Ricky Ledee to Aaron Judge Trade Tree

 

Don't call it a comeback.... but we're back for the first time in what feels like forever with possibly a new set of content for all the Yankees fans reading today. How in the world did Ricky Ledee, I'll give you all a minute to Google the former Yankees left fielder in the dynasty years, lead the Yankees to their captain, Aaron Judge? That's what we are here to discuss with you all today.

The New York Yankees selected outfielder Ricky Ledee in the 16th round of the 1990 MLB Draft. While with the Yankees, Ledee spent parts of the 19998  - 2000 seasons in the Bronx winning two World Series rings with the club. After 62 games with the club in 2000, the Yankees needed an outfield upgrade for the postseason, which led New York to trade Ledee to the Cleveland Indians (Guardians) along with Jake Westbrook and Zach Day for popular star David Justice. 

Justice would stay with the Yankees for the 2000 season, winning a World Series against the New York Mets, as well as the 2001 season, seeing the team fall to the Arizona Diamondbacks in seven games, before being traded to the New York Mets prior to the 2002 season. Justice was traded in a rare cross-town trade with the Mets for third baseman Robin Ventura. 

Ventura was an All Star with the Yankees in 2002, falling short of the ultimate crown of World Series champions, before being flipped to the Los Angeles Dodgers halfway through the 2003 season. On July 31, 2003 the Yankees shipped Ventura off to the Dodgers for RHP Scott Proctor and outfield prospect Bubba Crosby. 

Proctor quickly became one of Joe Torre's favorite and most relied upon reliever during his stint with the Yankees, pitching in a league high 83 games in 2006. Proctor would throw in an identical 83 games during the 2007 season, but only 52 of those innings came with the Yankees, interrupted by another midseason trade back to the Los Angeles Dodgers. For what it's worth, New York didn't do much with Bubba Crosby after the trade aside from using him as our "starting center fielder" in the negotiations with then-Boston Red Sox free agent center fielder Johnny Damon. 

Another July 31 trade for New York saw the addition of infielder Wilson Betemit to bolster their bench, while the Dodgers added back Proctor to strengthen their bullpen. Betemit would spend two seasons in the Bronx, including the final year of the old Yankee Stadium in 2008, before the Yankees, who missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1994 strike-shortened season, went out and aggressively began adding to the team. Betemit was traded to the Chicago White Sox before the 2009 season, along with Jeff Marquez (draftyed and developed by the Yankees) and Jhonny Nunez (who was acquired in a separate trade involving Alberto Gonzalez from the Yankees side) for outfielder Nick Swisher and reliever Kanekoa Texeira. 

The Yankees would go on to win the World Series in 2009, behind Swisher and their flury of new additions, and were back on top of the baseball world. The team could not repeat their successes in 2010, nor in 2011 or 2012 before Swisher left the Yankees via free agency. Swisher would sign with the Cleveland Indians (Guardians) prior to the 2013 season, thus giving New York a compensation pick between the first and second rounds of the 2013 MLB First year Player's Draft. 

With the 32nd pick overall, the New York Yankees selected Aaron James Judge and the rest, as they say, is history. Judge has had a 62 home run season, breaking the American League single-season home run record, along with a 58 home run season in 2024, but the World Series trophy has eluded Judge since breaking through with the team in 2016. 

Imagine a world where the New York Yankees didn't have Aaron Judge playing in their outfield in the Bronx, kind of hard to picture right? Well that would have certainly been a reality had the Yankees not drafted Ledee way back in 1990. A lot of chips had to fall a certain way to lead the team to where they are today and I, for one, am happy with the progression. Judge will presumably spend his entire year with the Yankees as their captain of the squad and we all, as fans, have the likes of Ledee, Ventura, Proctor, Betemit and Swisher, to name a few, to thank for it.

New Faces & Slow Starts in New York Are Nothing New

There is a lot that can be said about the George Steinbrenner era of New York Yankees baseball, but one thing that could not be said is that the team did not tend to always get their man. If the Yankees needed a first baseman they went out and got the best first baseman available each and every time. Need a pitcher? A few days after the determination was made prospects were being shipped out the door and a fresh new arm was headed to the Bronx. It was where the “Get Greedy” mantra began, and we got a glimpse of the past this winter when Brian Cashman and son of the Boss, Hal Steinbrenner, acquired reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins. Stanton has started his Yankees tenure off slower than expected, but he isn’t the first big time Yankees slugger to be acquired only to have a slow start to his Big Apple career. Let’s compare.

We all as Yankees fans know that there have been a few key acquisitions that started awfully slow, but ultimately rebounded to have good first seasons in New York and career's with the Yankees. That list of names includes Alex Rodriguez who was acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers, Jason Giambi who was signed as a free agent from the Oakland Athletics and Johnny Damon who was signed as a free agent after leaving the Boston Red Sox. Does their past give us hope for Giancarlo Stanton's future?

Alex Rodriguez

2003 w/ TEX: .298/.396/.600/.995 with 47 HR and 118 RBI

2004 w/ NYY: .286/.375/.512/.888 with 36 HR and 106 RBI

Career w/ NYY: .283/.378/.523/.900 with 351 HR and 1096 RBI (12 seasons)

Jason Giambi

2001 w/ OAK: .342/.477/.660/1.137 with 38 HR and 128 RBI

2002 w/ NYY: .314/.435/.598/1.034 with 41 HR and 122 RBI

Career w/ NYY: .260/.404/.521/.925 with 209 HR and 604 RBI (7 seasons)

Johnny Damon

2005 w/ BOS: .316/.366/.439/.805 with 20 HR and 94 RBI

2006 w/ NYY: .285/.359/.482/.841 with 24 HR and 80 RBI

Career w/ NYY: .285/.363/.458/.821 with 77 HR and 296 RBI (4 seasons)

Giancarlo Stanton

2017 w/ MIA: .281/.376/.631/1.007 with 59 HR and 132 RBI

2018 w/ NYY: .227/.313/.455/.768 with 7 HR and 19 RBI (34 games)

Career w/ NYY: Stay tuned

As you can see a slow start or even a bad season to begin their tenures do not always spell the end or doomsday for these players. Stanton has plenty of contract left and an immense amount of talent to showcase before his Yankees tenure is in the books. I wasn’t worried when Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi or Johnny Damon got off to slower starts than you would like, and I am not worried about Stanton’s slow start either. We will try and revisit this post in October, that will be more telling than his stats as we entered the week here in May.

I said all that to say this, some fans need to just calm the hell down.

All stats courtesy of and thanks to Baseball Reference.

This Day In New York Yankees History 6/7: Damon Goes 6-6

On this day in 2008 Johnny Damon went off at the plate going 6-6 including a walk off single in a 12-11 Yankees comeback victory. Damon lit up his old team in the Kansas City Royals and became the first Yankee and the second player in Major League history to collect six hits at Yankee Stadium.



Also on this day in 2007 the New York Yankees would beat the Chicago White Sox 10-3 for Joe Torre's 2,000th victory as a manager. Torre won 257 games with the Braves, 286 games with the Mets, 351 games with the Cardinals, and 1,106 with the Yankees. Torre would also become the first manager to reach 2,000 wins and have 2,000 hits as a player.



Finally on this day in 1936 the New York Yankees and the Indians had a pretty uncommon anomaly happen in their 16 inning game. The Yankees would beat the Indians on this day 5-4 in extra innings at Yankee Stadium. What made this game special was that no pitcher in the game recorded a single strikeout in the game.

You can't predict baseball...

This Day in New York Yankees History 3/4: Yankees Fans, We’re Sorry!

On this day in 2006 The Yankees played an exhibition game at Legends Field in Tampa and had to post a sign outside the stadium apologizing to the fans. The sign apologized because the Yankees were without Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, and Bernie Williams due to the World Baseball Classic.


Also on this day in 1913 the New York Yankees became the first team to train outside the Unites States when they started their spring training in Bermuda. The team's island ballpark in Hamilton is a converted cricket field. The Yankees would tune up for the regular season by playing a local New Jersey team, the Skeeters.

This Day In New York Yankees History 2/22: Yankees Lose Johnny Damon

On this day in 2010 the Yankees lost their own free agent Johnny Damon when he agreed to a one year deal worth $8 million with the Detroit Tigers. Damon was 36 years old at the time and coming off a .282 with 24 home runs and a World Series championship in the 2009 season.

Also on this day in 2005 now deceased San Diego Padres broadcaster and former New York Yankee Jerry Coleman is selected to receive the Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award. The then 80 year old broadcaster was the 1950 World Series MVP, played for teams like the Yankees, Angels, and Padres, and spent over 40 years in the booth as a play by play man.

This Day in New York Yankees History 12/23: Mark Teixeira vs. Nick Johnson

On this day in 2009 Nick Johnson signed a one year deal worth $5.75 million to return to the New York Yankees. Johnson would come back to be the DH after Hideki Matsui was let walk to the Angels. Johnson was traded before the 2004 season for Javier Vazquez the first time.


Also on this day in 2008 the Yankees also signed first basemen Mark Teixeira to a eight year contract worth $180 million. Teixeira was coming off a season in which he posted a .308 batting average with 33 home runs and 121 RBI's. Teixeira joins recently signed AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia as big names the Yankees have signed this offseason.


Finally on this day in 2005 the New York Yankees introduced their clean shaven Johnny Damon to the fans and media at Yankee Stadium. Damon was one year removed from the cavemen 2004 World Series Boston Red Sox championship team and signed a four year deal worth $52 million.

This Day In New York Yankees History 6/7: Damon Goes 6-6

On this day in 2008 Johnny Damon went off at the plate going 6-6 including a walk off single in a 12-11 Yankees comeback victory. Damon lit up his old team in the Kansas City Royals and became the first Yankee and the second player in Major League history to collect six hits at Yankee Stadium.



Also on this day in 2007 the New York Yankees would beat the Chicago White Sox 10-3 for Joe Torre's 2,000th victory as a manager. Torre won 257 games with the Braves, 286 games with the Mets, 351 games with the Cardinals, and 1,106 with the Yankees. Torre would also become the first manager to reach 2,000 wins and have 2,000 hits as a player.



Finally on this day in 1936 the New York Yankees and the Indians had a pretty uncommon anomaly happen in their 16 inning game. The Yankees would beat the Indians on this day 5-4 in extra innings at Yankee Stadium. What made this game special was that no pitcher in the game recorded a single strikeout in the game.

You can't predict baseball...

This Day in New York Yankees History 3/4: Yankees Fans, We’re Sorry!

On this day in 2006 The Yankees played an exhibition game at Legends Field in Tampa and had to post a sign outside the stadium apologizing to the fans. The sign apologized because the Yankees were without Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, and Bernie Williams due to the World Baseball Classic.


Also on this day in 1913 the New York Yankees became the first team to train outside the Unites States when they started their spring training in Bermuda. The team's island ballpark in Hamilton is a converted cricket field. The Yankees would tune up for the regular season by playing a local New Jersey team, the Skeeters.

This Day In New York Yankees History 2/22: Yankees Lose Johnny Damon

On this day in 2010 the Yankees lost their own free agent Johnny Damon when he agreed to a one year deal worth $8 million with the Detroit Tigers. Damon was 36 years old at the time and coming off a .282 with 24 home runs and a World Series championship in the 2009 season.

Also on this day in 2005 now deceased San Diego Padres broadcaster and former New York Yankee Jerry Coleman is selected to receive the Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award. The then 80 year old broadcaster was the 1950 World Series MVP, played for teams like the Yankees, Angels, and Padres, and spent over 40 years in the booth as a play by play man.

This Day In New York Yankees History 2/8: Johnny Damon Stops Being an Idiot

On this day in 2006 Johnny Damon stopped being an idiot and signed a free agent deal with the New York Yankees, leaving the Boston Red Sox. Johnny took out a full page ad in the Boston Globe thanking the fans for their support and their loyalty.

Cashman: Is the Rotation Full or is the Rotation "Full?"

"Who is Bubba Crosby?" - Hal Steinbrenner

Brian Cashman once garnered the name from Yankees fans "Ninja Cashman" for the way he carried himself and the way he conducted business as the GM of the New York Yankees. Whenever Cashman would make a deal, and most of his major deals specifically, no one would read about it on MLB Trade Rumors or other media sites weeks or days or even hours in advance. You wouldn't hear about the first bit of interest and then boom, the player is acquired. Remember when "Bubba Crosby was the Yankees starting center fielder" only to see him sign Johnny Damon a few weeks later? There's plenty of other instances as well including the most recent trade involving Aroldis Chapman but that's not important, what is important though is the fact that Ninja Cashman could be lying in the weeds for another attack.

In an interview with reporters during a conference call last week Cashman responded that the "rotation was full" when asked about whether he was going to acquire another starting pitcher or not. Sorry Cashman but I find it hard to take you at face value anymore. Is the rotation full? Or is the rotation "full?"

It's hard to say either way. A trade could be in the works and he could be saying this to keep the price down. He could be working on a deal that bring Wei-Yin Chen to the Bronx and doesn't want to tip his hand or he could be serious about the seven starting pitching options he currently has at his disposal on the 40 man roster. The thing at this point is, who know for sure?

Does Cashman even know? I doubt it. Stay tuned.

This Day in New York Yankees History 12/23: Mark Teixeira vs. Nick Johnson

On this day in 2009 Nick Johnson signed a one year deal worth $5.75 million to return to the New York Yankees. Johnson would come back to be the DH after Hideki Matsui was let walk to the Angels. Johnson was traded before the 2004 season for Javier Vazquez the first time.


Also on this day in 2008 the Yankees also signed first basemen Mark Teixeira to a eight year contract worth $180 million. Teixeira was coming off a season in which he posted a .308 batting average with 33 home runs and 121 RBI's. Teixeira joins recently signed AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia as big names the Yankees have signed this offseason.


Finally on this day in 2005 the New York Yankees introduced their clean shaven Johnny Damon to the fans and media at Yankee Stadium. Damon was one year removed from the cavemen 2004 World Series Boston Red Sox championship team and signed a four year deal worth $52 million.

ICYMI: June 20, 2015 Old Timer's Day Player's List

Here's a list of every one:

• Jesse Barfield
• Yogi Berra
• Ron Blomberg
• Brian Boehringer
• Wade Boggs
• Scott Bradley
• Scott Brosius
• Dr. Bobby Brown
• Homer Bush
• Chris Chambliss
• Jim Coates
• David Cone
• Johnny Damon
• Bucky Dent
• Al Downing
• Brian Doyle
• Cecil Fielder
• John Flaherty
• Whitey Ford
• Oscar Gamble
• Joe Girardi
• Rich "Goose" Gossage
• Ken Griffey Sr.
• Ron Guidry
• Charlie Hayes
• Rickey Henderson
• Arlene Howard (Widow)
• Helen Hunter (Widow)
• Reggie Jackson
• Scott Kamieniecki
• Pat Kelly
• Don Larsen
• Jim Leyritz
• Graeme Lloyd
• Hector Lopez
• Jill Martin (Widow)
• Lee Mazzilli
• Stump Merrill
• Gene "Stick" Michael
• Gene Monahan (Trainer)
• Diana Munson (Widow)
• Kay Murcer (Widow)
• Jeff Nelson
• Paul O'Neill
• Dan Pasqua
• Joe Pepitone
• Andy Phillips
• Lou Piniella
• Willie Randolph
• Bobby Richardson
• Mickey Rivers
• Mel Stottlemyre
• Tanyon Sturtze
• Joe Torre
• Roy White
• Bernie Williams

June 20, 2015 Old Timer's Day Player's List

Here's a list of every one:

• Jesse Barfield
• Yogi Berra
• Ron Blomberg
• Brian Boehringer
• Wade Boggs
• Scott Bradley
• Scott Brosius
• Dr. Bobby Brown
• Homer Bush
• Chris Chambliss
• Jim Coates
• David Cone
• Johnny Damon
• Bucky Dent
• Al Downing
• Brian Doyle
• Cecil Fielder
• John Flaherty
• Whitey Ford
• Oscar Gamble
• Joe Girardi
• Rich "Goose" Gossage
• Ken Griffey Sr.
• Ron Guidry
• Charlie Hayes
• Rickey Henderson
• Arlene Howard (Widow)
• Helen Hunter (Widow)
• Reggie Jackson
• Scott Kamieniecki
• Pat Kelly
• Don Larsen
• Jim Leyritz
• Graeme Lloyd
• Hector Lopez
• Jill Martin (Widow)
• Lee Mazzilli
• Stump Merrill
• Gene "Stick" Michael
• Gene Monahan (Trainer)
• Diana Munson (Widow)
• Kay Murcer (Widow)
• Jeff Nelson
• Paul O'Neill
• Dan Pasqua
• Joe Pepitone
• Andy Phillips
• Lou Piniella
• Willie Randolph
• Bobby Richardson
• Mickey Rivers
• Mel Stottlemyre
• Tanyon Sturtze
• Joe Torre
• Roy White
• Bernie Williams

This Day In New York Yankees History 6/7: Damon Goes 6-6

On this day in 2008 Johnny Damon went off at the plate going 6-6 including a walk off single in a 12-11 Yankees comeback victory. Damon lit up his old team in the Kansas City Royals and became the first Yankee and the second player in Major League history to collect six hits at Yankee Stadium.



Also on this day in 2007 the New York Yankees would beat the Chicago White Sox 10-3 for Joe Torre's 2,000th victory as a manager. Torre won 257 games with the Braves, 286 games with the Mets, 351 games with the Cardinals, and 1,106 with the Yankees. Torre would also become the first manager to reach 2,000 wins and have 2,000 hits as a player.



Finally on this day in 1936 the New York Yankees and the Indians had a pretty uncommon anomaly happen in their 16 inning game. The Yankees would beat the Indians on this day 5-4 in extra innings at Yankee Stadium. What made this game special was that no pitcher in the game recorded a single strikeout in the game.

You can't predict baseball...

This Day in New York Yankees History 3-4: Yankees Fans, We’re Sorry!

On this day in 2006 The Yankees played an exhibition game at Legends Field in Tampa and had to post a sign outside the stadium apologizing to the fans. The sign apologized because the Yankees were without Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, and Bernie Williams due to the World Baseball Classic.

Also on this day in 1913 the New York Yankees became the first team to train outside the Unites States when they started their spring training in Bermuda. The team's island ballpark in Hamilton is a converted cricket field. The Yankees would tune up for the regular season by playing a local New Jersey team, the Skeeters.

This Day In New York Yankees History 2/22: Yankees Lose Johnny Damon

On this day in  2010 the Yankees lost their own free agent Johnny Damon when he agreed to a one year deal worth $8 million with the Detroit Tigers. Damon was 36 years old at the time and coming off a .282 with 24 home runs and a World Series championship in the 2009 season.

Also on this day in 2005 now deceased San Diego Padres broadcaster and former New York Yankee Jerry Coleman is selected to receive the Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award. The then 80 year old broadcaster was the 1950 World Series MVP, played for teams like the Yankees, Angels, and Padres, and spent over 40 years in the booth as a play by play man.

This Day In New York Yankees History 2/8: Johnny Damon Stops Being an Idiot

On this day in 2006 Johnny Damon stopped being an idiot and signed a free agent deal with the New York Yankees, leaving the Boston Red Sox. Johnny took out a full page ad in the Boston Globe thanking the fans for their support and their loyalty.

This Day in New York Yankees History 12/23: Mark Teixeira

On this day in 2009 Nick Johnson signed a one year deal worth $5.75 million to return to the New York Yankees. Johnson would come back to be the DH after Hideki Matsui was let walk to the Angels. Johnson was traded before the 2004 season for Javier Vazquez the first time.

Also on this day in 2008 the Yankees also signed first basemen Mark Teixeira to a eight year contract worth $180 million. Teixeira was coming off a season in which he posted a .308 batting average with 33 home runs and 121 RBI's. Teixeira joins recently signed AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia as big names the Yankees have signed this offseason.

Finally on this day in 2005 the New York Yankees introduced their clean shaven Johnny Damon to the fans and media at Yankee Stadium. Damon was one year removed from the cavemen 2004 World Series Boston Red Sox championship team and signed a four year deal worth $52 million.

Also a big thank you, I’m flattered, to the SD Yankees Report who steals these posts from me word for word every single day without any recognition. Plagiarism is against the law, just saying.

http://sdyankeereport.wordpress.com/tag/this-day-in-new-york-yankees-history-1223/ 

Remembering Yankees of the Past: Johnny Damon

Johnny Damon was the caveman, center fielder, and self-proclaimed “idiot” that came over to the New York Yankees from the Boston Red Sox after winning the World Series in 2004 with Boston. Damon helped exercise the demons and the ghost of Babe Ruth and brought the Red Sox their first World Series championship in 86 years. Damon went from the most beloved and loved Red Sox in history to the most wanted man in a matter of a year and a few months, all because he put on the pinstripes. Damon left Boston after the 2005 season and signed a four year deal with the Yankees worth $52 million and a free haircut and shave.

Johnny Damon unofficially started his Yankees career when he was quoted as saying “there’s no way I can go play for the Yankees, but I know they’re going to come after me hard. It’s definitely not the most important thing to go out there for the top dollar, which the Yankees are going to offer me. It’s not what I need.” Damon also addressed the Yankees facial hair and dress code policy by saying he was going to shave his shoulder length hair and beard anyway but waited until after switching sides of the rivalry in order to prevent speculation.

Damon wasted no time becoming a Yankee as he helped annihilate the Red Sox and crush their 2006 playoff aspirations in the five game series that many called the “Boston Massacre II” that saw Damon hit two home runs, collect eight RBI, and score eight runs in the first three games with nine hits in 18 at bats. After less than notable 2006 and 2007 seasons Damon collected his first walk off hit as a Yankees on June 7, 2008 when he went 6-6 in a 12-11 win over the Kansas City Royals. One month later Damon ended up on the 15 day DL for the first time in his career with a bruised AC joint in his left shoulder. Damon at the time was one of only three players who had played at least 10 seasons and never had to go on the disabled list.

Damon really made his mark as a member of the Yankees in the 2009 season which started when he hit his 200^th career home run on July 27 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Damon finished the season with a .282 average and scored 107 runs. The Damon led Yankees had the best record in all of baseball in 2009 and went storming into the postseason. Damon was a huge contributor in taking down the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2009 when he hit a home run in Game 3 and Game 4 of the ALCS. The Yankees went on to the World Series and Damon was right in the middle of it again for New York. Damon got credit for two stolen bases in one play when the Phillies shifted against Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira and left third base unoccupied.  Damon would win his second World Series ring of his career when the Yankees won their 27^th World Series championship in that 2009 season.

Damon entered the 2009 offseason expressing an interest to return to the Yankees but at his price range, at least $13 million a season for four years. After hearing of his demands New York went in a different direction signing 1B/DH Nick Johnson to a one year worth $5.5 million despite Damon lowering his demands in the final days. New York also signed outfielder Randy Winn to a one year deal worth $2 million closing the door on Damon and his Yankees career. We had memories, the walk off weekend against the Minnesota Twins, the double steal, and the World Series, and after 2009 it was over.