2/25/25 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS1919 Monty Irvin HOF outfielder (4 x NgL All-Star, NgL World Series 1946 Newark Eagles; MLB All-Star 1952, World Series 1954 NY Giants' 1921 Andy Pafko MLB player (Chicago Cubs; Milwaukee Braves 1940 Ron Santo Hall of Fame third baseman (9 x MLB All Star; 5 x Gold Glove; Chicago Cubs 1951 César Cedeño center fielder (Houston Astros 1963 Paul O'Neill right fielder (Cincinnati Reds, NY Yankees 1967 Rich Rowland catcher (Detroit Tigers 1968 David Hulse outfielder (Texas Rangers 1969 Kerry Dienelt softball catcher/1st baseman (Olympic bronze 1996 *********************************************
Today in Baseball History February 25th 1933 Four days after turning thirty years old and acquiring a very generous inheritance from his step-father, Tom Yawkey purchases the Red Sox from Robert Quinn for $1.2 million. The acquisition of the Boston American League franchise, which lasts for 44 years, the longest by a sole owner in baseball history, is prompted by former school classmate and Hall of Fame infielder Eddie Collins, who serves as the team's general manager until 1947. 1934 John McGraw dies at 60 at a New Rochelle Hospital two weeks after hearing optimistic reports about his recovery. The renowned Giants skipper, known as 'Little Napoleon' due to his style and stature, won ten pennants and three world championships during his 30 years as the team's manager. 1965 The MLB owners refuse to raise the minimum salary requested by the players to $7,000 from the current $6,000, a level that is only $500 more than the first minimum salary established 18 years ago. In 1968, thanks to the first-ever collective bargaining agreement in professional sport, the amount will be raised to $10,000, setting the tone for more rapid increases in the coming years. 1969 Baseball avoids the sport's first work stoppage when the owners agree to increase their contribution to the newly revised pension plan, changing the players' ability to qualify from five years to four and lowering the minimum age to receive benefits from fifty to forty-five. Other improvements include the players agreeing to collect $5.45 million per year, retroactive to 1959, and a percentage of the revenue generated by televised games. 1972 After multiple salary disputes with their 27-year-old southpaw, the Cardinals trade a stunned 20-game winner, Steve Carlton (20-9), to the last-place Phillies for Rick Wise (17-14). This season, 'Lefty' will post a 27-10 record for Philadelphia, winning the first of four National League Cy Young Awards during his 15-year tenure with Philadelphia. 1973 The spring training lockout ends when the players' union and the owners reach a three-year agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. The CBA establishes salary arbitration for players with two+ years of major league service, raises the minimum salary to $15,000, and includes the new '10 and 5' trade rule that allows a player with ten years of service, in which the last five are with his current team, to veto any trade. 1981 At the White House, Ronald Reagan receives a major league season pass from baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who hopes the president will attend a few games during the upcoming year. Ironically, the Executive Board of the Major League Baseball Players Association will vote unanimously in Tampa today to strike on May 29, if necessary, surprising the owners who thought the well-paid players wouldn't risk a costly work stoppage. 1987 Commissioner Ueberroth bans former Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt from major league baseball for the 1987 season due to multiple drug-related incidents during the past year. An arbitrator orders the Padres to reinstate the right-hander after reducing the penalty to sixty days. 1993 Resembling a fish with arms and legs, 'Billy the Marlin' is introduced as the mascot of Miami's new National League franchise. Owner Wayne Huizenga selects the name partly because a dolphin is from the "billfish" species, which differs from typical baseball mascot names like Smasher. 1994 After a long campaign by Yankee fans, including owner George Steinbrenner, the Veterans Committee elects Phil Rizzuto to the Hall of Fame and the posthumous selection of Leo Durocher. The former infielder and current television broadcaster's enshrinement causes much debate, given the borderline career stats became especially important to his supporters when Pee Wee Reese, a similar-styled shortstop of the rival crosstown Brooklyn Dodgers, was inducted in 1984. 2002 Diamondbacks' third baseman Matt Williams breaks a bone in his left leg during a spring training workout. Arizona will not issue a timetable for their injured infielder's return, but the 36-year-old veteran will resume his duties at the hot corner after the All-Star break on July 11. 2002 The 84-year-old announces this season will be his last as the Tigers' radio play-by-play announcer. During his 62-year career behind the mike, the 1981 Ford Frick Award winner for baseball broadcasting excellence had worked for the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, and Baltimore Orioles before moving to Detroit. 2003 The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame selects Blue Jays' World Series hero Joe Carter for a June induction. Pete Rose, who played 95 games for the Expos and collected his 4000th hit with Montreal, was one of the 46 nominees considered but was not chosen by 75 percent of the voters. 2005 After winning an auction for the one-day naming rights for the Boston Fleet Center, Yankee fan Kerry Konrad initially plans to honor Derek Jeter but agrees to rename the arena the 'Jimmy Fund Center' after a friend offers to give an additional $6,275 to the charity. The donation brings the total to $8,600, reflecting the 86 years between Red Sox World Championships. 2008 Terry Francona signs a three-year contract extension that runs through 2011, including team options for 2012 and 2013 to continue as the Red Sox manager. After an eighty-six-year drought, the Boston skipper led the club to a pair of World Series titles in four seasons.
2010 The Rangers void Khalil Greene's contract, announcing the reason for the action is a private matter done in the ballplayer's best interest. The 30-year-old utility infielder, who missed 49 games with the Cardinals last season because of social anxiety, did not report to spring training last week due to an unidentified problem. 2012 On their Twitter account, the Mets send out an image of the patch the team will wear this season in memory of Gary Carter, who died earlier in the month of brain cancer at 57. The black pentagon will feature the former New York catcher's nickname, Kid, and the number 8. 2016 The players' union and MLB agree to a slide rule after Ruben Tejada suffers a broken leg covering second base during the NLDS. The new policy, the direct result of Chase Utley's attempt to break up a double play that injured the Mets infielder, will be reviewable and allow contact to be permissible with the fielder but prohibit the runner from changing his path to disrupt the play deliberately. ******************************** 755
2/26/25 Baseball BIRTHDAYS 1887 Grover Cleveland Alexander, HOF pitcher (World Series 1926 Chicago Cubs; Triple Crown 1915, 16, 20; 6 × NL wins & strikeout leader; Philadelphia Phillies) 1918 Preacher Roe pitcher (5 × MLB All-Star Brooklyn Dodgers; NL strikeout leader 1945 Pittsburgh Pirates 1962 Sheila Cornell softball infielder (Olympic gold 1996 1967 David Howard infielder (KC Royals 1967 Scott Service pitcher (Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland 1968 J. T. Snow 1st baseman, 1992-2008 (6 x Gold Glove; San Francisco Giants, California Angels, and 2 other teams 1969 Brandon Wilson infielder (Chicago White Sox 1980 Gary Majewski, player ****************************************** Today in Baseball HistoryFebruary 26th 1911 General Taylor acquires the rights to a parcel of land known as the Dana Lands, a property once owned by a leader of the Sons of Liberty named Francis Dana, at a public auction for $120,000. The Red Sox minority owner's acquisition will become Fenway Park, the team's new home 1914 In London, the White Sox edge the Giants, 5-4, in 10 innings in the final contest of their World Tour. Chicago won 24 and lost 20 against New York, with two games ending in ties during their five-month global journey that included stops in Japan, Australia, and Egypt.
1989 A California court throws out the $12-million breach-of-contract suit brought against Wade Boggs by Margo Adams. During their four-year association, the former Miss Anaheim claimed the Red Sox third baseman had promised her a salary and expenses. 1991 The Veterans Committee select Bill Veeck, considered the P.T. Barnum of baseball due to the imaginative innovations he put in place as the owner of the Indians (1946-50), Browns (1951-53), and White Sox (1959-61, 1975-80), for induction into the Hall of Fame. 'Sport Shirt Bill' integrated the American League by signing Larry Doby to play for the Tribe and assembled the 1948 World Champion Indians, a team that drew more than 2.6 million fans, setting an attendance record that lasted for more than three decades. 1992 Red Sox owner Jean Yawkey dies at 83 after suffering a stroke. The JRY Trust, headed by the club's CEO John Harrington, inherits her interest in the team, selling the team to John Henry and an investor group in 2002. 2004 At Harry Caray's restaurant in Chicago with hundreds of onlookers, including a man covered in ivy, singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Michael Lantieri blows the foul ball made famous by Steve Bartman in the 2003 NLCS a. The Oscar Award-winner, a die-hard Cubs fan who has worked on similar special effects in Jurassic Park and Back to the Future, executes the infamous ball's demise. 2005 Atlanta Braves' hurler Mike Hampton and his wife offer a $25,000 reward for the safe return of Jessica Marie Lunsford. The nine-year-old, who disappeared from her Florida bedroom four days ago, is in the same grade as one of the Hamptons' two sons at Homosassa Elementary School. 2006 "He's an idiot. He's selfish. That's why we don't miss him. And we've held it in for far too long." - KENNY WILLIAMS, White Sox general manager, reacting to his former player's negative comments. Frustrated with the latest comments from former employee Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams responds by calling his former superstar selfish as well as being an idiot. The former MVP, who signed with the A's in January, has been very vocal about feeling unappreciated and mistreated by Chicago after spending 16 years with the organization. 2009 Tim Lincecum (18-5, 2.62) signs a $650,000, one-year deal with the Giants. The 24-year-old right-hander, last season's National League's Cy Young Award recipient, fanned a big league-leading 265 batters while yielding 182 hits in 227 innings. 2019 Nolan Arenado becomes baseball’s highest-paid position player annually, making $33.5 million per season after signing an eight-year, $260-million extension with the Rockies. Last month, the 27-year-old third baseman set an arbitration record, receiving a $26 million award in a one-year deal with Colorado. ********************************************
1935 Babe Ruth is granted his release by the Yankees, allowing the aging superstar to play for the Braves. The 39-year-old outfielder hit 659 home runs and batted .349 during his 15-year tenure with New York. 1943 The Phillies hire future Hall of Famer Bucky Harris to manage the club. The veteran skipper, who compiles a 39-54 record, will be fired by the team's new owner Bill Cox at the end of July and replaced by Freddie Fitzsimmons. Manager Bucky Harris with Babe Dahlgren of the Phillies 1952 Don Newcombe, who posted a 56-28 record his first three years with the Dodgers, will miss the next two seasons when he is sworn into the Army to serve in the Korean War. The 26-year-old right-hander struggles upon his return in 1954 but returns to form the following season with a 20-5 record, helping the team capture their only world championship while playing in Brooklyn. 1957 The Giants trade right-hander Hoyt Wilhelm to the Cardinals for their former All-Star first baseman/outfielder Whitey Lockman. The knuckleballer will win only one of five decisions for the Redbirds before being selected off waivers by Cleveland in September, with New York's newest infielder spending two seasons with his old club, hitting .246 in 225 games over that span. Manager Leo Durocher with Whitey Lockman and WIllie Mays
1989 A California court throws out the $12-million breach-of-contract suit brought against Wade Boggs by Margo Adams. During their four-year association, the former Miss Anaheim claimed the Red Sox third baseman had promised her a salary and expenses. 1991 The Veterans Committee select Bill Veeck, considered the P.T. Barnum of baseball due to the imaginative innovations he put in place as the owner of the Indians (1946-50), Browns (1951-53), and White Sox (1959-61, 1975-80), for induction into the Hall of Fame. 'Sport Shirt Bill' integrated the American League by signing Larry Doby to play for the Tribe and assembled the 1948 World Champion Indians, a team that drew more than 2.6 million fans, setting an attendance record that lasted for more than three decades. 1992 Red Sox owner Jean Yawkey dies at 83 after suffering a stroke. The JRY Trust, headed by the club's CEO John Harrington, inherits her interest in the team, selling the team to John Henry and an investor group in 2002. 2004 At Harry Caray's restaurant in Chicago with hundreds of onlookers, including a man covered in ivy, singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Michael Lantieri blows the foul ball made famous by Steve Bartman in the 2003 NLCS a. The Oscar Award-winner, a die-hard Cubs fan who has worked on similar special effects in Jurassic Park and Back to the Future, executes the infamous ball's demise. 2005 Atlanta Braves' hurler Mike Hampton and his wife offer a $25,000 reward for the safe return of Jessica Marie Lunsford. The nine-year-old, who disappeared from her Florida bedroom four days ago, is in the same grade as one of the Hamptons' two sons at Homosassa Elementary School. 2006 "He's an idiot. He's selfish. That's why we don't miss him. And we've held it in for far too long." - KENNY WILLIAMS, White Sox general manager, reacting to his former player's negative comments. Frustrated with the latest comments from former employee Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams responds by calling his former superstar selfish as well as being an idiot. The former MVP, who signed with the A's in January, has been very vocal about feeling unappreciated and mistreated by Chicago after spending 16 years with the organization. 2009 Tim Lincecum (18-5, 2.62) signs a $650,000, one-year deal with the Giants. The 24-year-old right-hander, last season's National League's Cy Young Award recipient, fanned a big league-leading 265 batters while yielding 182 hits in 227 innings. 2019 Nolan Arenado becomes baseball’s highest-paid position player annually, making $33.5 million per season after signing an eight-year, $260-million extension with the Rockies. Last month, the 27-year-old third baseman set an arbitration record, receiving a $26 million award in a one-year deal with Colorado. ********************************************
2/27 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS 1877 Walter O Briggs entrepreneur and sports team owner (Detroit Tigers 1935-52), born in Ypsilanti, Michigan (d. 1952) 1904 Chick Fullis player (d. 1946) 1907 Hilton Smith HOF pitcher (6 x NgL All Star; Monroe Monarchs, Kansas City Monarchs), born in Giddings, Lee County, Texas (d. 1983) 1919 Johnny Pesky [Paveskovich] infielder, 1942 & 1946-54 (Boston Red Sox, and 2 other teams), coach, manager, and broadcaster, born in Portland, Oregon (d. 2012) 1966 Chris Howard catcher (Seattle Mariners), born in Kenner, Louisiana 1966 Pete Smith (Atlanta Braves, NY Mets), born in Abington, Massachusetts 1969 Willie Banks pitcher (Chicago Cubs), Twins born in Jersey City, New Jersey **********************************************
