BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

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Two of Baseballs Biggest and Classiest Stars in the 1960s Harmon Killebrew and Sandy Koufax meet before the 1964 All Star Game at Shea Stadium.
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October 29 Baseball Birthdays
1859 Charles Ebbets sports executive (co-owner of Brooklyn Dodgers 1897-1902), born in NYC, New York (d. 1925)

1925 Betty Evans Grayson softball pitcher (National Softball Hall of Fame 1959; Chicago Queens), born in Portland, Oregon (d. 1979)


1944 Claude Brochu executive (Montreal Expos), born in Quebec City, Quebec

1959 Jesse Barfield outfielder (Blue Jays, Yankees, 1986 HR leader), born in Joliet, Illinois


1967 Greg Gohr pitcher (Detroit Tigers), born in Santa Clara, California


1974 R. A. Dickey pitcher (MLB All-Star, NL Cy Young Award, NL strikeout leader 2012; Gold Glove Award 2013; NY Mets, Toronto Blue Jays), born in Nashville, Tennessee


1983 Dana Eveland born in Olympia, Washington


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This Day in Baseball History October 29th​

1889 The National League's Giants defeat the Brooklyn Bridegrooms of the American Association, 3-2, to win the World's Championship Series, a precursor to the modern-day World Series. The nine-game postseason matchup is the Big Apple's first 'Subway Series,' although that type of transportation will not be available until 1904​

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1920 In a move less heralded than the acquisition of Babe Ruth earlier in the year, the Yankees hire Red Sox skipper Ed Barrow to be the team's general manager. Under the future Hall of Famer's leadership over the next quarter-century, the Bronx Bombers will win 14 American League pennants and 10 World Series championships

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1931 A's southpaw Lefty Grove, capturing a 98% share of the vote, is named the American League's MVP, easily outpacing runner-ups Lou Gehrig and Al Simmons. The future Hall of Famer left-hander posted a 31-4 (.886) record while compiling a league-leading ERA of 2.08 for first-place Philadelphia.

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1942 Branch Rickey, the innovator of the farm systems that helped build a strong Redbird franchise, resigns as the Cardinals' vice president. Three days later, the Dodgers name the Mahatma as the Brooklyn club president, helping fill the void created by Brooklyn's general manager Larry MacPhail's enlistment in the army to serve in World War II.

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1959 White Sox right-hander Early Wynn, who posted the most victories in either league, wins the Cy Young Award as the top pitcher in the majors. The 39-year-old veteran, who led Chicago to an AL pennant with a 22-10 record, is named on 13 of the 16 votes cast by the BBWAA writers, with the Giants' Sam Jones and teammate Bob Shaw also receiving consideration.

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1969 Tom Seaver garners 23 of 24 possible first-place votes cast by the BBWAA to capture the National League Cy Young Award. The 24-year-old right-hander from Fresno (CA) led the major leagues in victories with 25 while striking out 200+ batters for the second straight season and compiling a 2.21 ERA, the second lowest in the MLB, for the World Champion Mets.

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1975 As their overwhelming choice, the Baseball Writers' Association of American selects Fred Lynn (.331, 21, 105) as the American League Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old Red Sox All-Star outfielder receives 23½ out of 24 first-place votes, with teammate Jim Rice getting the other half.

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1979 Hall of Fame outfielder Willie Mays, one of the game's most popular players, severs all ties with major league baseball when he accepts a public relations job with an Atlantic City casino. Due to the gambling aspect of the position, he had been given an ultimatum by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn to disassociate himself from the national pastime.

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1985 Commissioner Peter Ueberroth suspends Cardinal pitcher Joaquin Andujar for the first ten games next season due to bumping Don Denkinger twice during his World Series Game 7 dispute with the home plate umpire over balls and strikes calls. The Redbird right-hander's frustration is a carry-over from the ump's game-costing blown call at first base in yesterday's ballgame.

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1991 Buck Showalter replaces Stump Merrill as the Yankee manager. During his four-year reign as the Bronx Bomber skipper, the 36-year-old will compile a 313-268 (.539) record, capturing the American League Manager of the Year award and AL East title in 1994 and the league's first wild card the following year.

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1991 Braves skipper Bobby Cox becomes the first person to be named the Manager of the Year in both leagues when the BBWAA selects him as the National League's top field boss. The 50-year-old former third baseman, who won the AL honor with the Blue Jays in 1985, led Atlanta to their first pennant after the team finished with the worst record during the previous season.

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2001 "As the (economic) problems have exacerbated, it has become clearer to me that everything should be on the table, including contraction." - COMMISSIONER BUD SELIG, commenting on the possible elimination of two major league teams as soon as next season.
Before Game 2 of the World Series, Commissioner Bud Selig says major league baseball is considering eliminating two teams by next season. The highly controversial contraction would include the Montreal Expos and either the Minnesota Twins or the Florida Marlins.

2002 Bringing the total to seven this month, three more teams hire new managers, including Ned Yost (Brewers), Ken Macha (A's), and Eric Wedge (Indians). Being younger than two of his players (Ellis Burks and Omar Vizquel), the Tribe's skipper, at age 34, becomes the youngest manager in the major leagues.

2006 Silas Simmons, the oldest surviving former baseball player, passes away at St. Petersburg's Westminster Suncoast retirement community in Florida. The 111-year-old was a southpaw hurler in the Negro Leagues for 17 years and played for the Homestead Grays, New York Lincoln Giants, and Cuban All-Stars.

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2008 The Phillies complete the first-ever suspended game in World Series history, playing three innings at Citizens Bank Park, beating the Rays, 4-3, in Game 5 to win the Fall Classic. The World Championship is only the team's second in franchise history and the first since 1980.

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2009 Derek Jeter is the recipient of this year's Roberto Clemente Award, an honor given to a player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, and community involvement. The 35-year-old Yankee captain joins 13 Hall of Famers and former Bronx Bombers Ron Guidry and Don Baylor in winning the prestigious prize.

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2010 The Mets officially introduced 62-year-old Harvard Law School graduate Sandy Alderson as the team's new general manager at a Citi Field news conference. The A's former president and GM and chief executive officer of the Padres is being allowed to leave his current administrative position with MLB to take on the challenging role of rebuilding the directionless organization, which includes hiring a new manager for the team.

2010 Joe Girardi finalizes a new three-year contract with the Yankees to remain the team's manager. During the season, rumors surfaced that the Illinois native and former Cub catcher might be interested in replacing the retiring Lou Piniella as the Chicago skipper, a position recently filled by interim Mike Quade.

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2013 After batting .360 (9-for-25) with three home runs and nine RBIs for his island nation during the World Baseball Classic, Jose Abreu, who defected from Cuba last summer, finalizes a $68 million, six-year deal with the White Sox. The Pale Hose projects the 26-year-old slugger to play first base/DH, helping the team bolster a weak offense, which scored the fewest runs in the American League this season.

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2014 In Game 7 at Kauffman Stadium, the Giants clinch their third World Series in five years when the team defeats the Royals, 3-2. San Francisco's 25-year-old southpaw Madison Bumgarner, the MVP of the Fall Classic, hurls the five final scoreless innings to earn the save in addition to his victories in Games 1 and 5.

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2015 On the day the Sporting News names him the Executive of the Year, Blue Jays' GM Alex Anthopoulos rejects a five-year contract extension after bringing the franchise to an AL East Championship the previous season and posting a 489–483 record during his six-year tenure with the team. The 38-year-old, who will become the Dodgers' vice president of baseball operations in January, is believed to have departed the organization after quarreling with Toronto's new president and CEO, Mark Shapiro, concerning his autonomy as the club's general manager.

2020 Tony La Russa becomes the White Sox's new manager, replacing Rick Renteria, fired after leading the team to their first postseason appearance in 12 years. The incoming 76-year-old Hall of Fame skipper, dismissed after eight seasons with the club in 1986, compiled a 2,728-3,625 (.536) record during his 35 campaigns in the dugout en route to winning World Championships with the A's (1988) and Cardinals (2006, 2011).

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A young Reggie Jackson, June 22, 1969
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Charlie Finley with the A’s three World Series trophies–1972, 1973 and 1974
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Dusty Baker, Steve Garvey, Reggie Smith and Ron Cey at 1978 Spring Training at Vero Beach, FL. The number at the end of each bat shows the number of home runs each player had in 1977.​

 

Aroldis Garcia walk off home run
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October 30 Baseball Birthdays
1867 Ed Delahanty HOF left fielder (NL batting champion 1899; NL home run leader 1893, 96; 3 × NL RBI leader; Philadelphia Quakers, Cleveland Infants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Washington Senators, born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1903)


1871 Buck Freeman outfielder (World Series 1903; HR leader 1899, 1903; AL RBI leader 1902, 03; Boston Americans), born in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania (d. 1949)


(1898-1989) Bill Terry HOF first baseman (MLB All-Star 1933–35; World Series 1933; NL batting champion 1930; NY Giants) and manager (NY Giants 1932-41), born in Atlanta, Georgia
1937 Series


1916 Leon Day HOF pitcher (9 x NgL All Star; NgL World Series 1946; Brooklyn/Newark Eagles, Baltimore Elite Giants), born in Alexandria, Virginia (d. 1995)


1917 Bobby Bragan born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 2010) Player Fort Worth Cats



1927 Joe Adcock player & manager (Milwaukee Braves; 2-time MLB All Star), born in Coushatta, Louisiana (d. 1999)


1935 Jim Perry Campbell University born in Williamston, North Carolina


1941 Jim Ray Hart (Giants), born in Hookerton, North Carolina (d. 2016)
1960 David Valle catcher (Texas Rangers), born in Bayside, New York
1961 Scott Garrelts (San Francisco Giants), born in Urbana, Illinois
1962 Danny Tartabull, outfielder (NY Yankees, Chicago White Sox), born in Miami, Florida
1962 Mark Portugal, pitcher (Cincinnati Reds), born in Los Angeles, California
1979 Jason Bartlett born in Mountain View, California
1981 Ian Snell (Pittsburgh Pirates), born in Dover, Delaware
1982 Manny Parra, (Bridgeport Bluefish), born in Carmichael, California
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This Day in Baseball History October 30th​

1929 The Cardinals name coach Gabby Street as the team's field boss, replacing Bill McKechnie, who left to manage the Boston Braves. The new Redbirds' manager will lead the club to two National League pennants and a World Series championship in his first two seasons.

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1956 The sale of the historical but out-of-date Ebbets Field to real estate developer Marvin Kratter becomes one of the first indications the ballpark is nearing its end and, perhaps, a harbinger of the Dodgers' departure from Brooklyn. As part of the deal, club owner Walter O'Malley is given a three-year lease, with an additional two years to be added in January, to stay and play at the Flatbush facility, which means the 'Bums' have a potential home in the borough until 1961.

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1963 Sandy Koufax, who unanimously won the Cy Young Award six days ago, is also named the National League's MVP. The Dodger southpaw, who compiled a 25-5 record along with a 1.88 ERA, outpoints Cardinals' infielder Dick Groat, 237-190, collecting 14 of the 20 first-place votes cast by the BBWAA writers.

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1964 American hurler Joe Stanka wins the league's MVP award pitching for the Nankai Hawks. The 33-year-old right-hander's three straight victories over the Yomiuri Giants help his team capture the Japanese Series.

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1967 The White Sox announce the club will play nine regular-season games in Milwaukee during the 1968 season. The change in venue marks the first time an American League team will be the home team outside its city since 1905, when the Tigers hosted the Boston Americans at Neil Park in Columbus (OH).

1973 Mets' pitcher Tom Seaver (19-10, 2.08) wins the NL's Cy Young Award, outpointing runners-up Mike Marshall (Expos, 31 saves) and Ron Bryant (Giants, 24-12). The 27-year-old New York right-hander is the first recipient of the prestigious pitching prize not to post twenty victories.

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1974 The writers select A's hurler Catfish Hunter as the American League's Cy Young Award recipient. The 25-game winner, due to a contract dispute with owner Charlie Finley, will be declared one of baseball's first free agents, becoming the game's highest-paid pitcher at the end of December when he signs a five-year contract with the Yankees for $3.75 million.

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1975 Giants pitcher John Montefusco (15-9, 2.88, 215), also known as 'The Count,' wins the National League Rookie of the Year Award. The Expos' freshman catcher Gary Carter (.270, 18, 68), a 2003 inductee into the Hall of Fame, receives nine first-place votes out of the 24 cast by the writers to finish second in the balloting.

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1986 The Orioles exchange Storm Davis for Padres' catcher Terry Kennedy and minor leaguer Mark Williamson. After getting off to a 2-7 start with an ERA of 6.18 with San Diego, the right-hander will be dealt to Oakland in August for players to be named later.

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2000 Diamondback broadcaster Bob Brenly, signing a three-year, $2 million contract, is named the team manager. The former major league catcher replaces Buck Showalter, the club's only manager, who was let go at the end of the season after compiling a 250-236 record for the three-year-old franchise.

2001 George W. Bush becomes the eighth president to attend a World Series game and the first since Dwight D. Eisenhower to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Wearing a New York Fire Department windbreaker in honor of the heroes of the September 11th attacks, the Commander-in-Chief walks to the mound by himself, gives a thumbs-up, and throws a perfect strike to the Yankees' backup catcher, much to the delight of the stadium faithful.

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2007 The Yankees sign Joe Girardi to a three-year deal worth a reported $7.5 million to replace popular manager Joe Torre, who left earlier in the month, rejecting a 29% pay cut after guiding his club to their 12th postseason appearance in 12 years. The 43-year-old former catcher and broadcaster, the 2006 NL manager of the Year with the Marlins, beat out Bronx Bombers' coaches Don Mattingly and Tony Pena to become the team's 32nd skipper.

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2007 Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, calling it a mutual decision, announces manager Grady Little (170-154, .525) has decided to leave the organization with a year left on his three-year contract. The resignation fuels speculation of the club hiring former Yankee manager Joe Torre as the team's new skipper.

Grady with Bobby Cox


Torre with Vin Scully

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2007 The Astros re-sign Brad Ausmus to a one-year, $2 million incentive-laden deal, citing the veteran catcher's ability to mentor younger players. Next season, the 38-year-old Gold Glove backstop expects a reduced role when rookie sensation J.R. Towles takes over behind the plate for Houston.

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2007 Ria Cortesio, professional baseball's only active female umpire and sixth overall, is released after nine years of making calls in the minors. The 31-year-old crew chief, whose mask is in the Hall of Fame, worked the Futures Game and Home Run Derby at the 2006 All-Star Game played in Pittsburgh, and she was on the bases for an exhibition game between the Diamondbacks and Cubs during spring training.

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2008 The Brewers hire Ken Macha to manage the team. The former A's skipper, fired by Oakland after Detroit swept the club in the 2006 ALCS, replaces interim manager Dale Sveum, who finished with a dozen games left in the regular season for the fired Ned Yost.

2008 Adding another first baseman to an already crowded field at that position, the Royals obtain Mike Jacobs (.247, 32, 93) from the Marlins in exchange for reliever Leo Nunez (4-1, 2.98). The 28 -year-old infielder from Florida gives Kansas City a much-needed left-handed slugger in the middle of the lineup.

Jacobs & Miguel Olivio
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2009 Tom Ricketts, the Cubs' chairman, makes it clear the new ownership intends to win a World Championship. At his introductory press conference, the investment banker tells the media he believes a thoughtful, long-range approach is needed for the team to succeed in overcoming its 101-year absence from the Fall Classic.

2009 Freddy Sanchez signs a $12-million, two-year contract extension to stay with the Giants, the team the Pirates traded him to in midseason in exchange for a minor league pitching prospect. Due to an ailing shoulder, the two-time All-Star second baseman and former batting champ played only 25 games with San Francisco.

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