BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

12/2
BIRTHDAYS

1934 Andre Rodgers shortstop (first Bahamian to play in MLB; NY/SF Giants; Chicago Cubs


1946 Pedro Borbón pitcher (World Series 1975, 76; Cincinnati Reds), born in Santa Cruz de Mao, Dominican Republic (d. 2012)


1964 Chip Hale infielder, coach and manager (Minnesota Twins; Arizona Diamondbacks; Washington Nationals), born in Santa Clara, California


1968 Darryl Kile pitcher (MLB All-Star 1993, 97, 2000; no-hitter 1993; Houston Astros), born in Garden Grove, California (d. 2002)


1975 Mark Kotsay outfielder and coach (1,914 MLB games; Florida Marlins, Oakland A's), born in Whittier, California


1992 Gary Sánchez catcher (MLB All Star 2017, 19; NY Yankees), born in Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic

 

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1927 Heinie Manush, after just his fourth season in the big leagues, is traded by the Tigers, along with first baseman Lu Blue, to the Browns for hurler Elam Vangilder, infielder Chick Galloway, and outfielder Harry Rice. In 2,008 career games, Manush, a future Hall of Fame outfielder, collects 2,524 hits to finish his 17-year career with a .330 lifetime batting average.

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1941 The Giants promote skipper Bill Terry to be the team's new general manager. Mel Ott, a future Hall of Famer, will serve as New York's player-manager for the next seven years, but the club will never finish above third place.

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1944 Japan mourns the death of Yomiuri Giant hurler Eiji Sawamura, lost in action when the USS Sea Devil torpedoes his ship off the coast near Yakushima. As a 17-year-old high schooler, the Japanese right-hander became a national hero when he struck out Charlie Gehringer, Babe Ruth Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Foxx in succession in an exhibition game in 1934.

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1948 Cardinals outfielder Stan Musial is named the National League Most Valuable Player. 'Stan the Man' led the NL in hitting with a .376 batting average and 131 RBIs, but barely misses the Triple Crown when his 39 home runs are one round-tripper less than the totals hit by Johnny Mize and Ralph Kiner, the league's leaders.

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1952 Commissioner Ford Frick plans to take action against Jackie Robinson for the comments the infielder made two days ago on the NBC show, Youth Wants to Know. In response to a high schooler's question about prejudice in baseball, the Brooklyn second basemen called the Yankees organization racist for its failure to promote a black to the parent club.

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1958 The Indians trade first baseman Vic Wertz and flycatcher Gary Geiger to the Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Jimmy Piersall. The Tribe also deals the 1954 American League batting champ Bobby Avila to the Orioles for minor league hurler Russ Heman and $30,000.

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1963 The Pacific Coast League expands to 12 teams when the Indianapolis and Little Rock franchises move from the International League to join the circuit. The IL will now operate with only one division consisting of eight clubs.

1963 The major league rules committee bans oversized catcher gloves, starting with the 1965 season. The larger catcher mitt was devised in 1960 by Orioles manager Paul Richards to help his backstops catch Hoyt Wilhelm's knuckleball.

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1965 The Cubs trade pitcher Lindy McDaniel and outfielder Don Landrum to the Giants for catcher Randy Hundley and pitcher Bill Hands. Chicago's new acquisitions will both play a major role in rebuilding the 'lovable losers' into contenders later in the decade.

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1978 Mark Belanger wins his eighth and final Gold Glove, an award created by the baseball glove manufacturer Rawlings to recognize outstanding fielding performances at each position. The Orioles shortstop won his first in 1969, along with his Baltimore teammates third baseman Brooks Robinson, second baseman Davey Johnson, and outfielder Paul Blair.

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1991 The Mets sign Pirates' free-agent Bobby Bonilla to a $29 million, five-year deal. The 28-year-old highly touted outfielder will hit only .249 during the first year of his contract for an under-achieving New York club.

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1993 Mets free-agent Eddie Murray (.285, 27, 100) leaves New York to sign with the Indians. The future Hall of Famer hit .274 and averaged 96.5 RBIs during his two seasons in the Big Apple.

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2005 The Marlins continue to slash their payroll by dealing Gold Glove second baseman Luis Castillo to the Twins. In return for the switch-hitter, Florida gets a pair of right-handed pitching prospects, Travis Bowyer and Scott Tyler.

 

2008 Ted Rogers, owner of the Blue Jays since 2000, dies at home at the age of 75. After being treated for an existing heart condition in the fall, the media magnate had turned over his corporate duties to Alan Horn, Rogers Communications chairman and acting chief executive officer.

2008 Mets COO Jeff Wilpon says the team's new ballpark's name will remain Citi Field regardless of the suggestion made by two NYC council members who believe the venue should be called Citi/Taxpayer Field. Citigroup, a struggling financial institution benefiting from a bailout from the federal government, pays the franchise $400 million over 20 years for naming rights to the stadium.

2008 In a ceremony at the Consul General of Japan's home, the island nation honors former Dodger skipper Tommy Lasorda for his contributions to Japanese baseball. The Hall of Famer receives the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette medal on behalf of the emperor for his work with players and teams in this Asian nation since 1965.

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2009 The Braves and left-hander Billy Wagner come to terms on a $7 million, one-year deal for the southpaw to become the club's closer, replacing Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez. The six-time All-Star, who missed most of last season due to elbow surgery, was traded by the Mets to the Red Sox in late August after the reliever showed he still has a live fastball in his initial appearance off the disabled list in New York.

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2009 The Dodgers announce 81-year-old broadcaster Vin Scully will continue to do play-by-play for the team in 2010. The Hall of Fame announcer started calling games for the club when 'Dem Bums' still played in Brooklyn sixty years ago.

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2013 The Nationals obtain Tigers starter Doug Fister for southpaws Ian Krol and Robbie Ray and infielder Steve Lombardozzi. Washington's acquisition of the 29-year-old right-hander improves the team's already strong rotation, including Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, and Gio Gonzalez.

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Today in Baseball History
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On December 2 in Baseball History...

• • 1916 - Under pressure from the Players' Fraternity, the National Commission orders that injured players shall get full pay for the duration of their contracts. The injury clause previously let clubs suspend players after 15 days pay.
    
  • 1928 - Cardinals first baseman Jim Bottomley is voted NL MVP, garnering 76 points to 70 for New York's Fred Lindstrom.
    
  • 1941 - The Giants name Mel Ott as player-manager replacing Bill Terry, who moves up to the GM spot.
    
  • 1948 - Stan Musial is picked MVP in the NL. Musial led the NL in batting at .365 as well as in runs, RBI, doubles, and triples. His 39 home runs come up one short of Johnny Mize and Ralph Kiner.
    
  • 1963 - The Major League Rules Committee bans oversized catcher's mitts, effective in 1965.
    
  • 1974 - The Major League Rules Committee meets in New Orleans. Among the changes is one permitting the use of cowhide, rather than just horsehide, in the manufacture of baseballs.
    
  • 1976 - Danny Murtaugh, who had retired two months earlier as Pirates manager, dies at Chester, Pennsylvania, of a heart attack at age 59.
    
  • 1978 - The Sporting News announces the Gold Glove winners. Baltimore shortstop Mark Belanger wins for the eighth and final time, while St. Louis first baseman Keith Hernandez and Philadelphia catcher Bob Boone are each honored for the first time.
    
  • 1981 - Fernando Valenzuela becomes the third consecutive Dodgers player to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Expos outfielder Tim Raines, who hit.304 with 71 stolen bases, is second.

Baseball Birthdays on December 2...

• • 1855 - Haldeman, John
  • 1864 - Hibbard, John
  • 1869 - Stouch, Tom
  • 1875 - Kelley, Mike
  • 1876 - Miller, Roscoe
  • 1880 - Doran, Tom
  • 1887 - McGarvey, Dan
  • 1889 - Jones, Bob
  • 1889 - Burnett, Jack
  • 1889 - Armstrong, Howard
  • 1892 - Smith, Chick
  • 1893 - Vereker, Tommy
  • 1895 - Jahn, Art
  • 1896 - Wilson, Mike
  • 1896 - Bedford, Gene
  • 1898 - Leathers, Hal
  • 1899 - Morehart, Ray
  • 1903 - Brennan, Don
  • 1905 - Williams, Leon
  • 1906 - Welch, Johnny
  • 1913 - Crawford, Glenn
  • 1934 - Rodgers, Andre
  • 1935 - Taylor, Harry
  • 1946 - Borbon, Pedro
  • 1948 - Simpson, Wayne
  • 1949 - Kleven, Jay
  • 1950 - Kammeyer, Bob
  • 1951 - Devine, Adrian
  • 1954 - Cruz, Julio
  • 1964 - Hale, Chip
  • 1968 - Kile, Darryl
  • 1969 - Sisco, Steve
  • 1975 - Kotsay, Mark

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12/3
BIRTHDAYS

1922 Joe Collins first baseman (World Series 1949–53, 56; New York Yankees), born in Scranton, Pennsylvania (d. 1989)
Gene Woodling, Yogi Berra, Allie Reynolds & Joe Collins


1969 Harold Steinbrenner MLB team owner (New York Yankees), born in Culver, Indiana

1970 Paul Byrd pitcher and broadcaster (MLB All Star 1999; Philadelphia Phillies; Fox Sports Southeast), born in Louisville, Kentucky

 

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1926 In a Chicago Tribune article detailing the business side of the team, the Cubs causally reveal Weeghman Park will now be known as Wrigley Field, reflecting the ownership of the club by William Wrigley, Junior. The steel-and-concrete ballpark, originally named for the previous owner Charles H. Weeghman, served as the home for the Federal League's Chicago Whales until the Cubs moved to the new venue after the clubs merged under his ownership when the Federal League team folded.

1933 For the second time, Connie Mack begins to dismantle a dynasty he has built, deciding to sell Mickey Cochrane to the Tigers for $100,000. Although the A's have won three American League pennants and two World Series titles, dating back to 1929, with the Great Depression looming, the Philadelphia owner needs cash in the face of a failing economy.

1956 The Tigers once again trade pitcher Virgil Trucks along with Ned Garver, Gene Host, Wayne Belardi, and $20,000 to the A's for Bill Harrington, Jack Crimian, Eddie Robinson, and Jim Finigan. In 1952, Detroit sent their 11-year right-handed veteran, Johnny Groth and Hal White, to the Browns for Owen Friend, Bob Nieman, and Jay Porter.

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1960 The Indians deal outfielder Harvey Kuenn to the Giants for flycatcher Willie Kirkland and pitcher Johnny Antonelli. The 1958 American League batting champ, who hit .308 in his one year with the Tribe, came to Cleveland in the trade at the beginning of the season, which some fans believe started "the Curse of Rocky Colavito."

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1962 On behalf of 300 retired major leaguers excluded from this year's pension increases, former Yankees shortstop Frank Crosetti and reserve catcher John Schulte, who played with five teams, bring suit to prevent any boost in payments that fail to include players from the past. J. Norman Lewis, their attorney, has indicated that many former stars have also contributed their names and money to support the action.

1963 The Braves trade catcher Del Crandell and right-handers Bob Shaw and Bob Hendley to the Giants in exchange for outfielder Felipe Alou, backstop Ed Bailey, and southpaw Billy Hoeft. Forty years later, Alou will return to San Francisco to become the team's manager.

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1968 After the dominance of pitching last season, the MLB Rules Committee makes changes, hoping to increase offensive output. The series of new mandates, which include decreasing the size of the strike zone and lowering the pitcher's mound height from 15 inches to 10 inches, will result in more run-scoring in both leagues during the upcoming campaign.

1968 The Cardinals have a busy day on the trading block, making deals with both the Red Sox and Padres, sending infielder Dick Schofield to Boston for right-hander Gary Waslewski. In a separate trade, the Redbirds trade third baseman Ed Spiezio, outfielder Ron Davis, backstop Dan Breeden, and pitching prospect Phil Knuckles to San Diego for right-hander Dave Giusti.

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1969 In one of the worst trades in franchise history, the Mets deal outfielder Amos Otis to the Royals for third baseman Joe Foy. The 22-year-old flycatcher will have an outstanding 14-year career with Kansas City, becoming a member of the team's hall of fame, while Foy will play just one season in New York, hitting a meager .236 in 99 games.

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1971 The Cubs send 25-year-old right-hander Jim Colborn, Brock Davis, and Earl Stephenson to the Brewers for outfielder Jose Cardenal. Chicago's newest flycatcher will have a productive stay in the Windy City, batting .296 during his six-year tenure with the team.

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1974 The White Sox obtain a player to be named later and cash from the Braves in exchange for Dick Allen, who refuses to report to Atlanta, citing he wants no part of playing in the South. After announcing his retirement, the 'Wampum Walloper' will play again in May, coaxed by the Phillies, his big-league team, to return to Philadelphia after missing spring training and the season's start.

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1974 In a six-player deal, the Mets trade reliever Tug McGraw to the Phillies along with outfielders Don Hahn and Dave Schneck in exchange for outfielder Del Unser, pitcher Mac Scarce, and catcher John Stearns. The 'Ya Gotta Believe' closer will quickly become a fan-favorite in Philadelphia, helping the team win the World Series in 1980, the first in its 97-year history.

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