This Day in New York Yankees History 4/25: Joe DiMaggio in Monument Park

On this day in 1999 the New York Yankees unveiled their fifth monument in Monument Park when a plaque honoring Joe DiMaggio was placed there. Joe D died the month prior at age 84 and joined Miller Huggins, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Mickey Mantle in Monument Park.


Also on this day in 1933 the benches cleared at Griffith Stadium between the New York Yankees and the Washington Senators. Yankee outfielder Ben Chapman spikes Buddy Myer and then responds by punching the Senators Jewish second baseman and hurling anti-Semitic remarks at the injured infielder. This was an ugly brawl that lasted 20 minutes and spread into the stands with over 300 fans getting into the action. Suspensions and fines followed for the player’s involvement.


Also on this day in 1933 Yankees rookie pitcher Russ Van Atta goes 4-4 and shuts out the Washington Senators 16-0 in his Major League debut. Kid seems like a keeper to me.


Finally on this day in 1904 Jack Chesbro and the New York Highlanders hand the Washington Senators their eight straight loss, making the Sens 0-8 to start the season, when New York won 4-1. Chesbro picked up his first of his record 41 wins he will get that season. Insane by today's standards.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins 4/24

And just like that Yankees fans we are back in the Bronx as New York and Yankee Stadium get ready to play host to the Minnesota Twins in the second of a four-game set this week. In the start tonight the Yankees will send CC Sabathia to the mound to face off with Jose Berrios for the Twins. The game will be played at 6:35 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app or by tuning into the Yankes radio broadcast with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Follow us on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, and “Like” us on Facebook, The Greedy Pinstripes, to keep up with us and the Yankees all season long. Enjoy the game, continue the beatdown on the Twins, and go Yankees!!

What it Means to Be a Yankees Fan: Ken Hans

Over the weekend I asked many fans what it meant to them to be a Yankees fan. What prompted this was not only my own thought process, but my post under the same name that went live on Friday. I explained what being a Yankees fan meant to me on Friday while Bryan Van Dusen did the same on Saturday, now it is time to hear from a fan that isn’t a writer here on The Greedy Pinstripes. His name is Ken Hans and he has been commenting on our posts as a part of the TGP family for the better part of a year or two now, and today we all get to meet him and find out what being a Yankees fan means to him. Remember, to have your Yankees fandom showcased on the blog like Ken Hans be sure to answer these four questions below and email them to me at danielburch1102 at yahoo dot com.

Thank you to Ken Hans for taking the time to do this for us. I hope you all enjoyed reading his words as much as I did.

What makes you a fan of the New York Yankees?

Well my path as a Yankee fan was really bestowed upon me by my father. I started following the Yanks in the mid-sixties as Mantle’s career was starting to wind down. Mickey Mantle was my favorite player growing up. I went through the lean years in the sixties and I actually started to follow the Mets when they won the World Series in ‘69. I’m a baseball junkie at heart. I am a former college player that can just sit and dissect the game apart. Anyway, back to the Yankees. I have lived through many lean years and the days of seeing Celerino Sanchez, Horace Clark and Jerry Kenny were just painful. I loved players like Joe Pepitone and guys like Sparky Lyle. I guess you can say my father’s influence really pushed me towards the Yankees. I do enjoy the history of the team and all that it stands for. I don’t like the current ownership as I do think Hal is a Coupon Clipper and I enjoyed his dad from the standpoint that he reinvested in the team. Hal only cares about his wallet.

What is your earliest memory of the New York Yankees?

My earliest moments as a young boy around six-or-seven were when my dad would take me to the Yankee game on my birthday every year. First game I remember was against the Washington Senators and seeing big Frank Howard at first base. I also remember watching the games on channel 11 and listening to Frank Messer, Phil Rizzuto and Bill White. I loved that broadcast team. I also loved when they went away from the bullpen golf cart to the Toyota cars, but that was later on.

What is your fondest memory of the New York Yankees?

God that’s a hard one as I have so many. I remember the Bucky Dent HR against the Red SUX lol and the three HR game by Reggie Jackson. Loved Goose Gossage with the three inning saves and the Bronx Zoo team was my favorite. I would have to say my overall fondest memory was the Boston Massacre and just ripping them to shreds.

What do you think of when you see the interlocking NY of the Yankees?

When I see the interlocking NY I think greatness, history and overall a class organization that is the crème of the crop in all of sports history. No other sports franchise can claim all the championships we possess.

Yankees Dominate Twins in Series Opener...

Photo Credit: New York Post (Charles Wenzelberg)

Solid Hitting, Pitching and Defense…ü

The World always seems to be a better place the day after a Yankees win. Even better when the Yankees’ vaunted offense goes ‘Postal’ on the Minnesota Twins en route to the convincing 14-1 win. So much for Minnesota’s plans for the revenge game following their loss in last year’s Wild Card game to the Yankees. As a Vikings fan, I generally have a soft spot for Twins fans since we share a common alliance in football but all bets are off when they play the Yankees.

Photo Credit: Pioneer Press (Richard Marshall)

Miguel Andujar continued his consecutive game streak with extra-base hits to rub shoulders with none other than Mickey Mantle and Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio. The trio of two Hall of Famers and a rookie are the only Yankees under the age of 24 to have an extra-base hit in at least seven consecutive games. When the Yankees acquired Brandon Drury to be their third baseman during Spring Training, I was solidly in Camp Drury. But when Drury returns from the DL, there’s no way the Yankees can sit Andujar. With no offense to Todd Frazier (a player I loved as a Yankee), third base is in better hands with Andujar and Drury than it was Frazier and Chase Headley. The dilemma for Manager Aaron Boone will be how to make room on the roster for guys like Drury, Jacoby Ellsbury, Clint Frazier and Greg Bird when they are healthy. Actually, it’s GM Brian Cashman’s job but still, there are some difficult decisions awaiting the team on down the road.

The first major league hit is in the books for young future star Gleyber Torres. His single in the bottom of the eighth inning off Twins reliever Tyler Kinley halted an 0-for-7 skid to start his Major League career. Now that the first one is out of the way, Torres can settle in and play the game his way. I don’t know what was more exciting…Gleyber getting his first hit or Giancarlo Stanton’s 4-for-4 night with a home run, three runs scored and two RBI’s. Or the grand salami courtesy of The Shredder’s non-Top Ten shortstop, Didi Gregorius who continues to elevate his game to heights previously unimaginable. 

Tyler Austin, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks…so many Yankees that contributed to last night’s big win. And, oh by the way, Masahiro Tanaka did not suck. He held the Twins to three hits and a single run over 6 2/3 innings and 91 pitches. He struck out five Twinkies while walking only two. Not bad for a day’s work. Chad Green and David Hale finished off the game, keeping the Twins from adding any further runs.

Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)

The Yankees are now 12-9 and have pushed themselves back to five games behind the division leading Boston Red Sox. They trail the second place Toronto Blue Jays by just a game. A few consecutive wins and everything looks rosy again. Of course, if they lose tonight against the Twins, it will be doom and gloom all over again. But for now, I am enjoying the win streak and hope it continues for the foreseeable future. I’ve always been a huge fan of ten-game winning streaks and there’s no time like the present to achieve one. 

After holding the Twins scoreless over the final two innings last night despite allowing three hits, David Hale found himself in DFA limbo after the game. His roster spot was taken by former Washington Nationals right-hander A.J. Cole whom the Yankees acquired for cash considerations. All winter I wanted Brian Cashman to acquire RHP Cole. I guess I should have been more specific. Cole, 26, a former fourth-round pick, has been an occasional spot starter for the Nats and was scheduled to be their fifth starter this year until his performance forced the Nationals to replace him with veteran starter Jeremy Hellickson. His season line is horrific. He has given up 16 hits and 15 runs (including six homers) over 10 1/3 innings. He has walked six while striking out ten. It’s kind of funny. In his last appearance for the Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Hale gave up 12 hits and 6 runs. It earned him a promotion to the Bronx, where he gets his walking papers after pitching two scoreless innings. He is replaced by a guy who has been arguably worse. I guess the Yankees want Sonny Gray to feel like he isn’t the worst pitcher on the staff. To Cole’s defense, he has greater upside than Hale so I don’t necessarily have a problem with the move. But I hope pitching coach Larry Rothschild can fix whatever ails Cole’s pitches. At this point, he looks like a worse version of Bryan Mitchell, but who knows, maybe the Yankees see something in Cole that is not outwardly visible to the rest of us. Or maybe he’s just the next DFA candidate. I’d like to see Cole succeed. He’s still young enough to figure this thing out.

Photo Credit: Associated Press (Matt Slocum)

Tonight’s game features the Twins’ very talented young righty Jose Berrios (2-1, 1.63 ERA) pitching against crafty veteran CC Sabathia (0-0, 2.70 ERA).  In his last start, Berrios held the Cleveland Indians scoreless with seven innings of work, allowing only three hits. In fact, he’s held three of his four opponents to three hits and no runs. The only blemish was an April 7^th start against the Seattle Mariners when he was roughed up for five runs in 4 2/3 innings. It will be a tough game for the Yankees hitters but conversely it’s not going to be an easy one for Berrios.

Go Yankees! 

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins 4/24

The New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins will be back at it again tonight in the Bronx, and back to that weird start time, with the second game of their four-game set this week inside Yankee Stadium. Last night was Tanaka time and tonight the Yankees watch as the veteran CC Sabathia heads out to the mound to face off with Jose Berrios for the Twins. CC looked good in his first start since coming off the disabled list, but the Yankees will need a little more length out of the veteran southpaw before he is truly relied upon here in 2018.

Sabathia will make his fourth start of the 2018 campaign tonight here in the Bronx and will be looking to pitch past the fifth inning for the first time in this young season. Sabathia has been effective tossing a 2.70 ERA and is fresh off a start against the Toronto Blue Jays where he allowed just two unearned runs I 4.1 innings pitched but will need to provide some length tonight against the Twins if at all possible.

Berrios had a breakout season for Minnesota in 2017 posting a 14-8 record with a 3.89 ERA and will look to improve on that here in 2018. Berrios is off to a good start this year with a 2-1 record and a 1.63 ERA and will look to improve on his career numbers against the Yankees which currently sit at 1-1 with a 3.62 ERA. However, Berrios is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in his only trip to Yankee Stadium in his career, where he makes his return to tonight.

The game will be played at 6:35 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network locally and MLB Network outside of the Yankees market. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Enjoy the game, the Yankees are the Twins daddies, and go Yankees!!

Hello… Don’t Look Now but the Yankees Are Hot!

Good morning everyone and a Happy Tuesday to you all. Don’t look now Yankees fans, and “Yankees fans” who want everyone fired and everyone traded, and everyone sent down to Triple-A without knowing the rules of MLB…. Like seriously I saw one guy suggest that we send down Giancarlo Stanton to “clear his head” in Triple-A. There’s such thing as MLB service time and minor league options… you cannot simply send someone down because they had a bad week in a game where failing seven out of ten times makes you legendary. Idiots.

Anyway, I digress. The New York Yankees are starting to warm up as the thermometer outside Yankee Stadium does so the rest of the league better watch out. Gleyber Torres is up, Miguel Andujar is hot, Brandon Drury is close and so is Clint Frazier. Greg Bird could be too but excuse me for being a bit reluctant at this point. The pitching will be better, and the hitting will too. This team was built to win, and that they will do.

And Kari, my love, we were built to win. So, win we will. I love you. Enjoy your day.

This Day in New York Yankees History 4/24: David Ortiz Yankee Stadium Jersey Sold!

On this day in 2008 the jersey that was hidden in the cement during construction at the new Yankee Stadium was auctioned off to help the Jimmy Fund charity and fetched $175,100. The winning bidder out of 282 bidders was Kevin Meehan a Mendon, Mass. resident and owner of imperialcars.com.


Also on this day in 1987 Rickey Henderson became the first batter to ever hit a home run off of two 300 game winners in the same game. Henderson hit a solo home run in the 8th inning off Phil Niekro and would hit a two run home run in the ninth inning off Steve Carlton to help the Yankees beat the Indians 6-5.


Also on this day in 1923 President Warren G. Harding witnessed the first shutout ever thrown at Yankee Stadium. The avid baseball fan and chain smoking president saw Babe Ruth hit a home run in the contest but was ultimately disappointed when his Washington Senators lost 4-0.


Finally on this day in 1917 Yankee pitcher George Mogridge throws a no hitter against the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park. This is the first no hitter in Yankees franchise history and the first ever thrown at Fenway Park.

Fan Time.....

Hello everyone, I’m back again and so far the Yankees are off to what I think is a slow start at 9 and 9. But like any other Yankee fan, I know its way too early to be concerned and they will pull it together just like always. Don’t forget I Still would love to chat with all of you, drop me an email anytime at JamesCPalma@yahoo.com. 

 

I’m here with another edition of Fan Time and boy do I have a treat for you this week. I have interviewed The Greedy Pinstripes own Daniel Burch! For myself and I’m sure for many of you readers, I like his work and agree with most of his opinions, so I figured who better to ask a few questions. I will start this interview with a question most of us can assume we know his answer, how long has he been a Yankee Fan?

 

Daniel: “As far as I can remember, I have been a Yankees fan my entire life. I can remember my parents telling me that I would be glued to the TV for a few innings at a time as young as two-years old. I became a religious Yankees fan who watched 140+ games a year (school, etc. got in the way sometimes) back in 1994, and I have been ever since.” 

 

Me: “How long have you been with The Greedy Pinstripes?”

 

Daniel: “Well Bryan and I started The Greedy Pinstripes (TGP) on January 6, 2012 and we have been plugging away ever since. Bryan and I had a few ventures we worked on together before we started TGP including a couple sports forums we frequented, but we never really liked the way things were done everywhere else. We always wanted to do things our way and differently... so we did, and the rest, as they say is history.”

 

Me: “Anything the readers here don’t know about you that you would like them to?”

 

Daniel: “Well… generally I am a private person so there is probably plenty that I could tell that many people don't know. The problem is I’m not entirely sure any of it would be all that interesting hahaha. If I had to choose one thing, it would be how much I truly appreciate every reader and every fan that interacts with us. I know everyone says that, but I truly mean it more than anyone will ever know! I am just a regular guy with a blog. I don't have a degree in writing or in English for that matter. I wouldn't call my HTML code writing or website design "great" by any means. I don't live in New York anymore and I don't get to watch as many games as I would like to because of work or because of life, yet you guys and girls tune in and read my stuff every single day. It is amazing to me, it blows my mind and it truly humbles me. There's so much competition in the Yankees blogosphere, and you choose to read my stuff. It's amazing, and it is truly appreciated. I don't make a dime off this site. It’s a money suck if I’m going to be honest. But I hope that it shows I don't care by the way I write and the way I conduct myself on the site.” 

 

Me: “The Yankees are 9-9 and seem stuck in neutral worried yet?”

 

Daniel: “I am never worried! I’m always the eternal optimist. I predicted the Yankees would win the American League East and the World Series in 2018. It’s in black and white on the blog, and I am not one to back away from that. I stand by my predictions, my words and my opinions. Always have, always will!” 

 

Me: “That is a great quality for any person to have! Do you make a reactionary move now and call up Gleyber Torres?”

(Interview conducted before call up)  

Daniel: “I don't think it would be a reactionary move to call up Gleyber. The organization has all but said they would delay his free agency by a year by keeping him down in Triple-A, and they will stick to that. Once he is ready he should be here, period. There's nothing left to prove down in Triple-A and it isn't reactionary in my opinion, it makes good baseball sense.”

 

Me: “What are your thoughts on the next wave of baby bombers?”

 

Daniel: “I think that is the best part about this new set of Yankees, the reinforcements are here and a new set isn't far behind them. The Yankees system may not be ranked the best, but it is one of the deepest I think I have ever seen in my entire Yankees fandom. Chance Adams, Justus Sheffield, Freicer Perez, and so many others I could mention, it is borderline un-fair! The team still has all their international money for this signing period that begins on July 2, 2018. The team didn't give up any draft picks by signing free agents and the future looks brighter and brighter as scary as that is for the rest of the league, by the day.” 

 

 

Me: “Do the Yankees win the division or the wild card?”

 

Daniel: “Division by four games. That was my prediction and that is still my prediction.” 

 

Me: “I think the Yankees would be better served with this line up: at leadoff, Gardner then Judge, Didi, Stanton, Sanchez, Hicks, Austin, Walker, and at 9th Torres. What are your thoughts?”

 

Daniel: “I got killed in the offseason for suggesting that Didi hit third. He has done nothing this season but make me look like the genius that I already know I am. I am not AT ALL sarcastic either, haha. But really, I love that lineup. Gardner the table setter, Judge with the high OBP, Didi with the power as one of the purest hitters and all-around hitters on the team in the third slot where your best hitter is suppose to be, followed by the big boppers. Imagine that lineup when Greg Bird gets back healthy and can hit sixth... scary!” 

 

Me: “It’s already scary without Bird but I totally agree. Should the Yankees look for help? If so, at what position and who? Any trade ideas?”

 

Daniel: “Honestly I don't see a glaring need on the team right now. The starting pitching could be upgraded, but it has been more than serviceable thus far this season. The bullpen has sucked but the track records of those guys and the history of the game suggests to me that the only way they can go from here is up. We have all said "once the hitters get hot, watch out." Does the same not apply to the bullpen? But if I had to play along and pick one position to trade for it would obviously be starting pitching. In the offseason I mentioned acquiring a true rental like Cole Hamels if the Texas Rangers were to fall out of contention and I still think that would be a huge upgrade over CC Sabathia right now, and I love CC just as an FYI.” 

 

Me: “Good point, so do you think it was a mistake we didn’t add a starter this off season?”

 

Daniel: “I really wouldn't call it a mistake. Do I think the Yankees could have used one? Sure, I clamored for Alex Cobb and others all offseason long. Would I call it a mistake though? No, not really. I used to kill the Yankees on the blog and on the sports forums I used to frequent when I felt they made a move just for the sake of making a move. Sacrificing prospects and such just for the sake of it isn't ideal in my opinion. If the right move was there I feel like Brian Cashman would have made it. It wasn't, so we didn't add a starter. That doesn't mean we won't in June or July though when we still have all those pieces available down on the farm.” 

 

Me: “I agree, Cashman knows what he’s doing but I want the best of the best lol. Who from next years free agent class do you sign and why?”

 

Daniel: “Everyone expects me to say Bryce Harper, Manny Machado or Clayton Kershaw if he opts out but truth be told I'd pass on all three. Machado wants to be a shortstop and I want to extend Didi while Harper plays a position where we already have two or three long-term outfielders. If the price was right for Harper, a contract similar to what Giancarlo has left on his deal (not the entire deal) then sure, snatch him up and let's Get Greedy, but that isn't going to happen. I'd love Kershaw as well but I am not convinced he is going to opt out, or come to the east coast. The guy I want more than anything is Dallas Keuchel. I would break the bank for that guy, 10 times out of 10.” 

 

Me: “Okay, I can agree with that, I like Keuchel as well. These next few questions/statements are going to be true or false starting with Judge wins batting title and/or MVP.”

 

Daniel: “FALSE. I picked Josh Donaldson to win both.”

 

Me: “Stanton winds up as a bust.”

 

Daniel: “FALSE.”

 

Me: “Chance Adams gets a shot this year.”

 

Daniel: “TRUE. Even if it is as a reliever or September call up.”

 

Me: “Justus Sheffield is a September call up.”

 

Daniel: “FALSE. 40 man roster crunch. But injuries could change that.”

 

Me: “Yankees win 90 plus games.”

 

Daniel: “TRUE.”

 

Me: “Yankees make a huge in season trade.

 

Daniel: “FALSE. Huge, probably not, Stanton was huge. They will make a trade or two though.”

 

Me: “Aaron Boone gets fired in season.”

 

Daniel: “FALSE.”

 

Me: “Yankees win the word series”

 

Daniel: “ALWAYS TRUE!”

 

Me: “Alright we are just about done here, just a few more questions. What is the biggest Yankee memory you have?”

 

Daniel: “The biggest Yankees memory I have, believe it or not, came down after I moved out of New York and came to Georgia. I hadn't seen the Yankees live in probably six years before they came down and I shelled out a ton of money to sit in the third row right next to the visiting Yankees dugout. I could see into the dugout the entire game, which was amazing. Also before the game Derek Jeter stood out and signed autographs for at least 45 minutes. It was a madhouse. I unfortunately did not get my autograph, but the fact that he did that on a Tuesday night in the rain for 45 minutes just showed what kind of person and player he was. It was things like that which always impressed me about Jeter, the stuff that the cameras never saw but the true fans always knew if you asked them.” 

 

Me: “Yeah, Jeter is a stand up guy and always showed that in everything he did. Who is your favorite all time Yankee and Why?”

 

Daniel: “It's not Derek Jeter, don't kill me! Honestly it is Tino Martinez. I don't know why but I was always driven towards him. I loved his batting stance, I loved his swing and I loved that fire and intensity he played with. He was no Paul O'Neill, but he did okay. LOL.” 

 

Me: “Very awesome answer! Paul and Tino are amongst my all time favorites as well. Tino is definitely an all time great Yankee who doesn’t always get his true credit or what I feel is deserved. Okay, last question, any final thoughts on this year’s team?”

 

Daniel: “As usual, World Series or bust!” 

 

Me: “Thank you Daniel it’s been a real pleasure. The Yankees are stuck playing .500 ball but as you I’m not worried. The Yanks will right the ship and bring home number 28!!!”   

Thanks again to Daniel for taking the time to help me out with this. A smart baseball man and loyal Yankee fan. I for one am glad that he and Bryan started TGP and I’m very happy to be part of the family.

 Keep in mind folks I’m going to need your help to continue with Fan Time. Please email me with any questions, comments, and/or would like to be interviewed. I look forward to hearing from you. I’m always looking for my next victim lol. Well thanks fans for reading and have a great week… LET’S GO BOMBERS!!!!

Gleyber Torres Career Highlight... Thus Far

Gleyber Torres Discusses His Promotion to NYY