Dec. 7, 1939 – Lou Gehrig was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Lou Gehrig was the first player to have the rule waived that required a player to be retired one year before he could be elected. At age 36, he was the second youngest player to be so honored (behind Sandy Koufax). He never had a formal induction ceremony. On July 28, 2013, he and eleven other deceased players including Rogers Hornsby received a special tribute during the Induction Ceremony, held during “Hall of Fame Induction Weekend”, July 26–29 in Cooperstown, New York.

Did You Know:
Gehrig was the first baseball player to have his uniform number retired?

Advertisements

“Half the lies they tell about me aren’t true.” – Yogi Berra

Nov. 21, 1934 – The Yankees purchase Joe DiMaggio for $50,000

Joe DiMaggio was playing semi-pro ball when older brother Vince DiMaggio, playing for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), talked his manager into letting DiMaggio fill in at shortstop. Joe DiMaggio made his professional debut on October 1, 1932.

From May 27 to July 25, 1933, he got at least one hit in a PCL-record 61 consecutive games: “Baseball didn’t really get into my blood until I knocked off that hitting streak. Getting a daily hit became more important to me than eating, drinking or sleeping.”

In 1934, his career almost ended. Going to his sister’s house for dinner, he tore ligaments in his left knee while stepping out of a jitney (shared taxi).

The Seals had hoped to sell DiMaggio’s contract for $100,000. Scout Bill Essick of the New York Yankees was convinced that DiMaggio could overcome his knee injury and pestered the club to give DiMaggio another look. After DiMaggio passed a test on his knee, he was bought on November 21 in exchange for $50,000 and five players, with the Seals keeping him for the 1935 season. He batted .398 with 154 runs batted in (RBIs) and 34 home runs, led the Seals to the 1935 PCL title, and was named the League’s Most Valuable Player.

Nov. 2, 1995 – Joe Torre was named manager of the New York Yankees

Joe Torre served as the New York Yankees manager under owner George Steinbrenner, who was famous for frequently firing his team’s managers. Torre lasted 12 full seasons, managing 1,942 regular season games (with a won-loss record of 1173–767). and took the team to the post-season playoffs every one of his twelve seasons with the club, winning six American League pennants and four World Series. This was by far the longest tenure for a Yankees manager in the Steinbrenner era. Torre’s was the second-longest managerial tenure in the club’s history: only Joe McCarthy lasted longer.

Oct. 26, 2000 – The Yankees beat the Mets to win third straight World Series

This was the first postseason Subway Series since 1956. The New York Yankees were in the World Series for the third straight year, fourth in the previous five, and 37th time overall—the most of any team in the MLB, while the New York Mets made their fourth World Series appearance—the most of any expansion franchise in the MLB and its first since winning the title in the 1986 World Series.

The Yankees were the first team to three-peat as champions since the 1972–1974 Oakland Athletics. Derek Jeter earned MVP honors, along with his fourth ring at the age of 26. Jeter became the first player to claim World Series and All-Star Game MVPs in the same season.

One of the more memorable moment of the 2000 World Series occurred during the first inning of Game 2 at Yankee Stadium. Mike Piazza fouled off a pitch which shattered his bat, sending a piece of the barrel toward the pitcher’s mound. Pitcher Roger Clemens seized the piece and hurled it in the direction of Piazza as the catcher trotted to first base, benches briefly cleared before the game was resumed with no ejections. In July 2000, Clemens had knocked Piazza unconscious with a fastball to the helmet, Piazza had previously enjoyed great success against Clemens, with 3 crucial home runs in previous encounters.

Talking about his switch-hit home run record:

“It’s unbelievable how much you don’t know about the game you’ve been playing all your life.” – Mickey Mantle

“Don’t believe anything they write about you, good or bad.” – Babe Ruth