BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

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BIRTHDAYS
1898 Cliff Heathcote baseball player (d. 1939)


1909 Jean R Yawkey baseball executive (owner Boston Red Sox 1976-92), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1992)

1916 Jack Brickhouse broadcaster, born in Peoria, Illinois (d. 1998)


1958 Neil Allen pitcher, pitching coach, born in Kansas City, Kansas


1964 Rob Dibblel pitcher (Cincinnati Reds), born in Bridgeport, Connecticut


1968 Ross Powell pitcher (Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros), born in Grand Rapids, Michigan (d. 2017)


1984 Scott Kazmir player, born in Houston, Texas

 

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1931 After being released by the Indians four days ago, Alabama native Joe Sewell, who spent the first 11 years of his career with Cleveland, signs as a free agent with the Yankees for $10,000. The 33-year-old future Hall of Fame infielder, the record holder for consecutive games without recording a strikeout at 115, will hit .282 during his three seasons with New York.

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1939 Needing an additional player to reach the initial goal of having at least ten inductees before the dedication ceremonies this summer, members of the BBWAA elect 'Wee' Willie Keeler, George Sisler, and Eddie Collins to be in the inaugural class of the Hall of Fame. The three players chosen join the 1936 selection of Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson, as well as Nap Lajoie, Tris Speaker, and Cy Young, who were honored by the writers a year later.

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1955 Cubs business manager Jim Gallagher, chairman of the nine-man rules committee, announces the two leagues will implement an existing rule during spring training that requires a hurler to throw the ball when the bases are empty within 20 seconds after taking a pitching position. The mandate, which results in the umpire calling a ball when the tosses are tardy, will not be in effect during the season.

 

1961 The A's trade Whitey Herzog and Russ Snyder to the Orioles for Wayne Causey, Jim Archer, Bob Boyd, and Al Pilarcik. The deal will not improve either club when both teams finish in the second division next season.

1962 The Southern Association, established in 1901, suspends operation due to decreasing yearly attendance. Except for 27-year-old outfielder Nat Peeples, who became the only black player in the league's history when he appeared in two games with the 1954 Atlanta Crackers, the circuit remained racially segregated until the end of its existence.

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1973 Warren Spahn becomes only the sixth player elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, receiving 316 of the 380 (83.2%) votes cast by the BBWAA scribes. The Buffalo (NY) native, who recorded thirteen 20-win seasons with the Braves, retired as the winningest left-handed pitcher in big-league history with 363 victories, a remarkable feat given he recorded his first victory at the age of 26.

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1980 The Payson family sells the controlling interest of the Mets to book publisher Doubleday and Company, with Fred Wilpon of Sterling Equities and a group from City Investing becoming minority owners. The estimated $21.1 million price tag, twice as much as the sale of the Yankees to George Steinbrenner seven years ago, is the highest amount ever paid for a baseball franchise, far surpassing the $12 million needed to purchase the Orioles and Astros last season.

 

2001 Sixty-eight major league umpires participate in a preseason session, believed to be a historical first, to practice calling strikes as defined by the rule book. With the help of minor leaguers wearing tapes nine inches above their belts, the men in blue get a good look at pitches, commonly called balls, but are strikes when the proper enforcement of the zone is put into place this upcoming season.

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2006 Jay Gibbons (.277, 26, 79) and the Orioles agree to a $21.1 million, four-year deal. The 28-year-old outfielder, who is getting married this weekend, could have taken his chances on the free-agent market next season.

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2007 Cliff Floyd, coming off an injured Achilles tendon, signs a very flexible deal with the Cubs, beginning with a one-year guaranteed contract for $3 million to one, which could be worth as much as $17.5 million over two years. The Chicago native, expected to platoon with Matt Murton, will give the Northsiders left-handed power off the bench.

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2008 The Braves, avoiding arbitration, sign Rafael Soriano (3-3, 3.00) to a two-year deal worth $9 million. Atlanta plans to use the 29-year-old right-handed reliever, who recorded nine saves last year, as the team's closer this season.

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Today in Baseball History
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On January 24 in Baseball History...

• • 1939 - George Sisler, Eddie Collins, and Willie Keeler are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. Sisler set the major league record with 257 hits in 1920 and batted .420 in 1922 on his way to a .340 career average. Collins batted an even .333 for his career and stole 744 bases as a member of four world champions. Keeler, who "hit 'em where they ain't."

Baseball Birthdays on January 24...

• • 1872 - Guese, Whitey
  • 1875 - Congalton, Bunk
  • 1879 - Brain, Dave
  • 1881 - Gehring, Henry
  • 1884 - Gardner, Earle
  • 1888 - Gust, Ernie
  • 1888 - Thomas, Pinch
  • 1895 - Ellison, George
  • 1895 - Cobb, Joe
  • 1898 - Lindsey, Jim
  • 1898 - Heathcote, Cliff "As a 20-year-old rookie outfielder with the St. Louis Cardinals, Cliff Heathcote lost a fly ball in the sun. The descending sphere caught him on the top of his head and caromed away. The unfortunate incident brought Heathcote a nickname that lasted throughout his career — 'Rubberhead.' The fans taunted him with the name, often shouting choruses of 'Rubberhead!' as he jogged to his position in the field. Despite the early mishap, Cliff developed into an excellent outfielder, showing good speed and a strong arm. In 1920 he topped the National League in assists, in 1925 he led in doubt plays, and in 1926 led in both Des and fielding average." - The Sporting News
  • 1899 - Berman, Bob "If it were not for Mr. (Bob) Berman, I would not have been as successful as I was." - New York Yankee Pitcher / 1954 Rookie of the Year Bob Grim in the New York World Telegram (1955)
  • 1901 - Freeman, John
  • 1901 - Gillis, Grant
  • 1901 - Ogden, Curly
  • 1901 - Rhem, Flint
  • 1903 - Touchstone, Clay
  • 1904 - Finn, Neal
  • 1905 - Smith, Rufus
  • 1906 - Clarke, Stu
  • 1910 - Dickshot, Johnny
  • 1916 - Dreisewerd, Clem
  • 1917 - Doyle, Danny
  • 1917 - Judnich, Wally
  • 1932 - Oravetz, Ernie
  • 1934 - Briggs, John
  • 1936 - Stigman, Dick
  • 1950 - Dunn, Ron
  • 1952 - Scott, John
  • 1953 - Stoddard, Tim
  • 1954 - Jones, Tim
  • 1955 - Cox, Ted
  • 1958 - Allen, Neil
  • 1958 - Hammaker, Atlee
  • 1961 - Barrett, Tim
  • 1964 - Dibble, Rob "He's (Rob Dibble) the hardest thrower in the league, bar none. Some people say his fastball doesn't have much movement. Hell, how much movement do you need when you throw 100?" - Bill Mazeroski in Bill Mazeroski's Baseball (Bill Mazeroski, 1993 Edition, Page 48)
  • 1968 - Powell, Ross
  • 1971 - Bailey, Cory

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