Sanford lost an AL-high 21 games for the Browns in 1948, but the Yankees thought
enough of him to send three players and $100,000 to St. Louis for him and another
player. Never more than a second-line starter in New York, he was dubbed the $100,000
Lemon by the New York press. He won only 12 games in a little over two seasons with
the Yankees, before he was traded away to the Senators.
(NLM)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»May 13, 1947:
The Yankees pound the Browns 9–1 with Charlie Keller, DiMaggio, and Johnny Lindell combining for consecutive homers off starter Fred Sanford in the 6th inning.
»July 27, 1947:
Jake Jones of the Red Sox hits a foul ball along the 3B line in the sixth. Browns P Fred Sanford throws his glove at the ball to prevent it from rolling into fair territory. Umpire Cal Hubbard awards Jones a triple on the basis of the rule about intentionally thrown gloves. In 1954 the rule is changed so that it only applies to fair balls.
»December 13, 1948: After a year in New York, Red Embree is traded, along with young C Sherm Lollar, Dick Starr and $100,000, to the Browns. Embree will slump to 3–13 in St. Louis after having his only winning ML season in NY. Lollar is the prize, and will catch in the majors through 1963. The Yankees receive Fred Sanford and Roy Partee. Partee is ticketed for the minors, but Sanford will help the Yanks as a starter/reliever in 1949.
»June 15, 1951: The Yanks swap pitchers, sending Tommy Byrne to the Browns for Stubby Overmire: New York adds $25,000 to the deal. The Yanks also deal three RH pitchers—Bob Porterfield, Tom Ferrick, and Fred Sanford—to the Senators for needed lefty Bob Kuzava. Porterfield will blossom into the Nats ace over the next five years, but Kuzava will save the final World Series game in 1951 and 1952.