November 11 – Happy Birthday Ownie Carroll

Slim pickings as far as Yankees born on Veterans Day are concerned. In fact the first member of the team’s all-time roster I found to be born on 11-11 came into this world before that date was even officially recognized as Veterans’ Day. His name was Ownie Carroll and he was born in 1902, in Kearney, NJ. Before he pitched in the big leagues, Carroll became a legend at Holy Cross, compiling a 50-2 collegiate record. He then signed with Detroit and evolved into a pretty successful pitcher for the Tigers during the late twenties. He was 10-6  in 1927 and then 16-12 the following year. He slumped to 9-17 in 1929. That’s probably why he was traded to the Yankees, who offered Detroit pitcher Waite Hoyt and New York’s starting shortstop, Mark Koenig in exchange for Carroll, outfielder Harry Rice and one other nondescript Tiger player. Ownie’s career in New York was brief and unsuccessful. He appeared in just ten games for the Yankees during the 1930 season, mostly in relief, losing his only decision. The Reds purchased him after that season and he ended his career with Brooklyn, in 1934. He went onto become a very successful varsity baseball coach for Seton Hall University for 24 years. That school renamed its baseball stadium Owen T. Carroll Field in his honor. Carroll died in 1975.

The only other Yankee born on November 11th is this seldom used former reliever.