This Day in Yankees History: David Cone joins the Yankees

Welcome to the relaunched This Day in Yankees History. Even with the start of the 2020 season, the Pinstripe Alley team has decided to continue the revived program in its new format. These daily posts will highlight two or three key moments in Yankees history on a given date, as well as recognize players born on the day. Hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane with us!

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This Day in Yankees History (July 28)

77 Years Ago

Babe Ruth leads the Yank-Lands, a team of former members of the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians, against the Cloudbusters, a US Navy team from UNC Chapel Hill flight school, in a Red Cross charity game. Ruth walks in his only plate appearance, as a pinch hitter, as the professionals lose to the Navy squad, 8-5, at Yankee Stadium.

25 Years Ago

The Yankees make not one but two big splashes on the trade market, acquiring OF/DH Ruben Sierra from the Oakland Athletics and pitcher David Cone from the Toronto Blue Jays. Sierra would post a 95 OPS+ in 56 games in pinstripes in 1995, while Cone posted a 3.82 ERA in 13 starts.

20 Years Ago

Struggling and unable to record a win in more than four months, David Cone is sent to the Yankees’ minor league complex to try to figure things out with Vice President of Player Personnel Billy Connors.

5 Years Ago

The Texas Rangers thought they were going to have an easy night after Yankees starter Chris Capuano gave up five runs in the bottom of the first, but the Bronx Bombers strike back in the second with 11 runs on 10 hits, including a bases-clearing triple by Didi Gregorius with the bases loaded. Chris Young adds a grand slam in the 4th, as the Yankees eventually win 21-5. Diego Moreno, pitching 5.1 innings in relief of Capuano, records the only win of his Major League career.

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We thank Baseball-Reference, Nationalpastime.com, and FanGraphs for providing background information for these posts.