2008 Takashi Saito (2-1, 1.40), who signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers two years ago after playing 14 seasons in the Japanese Central League with the Yokohama Bay Stars, agrees to a $2 million, one-year contract to stay with Los Angeles. The 37-year-old All-Star closer had 39 saves in 43 chances last season. 2008 In a much anticipated congressional hearing, Roger Clemens and his former personal trainer, Brian McNamee, testify for four and a half hours concerning the allegations of the Rocket's use of performance-enhancing drugs. Republicans believe the seven-time Cy Young Award winner, while Democrats favor his chief accuser's account of events. 2009 To avoid arbitration for the remainder of his career, Ryan Howard agrees to a three-year, $54 million deal with Philadelphia. The Phillies slugger, who led the major leagues in home runs (48) and RBI (146), was unable to reach a contract settlement in less than friendly negotiations with the team and was awarded $10 million by arbitrators during the 2008 off-season tying the highest sum ever given to a player in the process. 2012 Yoenis Cespedes and the A's have reached a reported four-year, $36 million deal, pending the results of a physical examination. The Cuban defector, slotted to play center field, moving Coco Crisp to left, hit .458 with a double, three triples, two home runs, and five RBIs in the six games he played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. ***************************************************
Baseball Birthdays February 14, 2024 ********************************* 1870 Bob Quinn baseball executive (owner Boston Red Sox 1923–33; part owner Boston Braves 1936–45; President National Baseball Hall of Fame 1948–51) 1897 Earl Smith Giants 1908 Oscar Judd Red Sox 1913 Mel Allen sportscaster (voice of NY Yankees; 22 World Series; 24 MLB All Star games),
1931 Joe Caffie Indians 1943 Darrell Osteen Reds 1949 Larry Fritz Phils 1952 Will McEnaney Reds 1956 Dave Dravecky Padres 1970 Kelly Stinnett Mets 1985 Tyler Clippard ****************************************
This Day in Baseball History February 14th 1887 For a record price of $10,000, the Cubs, then known as the White Stockings, sell current National League batting champ and future Hall of Famer Mike King Kelly to the Beaneaters. The popular box office draw, who will earn his nickname King while playing in Boston, will continue to be productive, hitting .311 for three years during his first tenure with the team. 1928 The American Legion baseball program, on the brink of bankruptcy, receives a pledge of $50,000 from Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis and the MLB Advisory Council to continue developing a national championship program for teenagers. With the much-needed funding, Legion Baseball will continue in 1928, and the following season, teams from every state and the District of Columbia will participate in the youth tournament. 1934 Southpaw-swinging Sam Rice, who spent the first 19 seasons with the Senators, ends his career after playing one year with the Indians. The 44-year-old future Hall of Famer (1963) collected 2,987 career hits during his two decades in the major leagues. Washinton Senators' Outfielder Sam Rice (1916) 1945 After his retirement as the president of the Braves, Bob Quinn's son, John, succeeds him as the team's general manager. The former owner of the Red Sox and Braves, whose grandson will also become a major league GM, will serve as president of the Baseball Hall of Fame from 1948 to 1951, resigning from the position after suffering two strokes.
1957 "Anything that tends to break down the bulwarks of segregation must be forcibly met by this general assembly. We have a situation in Georgia which has come about because of a national situation. I am referring to the Negroes in organized baseball in this state. It is unfortunate that some few people would participate in the destruction of our institutions for a few dollars." - GEORGIA STATE SENATOR LEON BUTTS, commenting on his bill that prohibits blacks from playing baseball with whites. Ten years after the integration of major league baseball, the Georgia Senate unanimously approves Leon Butts' bill barring that prohibits blacks from playing baseball with whites except at religious gatherings. The Lumpkin legislator's measures, which carry fines up to $1000 and imprisonment for 60 days to a year for committing the misdemeanor, will directly impact the minor league spring training centers of the Braves and Cardinals whose farmhands workout, respectively, in Waycross and Albany. 1959 The Orioles, to find a backup for first baseman Bob Boyd, buy 32-year-old veteran infielder/outfielder Whitey Lockman from the Giants for an undisclosed sum. In June, Baltimore will trade their new acquisition to the Reds for Walt Dropo, who has played the position exclusively since winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1950. 1976 ♥️ Braves' season-ticket holders and the Atlanta media receive Valentine's Day cards from the team. The verse reads: "Rose is a Red, Morgan's one too. They finished first, like we wanted to. But last year's behind us, we're happy to say. Now we're tied for first, Happy Valentines Day."
1986 The Mets sign Doc Gooden to a one-year, $1.32 million contract, making the 21-year-old the youngest millionaire in major league history. The National League's reigning Cy Young Award winner, who struck out 268 batters and posted a league-leading 1.53 ERA en route to compiling a 24-4 record last season, avoids going to arbitration after agreeing to his new deal. 1996 Kevin McClatchy and his group of investors purchase the Pirates from the Pittsburgh Associates. The deal includes the condition of having to build a baseball-only ballpark in Pittsburgh within five years. 2001 The Ford C. Frick Award, named in memory of the former baseball commissioner who was a broadcaster, will be given to the Marlins' radio announcer Rafael Ramirez during Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this summer. 'Felo,' who began his 56-year career broadcasting games in Cuba, has been in the Miami broadcast booth since the team's inaugural season in 1993. 2001 According to the Detroit Free Press,major league baseball is informing umpires to remove pitchers without needing to issue a warning who deliberately throw a beanball at a batter's head from the game. According to officials, the crackdown clarifies and reinforces an existing rule. 2002 Detroit signs Dmitri Young (.302, 21, 69) to a four-year contract with two team options. In December, the Tigers traded outfielder Juan Encarnacion (.242, 12, 52) and minor league right-hander Luis Pineda to acquire the first baseman/outfielder from the Reds. 2003 After much speculation and the help of Major League Baseball, the Chunichi Dragons return Kevin Millar to the Marlins for an undisclosed amount of money for relinquishing their rights to the outfielder. After reconsidering an offer from the Red Sox, who blocked the waiver deal to obtain him, the 31-year-old California native had a change of heart and didn't want to play for the Japanese Central League team. 2005 The Twins sign arbitration-eligible Johan Santana (20-6, 2.61) to the richest contract in franchise history, agreeing to a four-year, $40 million deal. Last season, the 25-year-old southpaw, garnering all 28 first-place votes, became the first Venezuelan to win the Cy Young Award.
2007 For the first time at Wrigley Field, the Cubs will allow ads among the ivy on the green doors in the left- and right-field bleachers, according to Jay Blunk, director of marketing and sales. Although other companies have approached the team, Under Armour, whose company spokesman is newly acquired outfielder Alfonso Soriano, is the "right fit" for the 7-by-12 foot signage featuring the performance apparel's signature logo. Under Armour Outfield Doors 2009 The Angels and Bobby Abreu (.296, 20, 100) agree to a $5 million, one-year deal. The 34-year-old free-agent outfielder, taking a significant pay cut after having a solid season with the Yankees last season, is expected to add some much-needed punch from the left side for the AL West champions. 2011 The Yankees come to terms with free-agent Andruw Jones on a $1.5 million, one-year contract, eliminating the team's likelihood of resigning Johnny Damon. The 'Curacao Kid,' best known for his outstanding outfield defense for the Braves at the start of his career, will spend two seasons in the Bronx before finishing his 17-year major league tenure with a lifetime .254 batting average. 2011 Avoiding arbitration, Carlos Marmol agrees to a three-year, $20 million deal with the Cubs. The 28-year-old closer saved 38 games in 43 opportunities last season and compiled a 2-3 record with an ERA of 2.55. 2014 Avoiding arbitration, 24-year-old outfielder Jason Heyward and the Braves agree to a two-year, $13.3 million deal. After the season, Atlanta will trade their 2007 first-round pick (14th overall) and right-handed reliever Jordan Walden to the Cardinals for right-handers Tyrell Jenkins and Shelby Miller. 2014 Freddie Freeman agrees to a franchise-record eight-year, $135 million contract, surpassing the six-year, $90 million deal the Braves gave Chipper Jones in 2000. The 24-year-old All-Star first baseman, who finished fifth in the MVP balloting this season, has hit .285 during his four years with the team, averaging annually 17 home runs and 70 RBIs. ******************************************** 165,523
Baseball Birthdays February 15, 2025 ********************************* 1870 -Candy LaChance Brooklyn Bridegrooms,Boston Infield,Outfield, Catcher 1900 -George Earnshaw, Philadelphia Athletics, speed ball pitcher 1926 -Bubba Harris, Philadelphia Athletics, Indians, Pitcher 1938 -Chuck Estrada, Orioles, Cubs, Pitcher 1943 -Joe Moeller, Dodgers, Pitcher 1948 -Ron Cey, Dodgers, Cubs 3 base 1966 -Melido Perez - White Sox, Yankees, Pitcher ****************************************
This Day in Baseball History February 15th 1931 Crescent Lake Field, the Yankees' spring training site since 1925, is renamed Miller Huggins Field in honor of the team's late manager, who passed away at the end of the 1929 season. In 1963, the facility will become known as Huggins-Stengel Field to honor another Bronx Bomber skipper, Casey Stengel, the pilot of the National League's expansion team, presently working out in the St. Petersburg ballpark. 1946 The Phillies hire the first female major league scout when they sign Edith Houghton, who will ink fifteen players, mostly from Philadelphia high schools, to contracts. The North Philadelphia native will continue to scour the Philly area for local talent until 1952 before returning to the Navy to serve her country during the Korean and Vietnam wars. Although Edith Houghton is given credit as the first paid female scout, Bessie Largent and her husband, Roy, worked as a team for the White Sox in that capacity beginning in 1925, signing 25 major leaguers, the most distinguished being Hall of Fame shortstop Luke Appling. 1946 Three days before he marries New York department store heiress Coral Gimbel, Hank Greenberg comes to terms with the Tiger, signing a contract for $60,000. After leading the American League in home runs (44) and RBIs (127) this season, the slugging first baseman threatens to retire rather than take a pay cut, prompting Detroit to trade the future Hall of Famer to the Pirates.
1961 Donald M. Grant, chairman and a minority owner of the Mets, offers Branch Rickey a contract to become the general manager of the new National League expansion team. After the former Browns, Cardinals, Dodgers, and Pirates GM turns down the job, George Weiss, who filled the same role with the Yankees from 1947 to 1960, accepts the position. 1973 In a national poll, Phillies' southpaw Steve Carlton beats out golf legend Jack Nicklaus to win the $15,000 diamond-studded gold buckled Hickok Belt, an award given to the top "Professional Athlete of the Year." Last season's National League Cy Young Award winner joins an elite list of previous recipients, including Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, Jim Brown, Rocky Marciano, and Arnold Palmer. 1990 With the issue of the implementation of the salary cap unresolved, a thirty-two-day lockout begins when major league owners refuse to open spring training camp without reaching a new Basic Agreement with the players. The season will be delayed one week due to baseball's seventh work stoppage and will need to be extended for three days to accommodate the 162-game schedule.
2001 After turning down the Mets' offer of salary arbitration that at the very least would have been worth $2 to $3 million, Bobby Jones signs a one-year free-agent deal with the Padres for only $625,000. The 31-year-old right-hander, 11-6 last year with New York, will lose 19 games for the Padres this season. 2003 After the Japanese Central League's Dragons release Kevin Millar for an undisclosed payment, the Red Sox, who blocked the Marlins' sale of him going to Japan with a waiver claim, acquire the 31-year-old first baseman-outfielder (.306, 16, 57). In a complicated deal brokered by MLB, Florida repaid the money Chunichi had paid for Millar, who previously turned down the opportunity to stay in the United States, and Boston compensated the National League team with a similar amount in return for Millar. 2006 According to Adam Katz, Sammy Sosa's agent, the 37-year-old slugger will probably retire eleven homers shy of becoming the fifth major leaguer to hit 600 round-trippers. Earlier, the Dominican outfielder rejected a non-guaranteed contract from the Nationals that included performance bonuses. 2006 Former Dodgers starter Jeff Weaver (14-11, 4.22) agrees to a one-year contract with the other team with Los Angeles in its name. The deal for the last major player left on the free-agent market is worth $8,325,000, and the 29-year-old right-hander can earn an additional $600,000 in performance bonuses for innings pitched and game starts with the Angels. 2007 After more than two months of speculation about Barry Bonds' deal with the Giants, the commissioner's office approves the one-year contract worth $15.8 million. The 42-year-old slugger had reached a preliminary agreement with the team early in December, but finalizing the contract was delayed when language about promotional appearances and an additional clause stating San Francisco could void the deal with the outfielder if the alleged use of steroids leads to an indictment. 2007 The Yankees announce the team will wear black armbands on the left sleeve of their uniforms in memory of teammate Cory Lidle. The 34-year-old right-hander and flight instructor Tyler Stanger died when their plane crashed into a 52-story high-rise apartment building in Manhattan on a rain-swept afternoon last October. 2011 Barack Obama bestows the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Stan Musial, an award for which the president of the United States selects the honorees. The Cardinals' legend, who benefitted from the local grass-roots effort on his behalf, joins major leaguers Hank Aaron, Moe Berg, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, and Ted Williams as a recipient of the most prestigious honor given to a United States civilian. 2012 The Rays and Joe Maddon agree to a three-year contract extension to keep the two-time American League Manager of the Year with Tampa through the 2015 season. During his six-year tenure with the club, the 58-year-old skipper has compiled a 495-477 (.509) record, leading the team to the postseason three times in the last four years, including an American League pennant in 2008. 2016 "Baseball is known as our national pastime, but the game has deep roots and a rich history here in New York State. From the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in storied Cooperstown to the Mets and Yankees — the pinnacles of Major League Baseball, to our recently crowned Little League World Series champions from Maine-Endwell, New York State is clearly the epicenter of baseball greatness. It is time that we formally recognize baseball as our official state sport." - JAMES SEWARD, New York state senator. New York State Sen. James Seward (R-Milford), thanks to a suggestion from a group of fourth-graders at Cooperstown Elementary School, announces he has introduced legislation (S.4288) to designate baseball as New York’s official state sport. In a press release, Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson says he "enthusiastically supports" the proposed bill, citing that Cooperstown serves as baseball's spiritual home. ******************************************** 165,906
