The Yankees are full of memorable moments and unforgettable players. Winning 27 World Series comes with its share of historical events. But on this day in 1945, the Yankees were on the opposing end of one of the most feel-good stories in baseball’s rich history.
On May 20th, 1945, one-armed outfielder Pete Gray stepped into the batter’s box to begin a doubleheader between the Yankees and the St. Louis Browns. Due to World War II, major league rosters were depleted. Names like Joe DiMaggio were not in the lineup, and teams needed exciting characters to draw in fans.