Turn Back The Clock: December 21st, 1995-Yankees Keep Their Ace

After a successful run towards their first postseason berth in more than a decade, the New York Yankees’ brilliant 1994 season was wasted due to a work stoppage, and in reality, became Don Mattingly‘s only legitimate shot to win a World Series in pinstripes. The following season, the Yankees weren’t the dominant club in the AL East that they had been the previous campaign, and their need was for another big arm to join the starting rotation, one that was already highlighted by former Cy Young winner Jack McDowell and a rookie named Andy Pettitte.

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In a rare move, the two-time defending World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays, realizing their championship run was over (there was no World Series in 1994 and the Jays had won the previous two in ’92 and ’92), did the unthinkable at the time. They traded their staff ace to someone within their own division. The Jays traded David Cone to the Yankees for Marty Janzen, Jason Jarvis, and Mike Gordon. This was Cone’s second stint with the Jays, as he was a member of the ’92 World Series team and signed as a free agent to return to his hometown Kansas City Royals in ’93. Cone had then been traded back to Toronto shortly after the strike ended in 1995.

The Yankees had their ace, and he performed admirably during the remainder of the 1995 season, going 9-2, with an inflated 3.82 ERA. His trademark start came in Game Five of the 1995 American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, where he tossed almost 200 pitches in a series-ending loss, which became the final game of Captain Don Mattingly’s career in New York. Many changes were about to hit the Yankees that winter, led by manager Buck Showalter being shown the door, in favor of “Clueless Joe”, Joe Torre, and Tino Martinez taking over for the departed Mattingly.

However, it was the pending free agency of Cone that had the Yankees most concerned. When it appeared he was destined to return to the Yankees, a misunderstanding with owner George Steinbrenner led Cone to the arms of the AL East rival Baltimore Orioles, who had gone as far as giving Cone a physical in preparation to announce the signing of the former Cy Young winner, to a multi-year deal to join the talented Mike Mussina and Cal Ripken, Jr.

Things turned towards the Yankees favor, when a phone booth telephone call between Steinbrenner and Cone took place. The Boss convinced Cone that he was “George’s guy” and that the Yankees could not win without him. Cone, who enjoyed living and playing in New York City, and had pitched successfully for the Mets, relented, and re-joined the Yankees on a three-year, $19.5 million dollar deal. The 32-year-old Cone was relieved and happy to remain in pinstripes, and he helped lead the Yankees to a fast start in 1996, going 4-1, with an ERA of 2.02.

Cone’s season was derailed however, when he was diagnosed with an aneurysm in his right shoulder, which required surgery. Cone would recover in time to return to the Bombers later in the season, finishing 7-2, with a 2.88 ERA. Cone pitched a much-needed gem during the 1996 World Series against the Atlanta Braves, tossing 6 innings of 1-run, 4-hit ball in a Yankees 5-2 victory to cut the series deficit in half, and started the Yankees on their title run.

In six-plus seasons in the Bronx, “Coney” finished with a record of 64-40, and an ERA of 3.91, not to mention being a key cog in four Yankees’ World Series title runs. He also tossed a perfect game. While Cone might not have been a member of the “Core Four”, he was an integral part of the pitching staff during the team’s most recent dynasty. It was 19 year ago today, that the Yankees made the smart move, and kept Cone in the Bronx.

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