Hank Bauer Arrested by a Yankees Fan on Assault Charges
February 10, 2012 · Harold Friend · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
On May 21, 1957, Hank Bauer was arrested by New York Yankees fan Edwin Jones. Since neither the police nor the district attorney would act, Jones made a citizen’s arrest.
Bauer was booked, fingerprinted, photographed and arraigned on Jones’ charge that the Yankees outfielder had punched him in the jaw at the Copacabana nightclub. Bauer was released without bail.
Bauer’s attorney, Sidney Friedman, vehemently denied that his client or any other Yankees player present struck Jones. Besides Bauer, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Johnny Kucks and Yogi Berra were helping Billy Martin celebrate his 29th birthday.
Friedman emphasized that authorities refused to arrest Bauer.
“This is not an arrest by the district attorney or police authorities. Both have refused to make one. It is an arrest by a private person. Any person has the right to make a citizen’s arrest.”
Jones was with other members of a bowling party when a disagreement arose. There was an exchange of words with the Yankees and Jones claimed his nose was broken when he was hit in the face. He admitted that he didn’t know who struck him, but claimed that he had two witnesses that identified Bauer.
Yogi Berra had witnessed everything. “Nobody ever touched nobody.”
According to his brother Leonard’s account, Jones had walked over to the Yankees table in an attempt to speak with Martin. They had an unpleasant exchange of words because the Yankees resented Jones’ intrusion.Bauer claimed that three or four members of Jones’ bowling team approached and made a few nasty remarks. The Copacabana’s bouncers moved in, saying “Don’t fool around with these guys, Hank. We know how to take care of them.”
As he was leaving the hospital, Jones spoke to reporters. He confirmed the fact that once a Yankees fan, always a Yankees fan.
“I’ll still go to Yankees games. I’ve been a Yankee fan since I was a kid. I love the guy (Bauer).”
The Yankees management stood firmly behind Bauer, issuing a statement to that effect, but that didn’t stop Casey Stengel from doing what he knew he had to do.
The Yankees were hosting the Kansas City Athletics the next day. Ford, who previously had been announced as the Yankees starter, was replaced by Bob Turley. Elston Howard took over for Berra behind the plate.
Mantle started in center field as usual and batted third as usual, but Stengel might have taught Joe Torre something. For the first time in his 10-year career, Bauer batted eighth.
Stengel explained his actions .
“I didn’t use Ford because the whole world knows he was out ’till two in the morning. If I used him and he got beat, people would wonder what I was doing. Berra has been around long enough to know better.”
Turley pitched a shutout, Mantle had a perfect night, hitting a home run, beating out a bunt and drawing a pair of walks, Bauer drove in run and Howard had two hits and an RBI.
In the second inning, the Yankees pulled off a triple play started by Turley. The Yankees won 3-0.
On June 24, Bauer was cleared of all charges.
Note: As I was writing this article and read that Turley had started a triple play, I realized that I had seen the game. That is what is amazing about baseball. It triggers so many seemingly forgotten memories.
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