When you make an error in the game and you have to talk to your glove. “Hey man, what’s your problem? This isn’t what we worked on in practice.”
12/30 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS 1935 Sandy Koufax Hall of Fame pitcher (7 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1955, 59, 63, 65; perfect game 1967; Cy Young Award 1963, 65, 66; Triple Crown 1963, 65, 66; LA Dodgers), born in Brooklyn, New York 1976 A.J. Pierzynski catcher (MLB All-Star 2002, 06; World Series 2005 Chicago WS; Silver Slugger 2012) 1977 Grant Balfour ***************************************
This Day in Baseball History1925 The Giants deal two pitchers, southpaw Jack Bentley and right-hander Wayland Dean, to the Phillies for righty hurler Jimmy Ring. Philadelphia's new pitchers post a 0-3 record for their new team, with Ring compiling a mediocre 11-10 mark for New York before being included in the off-season blockbuster trade, swapping Rogers Hornsby and Frankie Frisch from St. Louis to the Big Apple for one season. 1926 The Chicago Tribune reports the 1917 Tigers had thrown a four-game an early September series to the eventual world champion White Sox at Comiskey Park, helping Chicago win the pennant by ten games over the Red Sox. After a three-day hearing, Commissioner Judge Landis clears all the accused, ruling lack of evidence except for the practice of players paying another team for winning. Schalk and others said money wasn’t collected for purposes of lying down. It didn’t help Risberg’s case that his story shifted. The Chicago Tribune found Happy Felsch, who said Risberg’s testimony was correct, except Rowland had nothing to do with it. Rather, Felsch said, Gandil was the one who made it happen. Risberg himself said that Rowland said nothing about money, and that they didn’t have any specific knowledge of where the mistakes were coming from. He and Gandil pointed to circumstantial evidence, like the number of bases the White Sox stole and errors committed, or that the pitchers weren’t putting a lot into their effort. Also, while money was collected and distributed to the Tigers, the timetable didn’t exactly line up with the supposed motivation. The money wasn’t collected until weeks after when the Sox’ lead was safe, and it was supposedly distributed to pitchers who didn’t factor into the series. 1935 Dodger left-hander Sanford Braun is born in Brooklyn. In his 12-year career, the southpaw will compile a winning percentage of .655 (165-87), whiff 300 batters or more in three seasons, and fan 18 to set a major league mark for Ks in a single game, and will become better known as Sandy Koufax. 1943 In a trade of the Babes in Pennsylvania, the Phillies send first baseman Babe Dahlgren to the Pirates for catcher Babe Phelps and cash. As a Yankee infielder in 1939, Dahlgren replaced Lou Gehrig after the 'Iron Horse' had played in a major-league record 2,130 consecutive games. Babe Dahlgren
2002 Citing this season will probably be his last, forty-year-old Roger Clemens (13-6, 4.35) agrees to a $10.1 million, one-year deal with the Yankees. The 19-year veteran, who has won the Cy Young Award six times, is seven victories shy of 300. 2004 Project Club Clemente will send aid, originally destined for Nicaragua in memory of the anniversary of Roberto Clemente's tragic flight 32 years ago, to the earthquake and tsunami victims in Southern Asia. Roberto Clemente, Jr., who, with the organization's help, collected two tons of supplies and raised nearly $20,000 to reenact his father's unfinished mission, decides to postpone the ceremonial flight and divert the relief to help those in desperate need right now. Amazon Roberto Clemente: The Great One by Bruce Markusen 2008 Chris Snyder remains a Diamondback after agreeing to a reported three-year deal worth $14.5 million. The 27-year-old catcher becomes the latest individual to sign a multi-year contract with Arizona as the team attempts to develop a group of core players who will stay and play together for the long term. ***********
Rookie Hank Aaron eludes the tag from Catcher Joe Garagiola during a 1954 Cubs-Braves game in Milwaukee
R.A. Dickey won the American League Cy Young Award in 2012 without throwing a single pitch faster than 87 MPH.
12/31/24 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS 1857 Michael "King" Kelly HOF utility (NL batting champion 1884, 86; NL runs scored 1884–86, Chicago White Sox) and manager (Boston Beaneaters, Reds; Cincinnati KKs) 1870 Tom Connolly HOF umpire (AL-record 8 x World Series) 1919 Tommy Byrne pitcher (MLB All-Star 1950; World Series 1949, 56; NY Yankees), 1961 Rick Aguilera pitcher (MLB All-Star 1991, 92, 93; World Series 1986 NY Mets, 1991 Minnesota Twins) *******************************
Today in Baseball History December 31st 1878 The reported sale of eight million bats occurs in the United States. With a population estimated at approximately 48 million, an average of one out of every six Americans owns a bat. 1897 Charles Ebbets, 38, gained a controlling interest in the Dodgers with an eighty percent share of the Brooklyn team, an ownership that lasted until 1925 when he dies. The team compiles a mediocre 1914-2088 (.478) record but wins four National League Championships during the next 27 seasons.
