Yankees celebrate the career of pitcher Al Orth on his birthday

Born September 5, 1872, Albert Lewis Orth remains a notable figure in early franchise history for the New York Highlanders, the team that eventually became the Yankees. Orth, nicknamed the Curveless Wonder, spent six seasons with New York between 1904 and 1909. His standout performance occurred in 1906, when he recorded 27 wins and a 2.34 ERA over 338.2 innings. After struggling with the Washington Senators, he found success in New York by adopting the spitball under the guidance of teammate Jack Chesbro. Beyond his pitching, Orth maintained a career 92 OPS+ and served as a pinch-hitter and infielder during the 1909 season. Following his playing career, he transitioned into professional baseball as an umpire in 1912.

• 3:30 PMYahoo Sports — Yankees Birthday of the Day: Al Orth