BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

1977 Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends Ted Turner for one year due to tampering while trying to obtain free-agent outfielder Gary Matthews, who signed a five-year, $1.875 deal with the team in November. The Braves owner, an accomplished sailor, uses his free time to pursue another goal, winning this year's America's Cup, which he will accomplish in September.

1986 Former owner of the Browns, White Sox, and Indians Bill Veeck, well-known for his promotions and innovative ideas, dies of cardiac arrest in Chicago. Some of the Hall of Famer creative ideas included pinch-hitting a little person, an exploding scoreboard, and putting players' names on the back of their uniforms, in addition to breaking the color barrier in the American League, signing Larry Doby in 1947 to play for Cleveland.

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1992 The Red Sox sign Mets' free agent Frank Viola, a former Cy Young Award winner (1988, Twins) to a three-year, $13.9 million deal. The 31-year-old southpaw will injure his arm and undergo 'Tommy John' surgery with Boston, posting a 25-21 record and a 3.40 ERA during his three seasons with the team.

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1996 The Red Sox sign free-agent hurler Jamie Moyer. The 33-year-old southpaw will compile a 7-1 record for Boston before being traded to Seattle in July, where he will enjoy a pair of 20-game victory seasons en route to winning over 100 games during his 11-year tenure with the Mariners.

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2003 Due to a conflict with the major league schedule, the annual Hall of Fame game, previously held the day after the inductions of new members since 1940, will now take place on a different weekend. This year's scheduled contest between the Phillies and Devil Rays will occur on June 16, five weeks before July 27 induction ceremonies in Cooperstown.
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Today in Baseball History
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On January 2 in Baseball History...

• • 1911 - Brooklyn Dodgers president Charles Ebbets announces he has purchased grounds to build a new concrete-and-steel stadium to seat 30,000. During the year he will ease his pinched financial condition by selling half the team to Ed and Steve McKeever.
    
  • 1918 - Brooklyn sends outfielder Casey Stengel and infielder George Cutshaw to Pittsburgh for pitchers Burleigh Grimes and Al Mamaux, plus infielder Chuck Ward.
    
  • 1977 - Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends Braves owner Ted Turner for one year as a result of tampering charges in the Gary Matthews free-agency signing. The Braves are permitted to keep the outfielder, however.

Baseball Birthdays on January 2...

• • 1854 - Crane, Sam
  • 1856 - Farrell, Jack
  • 1857 - Murphy, Pat
  • 1858 - Neagle, Jack "NEAGLE, of the Alleghenys, has of late been recommending players to different clubs. Neagle himself would need a very strong recommendation to get a job outside of Pittsburg. As a pitcher he is the greatest failure yet discovered." - The Cincinnati Enquirer (March 16, 1884, "BASE-BALL, Notes", Page 10)
  • 1871 - Saylor, Phil
  • 1872 - Rising, Pop
  • 1885 - Autry, Chick
  • 1886 - Melter, Steve
  • 1888 - LaRoss, Harry
  • 1891 - Lotz, Joe
  • 1892 - Kopp, Merlin
  • 1892 - Boehler, George
  • 1892 - Kibble, Jack
  • 1893 - Altenburg, Jesse
  • 1894 - Wagner, Bill
  • 1902 - Jacobs, Ray
  • 1902 - Dumovich, Nick
  • 1905 - Whitney, Pinky
  • 1907 - Gullic, Ted
  • 1907 - Kress, Red
  • 1909 - Reis, Bobby
  • 1919 - Harman, Bill
  • 1920 - Dapper, Cliff
  • 1926 - Hollmig, Stan
  • 1929 - Wolfe, Ed
  • 1933 - Oster, Bill
  • 1946 - Ruberto, Sonny "When he was a freshman and (Frank) Fernandez was our starting catcher, Sonny would catch every swing of batting practice. As a player, Sonny's story is about hard work and using whatever he had to develop his skills and become the player he was." - Curtis High School Head Coach Bert Levinson in The Staten Island Advance (03/28/2014, John Ruberto, 68: Renowned Staten Island catcher
  • 1951 - Madlock, Bill "There's no right or wrong way to hit. Every hitter is different and you have to relate... People try to make up new ways to hit. There aren't really any new ways. The game hasn't changed in 200 years and it's not going to for another 200." - Bill Madlock in The Las Vegas Sun (Anthony Fenech, Ex-big league batting champ Bill Madlock helps local youth with swings, 05/10/2010)
  • 1951 - Essian, Jim
  • 1951 - Stillman, Royle
  • 1952 - Heydeman, Greg
  • 1963 - Martinez, Edgar
  • 1963 - Cone, David
  • 1964 - Ward, Colby
  • 1965 - Swindell, Greg
  • 1970 - Clayton, Royce
  • 1971 - Greene, Rick
  • 1972 - Stephenson, Garrett
  • 1973 - Metcalfe, Mike
  • 1975 - Suppan, Jeff

Copyright � 2001-2007. All Rights Reserved.
Part of the Baseball Almanac family: 755 Home Runs | Around the Horn | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Today in Baseball History.​

 

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BIRTHDAYS
1906 Gus Suhr first baseman (1435 MLB games Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies; only player to be sued by a fan injured after struck by a foul ball), born in San Francisco, California (d. 2004)


1910 Frenchy Bordagaray (World Series 1941; Brooklyn Dodgers), born in Coalinga, California (d. 2000)


1912 Cliff Melton pitcher (MLB All Star 1942; NL saves leader 1937; NY Giants), born in Brevard, North Carolina (d. 1986)


1915 Sid Hudson pitcher (MLB All Star 1941, 42; Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox), born in Coalfield, Tennessee (d. 2008)


1949 Gary Lavelle pitcher (MLB All Star 1977, 83; SF Giants), born in Scranton, Pennsylvania

1962 Darren Daulton catcher (MLB All-Star 1992, 93, 95; World Series 1997; Silver Slugger Award 1992; Philadelphia Phillies), born in Arkansas City, Kansas (d. 2017)


1966 Luis Sojo infielder (World Series 1996, 1998–2000; Seattle Mariners, NY Yankees), born in Petare, Edo Miranda, Venezuela

1977 A.J. Burnett pitcher (MLB All Star 2015; World Series 2009; AL strikeout leader 2008; no-hitter 2001), born in North Little Rock, Arkansas

 

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1920 The public becomes aware of the secret deal made on December 26 to sell Babe Ruth to New York for $125,000, equaling twice the amount ever paid previously for a player. Harry Frazee, the Red Sox's cash-strapped owner, also secures a $300,000 loan from the Yankees as part of the deal.

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1943 In a surprising move, Uncle Sam decides to draft 37-year-old Yankee right-hander Red Ruffing into the Army, where he will be assigned to non-combative duty, tossing baseballs and leading the soldiers' physical fitness training. The future Hall of Famer lost four toes on his left foot in a mining accident in Coalton, Illinois, as a 15-year-old.

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1946 The Tigers trade first baseman Rudy York to the Red Sox for infielder Eddie Lake, who will replace current shortstop Skeeter Webb with two solid defensive years before a broken finger relegates him to a utility role on the team. Boston's new first baseman's offensive output, which includes 119 RBIs, propels the club to an American League pennant this season.

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1961 Frank 'Trader' Lane becomes the A's general manager and executive vice president. The former Cleveland GM, best remembered by Indians fans for last season's controversial trade of Rocky Colavito to the Tigers in exchange for Harvey Kuenn, a swap that gave rise to the Colavito Curse, believed to bring a series of unfortunate events to the Tribe over many decades.

1962 Adjacent to Colt Stadium, where the Colt .45s will play the first three seasons of their existence, construction begins on the 18-story Harris County Domed Stadium dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World." The first enclosed 'outdoor sport' becomes known as the Astrodome, when artificial turf, which becomes known as AstroTurf, replaces the dying grass playing surface.

 

1973 "There is nothing in life quite so limited as being a limited partner of George Steinbrenner." - Yankees minority owner John McMullen Tampa shipbuilder George Steinbrenner, heading a limited partnership with Lester Crown, John DeLorean, and Nelson Bunker Hunt, purchases the Yankees from CBS. 'The Boss' will become a well-known owner due to his pursuit of expensive talent, well-publicized feuds with players and baseball's brass, and the frequent firing of GMs and managers.

1974 The Yankees hire Bill Virdon as the team's manager after American League president Joe Cronin voids the contract signed by A's skipper Dick Williams. The former Pirates skipper will manage New York for two years, never winning a game at Yankee Stadium because the club will play their home games at Shea Stadium while renovations occur at Bronx ballpark.

1977 Joining Harry Caray, Jimmy Piersall, and Lorn Brown in the White Sox broadcast booth, Mary Shane becomes the first female announcer to do play-by-play for a major league team on a regular basis. The contract of the hard-working pioneer, but inexperienced broadcaster, will not be renewed at the end of the season by owner Bill Vleck.

1981 University of Arizona standout Terry Francona wins the Golden Spikes Award, an honor given to the nation's most outstanding amateur player by the U.S. Baseball Federation. The 21-year-old southpaw-swinging collegiate outfielder/first baseman, signed by the Expos, was selected by the NCAA as the College World Series MVP last season after helping the Wildcats capture the National Championship.

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2001 The Astros sign free-agent hurler Kent Bottenfield to a one-year contract. The 32-year-old right-hander, who started last season with the Angels after being traded by the Cardinals with Adam Kennedy for Jim Edmonds, will post a 2-5 record for Houston in his previous season in the big leagues.

2005 Bud Selig okays the trade, which will send Shawn Green to the Diamondbacks, dependent on the team and the outfielder coming to terms on a contract extension within 72 hours. The commissioner's approval is necessary because the Dodgers will pay $8 million to help offset Green's current contract in the finalized deal.

2005 Commissioner Bud Selig approves the potential trade of Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson to the Yankees in exchange for Javier Vazquez, Dioner Navarro, Brad Halsey, and $9 million. Arizona will likely include Navarro and much of the cash to the Dodgers to obtain Shawn Green, another deal approved today by the commissioner's office. (Ed. Note: On January 11, 2005, the trade, as anticipated, becomes a done deal. - LP)

2005 Hoping to make the team appeal to a broader marketplace, the Angels announce the franchise will now be known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Officials from Anaheim likely will file a lawsuit to block the change, believing the new name violates the terms of the team's 33-year lease with the city.
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Today in Baseball History
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Search archives: Historical Events Baseball Birthdays Baseball Deaths
On January 3 in Baseball History...

• • 1920 - The New York Yankees purchase the contract of pitcher Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox for $125,000 and a $350,000 loan against the mortgage on Fenway Park. The "official" annoucement of the sale is delayed until January 5 due to Ruth's contractual demands.
    
  • 1962 - Ground is broken for the Houston Astrodome.
    
  • 1973 - A group of investors, headed by shipbuilder George Steinbrenner, purchases the New York Yankees from CBS for $10 million.
    
  • 1974 - Unable to pry Dick Williams away from A's owner Charlie Finley, the Yankees sign Bill Virdon as manager.
    
  • 1977 - The Royals release pitcher Lindy McDaniel, ending his career after 21 years. He had appeared in 987 games.

Baseball Birthdays on January 3...

• • 1856 - Gilligan, Barney
  • 1874 - Mahaffey, Lou
  • 1874 - Brashear, Roy
  • 1880 - Kippert, Ed
  • 1883 - Hopkins, Buck
  • 1884 - White, Kirby
  • 1891 - Dowd, John
  • 1891 - McTigue, Bill
  • 1891 - Harding, Charlie
  • 1892 - Howell, Roland
  • 1894 - Fluhrer, John
  • 1894 - Whelan, Tom
  • 1897 - Turgeon, Pete
  • 1899 - Arlett, Buzz
  • 1902 - McLaughlin, Jim
  • 1903 - Bradley, Herb
  • 1904 - Cissell, Bill
  • 1906 - Suhr, Gus
  • 1910 - Bordagaray, Frenchy
  • 1912 - Melton, Cliff
  • 1915 - Hudson, Sid
  • 1916 - Hernandez, Chico
  • 1919 - Sauer, Ed
  • 1922 - Stallcup, Virgil
  • 1923 - Andre, John
  • 1926 - Fisher, Harry
  • 1927 - Van Cuyk, Chris "That big lug (Chris Van Cuyk) can't miss. He's been out plenty this spring, six innings at a whack, and he's been giving nobody any hits or runs to speak of. This club needs more pitching and he's going to give it to us. Please to see him blow the ball in there. Lots of power, plenty of stuff. Take me, now. I'm six-feet-three but I weigh 170 pounds. I have to wangle around and try to fool 'em a little bit. Chris overpowers 'em. All he needs to be a great pitcher is a little more confidence." - Roe, Preacher. Teammate. The Marshfield News-Herald. 26 April 1951. Page 16
  • 1932 - Piktuzis, George
  • 1941 - Sullivan, John
  • 1943 - Gebhard, Bob
  • 1943 - Garrett, Adrian
  • 1944 - Colpaert, Dick
  • 1946 - Reynolds, Archie
  • 1949 - Brookens, Ike
  • 1949 - Lavelle, Gary
  • 1950 - Dwyer, Jim
  • 1950 - Johnson, Bart
  • 1958 - Allard, Brian
  • 1960 - Hunt, Randy
  • 1961 - Leister, John
  • 1962 - Daulton, Darren "Essentially the same player as Mickey Tettleton, with modest differences. He was a left-handed hitter (Tettleton was a switch hitter), didn't hit quite as many home runs as Tettleton or walk quite as much, but had a much better arm and better overall defensive skills. An interesting thing about Daulton is that although he had knee surgery every winter, in his career he was 50-for-60 as a base stealer — the fifth best stolen base percentage in baseball history — and almost never grounded into a double play." - Baseball Historian Bill James in The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract (Free Press Publishing, 06/13/2003, #25. Darren Daulton, Page 391)
  • 1964 - Rivera, Luis
  • 1964 - Swan, Russ
  • 1964 - Hilton, Howard
  • 1965 - Dewey, Mark
  • 1966 - Sojo, Luis
  • 1967 - Rogers, Jimmy
  • 1969 - Colon, Cris
  • 1973 - Stovall, Da Rond
  • 1977 - Burnett, A.J.

Copyright � 2001-2007. All Rights Reserved.
Part of the Baseball Almanac family: 755 Home Runs | Around the Horn | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Today in Baseball History.​

 

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