BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

1/14/25
Baseball BIRTHDAYS
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1950 Bob Forsch baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals (1974-1988) and Houston Astros (1988-1989). Forsch was a member of the 1982 World Series Champion team, as well as a National League pennant winner in 1985 and 1987. MLB baseball pitcher, 1974-1989 (St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros)




1962 Kevin Mitchell outfielder (NL MVP 1989; MLB All Star 1989, 90; SF Giants)

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This Day in Baseball History
December 14th​

1919 - John McGraw, Charles A. Stoneham, and Tammany politician Judge Francis X. McQuade buy controlling interest in the Giants from the John Brush estate. Having drawn just 265,000 fans in 1918, the club is sold at a bargain price. The trio will spend many days in courtrooms fighting among themselves, as well as fending off government charges about Stoneham's business practices.
John McGraw


Charles A. Stoneham



1940 - Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis gives free agency to 91 Detroit players and farm hands. Citing cover-ups of the movement of players within its organization, Landis hands freedom to Roy Cullenbine, Benny McCoy, Lloyd Dietz, and Steve Rachunok from the parent roster and orders $47,250 paid as compensation to 14 players. Johnny Sain is one of 23 players who will later make it to the major leagues.

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1948 The Senators trade future Hall of Fame right-hander Early Wynn and first baseman Mickey Vernon to the Indians for first baseman Eddie Robinson and pitchers Joe Haynes and Eddie Klieman. Wynn will be a four-time twenty-game winner during his ten years with the Tribe.
After four seasons with the the White Sox, Wynn will end his 23-year career back in Cleveland, winning his 300th and final game in 1963.

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1948 The Phillies have a busy day when they purchase Ken Trinkle from the Giants and trade pitchers Walter Dubiel and Dutch Leonard to the Cubs for first baseman Eddie Waitkus and pitcher Hank Borowy. Ruth Ann Steinhagen, a female fan obsessed with former Cub corner infielder, is distraught by the trade and will try to kill him when he returns to Chicago with his new team.

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1950 The owners choose Lou Perini (Braves), Phil Wrigley (Cubs), Del Webb (Yankees), and Ellis Ryan (Indians) to select a new commissioner as soon as possible. Three days ago, the group did not renew Happy Chandler's contract to serve a second term as baseball's leader in a close vote, 9-7.

 

1960 The two new American League franchises, the first expansion teams in over half a century, select their rosters in a player draft. The 'new' Washington Senators choose Yankee southpaw Bobby Shantz, and the Los Angeles Angels opt for Yankee righty Eli Grba.
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1970 - Johnny Murphy, the Mets general manager who had seen his team rise from the N.L. cellar to the world championship, dies of a heart attack at age 61. Murphy was a star relief pitcher for the Yankees in the 1930s and early 1940s.

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1976 - Ted Turner completes his purchase of 100 percent of the Atlanta Braves.

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1977 The Red Sox send Fergie Jenkins, a future Hall-of-Famer, to the Rangers for a 23-year-old pitcher named John Poloni, who will never play in another big-league game. In his second stints with the Rangers and the Cubs, the Canadian right-hander will post a 69-56 record with a 3.71 ERA during the remaining six years of his career.

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1985 Former Indian, A's, Yankee, and Cardinal outfielder Roger Maris dies in a Houston hospital after a two-year battle with lymphatic cancer. Former teammates Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, John Blanchard, Bill Skowron, Whitey Herzog, and Bob Allison will be pallbearers for the one-time single-season home run record holder.

1987 - Catfish Hunter and Billy Williams are elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. Hunter made his name as the ace of the Oakland A's staff in their championship years and made his fortune as one of the first free agents. Williams set a N.L. record by playing in 1,117 consecutive games and accumulating 426 home runs and a batting title.

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1994 In the face of labor uncertainty, the Phillies irk other owners by signing free-agent Gregg Jefferies to a lucrative four-year deal, reportedly worth $20 million. The Cardinals had refused to give the All-Star first baseman/outfielder a no-trade clause in their negotiations to keep him with the Redbirds.

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1995 Free agent Lance Johnson agrees to a two-year pact with the Mets reportedly worth more than five million dollars. Ol' One-Dog, who led the American League in hits last season with 186 playing with the White Sox, will repeat the feat in his first season in the Senior Circuit with 227 hits, becoming the first player to lead both circuits in hits during back-to-back seasons.

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2000 In the wake of the Alex Rodriguez deal, the Rangers send Royce Clayton to the White Sox for right-handed pitchers Aaron Myette and Brian Schmack. The former Texas shortstop displaced by the team's acquisition of A-Rod will bat .258 during his two-year tenure on the South Side of the Windy City.

2000 The Cardinals trade third baseman Fernando Tatis and right-hander Britt Reames to the Expos for right-handed starter Dustin Hermanson and left-hander closer Steve Kline. The Redbirds' new southpaw reliever will appear in over half of the team's games next season, posting a 3-3 record and nine saves in his league-leading 89 trips to the mound.

2001 The A's, needing to fill the void of a left-handed power hitter created by Jason Giambi's departure to the Yankees, trade southpaw reliever Mark Guthrie and minor league right-hander Tyler Yates to the Mets for David Justice. A week ago, the Mets acquired the designated hitter-outfielder in a deal that sent third baseman Robin Ventura to the Yankees.

2004 The District of Columbia Council's decision requiring private financing for at least fifty percent of the Nationals' new ballpark construction costs may jeopardize the team's tenure in Washington, DC. The 7-6 vote in favor of this new proviso breaks Major League Baseball's agreement with the city to land the former Montreal Expos franchise in the nation's capital.

2005 The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control informs Major League Baseball of its decision to withhold the required permit for Cuba to play on U.S. soil during the 16-team World Baseball Classic tournament. In response to a congressional request, the Bush administration is concerned that revenue from the WBC will wind up in the Cuban government's coffers, contrary to the current embargo against Castro's country.

2007 The Diamondbacks enjoy a busy day, acquiring All-Star hurler Dan Haren (15-9, 3.07) and right-hander Connor Robertson from the A's in exchange for Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland, Greg Smith, Chris Carter, Aaron Cunningham, and Carlos Gonzalez. Arizona deals Jose Valverde, the major league saves leader, to the Astros to get reliever Chad Qualls, second baseman/outfielder Chris Burke, and righty Juan Gutierrez in a separate transaction.
2007 To bolster their bullpen, the Rangers sign Japanese reliever Kazuo Fukumori to a two-year, $3 million contract, including a team option for 2010. In his 13 seasons in Japan, Kaz compiled a 34-42 won-lost record and 72 saves while posting a 3.72 ERA in 377 games.

2007 The Cardinals agree in principle to a deal that sends 37-year-old Jim Edmonds and approximately $1 million to the Padres in exchange for minor league prospect David Freese. After talks earlier in the day broke off with Mike Cameron, a free agent who played centerfield for San Diego last season, the team accelerated their search to find a replacement.

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2007 David Eckstein (.309, 3, 31) and the Blue Jays finalized a one-year, $4.5 million deal, which brings the short-statured shortstop north of the border. The 32-year-old All-Star infielder's leadership and attitude played an important role on his previous two teams, the Angels and Cardinals, in winning the World Series in 2002 and 2006, respectively.

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2007 The Rangers invite Edgardo Alfonzo, a career .284 hitter, to spring training. The 34-year-old former All-Star infielder, formerly with the Mets, Giants, Angels, and Blue Jays, spent last season in the independent Atlantic League playing with the Long Island Ducks.

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2007 To fill the void created by Delmon Young's trade to the Twins, the Rays sign Cliff Floyd (.284, 9, 45) to a $3 million, one-year deal to play right field in Tampa Bay. The veteran 35-year-old left-handed fly chaser has been a
productive hitter during his 15-year major league career but has
had difficulty staying off the disabled list

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2007 The Twins sign another former Astros infielder, acquiring Mike Lamb ($6.6 million, two years) after getting Adam Everett yesterday ($2.8 million, one year) in the free-agent market. Lamb will provide much-needed offense at third base, and Everett, although a light-hitter, is a slick fielding shortstop who will add to the club defensively.

2007 The Royals trade hurler Billy Buckner to the Diamondbacks for switch-hitter Alberto Callaspo. Kansas City's new player is an infielder who appeared in 56 games for the NL West champs, mostly in a pinch-hitting role, and Arizona receives a pitcher who compiled a 1-2 record with a 5.29 ERA in 34 innings of work last season.

2009 Randy Wolf and the Brewers finalize their $29.75 million, three-year deal. The 33-year-old southpaw signed a $5 million, one-year free-agent contract with the Dodgers last season, posting an 11-7 record with a 3.23 ERA with L.A. after the Astros pulled a $27 million, three-year offer off the table due to the nosedive in the economy.

2010 After being dealt in the off-season last December, Cliff Lee returns to the Phillies, joining National League Cy Young winner Roy Halladay, the key person in the deal that sent him to Seattle as part of a four-team, nine-player trade. The 32-year-old free-agent right-hander, who will be joining unquestionably the best starting rotation in baseball, agrees to a deal that guarantees him $120 million over the next five seasons, spurning the Yankees' offer of $30 million more.

2011 The Red Sox, hoping to fill the void after losing closer Jonathan Papelbon to free agency, obtained Mark Melancon, who had 20 saves during his first full major league season, from the Astros in exchange for infielder Jed Lowrie and right-hander Kyle Weiland. Boston signs free-agent utility infielder Nick Punto to a two-year contract to replace Lowrie in a separate transaction.

2011 The Orioles announce the signing of Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada to a two-year, $8.15 million deal with a $5 million option for 2014. Baltimore still needs to determine the role of the 30-year-old Japanese hurler on the team but is counting on the hard-throwing southpaw to be a major upgrade to the O's woeful pitching staff.

2012 Kevin Youkilis, best known for being a member of the Red Sox World Championship teams in 2004 and 2007, signs a one-year, $12 million deal with the Yankees, once considered the 'Evil Empire' by his former club. The 33-year-old infielder, who was traded to Chicago's south side by Boston in June, will help fill the void at third base while Alex Rodriguez recuperates from hip surgery.

2013 After inking Curtis Granderson to a four-year, $60 million contract earlier in the week, the Mets sign Bartolo Colon to a two-year, $20 million free-agent pact. The 40-year-old All-Star right-handed starter, slated to replace the innings the team will need as Matt Harvey recovers from Tommy John surgery, compiled an 18-6 record and a 2.65 ERA in 30 starts for the A's last season.

2013 Former Expo outfielder/first baseman Warren Cromartie shares a $400,000 feasibility study that reveals the return of baseball to Montreal would be viable if a team plays its home games in a government-financed downtown stadium with an owner with deep pockets. The report suggests that MLB's national television deal and revenue-sharing scheme, which has changed radically since the franchise moved to Washington in 2004, would ensure a competitive $75-million payroll before a single ticket is sold, with the government subsidy repaid within eight years.

2014 Mr. Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life either by an honest acceptance by him of his wrongdoing, so clearly established by the Dowd Report, or by a rigorous, self-aware and sustained program of avoidance by him of the circumstances that led to his permanent eligibility in 1989. Absent such credible evidence, allowing him to work in the game presents an unacceptable risk of a future violation by him of Rule 21, and thus to the integrity of our sport. I, therefore, must reject Mr. Rose's application for reinstatement."- COMMISSIONER MANFRED, stating his case for denying Pete Rose's request for reinstatement.
In one of his first major actions since becoming commissioner, Rob Manfred denies Pete Rose's application for baseball reinstatement, citing that reversing the lifetime ban would risk the sport's integrity. The four-page decision concludes the career hits leader had continued to gamble legally on horse racing and professional sports, including baseball, disregarding all the circumstances that led to his permanent ineligibility in 1989.

2020 The Cleveland club of the American League has decided to drop Indians as their name, according to team owner Paul Dolan, who announced the change after discussions with fans, business leaders, players, social activists, and researchers. Unlike the Washington NFL football team, formerly known as the Redskins, the baseball franchise will not adopt an interim moniker awaiting the new team's identity.

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2022 Carlos Correa signs the second biggest free-agent contract in major league history, agreeing to terms with the Giants on a 13-year, $350 million contract to play for the team until he is 40. The 28-year-old shortstop is a lifetime .279 hitter, averaging 28 home runs during his eight years playing for the Astros and Twins.

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Four strikes and you're out!! Well, back in the year 1887 that would have been the call. For a period it took five balls for a walk and four strikes for an out as this 19th century umpire ball-strike indicator shows. It was made out of celluloid, not ivory as looks might suggest

 

1/15
BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS
1885 Grover Lowdermilk


1891 Ray Chapman (Cleveland Indians) and only MLB player to die from an injury received during a MLB game,


1920 Steve Gromek


1943 Mike Marshall pitcher (MLB All-Star 1974, 75; NL Cy Young Award 1974; Montreal Expos, LA Dodgers, Atlanta Braves)
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1949 Luis Alvarado


1969 Delino DeShields infielder, 1990-2002 (Montreal Expos, LA Dodgers, and 3 other teams)

1970 Michele Granger softball pitcher (Olympic gold 1996)


1974 Ray King pitcher, 1999-2008 (Milwaulkee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, and 6 other teams)

1980 Matt Holliday

1982 Armando Galarraga

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FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1936 Horace Stoneham becomes president of the New York Giants, succeeding his dad, Charles, who died nine days ago. The 32-year-old will hold the position for the next 40 years before selling the team to Bob Lurie and Bud Herseth in 1976.

1942 "I honestly feel it would be best for the country to keep baseball going." - U.S. PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, responding to Commissioner Landis' inquiry about the sport's future. In his famous 'Green Light letter,' President Franklin D. Roosevelt answers Commissioner Landis's query about playing baseball in the wake of the Second World War. FDR responds that playing the sport would be suitable for Americans and encourages baseball owners to have more games at night to allow war workers to attend games.

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1957 The Kratter Corporation grants Walter O'Malley an additional two years on the three-year lease on Ebbets Field agreed to last year. The extension, perhaps prompted by the Dodgers owner's uncertainty about Los Angeles' ability to secure the land to build a stadium in the city if the team moved to the West Coast, means the ball club could stay in Brooklyn until 1961.

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1958 The Yankees announce an unprecedented 140 games will be televised this season on WPIX in a package reportedly worth significantly more than a million dollars. The decision to telecast such a large number of games, including 63 road contests, was prompted by the Dodgers and Giants' departure to California.

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1963 By an overwhelming 20–2 vote, the New York City Council named the new stadium in the Queens for William A. Shea, the attorney who brought the National League back to the Big Apple. The ballpark, known initially as Flushing Meadow Park Municipal Stadium, serves as the Mets' home for 44 seasons.

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1964 Willie Mays, the highest-paid player in baseball, signs the $105,000 contract offered by the Giants. The perennial All-Star center fielder will have another outstanding season, batting .308, hitting 40 home runs, and driving 123 runs in for the Jints.
Mays is still the star of the Giants. "And he's the same boy I knew in 1951," says Manager Al Dark. "Nothing has ever gone to his head—and I mean in any way. He has some influence over some of the boys on the team, but he leads in the same way he always has, like tonight. By hitting the ball out of the park."

1964 Baseball's executives select New York City as the site of the game's inaugural free-agent draft, a controversial measure approved during the winter meetings that gives teams with the worst records the earlier picks to the talented amateur players. With the first pick in the draft's history, the A's will select ASU outfielder Rick Monday when the process begins on June 8 at the Hotel Commodore.

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1967 Green Bay defensive back Tom Brown becomes the first major leaguer to play in the Super Bowl. The outfielder and first baseman for the Senators in 1963 is best remembered for his last-minute interception of Cowboy quarterback Don Meredith's Hail Mary pass in the NFL Championship game, making Green Bay a participant in the first-ever Super Bowl.

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1981 Cardinal right-hander Bob Gibson, receiving 337 votes of the 401 BBWAA ballots cast (84%) in his first year of eligibility, is the only player elected to the Hall of Fame this year. Well-known Dodgers Don Drysdale and Gil Hodges, as well as Twins' slugger Harmon Killebrew fall short of the votes needed for induction.

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1990 Free agent Cecil Fielder, returning from a stint in Japan where he hit 38 homers for the Hanshin Tigers, signs a one-year deal worth $1,250,000 with Detroit. 'Big Daddy,' father of future major leaguer Prince, will hit 245 home runs and drive in 758 runs during his seven seasons in the Motor City.

1994 During their winter fan festival, the Brewers unveil a new logo and different team colors, with navy, green, and metallic gold replacing royal blue and yellow. The changes, first since the 1978 season, also include Germanic lettering in place of the standard block and the first alternate uniform in the club's history, a navy jersey with the club's primary logo below the word Brewers across the chest.

 

2002 The Braves trade outfielder Brian Jordan (.295, 25, 97), pitcher Odalis Perez (7-8, 4.91), and a minor leaguer to the Dodgers to acquire All-Star outfielder Gary Sheffield (.311, 36, 100). The deal ends Sheffield's stormy four-year tenure with L.A., who, before spring training, insulted teammates, derided management, and became upset when the club refused to double the value of his contract.

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2008 Representatives Henry Waxman and Tom Davis announce they have sent a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey to investigate if Miguel Tejada lied to House committee staff when questioned about Orioles teammate Rafael Palmeiro's use of steroids. The former American League MVP, traded to the Astros in the offseason, could face jail time if found guilty because making false statements to Congress is a felony.

2009 Derek Lowe signs a four-year deal with the Braves reportedly worth $60 million. The 35-year-old right-hander will be the ace of Atlanta's new-look rotation, which includes the recently acquired Javier Vazquez, Jair Jurrjens, and Kenshin Kawakami, who pitched in Japan last season for the Chunichi Dragons.

2009 The Brewers, avoiding arbitration, agree to a $4 million, one-year deal with Dave Bush, who finished the season strong, posting a 7-3 record with a 3.23 ERA in his final 18 regular season starts. The 29-year-old right-hander was the only Milwaukee pitcher to win a postseason game when the team beat Philadelphia at Miller Park, 4-1, in Game 3 of the ALDS.

2009 The Padres sign 33-year-old veteran infielder David Eckstein to a one-year contract worth $850,000 with an additional $150,000 available in incentives. The 2006 World Series MVP, who split last season, playing mostly shortstop in 94 games, with the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks, agreed to the discounted deal with San Diego on the condition that he would play primarily second base for the Friars.

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2009 The Dodgers, who had restructured Andruw Jones's contract earlier in the month, placed their expensive center fielder on waivers rather than pursuing a trade for the five-time All-Star. The highest-paid player in the franchise history, who signed a two-year, $36.2 million deal during the 2007 offseason, was a complete bust in his one season with the team, hitting a meager .158 with just three home runs and 14 RBIs in 209 at-bats.

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2010 The Mets and John Maine (7-6, 4.43) come to terms on a one-year, $3.3 million deal just after the right-hander filed for arbitration. New York's projected number three starter was limited to 15 games last season due to the lingering weakness from a 2008 surgery that removed a bony growth from his right shoulder socket.

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2010 Avoiding salary arbitration, Matt Kemp (.297, 26, 101) and the Dodgers agree to a rare multi-year offer that will pay the center fielder $10.95 million over the next two seasons. The 25-year-old Oklahoman, considered a core player in the team's future, won the Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger awards playing for the National League West champs last season.

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2013 After watching their bullpen implode in the NLDS last season, the Nationals sign Rafael Soriano to a two-year, $28 million deal to be the club's closer. The 33-year-old right-handed reliever, who had a league-leading 45 saves for the Rays in 2011, filled in for the injured Mariano Rivera last season and saved 42 games for the Yankees.

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Chris Chambliss desperately tries to get to the safety of the Dugout after hitting a Pennant Winning HR in Game 5 of the 1976 Royals-Yankees ALCS at Yankee Stadium
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