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I'm trying to revive this idea. Hopefully, it'll catch on. If anything of good value, please post it here.
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May 16, 1957
Associated Press
Hank Bauer, second from right, with his wife and
teammate Mickey Mantle, left, and ex-teammate
Billy Martin a month after the Copacabana row.
A New York grand jury had just cleared Bauer of
possible charges.
Yanks Play the Copa
[Unsigned, The New York Times]
May 16, 1957 NEW YORK-Six members of the world champion New York Yankees were involved in a postmidnight disturbance tonight during a party at the Copacabana nightclub in Manhattan. The Yankees, who were at the club to celebrate Billy Martin's 29th birthday, included Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Hank Bauer, Whitey Ford, Johnny Kucks and Martin. The disturbance stemmed from an argument between the players and members of a bowling club who also were celebrating at the club.
The party, at which all the players except Martin were accompanied by their wives, was planned long in advance. It was not immediately clear how the disturbance occurred or whether the police were called to the club, which is at 10 East 60th Street. Words apparently were exchanged between the players and members of a bowling club who also were celebrating at the Copacabana. One of the members of the bowling club, Edwin Jones, accused Bauer of striking him.
On June 4, The Times carried the following unsigned article about fines levied against the players.
Mantle, Berra, Bauer, Ford and Martin were fined $1,000 each and Kucks, a young pitcher in a lower salary bracket than the others, was fined $500. The fines were deducted from the checks the players received at the Yankee Stadium two days ago.
There were published statements yesterday that the disciplinary action had caused a rift between Casey Stengel, the manager of the team, and George M. Weiss, the general manager of the Yankees. Weiss issued this statement denying that a rift existed: "As for the reported friction between Casey Stengel and myself, this is wholly untrue. We have always consulted and agreed on all moves involving the team on and off the field, with the complete approval of Dan Topping and Del Webb (the co-owner of the Yanks).
Stengel appeared in a bitter mood when he was interviewed at Grand Central Station, where the Yankees departed for a trip to Cleveland and a three-game series with the Indians. Said Stengel: "I know of no rift between me and Mr. Weiss. Mr. Weiss hasn't lost a game all year. I have, me, the manager. Can't understand the big fuss. This [the nightclub incident] all happened three weeks ago. They're trying to make a big scandal over this because we're the Yanks."
Berra, Bauer and Kucks confirmed the fines. Ford insisted, "I wasn't fined." When pressed, he said: "I was told what to say. They haven't announced it, so why should I?"
As for the Bauer incident, the police refused to take action in the matter and Jones had Bauer taken into custody by a citizen's arrest on May 21. Bauer, 34, faces a hearing on charges of felonious assault. In the case of a citizen's arrest, the way is open for a suit for false arrest should Bauer be found not guilty. Bauer denied that he struck Jones. He was supported in this contention by other members of the party. However, the story was published and the fines were a result.
The Yankees went on to win the American League pennant by eight games and lose the World Series to the Milwaukee Braves in seven. Four weeks later, Billy Martin was traded to the Kansas City A's in an eight-player deal generally acknowledged to have stemmed from the brawl.
Thanks.
May 16, 1957
Associated Press
Hank Bauer, second from right, with his wife and
teammate Mickey Mantle, left, and ex-teammate
Billy Martin a month after the Copacabana row.
A New York grand jury had just cleared Bauer of
possible charges.
Yanks Play the Copa
[Unsigned, The New York Times]
May 16, 1957 NEW YORK-Six members of the world champion New York Yankees were involved in a postmidnight disturbance tonight during a party at the Copacabana nightclub in Manhattan. The Yankees, who were at the club to celebrate Billy Martin's 29th birthday, included Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Hank Bauer, Whitey Ford, Johnny Kucks and Martin. The disturbance stemmed from an argument between the players and members of a bowling club who also were celebrating at the club.
The party, at which all the players except Martin were accompanied by their wives, was planned long in advance. It was not immediately clear how the disturbance occurred or whether the police were called to the club, which is at 10 East 60th Street. Words apparently were exchanged between the players and members of a bowling club who also were celebrating at the Copacabana. One of the members of the bowling club, Edwin Jones, accused Bauer of striking him.
On June 4, The Times carried the following unsigned article about fines levied against the players.
Mantle, Berra, Bauer, Ford and Martin were fined $1,000 each and Kucks, a young pitcher in a lower salary bracket than the others, was fined $500. The fines were deducted from the checks the players received at the Yankee Stadium two days ago.
There were published statements yesterday that the disciplinary action had caused a rift between Casey Stengel, the manager of the team, and George M. Weiss, the general manager of the Yankees. Weiss issued this statement denying that a rift existed: "As for the reported friction between Casey Stengel and myself, this is wholly untrue. We have always consulted and agreed on all moves involving the team on and off the field, with the complete approval of Dan Topping and Del Webb (the co-owner of the Yanks).
Stengel appeared in a bitter mood when he was interviewed at Grand Central Station, where the Yankees departed for a trip to Cleveland and a three-game series with the Indians. Said Stengel: "I know of no rift between me and Mr. Weiss. Mr. Weiss hasn't lost a game all year. I have, me, the manager. Can't understand the big fuss. This [the nightclub incident] all happened three weeks ago. They're trying to make a big scandal over this because we're the Yanks."
Berra, Bauer and Kucks confirmed the fines. Ford insisted, "I wasn't fined." When pressed, he said: "I was told what to say. They haven't announced it, so why should I?"
As for the Bauer incident, the police refused to take action in the matter and Jones had Bauer taken into custody by a citizen's arrest on May 21. Bauer, 34, faces a hearing on charges of felonious assault. In the case of a citizen's arrest, the way is open for a suit for false arrest should Bauer be found not guilty. Bauer denied that he struck Jones. He was supported in this contention by other members of the party. However, the story was published and the fines were a result.
The Yankees went on to win the American League pennant by eight games and lose the World Series to the Milwaukee Braves in seven. Four weeks later, Billy Martin was traded to the Kansas City A's in an eight-player deal generally acknowledged to have stemmed from the brawl.
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