BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

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11/20
BIRTHDAYS
Kenesaw Mountain Landis (1866-1944) American federal judge (1905-22) and Baseball HOF executive (1st Commissioner of MLB. 1920-44), born in Millville, Ohio
With Ty Cobb


1869 Clark Griffith HOF pitcher (MLB ERA leader 1898 Chicago Colts/Orphans) and manager (Chicago WS, NY Highlanders, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Sens [owner]), born in Clear Creek, Missouri (d. 1955)


1880 George McBride shortstop and manager (AL fielding leader 1912-15), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 1973)

1882 Andy Coakley player and long-time coach at Columbia University, born in Providence, Rhode Island (d. 1963)

1891 Leon Cadore pitcher (pitched all of 26 inning game), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1958)
Cadore and his opposing Pitcher Boston Braves starter Joe Oeschger

Cadore faced 96 batters over his 26 innings of work, while Oeschger faced 90. Put a conservative estimate at, say, three pitches per at-bat, and both starters were most likely pushing 300 pitches by the end of the day. Still, neither pitcher wanted out -- according to a New York Times story on the game, there were no hits allowed over the final six innings, and Cadore later said, "If [Brooklyn manager Wilbert Robinson] had tried to make out of the game, I think I would have strangled him."

1967 Alex Arias infielder (Florida Marlins), born in NYC, New York

1975 J. D. Drew player, born in Valdosta, Georgia

 

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1934 Eiji Sawamura strikes out nine batters over five innings, including Charlie Gehringer, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Foxx in succession during an exhibition game played against a team of visiting All-Star major leaguers at Shizuoka's Kusanagi Stadium. While becoming a national hero, the 17-year-old right-handed reliever's appearance against the American professionals leads to his expulsion from high school and the forfeiture of an opportunity to attend Keio University next semester.

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1952 Commissioner Ford Frick states his belief that the Pacific Coast League will eventually reach major league status. The PCL is the only minor league in history to be given the "Open" classification, considered a step above the AAA level, limiting the rights of big-league clubs to draft players from its teams, and is perceived as a precursor to the circuit becoming a third major league.

1955 The 49ers' third-round pick in this year's NFL Draft, Carroll Hardy, enjoys his best day as a professional football player, catching two Y.A. Tittle touchdown passes in the team's 27-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Milwaukee County Stadium. The 22-year-old halfback will leave the gridiron after one season, signing with Red Sox, where he will have the distinction to be the only player to ever pinch-hit for Boston legend Ted Williams.

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1958 Jackie Jensen (.286, 35, 122), breaking New York's four-year stronghold on the award, is selected as the American League Most Valuable Player. The outcome is unexpected as the Red Sox fleet outfielder played on a non-contender, unlike runner-up Bob Turley, who pitched for the World Champion Yankees.

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1967 Tom Seaver is named the National League's Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old right-hander, who compiled a 16-13 record along with a 2.76 ERA for the last-place Mets, easily outdistances fellow righties Dick Hughes of St. Louis and Cincinnati's Gary Nolan for the freshman honor.

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1969 The BBWAA selects Willie McCovey (.320, 45, 126) as the National League's Most Valuable Player. The Giants' first baseman edges Tom Seaver, who posted a 2.21 ERA with 208 strikeouts and a league-leading 25 wins for the World Champion Mets.

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1985 Jim Leyland, who will become a mainstay in the Bucs' dugout for 11 seasons, replaces Chuck Tanner as the Pirates' manager. Pittsburgh finished in last place this season, compiling a woeful record of 57-104.

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1987 Longtime-friend Jim Frey hires Don Zimmer, former Padres, Red Sox, and Rangers skipper, to manage the Cubs. In his last managerial stint, 'Popeye' will compile a 265-258 (.507) record during his three-plus-year tenure in Chicago.

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1989 Robin Yount is selected by the BBWAA as the American League's Most Valuable Player, becoming the first American Leaguer from a sub .500 team to win the prestigious prize. The Milwaukee center fielder, who also won the award in 1982 as a shortstop, joins Hank Greenberg and Stan Musial as the third person to win the MVP twice, playing different positions.

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1990 The Commissioner's Office suspends Roger Clemens for the first five games of the 1991 season and fines him $10,000 due to his unruly behavior toward the umpires in Game 4 of the ALCS. Starting the deciding game in Boston's loss in the 1990 ALCS against the A's, the right-hander ace was ejected in the second inning of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum contest by umpire Terry Cooney for his frequent and rapid use of foul language.

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2001 Ichiro Suzuki becomes the second player in major league history to win the Most Valuable Player Award in the same year as being selected Rookie of the Year. The 28-year-old Mariner outfielder joins Red Sox freshman outfielder Fred Lynn, who accomplished the feat in 1975, as the only other rookie to win the MVP.

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2004 U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) introduces a resolution congratulating the Red Sox on their recent World Championship, a four-game sweep of St. Louis. The team had never won the World Series during the lifetime of the 72-year-old legislator.

2006 The Cubs and Nationals' free agent Alfonso Soriano (.277, 46, 95) agree to an eight-year deal worth $136 million, making the outfielder the highest-paid player in franchise history. The addition of the 30-year-old five-time All-Star, who became the fourth member of the 40-homer, 40-steal club last season, gives Chicago a potentially potent offense that includes Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

2007 Jimmy Rollins becomes the fifth and second consecutive Phillies player to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award. The 5'8" Gold Glove shortstop, who narrowly edges Matt Holliday of the Rockies for the honor, joins Chuck Klein (1932), Jim Konstanty (1950), Mike Schmidt (1980, 1981, 1986), and Ryan Howard (2006) to win the MVP in the senior circuit playing in Philadelphia.

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2007 Mike Lowell and the Red Sox finalize a $37.5 million, three-year contract. The 33-year-old third baseman, the World Series MVP, sought a four-year deal but chose to stay with the World Champions despite longer and more lucrative offers.

2008 The 35-year reign of George Steinbrenner as the Yankees boss officially ends when the MLB owners unanimously approve of his son taking control of the franchise. Hal Steinbrenner was appointed co-chairman of the team along with his brother Hank at the start of last season when it became evident their 78-year-old dad was gradually reducing his role as the owner of the storied franchise.

2008 Mike Mussina, a twenty-game winner last season, announces his retirement, ending an 18-year career with the Orioles and the Yankees. 'Moose,' who compiled a 270-153 record with a 3.68 ERA, left Baltimore after the 2000 season, signing an $88.5 million, six-year free-agent deal to play in the Bronx.

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2009 Tim Lincecum becomes the eighth hurler in baseball history, joining Sandy Koufax, Denny McLain, Jim Palmer, Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez, and Randy Johnson to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards. The Giants right-hander, receiving fewer first-place votes than the third runner-up Adam Wainwright, outpoints the Cardinals righty as well as runner-up Chris Carpenter, also a Redbird starter.

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2012 The Blue Jays rehire 50-year-old John Gibbons to replace their manager John Farrell, who was released from his contract last month to become Boston's skipper. In the 605 games, he managed Toronto over parts of five seasons, compiling a 305-305 won-lost record from 2004-08.

2012 Jeremy Guthrie and the Royals agree on a $25 million, three-year deal that will keep the right-hander in Kansas City through 2015. The former Eagle Scout, obtained in a midseason trade from the Rockies for southpaw starter Jonathan Sanchez, compiled a 5-3 record along with a 3.16 ERA in 14 starts with his new team.

2012 The Rays announce the club has re-signed Joel Peralta to a $6 million, two-year deal that includes club options for 2015-17. The 36-year-old right-handed reliever, mainly as the setup man for Fernando Rodney, posted a 2-6 record, a 3.63 ERA, and a career-high 84 strikeouts in his 76 appearances for Tampa Bay.

2013 The Tigers trade Prince Fielder to the Rangers for second baseman Ian Kinsler, who will fill the void created by the departure of free agent Omar Infante to Kansas City. Texas hopes their new southpaw-swinging slugger, who has blasted at least 30 home runs in six of the past seven seasons, will provide much-needed power to the team's lineup.
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On November 20 in Baseball History...

• • 1934 - Seventeen-year-old Eiji Sawamura gives up one hit, a home run to Lou Gehrig, as the touring American All-Stars win in Japan, 1-0. At one point Sawamura strikes out four future Hall of Famers in a row: Charlie Gehringer, Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, and Gehrig.
    
  • 1952 - The writers name Cubs slugger Hank Sauer as the National League Most Valuable Player. The Cubs finished in fifth place, despite Sauer's 37 home runs and 121 RBI.
    
  • 1962 - Mickey Mantle is named the American League Most Valuable Player for the third time.
    
  • 1967 - Mets pitcher Tom Seaver (16-12) is named National League Rookie of the Year.
    
  • 1969 - San Francisco's Willie McCovey edges Tom Seaver as National League Most Valuable Player.
    
  • 1974 - Jeff Burroughs of Texas, who batted .301 with 25 home runs and a league-leading 118 RBI, wins the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
    
  • 1984 - Four days after his 20th birthday, Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden becomes the youngest player ever to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Gooden was 17-9 with a 2.60 ERA and a major league-leading 276 strikeouts.
    
  • 1985 - Don Mattingly easily wins the American League Most Valuable Player Award with a .324 average.
    
  • 1989 - Brewers center fielder Robin Yount edges Ruben Sierra of the Rangers to win his second American League Most Valuable Player Award. Yount, who won the award as a shortstop in 1982, hit .318 with 21 home runs and 103 RBI.
    
  • 1990 - Oakland's Rickey Henderson edges Detroit's Cecil Fielder for the American League Most Valuable Player Award. Henderson hit .325 with 28 home runs and a major league-best 65 stolen bases.
    
  • 1997 - Andres Galarraga signs a three-year $24.8 million contract as a free agent with the Braves, ending a five-year career in Colorado that helped put the Rockies on the map. He batted .316 with 172 home runs and 579 RBI with the Rockies, including consecutive RBI crowns in 1996-1997. Another player who exploded after expansion in 1992, Jeff Conine, is dealt to Kansas City by the cost-cutting Marlins.

Baseball Birthdays on November 20...

• • 1854 - Mundinger, George
  • 1858 - Sommer, Joe
  • 1858 - Reis, Laurie
  • 1862 - Casey, Dan
  • 1869 - Griffith, Clark
  • 1873 - Fleming, Tom
  • 1880 - McBride, George
  • 1881 - McCabe, Swat
  • 1882 - Coakley, Andy
  • 1883 - Welchonce, Harry
  • 1883 - Egan, Ben
  • 1887 - Scheneberg, John
  • 1888 - Powell, Ray
  • 1889 - Edmonson, Eddie
  • 1890 - Cadore, Leon
  • 1894 - Ehrhardt, Rube
  • 1897 - Benton, Larry
  • 1898 - McNamara, Tim
  • 1902 - Prudhomme, Augie
  • 1906 - Ogrodowski, Joe
  • 1915 - Aragon, Jack
  • 1917 - Schemer, Mike
  • 1917 - Dobernic, Jess
  • 1917 - Mackiewicz, Felix
  • 1919 - Ardizoia, Rugger
  • 1921 - Sheridan, Neill
  • 1929 - Berberet, Lou
  • 1930 - Leppert, Don
  • 1936 - Ritchie, Jay
  • 1938 - Starrette, Herman
  • 1945 - Sanders, John
  • 1945 - Monday, Rick
  • 1945 - Johnstone, Jay
  • 1949 - Cash, Ron
  • 1951 - Todd, Jackson
  • 1953 - Theiss, Duane
  • 1967 - Arias, Alex
  • 1968 - Schrenk, Steve
  • 1968 - Ricci, Chuck
  • 1971 - Lomon, Kevin
  • 1971 - White, Gabe
  • 1973 - Kolb, Brandon
  • 1975 - Drew, J.D.

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11/21
BIRTHDAYS
1905 Freddie Lindstrom Hall of Fame utility (New York Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1981)


1920 Stan Musial Hall of Fame outfielder (24 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1942, 44, 46; NL MVP 1943, 46, 48; 7 × NL batting champion; St Louis Cardinals), born in Donora, Pennsylvania


1967 (Roy) "Tripp" Cromer infielder, 1993-2003 (St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers), born in Lake City, North Carolina


1969 Ken Griffey Jr Hall of Fame outfielder (13 x MLB All Star, AL MVP 1997; 10 x Gold Glove; Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds), born in Donora, Pennsylvania


1980 Hank Blalock MLB third baseman, 2002-10 (Texas Rangers), born in San Diego, California

 

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1911 Hal Chase resigns as the Highlanders manager after the team finishes in sixth place with a 76-76 record. The slick-fielding first baseman will remain with New York as a player until the team trades him to the White Sox during the 1913 season

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1913 With the formation of the Wilmington (NC) Baseball Stock company and its promise to raise money to improve the local park's playing conditions, Philadelphia selects the Southeastern coastal locale to be its spring training home for the next two seasons. In March, the Phillies become the first major league team to play in the Port City when they beat the International League's Baltimore Orioles, 5-1, in front of nearly 2,000 fans at Sunset Park.

1934 The Yankees purchase future Hall of Fame outfielder Joe DiMaggio's contract from the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League for $50,000 and five players. The son of Italian immigrants, who set a PCL mark last season when he hit in 61 consecutive contests, will be one of the three brothers to play in the major leagues.

Joe & Mickey


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1952 Twenty-eight-year-old Dodger right-hander Joe Black (15-4, 2.15, 15 saves), receiving 19 of 24 first-place votes, is overwhelmingly selected as the National League's Rookie of the Year. Hoyt Wilhelm, Dick Groat, and Eddie Mathews also garner first-place votes.

Joe & Jackie
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1970 Mets' center fielder Tommie Agee becomes the first non-pitcher to win a Gold Glove in each league. The New York flycatcher, who joins the selection of flycatchers Pete Rose and Roberto Clemente for NL honors, also won the prestigious award for fielding with the White Sox during his 1966 Rookie of the Year season.

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1972 Boston catcher Carlton Fisk (.293, 22, 61) becomes the first unanimous choice for the American League's Rookie of the Year award. The 24-year-old Red Sox All-Star backstop from Bellows Falls (VT) will become a Hall of Famer in 2000.

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1972 The BBWAA, casting 19 of 24 first-place votes for the southpaw, selects Mets Jon Matlack (15-10, 2.32) as the NL Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old West Chester (PA) native, who easily outdistances Giants' catcher Dave Rader and teammate Jon Milner for the honor, becomes the second player in team history to win the award, joining teammate Tom Seaver, who copped the freshman prize in 1967.

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1973 Pete Rose (274 points, 12 first-place votes) edges Pirates outfielder Willie Stargell (250 points, ten first-place votes) to win the NL Most Valuable Player award. The Reds left fielder led the circuit in plate appearances (752) and hits (230), finishing the season with a league-leading .338 average to win his third and last batting title.

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1983 Mets' outfielder Darryl Strawberry breaks Los Angeles' four-year stronghold on the Rookie of the Year Award when he becomes the first non-Dodger to win the honor since 1978. Rick Sutcliffe, Steve Howe, Fernando Valenzuela, and Steve Sax had been the previous winners.

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1989 The Yankees sign Pascual Perez to a three-year, $5.7 million contract. The free-agent deal proves disastrous for New York when the right-handed starter spends 150 weeks on the disabled list and then serves a suspension for the entire 1992 season after failing another drug test.

1990 Red Sox free-agent Mike Boddicker (17-8, 3.36) signs a three-year deal with the Royals worth approximately $9 million. The 33-year-old right-hander, slated to be skipper's John Wathan's #2 starter, joins the rotation pitching behind Cy Young winner Bret Saberhagen.

1991 After raising his batting average over 80 points from last season, Terry Pendleton (.319, 22, 86) wins the National League's Most Valuable Player Award. The Braves' third baseman surprisingly out-distances runner-up Pirate outfielder Barry Bonds (.292, 25, 116).

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2000 During a hearing in front of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights, and Competition, commissioner Bud Selig states it's time for 'sweeping changes' in the game's economics, raising the possibility of a work stoppage when the current contract with the Players' Association expires next October. The legislators raise concerns about the game's growing revenue disparity among teams, creating a sport of haves and have-nots where teams with the largest payrolls can buy the best players and control the game.2002 Major League Baseball announces a partnership with five-year-old Women's Pro Softball League, recently renamed National Pro Fastpitch, to appeal more to women and families. MLB will provide sponsorship support along with giving the softball players a presence at big-league events.

2002 In the earliest scheduled season opener in major league history, the A's and Mariners will begin the current campaign in Tokyo, Japan on March 25th. The two-game series will feature Japanese natives Kazuhiro Sasaki and Ichiro Suzuki, recent American League Rookies of the Year Award recipients, respectively, in 2000 and 2001.

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2002 The Expos may play approximately twenty-five percent of their home games in (22 of 81) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Away 'home games' are not unprecedented as the Dodgers played seven games in Newark, N.J. in 1956 and 1957, and the White Sox, filling a void when the Braves left, played nine games in Milwaukee in 1968 and another 11 the following season.

2007 The Angels and Twins free-agent Torii Hunter agree to a five-year deal reportedly worth $90 million. The acquisition of the 32-year-old Gold Glove center fielder comes as a surprise because the Halos already have an outstanding outfield, which includes Gary Matthews, Jr., Garret Anderson, and Vladimir Guerrero.

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2008 The Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune report a tentative agreement between the White Sox and 19-year-old phenom Dayan Viciedo, pending the outcome of a physical. The Cuban infielder/outfielder hopes to get an opportunity to play third base with the Pale Hose, his preferred position.

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2009 The Mets, responding to criticism of the lack of commemorating the team's history, announce the Citi Field entrances will bear the names of the persons who have had their number retired by the franchise and honor William Shea by using his name for the outfield bridge. Additionally, the venue will feature a team Hall of Fame and Museum, a display of full-color banners of Mets players in front of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, and the light poles in the parking lots will feature team logos.

 

2010 The Mets replace former manager Jerry Manuel, fired a day after the season ended, with Terry Collins, eleven years after he resigned from his last managerial position, having piloted the Astros (1994-96) and Angels (1997-99). The 61-year-old new skipper, known in the past for alienating some of his players due to his old school approach, compiled a 444-434 won-loss record, finishing second five of his six years in the dugout.

2011 All-Star reliever Joe Nathan agrees to a reported two-year deal worth $14.5 million to save games for the Rangers. The signing will give Neftali Feliz, the team's current closer, the opportunity to be shifted to the reigning American League champion's starting rotation.

2011 According to Dutch authorities, Mariners outfielder Greg Halman was stabbed to death early this morning in Rotterdam by his brother, Jason. The police arrest the 24-year-old younger sibling for the killing but will release and eventually free him because of a psychosis induced in part by his use of marijuana deemed responsible for the singular event with only a remote chance of any reoccurrence.

2011 Justin Verlander (24-5, 2.40) is named the American League's Most Valuable Player, becoming the first starting pitcher to receive the award since 1986 when Roger Clemens accomplished the feat. The Tiger right-hander, who won the A.L. Cy Young Award unanimously last week, received 13 of 28 first-place votes and a total of 280 points, besting Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who was listed first on four writers' ballots and had 242 points Verlander becomes the only player other than Don Newcombe to win the Rookie of Year, Cy Young, and an MVP award in his career.

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2020 Oakland fans select Liam Hendrik's relief appearance against the White Sox in Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series, sending the A's to the playoffs for the first time since 2006, as the team's best moment of 2020. The 31-year-old right-handed closer will sign as a free agent with his opponents in January.

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