Former Yankees: Five players you forgot were Yankees

#4: OF Felipe Alou (1971-73)

In April of 1971, outfielder Felipe Alou was traded to the Yankees from the Athletics for left-handed pitcher Rob Gardner and right-handed hurler Rob Klimkowski. Alou had been one of baseball’s best batters in previous years. From 1966-68, Alou’s 585 hits were second-most in the major leagues. Only Pete Rose (591) had more.

Alou had prior experience playing against the Bronx Bombers. He hit .269 with a triple and an RBI in seven games against New York during the 1962 World Series while playing for the San Francisco Giants. The Yankees defeated the Giants in seven games to win the Fall Classic that year.

Alou hit .271 and posted a 103 OPS+ over parts of three seasons with the Yankees. Perhaps his highlight in a Yankee uniform came on July 20, 1973, in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the White Sox.  Alou and his brother Matty (who joined the Yankees in 1973), each collected three hits in a New York 12-2 victory. Ironically, future Hall of Famer (and future Yankee) Goose Gossage appeared in that game in relief for Chicago.

Alou finished his career with 17 seasons in the big leagues.  He recorded 2,101 hits and had 206 home runs. Alou also had a successful career as a major league manager, having won more than 1000 games in 14 seasons as skipper of the Expos and Giants.

#3: RHP Lee Smith (1993)

Not long before Mariano Rivera became a Yankee, there was another all-time saves leader to don the pinstripes. Lee Smith was traded to the Yankees in August of 1993 for RHP Rich Batchelor. At the time of the deal, Smith’s 398 saves were the most in major league history.

Smith pitched in eight games during his month-long tenure in the Bronx.  He didn’t allow a run in eight innings and struck out eleven batters. His highlight as a Yankee came on September 17 against the Red Sox.  With New York up 5-4 in the ninth, Smith retired all three Boston hitters he faced. This was Smith’s 400th career save. The last out was via a strikeout against former All-Star and MVP candidate Mike Greenwell.

Smith would finish his career with 478 saves and a 3.03 ERA in more than a thousand appearances.  He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.

#2: LHP Jim Kaat (1979-80)

Most people remember Jim Kaat as a broadcaster covering Yankee games over the course of many years. However, it’s easy to forget that the three-time All-Star and 16-time Gold Glove winner pitched two years for the Bronx Bombers.

Kaat began his major league career in 1959 for the Washington Senators at the age of 20. It ended in July of 1983 at the age of 44. Over those four different decades of baseball, Kaat amassed 283 victories, struck out nearly 2500 batters, and pitched more than 4500 innings.  He also won 16 Gold Gloves on the mound and was a three-time All-Star. In fact, his 283 victories are the third-most of any pitcher in the modern era (since the start of 1900) not to make the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Only Roger Clemens (354) and Tommy John (288) have more.

Kaat joined the Yankees during the 1979 season and spent parts of two seasons with the club. He was mostly used as a reliever with 43 of his 44 appearances coming out of the bullpen. Kaat recorded two victories and posted a 4.12 ERA in 63.1 innings. His best performance as a Yankee came on July 22, 1979, against the Mariners in the Bronx. Kaat appeared in relief of Yankees starter Don Hood and fired 4.2 hitless innings. He recorded the victory in a 4-0 win.

Also, as a side note, here’s a fun fact about Kaat.  Because he pitched in four different decades, the Michigan native faced a wide variety of major league hitters.  For example, he pitched against Mickey Mantle, who began his MLB career in 1951. Mantle hit .286 (20 hits in 70 at-bats) with seven homers vs. the right-hander. Kaat also faced Darryl Strawberry, who ended his career in 1999 with the Yankees. Strawberry had one hit in four at-bats against Kaat.

#1: 3B Frank “Home Run” Baker

Before Babe Ruth graced the world with his majestic home runs, there was another legendary homer hitter to play in the Bronx.  Frank Baker joined the Yankees in 1916 following seven seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics. He won three World Series titles during his time with the A’s and hit .321 with a 152 OPS+ in 899 games.

From the start of the 1911 season through the end of 1914, Baker led the American League with 42 homers.  That was 14 homers more than the next closest player (Sam Crawford, 28). Not only did Baker lead the league in total homers during that span, but he also led the AL in homers in each of those seasons as well.

Baker played six seasons with the Yankees.  While he didn’t lead the league in homers, he did hit 48 blasts during his tenure in the Bronx.  That was tenth-most in the AL during that time (and that’s despite missing the 1920 season).

Perhaps the best moment of his career with the Yankees came on August 10, 1921, in the first game of a doubleheader against the White Sox. Baker reached base safely in each of his five plate appearances, having recorded three hits and two walks. Two of his three hits were home runs.  Of note, Ruth also homered in this game.

Baker finished his career in 1922.  His 96 homers were the 17th most in MLB history following the end of the 1922 season.  He retired with a career .307 batting average and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.

There are certainly other players we’re forgetting. Almost 1,500 players have worn the pinstripes over the years. There’s nobody who could remember them all. Let us know who some of your favorite forgotten Yankees are.