BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

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12/17
BIRTHDAYS
1926 Ray Jablonski (d. 1985)


1935 Cal Ripken Sr manager (Baltimore Orioles), born in Aberdeen, Maryland (d. 1999)


1957 Bob Ojeda, pitcher (NY Mets)


1967 Pauline Maurice softball outfielder (Olympics 1996)


1968 Curtis Pride, outfielder (Detroit Tigers), born in Washington, D.C.


1978 Alex Cintrón


1978 Chase Utley


1982 Josh Barfield

 

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1891 The American Association, known for offering cheaper ticket prices, playing Sunday games, and selling alcoholic beverages to its patrons, disbands with the Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Browns, Louisville Colonels, and Washington Statesmen, becoming part of the 12-team National League. During its ten-year existence, the Beer and Whiskey League experienced its clubs defecting to the rival NL, including the Pittsburgh Pirates (1887), the Cincinnati Reds (1889), the Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1890).

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1898 The Giants' name John Day as their manager. New York's new skipper will be replaced by Fred Hoey after just 66 games next season when the team gets off to a 29-35 start.

1924 The Yankees trade three pitchers to the Browns to get back Urban Shocker, a pitcher they traded to St. Louis in 1918. Shocker had been a 20-game winner for four consecutive seasons.

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1932 The Cardinals trade former National League Most Valuable Player Jim Bottomley to the Reds. In exchange, the Redbirds get Estel Crabtree, who will play in only 23 games, and Ownie Carroll, who will be shipped to Brooklyn before the start of the season, in a deal that appears to be a steal for a nine-time .300 hitter and future Hall of Famer with productive years left.

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1964 The Yankees fire long-time television and radio voice Mel Allen. This well-known broadcaster popularized the 'going, going, gone' home run call and often said 'how about that' to describe happenings on the ball field.

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1975 Bill Veeck, the new owner of the White Sox, fires manager Chuck Tanner and selects old friend Paul Richards to pilot the team. The team's former skipper, who tomorrow will sign a three-year deal to manage the A's, compiled a 401-414 (.492) during his six seasons with the South Side team.

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1992 The Twins sign free-agent DH/outfielder Dave Winfield. Last season for the World Champion Blue Jays, the St. Paul native hit .290 and had 108 RBIs and 26 home runs.

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1993 After being traded back to Oakland by the Yankees in July, Rickey Henderson decides to stay with the A's, signing a two-year $8.6 million contract. In 1998, the team traded the speedy outfielder to the Bronx Bombers along with Bert Bradley for Tim Birtsas, Jay Howell, Stan Javier, Eric Plunk, and Jose Rijo.

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2000 City and club officials announce financing and construction plans for a new, downtown Miami retractable-roof ballpark for the Marlins. The state-of-the-art $385-million stadium, a 40,000-seat facility with 60 luxury suites, includes a 40-year lease and an agreement to rename the team the Miami Marlins.

2002 The Giants trade Russ Ortiz (14-10, 3.78), after he brought the team to the brink of a world championship, to the Braves for sophomore southpaw Damian Moss (12-6, 4.11) and right-hander Merkin Valdez. The 27-year-old right-hander left Game 6 with a 5-0 margin, but the San Francisco bullpen could not hold the lead and lost the series to the Angels in seven games.

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2003 After agreeing to the basics weeks ago, the Yankees and 35-year-old Gary Sheffield (.330, 39, 132) finalize a three-year deal worth a reported $39 million, including $13.5 million in deferred money and a $13 million team option for 2007. The seven-time All-Star outfielder played with the Braves last year and had spent time with the Padres, Marlins, and Dodgers after breaking in with the Brewers in 1988.

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2004 Although the terms of the deal are not made public, Edgar Renteria (.287, 10, 72) inks a four-year contract believed to be worth $40 million with the World Champion Red Sox. The former Cardinal shortstop, who made the last out in the World Series, ending Boston's 86-year drought, replaces fellow Colombian Orlando Cabrera, the player obtained in July in the Nomar Garciaparra trade.

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2004 The last place Mariners continue to sign impact free-agents in hopes to improve upon last season's poor performance (63-99) when the team signs 25-year-old Adrian Beltre (.334, 48, 121) to a $64 million, five-year deal. The former Dodger third baseman joins Richie Sexson, a free agent signed by Seattle to a four-year, $50 million contract two days ago.

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2004 A three-team deal that included Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson and pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii going to the Yankees, Los Angeles outfielder Shawn Green and pitcher Brad Penny to the Diamondbacks, with Jose Vazquez and prospects to the Dodgers, falls apart at the eleventh hour. The blockbuster transaction stops when LA backs out.

2007 The Yankees continue to sign their own free agents as the team finalizes a $45 million, three-year contract with their 38-year-old closer, Mariano Rivera (3-4, 3.15). Earlier in the off-season, the Bronx Bombers also signed Jorge Posada ($52.4 million/ 4 years), Alex Rodriguez ($275/ 10 years), and Andy Pettitte ($16 million/ 1-year).

2010 After losing the right-hander to free-agency two seasons ago, the Cubs sign Kerry Wood, one of the franchise's most popular players of the recent past, to a $1.5 million, one-year deal that includes bonuses for appearances and games finished. After attending Ron Santo's funeral last week, the 33-year-old free-agent reached out to Tom Ricketts, letting the club owner know he would accept a fair offer to return to the North Side of Chicago.

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2010 The Tigers announce coming to terms with Magglio Ordonez when the outfielder agrees to a one-year, $10 million deal. Two months ago, the team declined a $15 million option on their starting right fielder, who suffered a broken ankle in July, appearing in only 84 games.

 

2010 The Padres and Orlando Hudson have agreed to a two-year deal valued at $11.5 million. Minnesota expects the former second baseman to fill the void created by the departure of David Eckstein to free agency.

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2010 The Padres acquire their former shortstop Jason Bartlett and a player to be named later by trading relievers Adam Russell and Cesar Ramos, along with minor league right-hander Brandon Gomes and infielder prospect Cole Figueroa to the Rays. At the end of the day, the Friars will finalize their deal with second baseman Orlando Hudson, completing the team's new double-play combination for next season.

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2011 The Reds obtain right-hander Mat Latos from the Padres for four players, including two former first-round picks, infielder Yonder Alonso and catcher Yasmani Grandal, along with starting pitcher Edinson Volquez and minor leaguer Brad Boxberger. The deal fills a crucial need by bolstering Cincinnati's rotation, but many observers believe the team gave up too much to acquire the quality starter.

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2012 In a seven-player swap, the Mets acquire highly-regarded minor leaguers Travis d'Arnaud, a catcher, and right-hander Noah Syndergaard, in addition to backstop John Buck and outfielder Wuilmer Becerra from the Blue Jays in exchange for right-handed pitcher R.A. Dickey and catchers Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas. New York decided to deal their 38-year-old knuckleballer, last season's NL Cy Young award winner with a year remaining on his contract, to procure two of Toronto's top prospects.

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2019 The Tigers announce the retirement of uniform #1 as a tribute to Lou Whitaker, making the five-time All-Star second baseman the tenth person to have his name and number inscribed on the brick wall at Comerica Park. 'Sweet Lou' becomes the fourth member of the 1984 World Series champion team to be honored, joining double-play partner Alan Trammell, right-hander Jack Morris and manager, Sparky Anderson.

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Today in Baseball History
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Search archives: Historical Events Baseball Birthdays Baseball Deaths
On December 17 in Baseball History...

• • 1920 - The AL votes to allow pitchers who used the spitball in 1920 to continue using it as long as they are in the league. The NL will do the same. There will be 17 holdover spitballers in all.
    
  • 1928 - NL President John Heydler's designated hitter idea gets the backing of John McGraw, but the AL is against it.
    
  • 1932 - Jim Bottomley, who hit .300 or better in nine of eleven seasons with the Cardinals, is traded to the Reds for outfielder Estel Crabtree and pitcher Ownie Carroll.

Baseball Birthdays on December 17...

• • 1859 - Hutchison, Bill Hutchison was 24 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 10, 1884, with the Kansas City Unions, Wild Bill Hutchison was something of an enigma among the players of the 19th Century. Graduating from Yale, and spending one year in post-graduate work there, Hutchison did not play in the Majors until he was 30. After an average 16-17 first year with the Chicago team, he put together three of the greatest years of any pitcher in the history of the game. During 1890-92 he won 122 games. He also led the league all three years in wins, games, games started, games completed and innings pitched."
  • 1867 - Doty, Babe
  • 1867 - Wadsworth, Jack, Wadsworth was born on Tuesday, December 17, 1867, in Wellington, Ohio. Wadsworth was 22 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 1, 1890, with the Cleveland Spiders
  • 1875 - McHale, Jim
  • 1876 - Patterson, Roy
  • 1880 - Falkenberg, Cy
  • 1883 - Oakes, Rebel
  • 1886 - McAdams, Jack
  • 1889 - Harris, Ben
  • 1893 - Yeabsley, Bert
  • 1896 - Mattox, Jim
  • 1898 - Tuero, Oscar
  • 1898 - Lutz, Red
  • 1900 - Swanson, Karl
  • 1914 - Smith, Dave
  • 1918 - Jones, Dale
  • 1919 - Kucab, Johnny
  • 1920 - Schultz, Mike
  • 1926 - Jablonski, Ray
  • 1934 - Hadley, Kent
  • 1936 - Sheldon, Rollie
  • 1936 - Adair, Jerry
  • 1938 - Cardenas, Leo
  • 1947 - Sands, Charlie
  • 1957 - Dempsey, Mark
  • 1957 - Ojeda, Bob
  • 1959 - Wynne, Marvell
  • 1959 - Clutterbuck, Bryan
  • 1967 - Valdez, Rafael
  • 1967 - Parris, Steve
  • 1968 - Pride, Curtis
  • 1969 - Pemberton, Rudy
  • 1970 - Cather, Mike
  • 1971 - Hemphill, Bret
  • 1975 - Villafuerte, Brandon
  • 1976 - Dellaero, Jason
  • 1978 - Cintron, Alex

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12/18
BIRTHDAYS
1885-1961 Ty Cobb Hall of Fame outfielder (AL MVP 1911; Triple Crown 1909; 12 × AL batting champion; Detroit Tigers) and manager (Detroit Tigers 1921-26), born in Narrows, Georgia


1929 Gino Cimoli born in San Francisco, California (d. 2011)


1930 Bill Skowron [Moose] First baseman (NY Yankees), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2012)


1965 Willie Blair, Paintsville KY, pitcher (San Diego Padres, Mets)


1973 Jason Williams LA infielder (Olympic bronze 1996)


1977 José Acevedo, Dominican pitcher (Cincinnati Reds, 2001-04; Colorado Rockies, 2005), born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

 

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1918 The day after receiving an ensign's gold stripe to become the only big-leaguer to earn a Navy commission serving World War I, the Red Sox trade Ernie Shore, along with Dutch Leonard and outfielder Duffy Lewis to the Yankees for Frank Gilhooley, Slim Love, Ray Caldwell, Roxy Walters and $15,000. The once-promising right-hander, who missed the entire season last year due to military service, will retire after two seasons with Bronx Bombers, compiling a meager 7-10 record.

1952 Ellis W. Ryan resigns after failing to secure a vote of confidence at a shareholders' meeting. After losing the showdown with general manager Hank Greenberg, the president of the Indians resigns and sells his stock for a nifty profit of more than a quarter of a million dollars for the 551 shares he purchased three years ago.

1975 Chuck Tanner signs a three-year deal to manage the A's. After compiling an 87-74 (.540) record to finish in second place, Oakland will release the New Castle, PA native from his contract, allowing him to manage the Pirates in exchange for catcher Manny Sanguillen and $100,000 from Pittsburgh.

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1981 The Reds swap third baseman Ray Knight to the Astros for outfielder Cesar Cedeno. The trade will help both clubs, with each player spending at least 2+ years in a productive role with his new team.

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1985 The Giants trade Rob Deer to the Brewers for farmhands Eric Pilkington and Dean Freehand. During his five seasons with the Brew Crew, the swift outfielder will average 27 home runs a season but will lead the league in strikeouts in 1987 and 1998.

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1990 The National League announces the six finalist cities for the two 1993 expansion teams. The locations include Buffalo, Denver, Miami, Orlando, Tampa-St. Petersburg, and Washington, DC.

1993 Yankee farmhand Brien Taylor, the #1 overall selection in the MLB June Amateur Draft who signed a record $1.55 million contract with the team, severely tears the glenoid labrum in his left shoulder after attempting to throw a punch that misses its mark. The Barlow's (NC) altercation will cause the 21-year-old prized prospect to miss all of next season and effectively end the southpaw's ability to pitch in the major leagues.

2000 Charles Johnson, the catcher when the team won the 1997 World Series, agrees to return to the Marlins when he signs a five-year contract worth $35 million. The 29-year-old backstop batted .304 with 31 home runs and 91 RBIs for the Orioles and White Sox last season.

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2000 Free-agent Sandy Alomar Jr. agrees to a $5.4 million, two-year deal with the White Sox. The former Indians catcher will replace Charles Johnson, who signed a $35 million, five-year contract with the Marlins earlier in the day.

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2001 The Giants sign free-agent Jason Schmidt to a $31-million four-year deal, keeping the right-hander in the City by the Bay. After being traded by the Pirates, with John Vander Wal, to San Francisco for Armando Rios and Ryan Vogelsong, the 28-year-old free agent was 7-1 for San Francisco last season.

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2001 Filling the void created by Mark McGwire's unexpected retirement, the Cardinals sign first baseman Tino Martinez to a $21 million, three-year contract. After he was replaced in the Yankees lineup by Jason Giambi, the former Bronx Bomber said the Cardinals were his first choice as a free agent.

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2001 John Rocker is traded to the Rangers from the Indians for minor league pitcher David Elder. The reliever, not known for his clubhouse diplomacy, will join recently acquired Carl Everett, also known for his difficulties with management and teammates.

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2002 The Rangers sign free agent Doug Glanville to a reported one-year, $1 million deal. In July, Texas will trade the former Philadelphia outfielder to Chicago, where he will be the hero of the Cubs' 5-4 victory over Florida when he triples home the winning run in the top of the 11th inning in Game 3 of the NLCS.

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2002 After spending the previous six seasons with the Giants, the 2000 National League MVP Jeff Kent (.313, 37, 108) signs an $18.2 million, two-year contract with the Astros. The 34-year-old Texas resident's presence on the team moves four-time second base Gold Glove winner Craig Biggio to the outfield.

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2003 Adam Kennedy (.269, 13, 49) agrees to an $8.85 million, three-year deal with the Angels. The 28-year-old second baseman batted .277, hit 36 homers, and collected 229 RBIs during his four years with Anaheim.

2004 Two days after trading pitching ace Tim Hudson (17-8, 4.43) to the Braves, the A's deal Mark Mulder to the Cardinals for starting pitcher Dan Haren, reliever Kiko Calero, and minor league catching prospect Daric Barton. Oakland expects five of the six players obtained by giving up two-thirds of the team's 'Big Three' to be part of the opening day roster.

2005 At the Lelands Winter Auction, GoldenPalace.com acquires the bat Pete Rose used to hit his 159th career home run in 1985 with a bid of $103,631.91. Infamous for placing winning bids for the Dallas Grassy Knoll fence and the Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich, the online casino plans to raise money for charity by sawing the bat in half to determine if the bat is corked as is widely believed.
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