Yankee Bobby Murcer Dies

Former pitcher was 42

(NEWSER) - Onetime Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu has been found dead in his Southern California home at age 42. Police are investigating the case as a suicide, reports AP . Born in Japan, Irabu was signed in 1997 with great fanfare by the San Diego Padres, but he was traded to the Yankees the same year; he said they were the only team that interested him. He went 29-20 over 3 years for the team and was traded to the Montreal Expos in 1999 before retiring in 2002, the New York Post reports. He was 34-35 overall, never quite living up to expectations of being the Japanese Nolan Ryan. More»

'Voice of God' introduced stars from DiMaggio to Jeter in 5-decade-plus career

(NEWSER) - Bob Sheppard, the public-address announcer who welcomed generations of fans to Yankee Stadium in a career that spanned more than 55 years, has died at 99, the team announced today. Reggie Jackson nicknamed Sheppard "The Voice of God," and a recording of his voice continued to announce Derek Jeter after he left the booth in 2007, reports the Daily News . More»

(NEWSER) - Phil Rizzuto, who filled the annals of the New York Yankees as both a shortstop and a broadcaster, is dead today at 89. The Scooter tended the infield for 13 years with the Bombers, alongside Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio, and took home seven World Series titles. After being cut he became one of baseball's most iconic broadcasters, thrilling fans with his trademark "Holy Cow"-laden color for 40 years. More»

Catcher for Mets, Expos had brain cancer

(AP) - Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter, whose single for the New York Mets in the 1986 World Series touched off one of the most improbable rallies in baseball, died today. He was 57. Carter, diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor last May, was an 11-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner. Nicknamed "Kid," Carter played nearly two decades with the Mets, Montreal, San Francisco, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the first player to go into the Hall of Fame with an Expos cap on his plaque. More»

Fans third Twins batter to ice it

(AP) - Mariano Rivera set the major league record with his 602nd career save, pitching a perfect ninth inning today to preserve the New York Yankees' 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins. With fans standing and cheering from his first pitch to his last, Rivera retired Trevor Plouffe, Michael Cuddyer, and Chris Parmelee to end it. Parmelee looked at strike three—it appeared to be Rivera's signature cutter—as Yankee Stadium roared in approval. More»