Category Archives: Classic Yankees

Classic Yankees: Red Rolfe

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Mike Sommer

Before Graig Nettles, before A-Rod, the general consensus was that Robert Abial “Red” Rolfe was the best Yankees third baseman ever. Rolfe, a lefty hitter who wore #2, came up to the Yanks in 1931 for one game at shortstop. He didn’t get to bat. He would not return to the Yanks until 1934. He played some ...

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Classic Yankees: Johnny Sain

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Mike Sommer

Spahn and Sain and pray for rain… Although Johnny Sain is famous for that phrase associated with the 1948 Boston Braves, he also made a considerable impact on the Yankees, both as a player and as a coach. In 1942, Sain, age 24, made it to the majors with the Boston Braves. His manager was the one ...

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Classic Yankees: Dave Righetti

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Mike Sommer

In the most previous Classic Yankees, I wrote about Luis Arroyo and Joe Page, two Yankees who at one time held the single season saves record (Page set it in 1949, it was tied in 1953, Arroyo broke it in 1961; Arroyo’s record was tied in 1964, broken in 1965). The saves statistic didn’t become ...

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Classic Yankees: Joe Page

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Mike Sommer

"It's got to be better than rooming with Joe Page,” One insightful person’s response when asked if Joe DiMaggio's marriage to Marilyn Monroe was good for him…  (And Joe’s marriage only lasted, what…nine months?) Without Joe Page, the Yankees probably don’t win the 1947 or 1949 World Series. Unfortunately, Page’s lifestyle led to a much-too-short day ...

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Classic Yankees: Luis Arroyo

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Mike Sommer

1961 saw some great feats by various Yankees. Roger Maris’ 61 HR, surpassing Babe Ruth’s 60; the combined total of 115 between Maris and Mickey Mantle broke the Ruth/Gehrig teammate record of 107. Whitey Ford went 25-4, 3.21 and broke Babe Ruth’s World Series record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched. Elston Howard hit .348. Johnny ...

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Classic Highlanders: Jack Chesbro

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Mike Sommer

Only one pitcher (Denny McLain in 1968) has won 30 games in a season since Dizzy Dean accomplished the feat in 1934. It’s safe to say that with the way that the game has evolved, that this feat probably will never be accomplished again. Forty wins in a season? Forget about it. This leads us to Jack ...

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Classic Yankees: Johnny Blanchard

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Mike Sommer

One day, I’ll put up a post on one of the retired numbers, a Martin “Classic Yankee”, Reggie, Mickey, Maris, heck, I’ve already done Dickey. The point is, people know about Ruth, Gehrig, Joe D., Mickey, etc., several times over. Their stories have been told countless times. One thing I like to do in these “Classic Yankees” ...

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Classic Yankees: Jorge Posada

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Mike Sommer

With the retirement of Jorge Posada, he now becomes a “Classic Yankee.” No team in baseball can match the Yankees for five catchers the quality of Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, Thurman Munson, and Posada. While there was hope (now gone) that Jesus Montero could join that quintet, who knows who will come along in ...

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