It’s been a while—okay, more like four decades—since a Yankees pitcher took home the American League Rookie of the Year award. The last time it happened? Picture this: it was 1981, with leg warmers, classic rock blaring, and Dave Righetti owning the mound. The season ended with the Yankees losing to the Dodgers in the World Series (ouch), but Righetti still walked away with the Rookie of the Year award on November 30, 1981. He put up an 8-4 record, a sparkling 2.05 ERA, and two complete games.
And get this—he gave up just one homer over 105 1/3 innings! That’s some serious stinginess. Oh, and he led all A.L. rookies with 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Safe to say, the award practically had his name on it.
Now, fast forward 43 years. We’re all on the edge of our seats waiting to see if Luis Gil can break the drought. This guy’s been electric, giving Yankees fans plenty to cheer about. Gil wrapped up the season with a 15-7 record, a solid 3.50 ERA, and racked up 171 strikeouts over 151 2/3 innings (yeah, he’s been putting in the work!). And here’s the kicker: in 17 of his 20 starts, he allowed one or no earned runs. Seventeen! Talk about slamming the door shut.
Gil’s up against some tough competition—teammate Austin Wells and Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser—but he’s the one who could end the Yankees' long wait and join the legendary Righetti on that exclusive list. Will he pull it off and earn those rookie bragging rights? We’ll find out today. Yankee fans everywhere are crossing their fingers, toes, and maybe even eyes for good luck.
On July 4, 1983, in a sweltering Yankee Stadium, Dave Righetti delivered one of the most memorable performances in the storied history of the New York Yankees. On that day, Righetti etched his name into the annals of baseball lore by pitching a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox. The significance of the date was amplified by the fact that it was George Steinbrenner's birthday, making the feat not only a personal triumph for Righetti but a monumental gift to the Yankees' fiery owner.
The game began with tension thick in the air, as the Yankees and Red Sox renewed their fierce rivalry in front of a packed house. The Yankees were desperate for a win, clinging to hopes of climbing the standings in the American League East. Righetti, a young left-hander with a blazing fastball, took the mound with a quiet determination, unaware that history would soon be within his grasp.
From the first pitch, Righetti was locked in. His fastball had an extra zip, and his slider was as sharp as ever. The Red Sox batters, a formidable lineup featuring stars like Wade Boggs and Jim Rice, were left flailing helplessly as Righetti mowed them down one by one. The tension mounted with each passing inning, and by the time the seventh inning rolled around, the fans were on their feet, fully aware that they were witnessing something special.
Righetti's teammates, too, began to feel the weight of the moment. Yankees catcher Butch Wynegar, who was calling the game, later recalled, "You could see it in Rags' eyes. He was in the zone. I knew I just had to keep putting down the right fingers, and he would do the rest." The defense behind Righetti was flawless with his team backing him up in a wonderful display of defense.
As the game entered the ninth inning, Yankee Stadium was electric with anticipation. Righetti stood on the mound, just three outs away from baseball immortality. The first two batters went down quickly, and suddenly, Righetti was staring down Wade Boggs, one of the most feared hitters in the game, for the final out. With the count at 2-2, Righetti unleashed a wicked slider that Boggs swung through, sealing the no-hitter. Yankee Stadium erupted in celebration as Righetti was mobbed by his teammates. The final score was 4-0, a fitting conclusion to a day that would be remembered for decades.
Righetti, drenched in sweat and surrounded by a jubilant crowd, could hardly contain his emotions. "It was the greatest feeling I've ever had on a baseball field," he said in a postgame interview. "To do it on the Fourth of July, with my family in the stands and for George's birthday, it was like a dream."
George Steinbrenner, known for his demanding nature, was uncharacteristically emotional. "This is the best birthday present I could have ever asked for," he declared. "Dave Righetti has always been a special player, but today he became a legend."
But Righetti's story with the Yankees was far from over. Despite his success as a starter, the Yankees recognized that Righetti's electric stuff and mental toughness made him an ideal candidate to take over as the team's closer, a role that had been in flux. In 1984, Righetti transitioned to the bullpen, a move that proved to be a masterstroke. Yankees manager Yogi Berra explained the decision: "We needed someone who could slam the door shut in the ninth inning, and Rags had the mentality and the arm to do it."
Righetti thrived in his new role, eventually becoming one of the most dominant closers in baseball. He saved 46 games in 1986, a then-major league record for left-handers, and became a cornerstone of the Yankees' bullpen for years. His ability to adapt from a starting role to a closer not only extended his career but also solidified his place as one of the most versatile and valuable pitchers in Yankees history.
Despite his success as a closer, Righetti's no-hitter on July 4, 1983, remains one of the greatest moments in his career and one of the most iconic performances in Yankees history. It was a day when everything came together—the emotion, the stakes, and the history—making it a game that will forever be remembered in the Bronx.
As Righetti himself once said, "No matter what else I did in my career, that day will always be special. It was the Fourth of July, it was against the Red Sox, and it was for George. You can't script it any better than that."
35-years-ago today New York Yankee left-hander Dave Righetti threw the first no-hitter since Don Larsen pitched a perfect game in 1956. He did it against the Red Sox in Yankee Stadium in 90 degree heat. Fast forward to today, July 4, 2018, and we see veteran pitcher and clubhouse leader CC Sabathia take the hill against Atlanta after pitching only five days earlier against rival Sox for a key 8-1 win this season. Today, despite our pitching challenges, we reflect on what July 4th means for the Yankees yesterday and what it means for them now.
July 4th is “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day” A day that the legendary first base man spoke boldly and kindly to a sell out crowd about his illness and how he has been blessed to have been associated with the best family both on and off the field. "When you look around, wouldn’t you consider it a privilege to associate yourself with such fine-looking men as are standing in uniform in this ballpark today?" stated Gehrig in his farewell address to fans on July 4, 1939. These words could be used to describe this year's team, who protect players who are slumping and high five those who contribute to the team's overall effectiveness.
Source: Newsday
July 4th is Yankee owner George Steinbrenner's birthday. Today, the Boss would have been 88 years-old. "Steinbrenner helped the Yankees experience the taste of success again in 1976, when it won its first pennant in 12 years. Although the team lost to the Cincinnati Reds in that year's World Series, New Yorkers were suddenly interested in their underdog team again," reported biography.com. This sounds like deja vu all over again (thanks, Yogi).
Source: William Perlman | The Star-Ledger
Hal Steinbrenner spoke with YES Network's Meredith Marakovits this week and segments of the interview ran during the pre-game yesterday. In the interview, Steinbrenner mentioned his dad saying that he would like this Yankee team. He also wasn't shy about what he intends to do by the trade deadline to lift the team much like his father did in 1976. "I would have to see where we are, who the person is, how badly that position needs help, so to speak, but I will say, we have a considerable amount of money to spend and I'm not adverse to spending it," he said. "A considerable amount even staying under (the threshold). We've got some options there, flexibility."
Source: USA Today
July 4th has been both eventful and nostalgic for the Yankees. The days past have contributed to today's successes and there are eerie similarities and connections to today's team. Daring signings, like Darryl Strawberry, occurred on July 4th, which is potentially a symbol of what is to come for this Yankee team, a no-hitter gave birth on July 4th, and our Boss, George Steinbrenner was born on July 4th and he lived for teams like this one. What's next in our July 4th legacy? A no-no, a celebratory win or a daring signing? It's anyone's guess, but there is one thing for sure, there is nothing like baseball on July 4th especially in Yankee Stadium.
I know it's early, but Aaron Judge is doing big things...and that inspires some pretty big dreams and some may even say fantasies. April's American League Rookie of the Month award was just the beginning.
It's amazing how the last week of Spring Training we weren't even sure if Judge was going to be on the big league roster. Now here we are at the end of May watching Judge sit at or near the top of the leader boards in several categories including runs scored and home runs, you can see more HERE.
(May 16, 2017 - Source: Jamie Squire/Getty Images North America)
The leader board looks impressive and when you are included on it with other big names like Mike Trout, Corey Dickerson and Evan Longoria. You have to be doing a lot of things right when you are in company with veteran hitters like that and when you look at Judge now compared to 2016 you can see that a lot has changed.
(May 13, 2017 - Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America)
Watching Judge it is easy to see that he has made a lot of adjustments to his swing. The strikeouts are down from 50% to 30% and he is not chasing pitches outside of the strike zone. He spent time in the off season working with hitting coaches Alan Cockrell and Marcus Thames and watched video of some of his favorite hitters like Miguel Cabrera and Giancarlo Stanton. Judge is very much a student of the game....and all of that hard work is paying off.
The possibilities for Judge are endless but at the rate Judge is going my mind is running on all four cylinders and I know I am not alone. There's already talk out there of Judge and his 15 home runs playing in the home run derby this year and playing as a starter on the All Star team. It's fun to buy into the hype. We've all been waiting for this for so long. Maybe it goes even beyond a Rookie of the Year award.
(May 20, 2017 - Source: Brian Blanco/Getty Images North America)
The bigger fantasy here would be the possibility of Judge as both Rookie of the Year AND Most Valuable Player something that has only been done twice by Fred Lynn of the Red Sox in 1975 and Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners back in 2001. Could it happen?
It's early....and it's definitely a big fantasy but there's nothing wrong with thinking big, right? After all, the possibilities with this team are endless.
--Jeana Bellezza BYB Managing Editor Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ
It's time to dispel some inaccurate rumors flying around about Gary Sanchez and whether or not he is eligible for American League Rookie of the Year consideration. It's nearly impossible to find how rumors like these start. My best guess is that it started with a Daily News story entitled "Should Gary Sanchez win Rookie of the Year despite playing fewer than 60 games? THAT’S DEBATABLE". In their defense, if you read the article, they never suggest that he doesn't qualify. Their point was that he may not have played enough this season like some of the other contenders for Rookie of the Year. Now if you only read the title, you may have drawn the wrong conclusion and, well, that's how rumors start.
Let's set the record straight. To be eligible for Rookie of the Year, you have to be a rookie defined as follows:
A player shall be considered a rookie unless, during a previous season or seasons, he has (a) exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues; or (b) accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club or clubs during the period of 25-player limit (excluding time in the military service and time on the disabled list).Rules, regulations and statistics | MLB.com
His 131st career at-bat took place on September 12 at the Stadium against the Dodgers - ironically, a game I was at! So he is definitely eligible as far as the rules go. The only question remaining is whether or not he'll get the votes from the members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Honestly, I call that a question out of courtesy to the other players having the misfortune of starting their careers in the American League this year. I am sure their prospects looked great in July.
If you take all the players who are considered rookies this year with 100 or more at-bats and start comparing their stats, it's clear who is the top player. His OPS (1.137) is more than 200 points better than second place. His slugging percentage is more than 150 points better than the guy in second. He leads in batting average with .329, better than Derek Jeter's .314 in his 1996 Rookie of the Year campaign. If he had as many at-bats as Trevor Story, who plays in homer-happy Coors Field and leads rookies in home runs, Sanchez would have over 40 home runs by now. NBC Sports' Bill Baer got it right when he said that Gary Sanchez is "running away" with this.
That "if he had as many at-bats" statement headlines the critics' claim that Sanchez doesn't deserve the award because he hasn't had to endure a full season of play. Clearly, baseball recognizes that you cannot give the ROY award to a guy who only played a few games, just like they cannot give the batting title to someone hitting .500 who had only two at-bats and was lucky enough to get a hit. That's why they have the minimums the way they do. If having 130 at-bats takes you out of eligibility as a rookie, it should be enough to warrant consideration.
Despite the grey forecast for Independence Day, I am feeling a bit
nostalgic. Maybe it's because when I think about July 4th and baseball,
I think of Dave Righetti's
no-hit game, which I listened to on the radio with my Dad at a picnic
with long extension chords to a small AM Radio placed under a tent in
the backyard.
Or maybe it's because this whole Alex Rodriguez
baseball thing is just getting to me and I need to remember why
baseball is at the heart of being American. It's our sport, and despite
criticism about the game's length or umpires' calls or inflated
salaries, it's still our game and it has meaning for all of us,
especially Yankee fans.
Earlier this week, a colleague was sharing with a group of us at the
lunch table that if you are in New York, you have to root for the
Yankees. I, of course, said, "That's why I like you so much, Michele."
In any case, how could you root for any team but the Yankees? I thank
God everyday that I was born in New York City and my dad gave me two
great Christmas presents as an infant: a NY Giants football and Yankee
cap. So, it was easy for me to find my way to the Yankees, but for
others, they took a different journey toward the eventual love, or
tolerance for the Yankees.
I speak to fans all of the time about their allegiance to the Yankees.
Most are die hard fans who can't imagine rooting for any other team.
Some come from Ohio, Florida, Connecticut, Los Angeles and yes, even
Long Island. I am always most impressed with those folks who didn't get
sucked into the Flushing team. Even those who are not really sports
fans, like my colleague Chris, prefer the Yankees over any other team.
And he lives in Brooklyn.
There is a nostalgia surrounding the Yankees that cannot be duplicated.
And fans like Zack Hample, the keeper of A-Rod's 3,000th hit, who
carried on about his claim of having 8000 caught balls, doesn't really
get it. Yes, he will hand over the ball to A-Rod, but with so much
cajoling it just makes me sick. That's that kind of stuff that
tarnishes the old school baseball we like to play here in New York.
Keep it real this Fourth, and enjoy the fireworks, the hot dogs and at
least one of the many games in your area, whether in person or on
television. Watch some good baseball, and enjoy some red, white and
good 'ol Yankee Blue!
We're continuing our very popular series of MEET THE BYB FAMILY. You have read about some of the other awesome writers that Bleeding Yankee Blue has on staff. They are listed below:
It is now my pleasure to bring you another. It's Suzie Pinstripe, a woman with more heart and strength than anyone I've known. She provides perfection and takes much pride in her work. It's a pleasure to have her in the BYB family and I now want to present our interview with her.
Enjoy this, I certainly did.
BYB: I love your drive and work ethic Suzie. Where did you learn to be so ambitious?
Suzie Pinstripe: I learned to be ambitious from my Dad.
He taught me to work hard and seek your own successes. Success is open to everyone but you have to go and get it. He pushed me beyond my comfort zone and it paid off because, instinctively today, I push myself to be my best me for my friends, my family, my co-workers and my students.
BYB: We both love Ron Guidry. What was the moment for you where you said "I love this guy and all he does for the Yankees?"
Suzie Pinstripe: I remember the moment I fell in love with Ron Guidry. It was when I saw him sprint off the mound for the first time. He gave so much heart and passion to the game. He never gave up and that's the kind of person I aspire to be- always pushing myself, always wanting one more chance, always running toward the next inning, the next mile or the next opportunity! My mom used to teach me vocabulary based on the Yankee players. It helped me visualize the words in action. Guidry's word- agile- calm, loose body, ready to take on the world. I met him after a game one day when I was in high school. He drove away in a car with the plate Gator III. He was a real guy besides being a great pitcher. Later, when he was a pitching coach for the Yankees, I called out to him from the stands, “Gator!” “Louisiana Lightning" and he tipped his cap to me and waved. I love him and I loved what he did for our team.
BYB: The Yankees appear to be younger in 2015. As a huge Yankee fan, are you satisfied? What do they still need to do if anything?
Suzie Pinstripe:Youth is important but so is performance and coaching. We need good leadership and mentoring. And youth is nothing without drive and respect for one's body and one's team. I see too many bratty players today and this sickens me. We need good starting pitching and consistency in performance which comes down to leadership and coaching. That's what are ultimately missing and they have been missing for a long, long time. The Core Four is gone, Girardi and his coaching staff have lost their edge, now what? We need leadership and good starting pitching. We don’t have either right now.
BYB: What are your top 2 moments in Yankee history that you witnessed and loved the most and why?
Suzie Pinstripe: Top two moments I witnessed? This is a tough one for me. Most definitely, seeing Derek Jeter’s walk off hit in his last game at Yankee Stadium this past season was absolutely surreal. As a Jeter fan, Yankee fan and baseball fan, it was just an incredible moment. I will never forget it!
Another incredible moment was Bucky Dent’s home run in the 1978 Red Sox-Yankees one day playoff game. My dad thought Bucky Dent was just a fluffy little sex symbol who played short stop. I thought he was a sexy little short stop. My father grunted when he got up to bat in that game and I cheered! He said, “oh great, your friend is up.”
When he made contact with that pitch, you couldn’t keep any of us from screaming and jumping up and down! We knew we had it after that hit. I want to add, however, seeing Jeter hit that home run for his 3,000 hit, listening to Dave Righetti throw the no-no on the radio on July 4th and seeing Mariano run onto the field in the All Star game in 2013 were all breath taking as well.
BYB: You had a big press night for BYB where you were able to be apart of the press gaggle at the Trenton Thunder last season. You were right in the mix getting quotes from Mariano Rivera, exclusive to BYB. How much fun was that and what would you like to do next?
Suzie Pinstripe:Being so close to a future Hall of Famer and the ultimate closer, Mariano Rivera, was just incredible. I loved the experience. Just loved it! It was a great opportunity and I will never forget it. Before I became a mom and career changer to the education field, I was a journalist and connecting with athletes was a part of my day to day. I have to say, however, this experience with Mariano really tops the list. Next season, I would like cover more minor league games and meet up with future prospects. I am hoping this is something we can arrange. It is important work for our fans and our future Yankees. We bring a slice of life sort of style of reporting, which is edgy and different. I hope to continue to bring this style of writing and reporting to BYB.
BYB: Tell the audience about what made you reach out to BYB and want to write for us?
Suzie Pinstripe: I reached out to BYB because I liked what I was reading. The writing helped me to connect to the Yankees in a different way. I read Twitter much like people read the news. I screen the wires, read the headlines, pull out what I want to read more about and that’s how I get my news. BYB always had some good headlines and interesting reports. I started responding and re-tweeting. Then I re-tweeted and won a shirt. Casey direct messaged me and we got to chatting. I was in Baltimore at a Yankee game. I remember saying I would love to write a piece sometime. And that was it- we connected. It has been a great ride.
BYB: Who is your favorite Yankee ever? And to followup... if you could ask 1 question to him, what would it be?
Suzie Pinstripe:My favorite Yankee, ever!? I would have to say Bucky Dent. I did meet him a couple of years ago at the Trenton Thunder. I couldn’t ask him anything then because I was still so infatuated with him but if I did have the opportunity to ask him something and could stay focused, I would ask him what it was like to play for the 1977-78 Yankees and for Billy Martin.
BYB: I know you were disappointed when David Phelps got traded. Describe your emotions that day, especially since you interviewed him, and really worked that Phelps piece for us…
Suzie Pinstripe: I was so disappointed that David Phelps was traded. It sickened me that the Yankees let a guy like Phelps go. I never felt the pitching staff or Joe Girardi gave him a chance or gave him the tutelage he needed to grow as a pitcher. He has an impeccable work ethic and passion for the game. He reminds me of guys like Guidry who put it all out there. I really feel he has the makings of a good starter. Former General Manager of the Red Sox told me in an interview once that you can tell if a player is going to be successful by his makeup. I think he has the right makeup to be a great player one day under the right leadership.
BYB: If I told you 5 years ago that you would be Writing for one of the top Yankee fan sites, would you have believed it?
Suzie Pinstripe: I believe that any of us has the ability to work hard for something and go out there and get it. I also believe that in order to be successful, you must surround yourself with positive, successful people. With that said, the answer has to be yes, but did I think it would be this much fun? It is way more fun than I imagined. The fans are awesome, the writing is sincere and the writing team is fresh and real. I love being a part of the team that brings fans the news in this authentic way.
BYB: You're a runner. I love that about you. Question 1 is, when are you going to run wearing out BYB shirt? Second... who inspired you to become such a motivated runner?
Suzie Pinstripe: I love to run. I need you to create a dry fit tee or tank that I can wear. Runners sweat- I am no different. I need a dry fit shirt! I am inspired by two people to run. My dad was a member of the Achilles International Track Club. Achilles International is an organization that gives people with special needs, illnesses and those physically disabled the ability to compete in national and international races across the globe. My dad was suffering from a number of diseases and he was an Achilles athlete. After he completed his fourth New York City Marathon, he had a heart attack and died. It killed me. It broke my spirit and I lost my way.
Soon after, I met a person who changed my life. She gave me my legs and told me I could run. I believed her, she coached me and I began running in memory of father and for my own life. I run to live and I live to run.
BYB: Think hard. Which 1 BYB story did you read and said... "Hey, I like these guys?" tell me about what you felt reading the story.
Suzie Pinstripe: I read a number of stories on BYB before I began writing for you. I liked the angle you guys took. I felt like I was not only getting the facts but an inside look of the team. Specifically, I liked the headlines- they drew me in. I guess that’s it, the crisp headlines that lead me to a story that somehow added some value to my day.
I remember reading a story about Joe DiMaggio and saying, “I like that… he gets me as a fan.” That’s the key for me- connecting to your audience in a unique way. I feel like that is what BYB does best.
BYB: Suzie. I just want to let you know how much we appreciate you here. You bust ass, and I sincerely thank you. Are you happy being apart of BYB?
Suzie Pinstripe: I love writing about baseball. I absolutely love it. It is a great way to share my passion for the game. And writing for Bleeding Yankee Blue is a true extension of my passion for a team that has had an incredible impact on my life. It’s like the movie Fever Pitch- the longest relationship I have every had outside of the one with my parents, is with the New York Yankees. Writing for BYB is an outlet for me to share my relationship with my favorite team with others who have that same passion.
I really enjoyed this interview. I hope the BYB audience did too. thanks Suzie.
