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Yankees: Best July 4 Moments in NYY History

By Thomas Carannante

NEW YORK - CIRCA 1985: Pitcher Dave Righetti #19 of the New York Yankees pitches during a Major League Baseball game circa 1985 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Righetti played for the Yankees from 1979-90. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - CIRCA 1985: Pitcher Dave Righetti #19 of the New York Yankees pitches during a Major League Baseball game circa 1985 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Righetti played for the Yankees from 1979-90. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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4. Whitey Ford Grabs 15th Win of Season in 1961

Whitey Ford, center is congratulated by Joe DiMaggio, left, and Gene Woodling (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)
Whitey Ford, center is congratulated by Joe DiMaggio, left, and Gene Woodling (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images) /

Whitey Ford was an absolute machine during the 1961 season. That year, he became the first pitcher to record eight wins in a single month when he accomplished the feat in June, and on July 4 against the Detroit Tigers in New York, he recorded his 15th win of the season — 15th!!

He pitched a complete game, surrendering just two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out 11. The Yankees were victorious by a score of 6-2, but surprisingly had no home runs. Elston Howard led the way with three RBI, while Roger Maris and Bill Skowron followed with one apiece.

This was a World Series year for the Yanks, who went on to steamroll the Cincinnati Reds in five games at season’s end. Ford, who logged another All-Star campaign, won the Cy Young award after finishing 25-4 with a 3.21 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 209 strikeouts. He led the league in wins (25), games started (39), innings pitched (283) and FIP (3.14).

What an unfortunate year for the Tigers, too. They finished with 101 wins, but this 109-win Yankees team stole the spotlight and captured yet another championship.

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