This Day in Yankees History: Yankees sign lease to stay in the Bronx

Welcome to This Day in Yankees History. The season may be underway, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a trip into the past. 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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50 Years Ago

The Yankees add another retired number to the collection.

Casey Stengel’s no. 37 is the fifth number to be taken out of circulation when he is honored at Yankees Old-Timers Day in 1970. Stengel was at the helm of the Yankees from 1949 to 1960, and led the team to seven World Series titles in that time. He’s tied with Joe McCarthy for most championships in team and baseball history. He’s third all-time in franchise wins and fourth in winning percentage.

48 Years Ago

The Yankees and the city of New York sign a 30-year lease to keep the team at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. As part of the agreement, the team would play the 1974 and ‘75 seasons at Shea Stadium while their home was being remodeled. The lease kicked in for ‘76 and ran through 2006. The Yankees would go on to play at the original Yankee Stadium two years after that before moving into the new Yankee stadium in 2009.

The agreement helped keep the team in the city and away from New Jersey, who were reportedly looking to add a baseball stadium to the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

20 Years Ago

After recording just two runs and four hits off Barry Zito and Jim Mecir, it seemed like the Yankees were doomed to a loss. The Oakland Athletics were bringing in All-Star closer Jason Isringhausen for the ninth to try to finish off a 3-2 win at Yankee Stadium. The game would be over very shortly, although not how you might expect.

Isringhausen threw just two pitches, and both went over the fence. Bernie Williams and David Justice both took the first pitch they saw deep to swing the game from a 3-2 loss to a 4-3 win in an instant. The A’s closer allowed just six home runs all year in 2000.

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No very famous Yankees with any birthdays today, but a happy one to Ray Fontenot, Ken Holloway, Greg Mahlberg, Ross Ohlendorf, and Marlin Stuart. Stuart is, of course, the namesake of the current Miami franchise. (Don’t fact check this.)

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We thank Baseball-Reference, the New York Times, and Nationalpastime.com for providing background information for these posts.