On March 18, 1984, famed batting coach Charley Lau dies from cancer at the age of 50. Lau, whose major league career batting average was .255, earned his fame as the Kansas City Royals batting coach from 1971 to 1978, where his star pupil was George Brett. Lau had also served as a coach for the Baltimore Orioles, Oakland A’s, New York Yankees, and Chicago…
The Yankees obtain third baseman Toby Harrah and minor leaguer Rick Brown from the Indians for Dan Boitano, rookie outfielder Otis Nixon, and minor leaguer Guy Elston. The team’s new third baseman will hit just .217 in the one season he plays for the Bronx Bombers, but Nixon will go on to have a solid 17-year major league career, leaving the game in 1999 with a lifetime batting average of .270.
On January 5, 1984, the New York Yankees sign future Hall of Famer Phil Niekro to a two-year contract. Niekro, who went 11-10 with a 3.97 ERA for the Atlanta Braves in 1983, will fill a void in the Yankee rotation and allow the team to move Dave Righetti to the bullpen. Niekro will win…
New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner fires manager Billy Martin for the third time
On August 18, 1983, In the continuation of the “Pine Tar Game”, Hal McRae strikes out for the last Kansas City Royals out and Dan Quisenberry retires the New York Yankees in order in the bottom of the 9th to preserve the Royals’ 5 – 4 victory. The conclusion takes just 12 minutes (and 16…
While warming up before the 5th inning of the Yankees’ 3 – 1 win over the Blue Jays at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium, New York OF Dave Winfield accidentally kills a seagull with a thrown ball. After the game, Winfield is brought to the Ontario Provincial Police station on charges of cruelty to animals and is forced to post a $500 bond before being released. The charges will be dropped the following day.
On July 24, 1983, the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees play the famed “Pine Tar Game.” At Yankee Stadium, George Brett hits an apparent two-run home run off Rich Gossage to give the Kansas City Royals a 5 – 4 lead with two outs in the 9th inning, only to have the homer…
On July 4, 1983 Dave Righetti of the New York Yankees pitches a no-hitter against the rival Boston Red Sox. Righetti strikes out Wade Boggs to complete the 4-0 masterpiece at Yankee Stadium. He is the first Bronx Bomber left-hander to throw a no-no since George Mogridge accomplished the feat in 1917. Righetti’s teammate, third baseman…
May 27, 1983 New York Yankee Dave Winfield grabs Oakland A’s catcher Mike Heath by the throat as they fought in front of the mound when Winfield objected to a knock down pitch by Mike Norris in the 1st inning at Yankee stadium. Heath prevented Winfield from heading for the mound and pitcher Norris. Both…
Ellis Burks is one of the few good players to be drafted and also signed in the January free agent draft. Burks is picked in the first round by the Red Sox as the Yankees pick and sign a Canseco, Ozzie, with their fourth pick.
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