BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

Baseball Birthdays February 20 2025
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1889 Boardwalk Brown Athletics & Yankees P


1890 Sam Rice Senators HOF outfielder (World Series 1924; AL stolen base leader 1920; Washington Senators 1915-33

1913 Tommy Henrich Yankees IF/OF 1942, 1947–50; World Series 1938, 41, 47, 49, 51; NY Yankees)

1920 Frankie Gustine, infielder (MLB All-Star 1946, 47, 48; Pittsburgh Pirates)

1928 Roy Face Pirates Expos, Reds+ Pirates


1941 Clyde Wright MLB pitcher (no-hitter v Oakland 1970)


1959 Bill Gullickson pitcher, 1979-94 (Montreal Expos, Detroit Tigers, and 2 other teams

1967 Kurt Knudsen pitcher (Detroit Tigers)

1975 Livan Hernandez Marlins, Giants

1982 Jason Hirsh

1983 Justin Verlander (Houston Astros)

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This Day in Baseball History
February 20th​

1923 Giants attorney Emil Fuchs and Christy Mathewson, who becomes the principal owner and team president, put together a syndicate that buys the Boston Braves for $300,000. The future Hall of Famer right-hander's deteriorating health reduces him no more than a figurehead, turning over the presidency to Fuchs at the end of the season.
1929 The Red Sox announce the team will play its newly allowed Sunday games at Braves Field, the home of their National League rivals located on Commonwealth Avenue at Babcock Street. The team will not play Sunday contests at Fenway Park until 1932 because the blue laws restrict the venue's use due to its proximity to churches.
1953 August A. Busch, seeing the purchase as a marketing tool, convinces the Board of Directors of Anheuser-Busch to buy the Cardinals from Fred Saigh for $3.75 million. As a matter of civic pride, the former owner, convicted of tax evasion, becomes convinced by the beer baron to take less money than the offer from an ownership group that would move the Redbirds to Houston.

1963 The Cubs officially end their radical approach of using multiple field bosses when the team hires Bob Kennedy as their only manager. With the "College of Coaches" system disbanded, the club will post an 82-80 record under their lone skipper.

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1963 After leading the Giants to the pennant, Willie Mays becomes the game's presently highest-paid player, signing a $100,000 contract, a ten-thousand-dollar increase. The 31-year-old outfielder, who slugged a major league-leading 49 home runs last year, joins Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio, and Ted Williams in inking a six-figure deal.

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1984 Pedro Guerrero becomes the highest-paid Dodger when he signs a five-year, seven-million dollar contract to play in Los Angeles. The 27-year-old Dominican Republic native, a .305 lifetime hitter who paced the team last season with 32 homers and 103 RBIs, made it clear he would not accept anything less than $1.2 million for the upcoming campaign.

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1992 After Homer Simpson's team qualifies for the league final, power plant owner Montgomery Burns hires nine major league players to win a $1 million bet with rival Shelbyville. Darryl Strawberry, the only big-leaguer to play due to a series of bizarre pregame accidents, hits nine home runs, but Burns replaces the southpaw slugger with Homer in the last inning because he wants a righty to face the opponent's left-hander.
(Ed. Note: The original lineup included Darryl Strawberry, Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ken Griffey Jr., Steve Sax, Ozzie Smith, Jose Canseco, Don Mattingly, and Mike Scioscia. - LP)

1996 The Yankees officially sign Dwight Gooden, who didn't play last season due to being suspended for drugs, to a one-year deal with two option years. The complicated contract, necessitated by the hurler's past addictions, calls for a salary of $1M in 1996, then $2M in 1997 and $3M in 1998, and requires the 31-year-old right-hander to be tested for drugs three times a week while participating in a 12-step program.

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2008 "My, oh my," Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus enters the Baseball Hall of Fame. On his 73rd birthday, the veteran announcer, the team's lead play-by-play announcer from their inaugural season in 1977 until his death after the 2010 season, learns he is the recipient of the 2008 Ford C. Frick Award for broadcast excellence.


2009 With the most wins among active pitchers, Tom Glavine agrees to a one-year, $1 million deal to stay with the Braves. The 42-year-old southpaw, who underwent surgery for a torn ligament in his left elbow, posted a 2-4 record with a 5.54 ERA in 13 starts for Atlanta before being shut down last August.

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2009 Baltimore inks Brian Roberts to a four-year contract extension reportedly worth $40 million. Along with Nick Markakis, who recently signed a six-year, $66 million deal, the 31-year-old talented second baseman becomes the second home-grown Oriole player within a month to agree to a long-term pact to stay with the last-place club.

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2009 The Nationals and Ryan Zimmerman (.283, 14, 51) avoid arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, $3.3 million contract. The 24-year-old third baseman is Washington's all-time leader in almost every offensive category, including homers, RBI, runs, hits, and games since the franchise relocated from Montreal four seasons ago.


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Max Fried​

 

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Today In 1936: Joe DiMaggio is ready to leave for his first New York #Yankees training camp, but who's driving? Tony Lazzeri & Frank Crosetti did - all the way from San Francisco to St. Petersburg because Joe didn't know how to drive! #SpringTraining #MLB #Baseball #History


Legendary pitcher Christy Mathewson warms up in his stylish New York Giants sweater


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Baseball Birthdays February 21 2024
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1867 Jouett Meekin Colonels,Senators, Giants, Beanaters P/OF

1875 Dummy 'Luther Hudson' Taylor Giants P/OF
May 16, 1902, is noted for an occasion that has never since been duplicated: a major league game in which two deaf players faced each other as opponents. Luther “Dummy” Taylor was a pitcher for the New York Giants. The team was visiting Cincinnati for a weekend series against the Reds. The hometown club’s roster included a veteran center fielder named William “Dummy” Hoy.

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1907 Snipe Hansen, St Louis, Phils P


1942 Fred Newman Angels

1943 Joe Foy RedSox, Royals, Mets IF/OF

1943 Jack Billingham Astros, Tigers, Reds P

1958 Alan Trammell Tigers SS, IF

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This Day in Baseball History
February 21st​

1931 The Dodgers arrive in Cuba to start a series of five inter-squad games. Brooklyn right-hander Dolf Luque, known as the Pride of Havana, will appear in the exhibitions scheduled for the spacious Tropical Stadium.


1945 Due to wartime travel restrictions, the Office of Defense Transportation has requests major league clubs to cut travel by twenty-five percent. Commissioner Ford Frick estimates the decision to cancel the All-Star game, which has occurred annually since its inception in 1933, will save 500,000 passenger miles.

1966 Emmett Ashford becomes the first black to be a major league umpire when the American League hires him. 'Ash,' known for his flashy style in the PCL, will spend five years in the bigs, working the 1967 All-Star game and the 1970 World Series, before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.


1968 The players and owners reach the first-ever collective basic agreement. The two-year CBA raises the minimum salary from $6,000 to $10,000, the first increase in two decades, and provides a new grievance arbitration procedure for labor disputes that empowers the commissioner as the final arbiter.

1974 Tom Seaver becomes the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history when he signs a one-year contract for $172,000, a twenty-five percent increase from last season, to hurl for the Mets. The 29-year-old right-hander known as 'Tom Terrific' has posted a 135-76 record during his seven years in New York.


1980 Billy Martin signs a two-year, $250,000 deal to be the A's manager becoming Charlie Finley's fifteenth different skipper in the past twenty years. During the three-year reign of 'Billy Ball,' the fiery 51-year-old skipper will compile a 215-218 record, winning a division title as the first-half leader of the 1981 strike-shortened season in the AL West.

1986 In defiance of the Reds' policy, Rollie Fingers refuses to cut off his trademark handlebar mustache and retires from baseball. The future Hall of Fame reliever, who leaves the game with 341 saves, had been offered a contract by Cincinnati's skipper Pete Rose after being released by the Brewers at the end of last season.

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1989 Reds manager Pete Rose meets with Commissioner Peter Ueberroth and Commissioner-elect Bart Giamatti to explain the allegations concerning his gambling habits. Major League Baseball will launch a full investigation into the matter next month, leading to "Charlie Hustle's" permanent ban from the game in August.


2000 Denying the acquisition of Ken Griffey, Jr. as the reason, the Reds announce the team has dropped its prohibition on wearing earrings. Players have worn the jewelry in the Cincinnati clubhouse but weren't allowed to take the field wearing earwear.

2006 The National Baseball Hall of Fame selects Gene Elston to receive the Ford C. Frick Award. During his 47 years in the broadcast booth, the former Astros announcer brought a no-nonsense approach to reporting the happenings on the diamond.

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2008 Ryan Howard, who made $900,000 last season, gets a substantial raise by winning his salary arbitration case against the Phillies. The 28-year-old first baseman receives a $10 million award, tying Alfonso Soriano, who had sought $12 million and lost, for the highest arbitrated amount ever given to a player.

2009 In a decision that team general manager Neal Huntington calls easy, the Pirates pick up John Russell's contract option for this season. The sophomore skipper compiled a 67-95 record in his first season with the last-place Bucs.

2019 Manny Machado agrees to a 10-year, $300 million contract with the Padres, making the 25-year-old infielder's deal the richest free-agent signing in baseball history. Bryce Harper will surpass the all-time free-agent jackpot in two weeks, signing a 13-year, $330 million commitment with the Phillies.

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Bill Buckner hit .300+ 7x and captured the 1980 NL Batting title (.324)

 

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2/22/25
BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS
1839 Octavius Catto (Institute for Colored Youth, 1859-71), civil rights activist, and baseball player (Philadelphia Pythians, 1865-71), born in Charleston, South Carolina (d. 1871)


1874 Bill Klem HOF umpire (record 18 x World Series), born in Rochester, New York (d. 1951)


1911 Bill Baker player (d. 2006)


Sparky Anderson (1934-2010) HOF manager (World Series 1975, 76 Cincinnati Reds; WS 1984 & 2 x AL Manager of the Year, Detroit Tigers), born in Bridgewater, South Dakota


1939 Steve Barber pitcher (Baltimore Orioles, NY Yankees), born in Takoma Park, Maryland (d. 2007)

1971 Lisa Fernandez softball pitcher (Olympic gold 1996), born in Lakewood, Californ

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FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

2-22-25​

1880 George Wright signs a contract with the Boston Red Caps, which he states allows him not to travel with the team on western road trips, participating in games only played in New England and Troy. The arrangement will allow the Hall of Fame shortstop to devote more time to his sporting goods business.

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1889 Italy's King Humbert is among the fans who witness the Chicagos beat the All-Americans, 3-2, outside Rome at the Villa Borghese. Originally billed as the Spalding's Australian Baseball Tour, the trip expands to include contests in Europe, much to the surprise of the captive players aboard ship en route to the Land Down Under.
Amazon Ambassadors in Pinstripes: The Spalding World Baseball Tour and the Birth of the American Empire

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1936 As thousands cheer on both sides of the river, 48-year-old Senator legend Walter Johnson throws a silver dollar to the far side of the Rappahannock, believed to be a 386-foot toss. The Washington, D.C. Sesquicentennial celebration, which includes commemorating the 204th anniversary of George Washington's birth, stages the event to duplicate the alleged feat that the young Virginian accomplished when he threw a silver dollar across the Potomac River.


1938 After college, Texas Christian football All-American Sammy Baugh signs a contract with the Cardinals. 'Slingin' Sammy,' who will experience little playing time as a backup to starting shortstop Marty Marion, will leave the minor leagues to play for in the National Football League, where he will become a Hall of Fame quarterback with the Redskins.

 

1966 The Mets trade Wayne Graham, Bobby Klaus, and Jimmie Schaffer to the Phillies for first baseman Dick Stuart, who will join the Dodgers after being released by his new team in June. During his brief tenure with the Amazins,' Dr. Strangelove plays in 31 games, hitting .231 while committing six errors.
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2005 Jerry Coleman is the recipient of the Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award. The 80-year-old San Diego play-by-play broadcaster, the MVP of the 1950 World Series, has spent 41 years calling games for the Yankees, Angels, and Padres.
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2005 Tom Umberg, a California state assemblyman, introduces legislation that would require pro franchises to use disclaimers if they do not play the majority of home games in the location used in their name. With his 'Truth in Sports Advertising Act,' the Anaheim Democrat is attempting to prevent the local team from changing its name to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Halos' third moniker since the franchise's inception in 1961.

2006 The Dodgers announce the team has extended the contract of Vin Scully through 2008. The Hall of Fame broadcaster, considered by many to be the best announcer in baseball history, is beginning his 57th year in the Dodger organization, believed to be the longest tenure of any on-air individual in sports history.

2008 The Mets, who had not gone to arbitration with a player in 16 years, come out on the short end of the hearing when southpaw (15-10, 3.56) gets a favorable decision in his case from arbitrators Steven Wolf, Robert Bailey, and Elizabeth Neumeier. The southpaw is awarded $6.5 million for this year, rather than the club's offer of $4,725,000.

2008 After losing his request for $12.5 million, Francisco Rodriguez (2.81, 40 saves) receives a $10 million award, tying Alfonso Soriano (Nationals) and Ryan Howard (Phillies) for the most money ever given in a salary arbitration case. The 26-year-old Angels closer leads the majors in saves during the last three seasons with a total of 132.

2010 Johnny Damon and the Tigers agree to an $8 million, one-year deal. The 36-year-old southpaw-swinging outfielder, who hit .282 with 24 homers for the World Champion Yankees last season, will bat leadoff for Detroit, misses going to the postseason after the team loses a one-game tiebreaker to Minnesota.

2017 "I think it's a mistake to stick our head in the sand and ignore the fact that our game has changed, and continues to change". - MLB COMMISSIONER ROB MANFRED, commenting on the new intentional walk rule. In an effort to speed up the game, MLB announces the approval of implementing an intentional walk with a signal from the dugout, rather than the need of throwing four pitches out of the strike zone. Although the new rule will eliminate about only a minute of play, some believe the new approach rids the sport of an antiquated way of issuing a deliberate base-on-balls.

2021 Kevin Mather resigns as the president of the Mariners when the February 5 Zoom video of a meeting with a Rotary Club goes viral. With the team since 1996 and named president in 2014, the former club official questioned if Hisashi Iwakuma needed an interpreter, commented on the poor English spoken by top prospect Julio Rodriguez, and shared the organization's decision to manipulate service time by not calling up prospects.

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2/23
OTD BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS
1865 Barney Dreyfuss, baseball owner (Pittsburgh Pirates)


1914 Mike Tresh catcher (MLB All Star 1945; Chicago WS)

1929 Elston Howard catcher (12 × MLB All-Star; 6 × World Series; AL MVP 1963; first African-American NY Yankee), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1980)
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1941 Ron Hunt, baseball player


1963 Bobby Bonilla outfielder (NY Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Marlins)

1976 Scott Elarton born in Lamar, Colorado

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FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1921 Brooklyn trade 29 year-old Rabbit Maranville to the Pirates for Billy Southworth, Fred Nicholson, Walter Barbare, and $15,000 in cash. The future Hall of Fame shortstop will spend four of his 19 major league seasons playing for the Bucs, providing excellent defense for the team while compiling a .283 batting average.

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1934 Brooklyn coach Casey Stengel signs a two-year deal to manage the Dodgers, replacing skipper Max Carey, who guided the sixth-place club to a 65-88 record last season. During the rookie manager's three-year tenure with the Brooks, the team will finish 43 games under .500, finishing no higher than fifth place.


1960 Twenty-eight months after the Dodgers play their last game in Brooklyn, the demolition of Ebbets Field finally begins when a wrecking ball, painted with red and white stitches, begins its work on the ballpark Brooklyn called home for 44 years. Before the demolition, wheel-chair bound Roy Campanella, the team's former All-Star catcher and three-time National League MVP is given an urn of dirt from behind home plate in front of a crowd of 200 faithful fans.

1986 Although he loses his arbitration case, Boston third baseman by this process. Last season's AL batting champ had sought $1.85 million, but arbitrator Thomas Roberts rules in favor of the Red Sox, resulting in a drop of a half-million dollars for the infielder.


1987 Three days into spring training, Dick Howser's attempted comeback after undergoing brain tumor surgery comes to an end when the frail-looking Royals manager finds he is physically too weak to continue. Third-base coach Billy Gardner replaces the ill skipper, who will die three months later at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City.

1988 Facing the loss of the 1990 All-Star game and possible postseason games, the Chicago City Council passes an ordinance, 29-19, allowing the Cubs to play 18 night games a season through the year 2002 at Wrigley Field, the last major league ballpark to be illuminated. The legislation prohibits beer sales after 9:20 p.m. and organ music ten minutes later.Wrigley Field: A Celebration of the Friendly Confines

1990 Although the owners drop their arbitration and minimum salary proposals, spring training camps remain closed. Baseball's seventh work stoppage will last 32 days, resulting in the delay of Opening Day for a week and the over-all season extended by three days to accommodate the 162-game schedule.

1997 Ira Berkow's front-page story about Larry Doby appears in the Sunday New York Times, detailing the 22-year-old second baseman's experience about being the first black to play in the American League. The article spurs much interest about the former Newark Eagle, leading many to believe the story helped his election to the Hall of Fame the following year.

2000 Cubs manager Don Baylor names four captains, selecting first baseman Mark Grace, right fielder Sammy Sosa, pitcher Kevin Tapani, and reliever Rick Aguilera. The quartet will be the Cubs' first captains since the 1960s and early 1970s when Ron Santo held the position.

2006 Complaining about the lack of support from local baseball officials, Roberto Kelly resigns as manager of Panama's team in the World Baseball Classic. The Giants spring training instructor believes some players didn't participate in the WBC to play in the Panamanian championships.

2012 Avoiding a 50-game suspension, Ryan Braun becomes the first major league player to challenge a positive test result successfully. The panel that heard the appeal voted 2-1 in favor of the 28 year-old Brewer outfielder because the test collector kept the urine sample at home and stored it in his refrigerator for two days before sending the specimen to a Montreal laboratory for analysis.

2013 Jason Bay, who mutually agreed to terminate his contract with the Mets in November after three years of futility in New York, clouts a two-run homer in his first at-bat of spring training in the Mariners' 8-6 exhibition victory over the Padres. The likable but oft-injured outfielder signed with Seattle in the offseason for $1 million, a far cry from the four-year, $66-million free-agent deal he inked, leaving Boston for the Big Apple in 2009.

2016 Jose Reyes becomes the first player disciplined under baseball's new domestic violence policy when he is placed on paid leave until the completion of criminal proceedings, stemming from his arrest following an argument with his wife at a Hawaiian resort in late October. The 32-year-old All-Star shortstop, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of abuse of a family member, will not report to the Rockies' spring training camp.

2016 At a news conference at Borough Hall in Queens, the Mets announce the team will host an LGBT Pride Night on August 13 at Citi Field, featuring discounted seating for the game against the Padres and a free postgame concert. A portion of the ticket proceeds purchased from Mets.com/pride for the event, expected to attract more than 5,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender fans, will benefit the LGBT Network, a non-profit organization Safe Schools Initiative working to stop bullying in Long Island and Queens.

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Baseball Birthdays February 24 2024
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1874-1955 Honus Wagner Hall of Fame shortstop (8 x NL batting champion; 5 × NL RBI / stolen base leader; Pittsburgh Pirates), born in Chartiers Borough, Pennsylvania


1956 Eddie Murray MLB Hall of Fame 1st baseman, 8x All-star, 3x Golden Glove (Baltimore Orioles, 1977-88 & 96; L.A. Dodgers, 1989-91 & 97, and three other teams


1958 Doug Wabeke collegiate HOF baseball coach


1963 Matias Carrillo outfielder (Florida Marlins)


1966 Rene Arocha pitcher (St Louis Cardinals)


1970 Wilson Alvarez,, pitcher (Chicago White Sox) (Edmonton Eskimos 2011-13)


1974 Mike Lowell
1977 Bronson Arroyo
1982 Nick Blackburn
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This Day in Baseball History
February 24th​

1943 The Texas League announces the circuit plans to cease operations for World War II. As with most minor leagues, the difficulty of traveling and the lack of non-disabled men available to fill team rosters make suspending play necessary.

1948 The White Sox trade Ed Lopat to the Yankees for Aaron Robinson, Bill Wight, and Fred Bradley. The 29-year-old southpaw, called 'The Junkman' by his teammates, will spend eight seasons with the Bronx Bombers, compiling an impressive 113-59 (.657) record.

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1966 The Braves sign the University of Southern California hurler Tom Seaver, but Commissioner William Eckert nullifies the contract due to rules governing the signing of college players. The right-hander declared ineligible by USC will become available to any team, except Atlanta, willing to match the original contract in a lottery, an offer that only the Indians, Phillies, and Mets will submit bids.

1977 The A's trade Macon (GA) native Ron Fairly to the Blue Jays for minor leaguer Mike Weathers and cash. The 38-year-old first baseman/outfielder, who played with the Montreal Expos from 1969 to 1974, becomes the first major leaguer to appear with both Canadian teams, compiling a .277 batting average and hitting 105 home runs playing with clubs north of the border for seven seasons.


1986 Eleven weeks after Padres executives attempt to buy out his contract, only to be thwarted by team owner Joan Kroc, Dick Williams resigns as the Padres manager. The future Hall of Fame skipper, who captured an NL pennant in 1984 and compiled a 337-311 (.520) record during his four seasons in San Diego, will be replaced by Steve Boros.

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1990 Former Red Sox fan favorite Tony Conigliaro dies at 45 of pneumonia and kidney failure. In 1965, the Revere (MA) native became the youngest player to lead the American League in home runs when he hit 32 round-trippers as a 20-year-old.

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2003 In the wake of last week's death of 23-year-old Oriole pitcher Steve Belcher, Commissioner Bud Selig bans ephedra in the minor leagues. Players on the current 40-man major league rosters can continue to use the substance because the new collective bargaining agreement's drug-testing rules ban only drugs of abuse and certain illegal steroids.

2010 A Kansas man, who sat six rows behind the third-base dugout, files a lawsuit against the Royals due to being hit in the eye by a hot dog thrown by Sluggerrr, the team's mascot. The suit is seeking $25,000 in damages for injuries caused by the flying frank, which includes a detached retina and the development of cataracts in the left eye.

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