Yankees: This Week In Franchise History March 4

The Yankees recorded several significant events during the week of March 4 thru March 9. Here a few of those that shaped both the Yankees and all of Major League Baseball. All block quotes are courtesy of National Pastime.

Yankees History – March 4

2006

Yankees Spring Training, like all clubs this year, is elongated by the World Baseball Classic. Sponsored by Major League Baseball, the exhibition series is marketed as a vehicle to promote the sport. While it does accomplish that, it also has its detractors who point mainly to the possibility of teams losing key players to injuries while they are away from watchful eyes of the team.

There’s another problem, though, and it surfaced for the first time with the Yankees in 2006. For the next few weeks, the team will be playing their spring schedule without Didi Gregorius and Dellin Betances, who are both participating in the tournament. Gary Sanchez and Masahiro Tanaka both withdrew at the last minute. Here’s what happened in 2006 that drew attention to a problem that still exists today, as recorded by National Pastime:

"Prior to the exhibition game scheduled to be played at Legends Field in Tampa, the Yankees, using a sign outside the park, apologize to the fans for the absence of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Bernie Williams, due to their participation in the World Baseball Classic. Bronx Bombers boss George Steinbrenner had abstained when the owners approved the World Cup styled tournament at the urging of baseball commissioner Bud Selig."

Yankees History – March 5

1973

The 1960’s were a wild time in the United States, and many cultural changes turned our society upside down for awhile. But what happened with the New York Yankees in 1973 is beyond the realm of imagination and fiction writing. Except that it did happen. Again, National Pastime records the event:

"Yankee teammates Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich announce they have traded families including their wives, children and even the dogs. The swap, that began last Fall, will work better for Peterson, who will become married to his best friend’s former wife with whom he will have four children, than it does for Kekich, whose relationship with Marilyn Peterson is short-lived.[/blockquote"

1922

Last week, Babe Ruth surfaced twice, and here he is again. This time, it’s also about his contract with the team, but, as you’ll see, it has a little twist to it. It’s also interesting to look at the paltry sum of money that was being discussed. Even adjusted for inflation and cost-of-living, it comes nowhere near what ballplayers are paid today. National Pastime reports:

"Babe Ruth signs a three-year contract with the Yankees for $52,000 per season, breaking down to $1,000 for each of the 156 weeks of the deal. In November, Yankees owner Colonel Jacob Ruppert has the ‘Bambino’ agree to a contract addendum which limits the slugger’s outrageous off-field behavior that includes the excessive consumption of alcohol and late-night carousing."

Yankees History – March 6

2005

Since the inception of radio, followed by the advent of television in the middle of the Twentieth Century, the Yankees have had a number of Hall of Fame broadcasters. Beginning with the folksy Red Barber, and the sweet Alabama drawl of Mel Allen, to the team of Phil Rizzuto and Bill White, their tradition lacked only one thing – a woman in the broadcast booth. The franchise made history in 2005, and National Pastime provides the details::

"Making her debut with John Sterling on WCBS-AM (880), the radio flagship of the Yankees, Suzyn Waldman becomes the first woman in big league history to be a full-time color commentator. The former radio-talk host on WFAN, the first all-sports radio station in the country, was also the first female to broadcast on a nationally telecast baseball game, as well as the first to provide local TV (Yankees) major league play-by-play."

Yankees History – March 7

There are no significant events in Yankees history on this date.

Yankees History – March 8

1947

The year is 1947, two years after the conclusion of World War II. Fidel Castro is a mere 21 years

old. Cuba is ruled by another dictator, though, except this one enjoys a friendly relationship with the United States. Batista’s Cuba, and in particular its capital, Havana, is the main attraction for wealthy vacationing Americans and wannabe gamblers and hoodlums.

Baseball is as popular as ever in Cuba, and there are no travel restrictions governing travel between the two countries. Again, National Pastime records the event:

"In front of 5,000 fans at Havana’s new Gran Estadio de La Habanao, the Yankees lose to the Dodgers in extra innings, 1-0, with Snuffy Stirnweiss‘s tenth-inning single accounting for the Bronx Bombers’ only hit. Pete Reiser‘s long double on a 3-2 pitch off Spec Shea scores Carl Furillo, giving Brooklyn the walk-off victory in Cuba."

1930

The year is 1930, three years after the Sultan of Swat shattered his home run record and he’s looking to get paid for his achievement. Yes, our old friend, Babe Ruth, is back. And this time, he is once again setting records in the salary department. Note the quote made at the end of National Pastime’s account:

"Babe Ruth inks a two-year deal for $160,000 with the Yankees, keeping him the highest paid player of all time. The team’s general manager Ed Barrow predicts at the time that, “No one will ever be paid more.”"

Yankees History – March 9

1961

More from Yanks Go Yard

It’s 1961, and Yankee Stadium is about to be invaded. The National League is expanding and adding the New York Metropolitans, and Houston Colt 45’s to the league. While their ballpark is being completed, the Mets need a venue to play in, and the Yankees aren’t particularly thrilled about the idea of sharing their ballpark with their cross-town competitors. The Mets would play in the old Polo Grounds in their inaugural year.

The Mets turned out to be more hospitable when the Yankees were homeless during the remodeling of the “Old” Yankee Stadium, and the Mets would take them in for then entire 1974-75 seasons. National Pastime recounts what happened in 1961:

"The Yankees announce the team will be leaving its spring training home in St. Petersburg to move to Fort Lauderdale by 1963. The Yankee owners also encourage the new yet unnamed National League New York franchise to play its home games at the Polo Grounds and not to consider Yankee Stadium."

2009

Healthwise, Alex Rodriguez did not have a smooth ride in closing out his career in baseball. 2009, however, would turn out to be a vanguard year in his career with the Yankees and he would propel them to a World Championship with his clutch performance in the Fall Classic. But it wasn’t guaranteed as National Pastime relates:

"Alex Rodriguez undergoes an 80-minute arthroscopic surgical procedure to repair torn cartilage in his right hip. The Yankees third baseman, who will need a more extensive operation in the offseason, expects to return to the lineup in May."

Next Week In Yankees History

**A Wild And Rare Spring Training Brawl
**The Year The Yankees Are Born
**Billy Crystal – New York Yankee
**YES Is Born
**And More

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Next: The Week In Yankees History - February 25 - March 3

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Yankees: This Week In Franchise History March 4 – March 9