on Whitey Ford‚ threatening to hand the lefty his first defeat ever as a starter‚ but 3 relievers bail him out. Don Larsen goes 9 1/3 for the Browns‚ with Mike Blyzka losing.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1953/B05170NYA1953.htm

1947: The Yanks sweep a pair from the White Sox by 4-3 scores. Spec Shea wins the opener‚ collecting three hits and scoring two runs. Joe DiMaggio’s homer in the bottom of the 9th‚ off Gordie Maltzberger‚ is the winner. Bill Dickey’s brother George has a pair of hits and a stolen base for the White Sox. In the nitecap‚ George McQuinn has three hits and scores the winning run in the 8th to break up the pitching duel between Spud Chandler and Chicago’s Ed Lopat.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1947/B05172NYA1947.htm

1913: In Chicago‚ 35‚000+ jam temporarily enlarged Comiskey Park on ‘Frank Chance Day.’ The Yankee manager is presented with a giant horseshoe of flowers by Governor Dunne and Mayor Harrison gives him the keys to Chicago. Sox manager Callahan is given a small harp of green and white flowers. To the crowd’s roar of approval‚ Chance takes over at first from Hal Chase, but bounces out in his one turn at bat. The Sox beat the visitors‚ 6-3‚ behind Reb Russell. The 35‚000 crowd‚ kept down by the weather‚ are short of the AL mark set by the Yankees (38‚281) and even short of the Comiskey mark of 36‚308.

Chance signing his 1913 contract with Yankee co-owner Frank Ferrell

Remembering late ’60s Yankee pitcher Thad Tillotson, who left us one year ago today.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tilloth01.shtml

2010: The Twins stun the Yankees with an 8th-inning grand slam by Jason Kubel off Mariano Rivera for a 6 – 3 win at the Stadium. Rivera had converted a record-tying 51 consecutive save opportunities at home and had not given up a grand slam since 2002; the runs are also the first he gives up this season.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2010/B05160NYA2010.htm

2006: The Yankees bounce back from a 9-0 deficit to defeat the Rangers, 14-13. The comeback matches the biggest in Yankees history. Jorge Posada hits the walkoff homer with Johnny Damon aboard, and Mariano Rivera registers his first win of the year.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2006/B05160NYA2006.htm

1985: Former Yankee pitcher Johnny Broaca dies at age 75.

The 1936 Yankees – Broaca is in the top row, third from the left

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Broaca

1984: Dave Winfield delivers the first of the two walkoff homers that he will hit in a Yankee uniform. In the bottom of the 10th, with Don Mattingly aboard, Winfield blasts one into the left field seats off the A’s Bill Caudill for a 7-6 win.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1984/B05160NYA1984.htm

1976: The Yankees send pitcher Larry Gura to Kansas City for catcher Fran Healy. Healy’s best moment will come as a mediator between Reggie Jackson and Billy Martin, and later in the radio booth‚ while Gura will help KC to the 1978 playoffs with a 16-4 record.

1964: At the Stadium‚ Mickey Mantle hits his 13th homer of the year‚ off Joe Grzenda‚ and New York pounds the A’s‚ 10-6.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1964/B05160NYA1964.htm

1957: The Yankees top Kansas City 3-0 behind Bob Turley’s four-hit shutout. Mickey Mantle has a single‚ two walks‚ and a homer to back Bob Turley’s 4-hit 3-0 shutout over the A’s. Turley helps his cause by starting a triple play. The Yanks now trail the White Sox by a half game.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1957/B05160NYA1957.htm

1956: On a blustery day in Cleveland‚ the Yankees beat the Indians 4-1. Mickey Mantle hits a homer off Bud Daley‚ while his pal Billy Martin is benched for the first time. Bobby Richardson takes his place at second.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1956/B05160CLE1956.htm

1954: The Orioles draw a record Memorial Stadium crowd of 46‚796 for a doubleheader with the Yankees. Allie Reynolds wins the opener for New York‚ 2-0‚ on a 3-hitter‚ before Don Larsen stops the Yankees 6-2 in the nitecap.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1954/B05161BAL1954.htm

1953: At Yankee Stadium‚ White Sox lefty pitcher Tommy Byrne pinch-hits for slugger Vern Stephens and hits a grand slam off Yankees reliever Ewell Blackwell to climax a 5-run 9th inning and give Chicago the 5-3 win. Stephens has 10 career grand slams: Byrne now has two.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1953/B05160NYA1953.htm

1951: At the Stadium, Mickey Mantle drives in four runs and scores three as New York rout the Indians‚ 11-3. Mantle connects for the first of his 206 homers at the Stadium‚ the blast coming off Dick Rozek.

1941: The Yankees bench Phil Rizzuto and Jerry Priddy‚ putting back Joe Gordon and Frank Crosetti. New York then rally in the 9th to beat the White Sox‚ 5-4. Joe DiMaggio contributes a triple and a solo homer.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1941/B05160NYA1941.htm

1932: The Yankees record their 4th straight shutout to equal the record set by Cleveland and Boston in 1903 and 1906. Johnny Allen‚ George Pipgras‚ Red Ruffing‚ and Lefty Gomez are the hurlers. Lefty stops Cleveland on 5 hits to win‚ 8-0‚ New York’s fifth shutout in 7 games.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1932/B05160NYA1932.htm

1928: Billy Martin is born.

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Billy_Martin_1928

1927: Yankee left fielder Bob Meusel swipes second, third and home in the 3rd inning as New York top Detroit‚ 6-2. Lou Gehrig contributes a homer and 2 doubles to back Dutch Ruether’s pitching.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1927/B05160DET1927.htm

1921: Jacob Ruppert and T.L. Huston‚ the two owners of the Yankees‚ make their final payment for $500‚ 000 to complete the purchase of the Bronx property for the new Yankee Stadium. The sale was made by the William Waldorf Astor estate‚ owners of the property.

1907: The Highlanders swap pitcher Walter Clarkson and outfielder Frank Delahanty – both siblings of future Hall of Famers – to Cleveland for pitcher Earl Moore. New York are hoping that Moore will return to the form he showed before a Highlander line drive injured his foot in August 1905. But after making  just six appearances this season‚ New York will waive him to the Phillies where he will regain his form in 1909. New York lose to Detroit today‚ 1-0.

The red-letter day:

1941: Joe DiMaggio gets a single in 4 at bats against Ed Smith of the Chicago White Sox to start his 56-game hitting streak. Joe D’s hit goes unnoticed as the Yankees are thrashed 13-1. Taffy Wright homers and drives in 4 White Sox runs‚ the 8th straight game in which he’s driven in a run.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1941/B05150NYA1941.htm

On other 15ths of May…

2011: The Red Sox beat the Yankees 7-5 at the Stadium, completing a three-game sweep and bring their record to .500 for the first time after starting the year 0-6. Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia homer for the Sox. The Yankees have now lost 9 of their last 12, and the standings in the AL East are now in a logjam, with all five teams within 3 1/2 games of each other.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2011/B05150NYA2011.htm

1996: The Mariners spot the Yankees 4 runs‚ then hammer starter Jimmy Key and 5 other pitchers for 19 hits to win 10-5. Seven Mariners collect two or more hits‚ and Edgar Martinez drives in 4 runs. A wild Key takes his 5th straight loss‚ while Mariano Rivera records four outs to stretch his scoreless innings streak to 21 2/3. The Yanks will place Key on the 15 day DL.

1965: At Memorial Stadium‚ Mickey Mantle slices an opposite field homer in the 8th inning off Dick Hall to give New York a 3-2 win over the Orioles.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1965/B05150BAL1965.htm

1963: Down 4-0 to the Twins‚ Mickey Mantle hits a two run homer off Pedro Ramos to put the Yankees on the board. Mantle later scores the winning run as New York wins‚ 4-3.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1963/B05150NYA1963.htm

1955: At the Stadium, Irv Noren hits an inside-the-park grand slam in an 8-4 Yankee victory over the A’s. New York win the nitecap to sweep the A’s. Mickey Mantle goes 4-for-9 for the afternoon and is hitting .311.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1955/B05151NYA1955.htm

1950: The Yankees sell veteran outfielder Johnny Lindell to the Cardinals and pitcher Clarence “Cuddles” Marshall to the Browns.

1935: Lou Gehrig steals home in a 4-0 Yankee win over the Tigers. It is the 15th and last time the Iron Horse will swipe the dish, always on the front end of a double steal.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1935/B05150DET1935.htm

1922: In a 4-1 win at the Polo Grounds‚ Ty Cobb beats out a grounder to Yankee shortstop Everett Scott. Veteran writer Fred Lieb scores it a hit in the box score he files with the Associated Press. But official scorer John Kieran of the New York Tribune gives an error to Scott. At the season’s end‚ the AL official records‚ based on AP box scores‚ list Cobb at .401. New York writers complain unsuccessfully‚ claiming it should be .399‚ based on the official scorer’s stats. Lieb will reverse himself at the end of the year‚ but Ban Johnson goes with the hit call.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1922/B05150NYA1922.htm

1920: At New York,  the Yankees beat Cleveland‚ handing Stan Coveleski (7-1) his first loss of the year. Pitcher Jack Quinn hits a homer off Coveleski with a man on in the 8th to win‚ 2-0. Quinn allows just 4 hits with only one runner getting past first base. Babe Ruth is 0-for-1‚ though the official scorer’s card has him at 0-for-2‚ a discrepancy that will not be corrected till 2005.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1920/B05150NYA1920.htm

1912: Ty Cobb charges into the stands at Hilltop Park and attacks a crippled heckler named Claude Lueker. Other New York fans and Tigers mix it up before order is restored‚ and Ban Johnson suspends Cobb indefinitely for the incident. The visitors win the contest‚ 8-4.

1911:Ring Lardner writes in the New York Daily News: ‘They are using a new ball this year. It’s livelier and that means more hitting‚ and more hitting means longer games‚ and that’s the devil. It appears to be impossible to finish a game in less than two hours’.

The red-letter days -

1996: Dwight Gooden‚ on the verge of being released by the Yankees just two weeks ago‚ twirls a no-hitter to sink the Mariners‚ 2-0. Dr. K walks two in the 9th‚ but retires Ken Griffey‚ Jr.‚ fans Jay Buhner‚ and induces Paul Sorrento to pop out to end it. Gerald Williams saves the no-hitter when he runs down a 400-foot Alex Rodriguez liner in the first inning and turns it into a double play. Gooden (2-3) has now thrown 16 straight innings of hitless ball.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA199605140.shtm

1967: Mickey Mantle becomes the 6th member of the 500-HR club in New York’s 6-5 win against Baltimore. Mantle connects batting left-handed off Stu Miller.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA196705140.shtml

On other 14ths of May…

2011: Jorge Posada asks to be taken out of the line-up 40 minutes before the game, after being listed as the 9th-place hitter against the Red Sox. Batting .165, the DH claims he has a bad back, something which Brian Cashman denies, and after the game explains that he feels “a little bit disrespected”. With Andruw Jones taking Posada’s place, the Yankees lose the game 6-0, with a two-run double by Jacoby Ellsbury and a three-run homer by Adrian Gonzalez off CC Sabathia providing the key blows in support of Josh Beckett’s six shutout innings. Jones hits 9th in the game, the second #9 hitter in MLB history with 400+ homers to his credit – the only previous one was Jimmie Foxx from his days as a pitcher at the tail end of his career.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2011/B05140NYA2011.htm

2010: After Twins manager Ron Gardenhire orders an intentional walk to Mark Teixera and brings in righty Matt Guerrier to face Alex Rodriguez in the 7th, the Yankee third baseman blasts his 19th career grand slam to pass Frank Robinson  for 7th on the all-time career home run list and give the Bombers an 8 – 4 win.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2010/B05140NYA2010.htm

2005: Kevin Brown allows 5 runs in 6 innings but still wins his 100th AL game as the Yankees pummel Oakland‚ 15-6. Brown has now won 100 games in each league‚ the 9th player to do so. He’s backed by homers from Derek Jeter‚ A-Rod‚ Jorge Posada‚ and Tino Martinez‚ who drives in 5 runs.

The red-letter day -

1929: In Cleveland‚ fans have no trouble telling the players apart‚ as both teams wear numbers on their uniform backs for the first time in Major League history. The Indians beat the Yanks 4-3‚ despite a homer by New York’s Mark Koenig off Willis Hudlin in the 6th inning. Also in the 6th‚ Yankee catcher Bill Dickey records three assists. For New York‚ it is their 3rd loss after 6 straight wins.

The 1929 Yankees

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1929/B05130CLE1929.htm

On other 13ths of May…

2012 Andy Pettitte returns to pinstripes after a one-year retirement, but the Mariners spoil the party by beating the Yankees 6-2. Justin Smoak and Casper Wells  hit homers against Pettitte; Kevin Millwood picks up his first win for the M’s. Wells is a dutiful son on Mother’s Day, hitting his long ball after his mom, who drove all the way from Schenectady, NY to the Bronx to attend the game, asked him to hit a home run to make it memorable.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2012/B05130NYA2012.htm

2001: The Yanks finally lose to a below .500 team as the Orioles double them up 10-5. Paul O’Neill hits a 2-out‚ 2-run homer in the 9th to tie‚ but the O’s score 5 runs off Mariano Rivera in the top of the 11th to win. The big hit in the worst blown save of the Yankee closer’s career is Jeff Conine’s HR.

2000: The Diamondbacks defeat the Padres‚ 6-2‚ as Todd Stottlemyre wins the 136th game of his career. His dad, Mel, won 164 games in a 10-year career spent entirely with the Yankees, and the two now become the first father-son duo to combine for 300 wins.

1997: Tino Martinez continues his hot hitting with a home run in the Yankees’ 7-run 6th inning‚ as New York beat the Twins 11-2. Bernie Williams belts a solo homer in the 5th to snap a 2-2 tie. Martinez’s homer‚ his 15th‚ leaves him one behind Ken Griffey and puts him in select Yankee company: only Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth (4 times) have hit 15 homers in the first 40 games of a season. The defending World Series champions have won 17 of their last 23‚ while the Twins lose for the 16th time in 20 games.

1977: Ed Figueroa pitches his fourth straight complete game‚ and Thurman Munson cracks a 7th inning homer to lead New York to a 3-0 win over the Angels.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1977/B05130CAL1977.htm

1973: In the opener of a doubleheader at the Stadium, the Yankees tie a Major League  record by hitting 4 solo homers in a shutout game in which no other runs are scored. The mark was originally set by Cleveland on August 2‚ 1956. Roy White‚ Bobby Murcer‚ Ron Blomberg and Graig Nettles all go long in the 4-0 win over Baltimore. Mel Stottlemyre is the winner. The Yanks jump on Dave McNally for 5 runs in game 2 but score zero when Eddie Watts contributes 4 innings of relief.  The Orioles win‚ 9-6.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B05131NYA1973.htm

1955: It’s Friday the 13th, and bad luck for the Tigers as Mickey Mantle homers from both sides of the plate for the first time in his career. In all‚ Mantle has 3 roundtrippers‚ the first two lefty against starter Steve Gromek‚ and the third off Bob Miller‚ all to the deep reaches of the bleachers in right center. The Mick adds a single to complete a total of 5 RBIs, accounting for all of his team’s runs as New York beat Detroit 5-2. Whitey Ford goes seven innings for the win. Mantle joins Tony Lazzeri (1927)‚ Ben Chapman (1932)‚ and Bill Dickey (1939) as the  only Yanks to hit three homers in a game at the Stadium.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1955/B05130NYA1955.htm

1951: At Philadelphia’s Shibe Park‚ Mickey Mantle hits his first righty homer‚ off Alex Kellner‚ in the majors‚ then makes the last out by
popping up his bunt attempt with the tying run on 3rd. The A’s win 5-4‚ then win the nitecap as well. Mantle has no homers in the 2nd game loss‚ but misses 2nd base on a hit.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1951/B05131PHA1951.htm

1947: The Yankees pound the Browns 9-1 with Charlie Keller‚ Joe DiMaggio  and Johnny Lindell combining for consecutive homers off
starter Fred Sanford in the 6th inning.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1947/B05130NYA1947.htm

1946: The Yankees become the first Major League team to sign a contract with an airline to fly on a regular basis‚ as they take a United flight to St. Louis to take on the Browns. Red Ruffing and four others choose to take the train.

1945: Atley Donald (below) is victorious over the Indians 1-0 in 10 innings when New York break through against pitcher Red Embree. A walk‚ a bunt single‚ a sac bunt and a sac fly by Russ Derry plate the run. Donald  is 13-1 against the Tribe‚ with his only loss coming on August 21‚ 1941 whenBob  Feller won‚ 2-0. Cleveland win the second game of the twinbill 4-2‚ behind Steve Gromek’s 7-hitter.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1945/B05131CLE1945.htm

1937: Joe DiMaggio replaces Lou Gehrig as the Yankees cleanup hitter and drives in three runs‚ as the Yankees trip the Browns‚ 4-2. Gehrig‚ hitting 5th gets a double after going hitless in his last 21 at bats. Tommy Henrich‚ making his second appearance‚ bats third. He collects a pair of singles. Winning pitcher Lefty Gomez is the only Yankee without a hit.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1937/B05130SLA1937.htm

1934: Lou Gehrig victimizes Cleveland’s Lloyd Brown with a grand slam for the second time when he launches one his first time up in the game. Ben Chapman also homers and triples twice as the Yanks roll before a Sunday Stadium crowd of 35,000, 8-0.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1934/B05130NYA1934.htm

The red-letter day -

1925: Yogi Berra is born.  Happy birthday to a national treasure!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogi_Berra

On other 12ths of May…

2009: Chien-Ming Wang, who has been struggling ever since coming back from a baserunning foot injury in ’08, is sent from the Yanks to AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre to try to build some arm strength in the minors.

2002:  The Yankees top Minnesota on Mother’s Day‚ 10-4‚ giving Joe Torre his 1‚500th career win as manager.

2001: The Yankees extend their hard-to-say major league record of 15 straight wins since the start of a season over teams with a below .500 record. They beat the Orioles‚ 8-5‚ on Derek Jeter’s 3-run HR in the 8th. David Justice and Bernie Williams also homer for NY.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2001/B05120NYA2001.htm

1996: The Yankees fall behind 8-0 to the White Sox at Comiskey Park, and then make it all the way back to win, 9-8. The comeback is completed by a 5- run Yankee 6th, keyed by 2-run doubles from Paul O’Neill and Joe Girardi.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1996/B05120CHA1996.htm

1982: The Yankees send infielder Larry Milbourne, along with minor leaguers John Pacella and Pete Filson, to the Twins in exchange for catcher Butch Wynegar and pitcher Roger Erickson and cash. The Twins’ frugal owner‚ Calvin Griffith‚ is roundly criticized for the deals‚ in which he appears to be unloading high-salaried veterans at the expense of a winning ball club.

1946: A crowd of 69‚401‚ the largest in Stadium history‚ watch the Yankees give the Red Sox 2 unearned runs and manage just 3 hits off Mickey Harris‚ and lose to Boston‚ 3-1. The Sox get just 3 hits off loser Spud Chandler.

ickey Harris with Ted Williams and Rudy York before the game.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1946/B05120NYA1946.htm

1940: Behind the six-hit pitching of Red Ruffing‚ the Yankees beat the Bosox‚ 4-0‚ and stop New York’s 8-game losing skid. New York (7-14) are still in last place while Boston (16-6) sit atop the AL.

1935: Felipe Alou, who played at first base and in the outfield for the Yankees in the early ’70s, is born. Happy 78th, F.A.!

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/aloufe01.shtml

1933: The Yankees sell pitcher George Pipgras and rookie shortstop Bill Werber to the Red Sox for $100,000.

1930: The Yankees waive pitcher Tom Zachary to the Boston Braves.

1919: After a scoreless 12-inning game the day before‚ the Yankees and Senators complete 27 innings of action with no decision‚ going 15 innings in a 4-4 draw. Yankee lead off hitter George Halas goes hitless for the second day in a row and ends his Major League career with just 22 at bats. He will decide to start the NFL instead.

1915: Yankee outfielder Roy Hartzell hits into a triple play, but his mates top the Indians anyway, 4-2.

1911: Playing against the Yankees at Detroit, Ty Cobb scores a run from first on a short single to right‚ scores from second on a wild pitch‚ then doubles home two runs in the 7th to tie the game. When New York catcher Ed Sweeney vehemently argues the call at the plate‚ the rest of the infield gathers‚ leaving Cobb untended at second. With no time out having been called‚ Cobb strolls to third base‚ and then ambles down the line to observe the continuing argument. When he spots an opening in the circle of players‚ he quickly slides in with what will prove to be the winning run. The Tigers take the game 6-5.

1897: Joe Dugan, third baseman for the Murderers’ Row Yankees, is born.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/duganjo01.shtml

2006: The Yankees take the field at the Stadium against the Red Sox a bit undermanned, Gary Sheffield having been placed on the disabled list the day before with what was hoped to  be a minor wrist injury. Things take a still nastier turn eight pitches in, when left fielder Hideki Matsui charges a soft liner off the bat of Mark Loretta and breaks his own right wrist on a diving attempt at the catch. A Loretta infield single in the seventh will also be the turning point in the game, as the Sox come from behind for a 5-3 win. Both Matsui and Sheffield will be lost for much of the year.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2006/B05110NYA2006.htm

2000: The Devil Rays defeat the Yankees‚ 1-0‚ behind the pitching of Steve Trachsel‚ who hurls the first 7 innings. Trachsel‚ who defeated the Red Sox 1-0 in his last start‚ becomes the 1st AL pitcher in 24 years to win back-to-back 1-0 games. (Editor’s note: If Trachsel’s name rings a bell with trivia fans, it’s because he gave up Mark McGwire’s 62nd home run to break Roger Maris’ record in 1998).

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2000/B05110NYA2000.htm

1990: Citing a no-trade clause in his contract‚  Dave Winfield refuses to report to the Angels after being traded for Mike Witt. Winfield will eventually accept the trade on May 16th‚ ending his often stormy relationship with  George Steinbrenner.

1981: Former Yankee outfielder Sammy Byrd dies at the age of 74. Byrd began his ML career by playing in the Bronx from 1929 to 1934, Babe Ruth’s last years with the club, and he often ran for the Bambino late in games, earning him the nickname ‘Babe Ruth’s legs.’

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/byrdsa01.shtml

1966: The Yankees purchase shortsatop Dick Schofield from the Giants: they’ll trade him to the Dodgers on September 10 for pitcher Thad Tillotson.

1965: Mel Stottlemyre stops the Red Sox 5-3 at Fenway‚ and Mickey Mantle reaches base 4 times‚ once on his 6th homer of the year.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1965/B05110BOS1965.htm

1963: The Yankees trounce the Orioles‚ 13-1‚ beating Milt Pappas. Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris each homer‚ the first time this year they’ve done it together.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1963/B05110BAL1963.htm

1950: Airplane travel is still a baseball rarity‚ but a railroad strike forces the Yankees and four other clubs – the Red Sox‚ Dodgers‚ Giants‚ and Reds – to fly  to play their next scheduled games. The Senators‚ with short hops in the prospect‚ will take the bus.

1946: The Yankees end a 15-game Red Sox winning streak‚ as Ernie ‘Tiny’ Bonham beats Tex Hughson and Boo Ferriss 2-0 before 52‚011 at the Stadium. Tommy Henrich hits a homer and accounts for both runs. The Red Sox are 21-4‚ 4 1/2 games ahead of the Yanks. The 15-game streak is still a Red Sox record.

‘Tiny’ Bonham

1940: The Red Sox top the Yankees 9-8 with 2 runs in the bottom of the 11th after New York had taken the lead on Tommy Henrich’s second HR of the game. Joe McCarthy benches Frankie Crosetti‚ hitting .150‚ but New York (6-8) still lose their 8th in a row at home to drop into last place. Meanwhile‚ Boston take their 6th straight. With Crosetti’s benching‚ he ends his consecutive games played at 420‚ the longest current streak in the majors.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B05110NYA1940.htm

1939: The Yankees set down the Browns‚ 10-8‚ jumping on rookie Ewald Pyle for three hits before he exits. Pyle is subbing for Bobo Newsom‚ out with a skinned finger. Russ ‘the Fresno Flinger’ Van Atta‚  follows‚ and the Yanks score nine runs in four innings to put the game out of reach. Bill Dickey has three hits to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Lou Gehrig does not play‚ but takes infield practice and warms up Monte Pearson using a righty glove. New York now lead by 1 1/2 games.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1939/B05110SLA1939.htm

1937: Tommy Henrich makes his Major League debut. The future mainstay of the Yankee outfield goes 1 for 4, but White Sox pitcher Monte Stratton scatters 7 hits in subduing the Yankees 7-2. Henrich‚ recently signed‚ was called up to take the place of Jake Powell‚ out with appendicitis.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1937/B05110CHA1937.htm

1927: In St. Louis‚ Babe Ruth belts his second homer in 2 days and his eighth of the year‚ off Ernie Nevers‚ as the Yanks win 4-2. The shot passes to the left of the center field flagpole in Sportsman’s Park‚ the longest ball to date ever hit there. Not sparing the purple prose, Martin Haley in the St. Louis Post Dispatch writes: ‘Homeric Herman careened the animated leather for a sky-scraping bulls-eye into the distant center-field bleachers‚ the ball clattering up the icy seats at the point where the left-center and dead-center field sections conjoin.’

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1927/B05110SLA1927.htm

1919: In the first legal Sunday game in New York for the Yankees‚ and after a 12 inning duel between Washington’s Walter Johnson and New York spitballer Jack Quinn‚ neither team score. The Big Train allows a single in the first and then retires the next 28 batters before giving up a walk in the 10th. In a misinterpretation of the new rules‚ the game is called at 6 p.m. by New York owner Jacob Ruppert.

1904: In the opener of a 4-game series with the visiting Cleveland Blues‚ the New York Highlanders prevail‚ 4-2‚ on a 2-run homer by Kid Elberfeld and a pair of run-scoring singles by Deacon McGuire (below). The New Yorkers will take 3 of the 4 games to move into a tie for second place.

The red-letter day -

1936: Joe DiMaggio makes his Yankee Stadium debut.

The much-heralded rookie also hits his first ML home run‚ off the A’s George Turbeville. Lou Gehrig has 4
hits and two RBIs to pace the Yanks to a 7-2 win.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1936/B05100NYA1936.htm

On other 10ths of May…

2007: The Yankees get their first glimpse this year of The Remarkable Wang and his Amazing Non-sinking Sinker, as C.M.allows 11 hits and 7 runs through the 7th inning. Southpaw reliever Sean Henn suffers through an equally forgettable seven-run 8th in the 14-2 Texas drubbing, topped off by former Met Victor Diaz’s grand slam.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2007/B05100NYA2007.htm

1996: David Cone undergoes surgery to remove an aneurysm in his pitching arm.