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Starting out as a pitcher, Yeager went 12-22 for Brooklyn in his first season and was used sparingly the next two years as a pitcher and a shortstop. He then jumped to the new American League. Detroit initially used him as a pitcher; he went 12-11, 2.61 in 1901, but dropped to 6-12, 4.82 in 1902. The Tigers made him their regular third baseman in 1903; he hit .256 and fielded adequately, ending his pitching career. Reappearing with the Highlanders (later the Yankees) in 1905, he played 90 games at 3B and 21 at SS, batting .267, and he was a utility man in 1906, hitting a career-high .301. He played in the most games of his career with the 1907 Browns, chiefly at third, but was hampered by a hand injury and hit just .239. Illness ended his career the following season. He is credited by some with originating the squeeze play. (NLM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 17, 1898: Boston's Ted Lewis shuts out Brooklyn 12–0, giving up only one hit, a 9th-inning single, to opposing hurler Joe Yeager. » June 28, 1903: Detroit travels out of state for a home game-a Sunday match in Toledo, Ohio against the A's. Chief Bender tops the Tigers Joe Yeager, 7-3, before a crowd of 4,500. » February 27, 1907: The Yankees acquire C Branch Rickey from the Browns in exchange for INF Joe Yeager. As noted by Lyle Spatz, Rickey will not play on Sundays, while new backstop Buelow will.