Former Mets setup man Addison Reed unwillingly became a big New York Yankees hero on August 11, 2017, as he came on for the Red Sox in the eighth inning with his club up 3-0. But he hit Brett Gardner leading off, and a home run, single, walk, single, single gave the Yanks the lead. Then another hit and Ronald Torreyes‘s sac fly one out later even gave the team a one-run cushion. This made Andrew Benintendi‘s ninth-inning sac fly too little, too late, in the 5-4 victory.
The M&M race was heating up in 1961, and the daily record of Yankee excellence defines what Yankee history is all about. On August 11 of that glorious year, both Mickey Mantle (his 44th) and Roger Maris (42nd) homered off Pete Burnside to lead the Bombers to a 12-5 win over Washington.
Babe Ruth became the first player to hit 500 home runs in a loss to Cleveland on August 11, 1929. Harmon Killebrew hit his 500th (and 501st) on this day in 1971, and Reggie Jackson hit his 400th on August 11, 1980.
David Wells held the Twins to four hits in a 4-0 win on this day in 1998. It was quite a come-down, as Wells had thrown a Perfect Game in his last start against the Minnesota-based team.
Frank Robinson broke Yankee hearts for the second time in the same season on August 11, 1966, when he dove into the stands to snatch Clete Boyer‘s bid for an 11th-inning, game-winning homer; Robby’s catch preserved a 6-5 Orioles win.