The Yankees purchased the contract of outfielder Brett Gardner from AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 30, 2008, and started him in center field in his major league debut against Scott Feldman and the Texas Rangers. Mike Mussina was brilliant, but less so than the Texas rookie righthander, who held the Yanks to four hits and one run (an Alex Rodriguez home run) through six. Moose gave up five safeties and two runs and the Yanks fell 2-1. One-time star third baseman Graig Nettles had decreased the games-remaining counter in Yankee Stadium from 42 to 41 the day before, and on this day, one-time Pinstriped hurler and broadcaster Jim Kaat moved it down to 40, marking that there was now less than half a season left to be played in the grand old ballpark.
New York Yankees Flashback: Happy Anniversary, Brett!
