New York Yankees Flashback: Pitching Exploits, Outfielders Too

New York Yankees
Dec 7, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; New York Yankees logo during the MLB winter meetings at Gaylord Opryland Resort . Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

New York Yankees‘ Catfish Hunter‘s glorious career was winding down in 1977. And although he would enjoy a surprising resurgence in the 1978 season’s second half without which the Yanks’ miracle climb from 14 down would never have happened, he was running down. The four-hit, 11-1 dominant game he posted against the Twins on August 24, 1977, was his last win of that season. The homers by Roy White, Mickey Rivers, Chris Chambliss, and Bucky Dent weren’t needed as it turned out, but no doubt much appreciated nonetheless.

It was all good for Denny McLain in 1968. Cy Young Award, League MVP, and his record as the last guy to win 30+ games in a season seems safer than ever from being equaled several decades later. But Denny did have a misstep on August 24, 1968, when, despite the fact that he threw another beaut, someone threw a little better. And that someone was young Yankee righty Mel Stottlemyre, who whipped McLain and the Tigers, 2-1.

On August 24, 1960, Yankee hurler Art Ditmar handled almost everyone in the White Sox lineup easily, except for Roy Sievers, who reached him for two home runs and a double. But Art’s mastery over Roy’s teammates paid off in the form of a 3-2 win over Herb Score and the Sox.

When Wee Willie Keeler of the Highlanders (Yankees) banged out two home runs in a 9-1 win over the St. Louis Browns on August 24, 1904, both round-trippers were of the inside-the-park variety.

I hope Brett Gardner views this as an honor in line with his being the longest-serving Yankee in 2018, as he is the lone Yankee player to have been born on August 24 (1983). Brett played in Staten Island in 2005, Tampa and Trenton in 2006, and Trenton and Scranton in 2007. He has been the starting left fielder ever since. Gardner was selected by the Yankees out of the College of Charleston in the third round of the 2005 amateur draft.