BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1914 The Cubs exchange second basemen with the Braves, sending future Hall of Famer Johnny Evers to Boston for Bill Sweeney. Boston gets the better of the deal when their new middle infielder plays a pivotal role in the club's World Championship this season, garnering the Chalmers Award as the league's Most Valuable Player.

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1920 A group of eight midwestern team owners meets at the Kansas City YMCA to organize the Negro National League, which will become one of the most successful ventures of its kind. Rube Foster, the owner/manager of the American Giants, will become president of the new circuit, leading to accusations of favoritism, which appear especially true when Chicago's schedule plays a disproportionate number of games at home.

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1935 Former major league journeyman Gus Dugas, a French-Canadian obtained by the Montreal Royals from Albany of the International League in November, signs his contract while visiting relatives in his native province of Quebec. The French language contract is the first in the history of professional baseball.

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1953 In honor of their longtime owner and manager, the A's rename their Philadelphia ballpark from Shibe Park to Connie Mack Stadium. During his 50-year tenure as Athletics skipper, the 'Tall Tactician' guided the team to nine American League pennants and appeared in eight World Series, winning five of the Fall Classics.
Site of Connie Mack Stadium

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1964 At the age of twenty-two, Cubs' second baseman Ken Hubbs dies when the red and white Cessna 172 plane he is piloting crashes one quarter-mile south of Bird Island in Utah Lake during a winter storm. The 1962 National League Rookie of the Year took flying lessons for the past two off-seasons to overcome his fear of flying, obtaining his license last month.

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1968 The Dodgers trade infielders Ron Hunt and Nate Oliver to the Giants for backstop Tom Haller. The 30-year-old All-Star catcher will compile a respectable .276 batting average during his four years behind the plate for LA.

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1970 A day after his 27th birthday, Paul Edmondson and his girlfriend are killed in an automobile accident in San Barbara (CA) when his automobile skids on a rain-slicked U.S. Route 101 and crashes into oncoming traffic. The White Sox had hoped their sophomore right-hander would become the fourth starter in the team's rotation after compiling a misleading 1-6 record last season.

1986 Ron Hassey, whom the White Sox acquired two months ago from the Yankees, is traded back to the Bronx Bombers, along with three minor-leaguers for Neil Allen, Scott Bradley, and a minor leaguer. In December, the Bronx Bombers sent the 32-year-old catcher to the Windy City, along with Joe Cowley, who will toss a no-hitter in September, for Britt Burns and two minor leaguers.

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1987 Jack Morris is awarded the highest salary ever given to a pitcher by arbitration when the Tigers must pay the hurler $1.85 million for his services next season. The 31-year-old right-hander will not disappoint, posting an 18-11 record along with an ERA of 3.38 for the AL East Division champions.

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1995 A loophole in the Japanese Uniform Players Contract enables the Dodgers to sign 26-year-old right-hander Hideo Nomo as a free agent, giving the five-time Japanese All-Star a $2 million signing bonus. In May, the 'Tornado Boy' will become the first Japanese-born Major Leaguer to appear in a major league game since Masanori Murakami pitched for the Giants in 1965.

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2002 The Red Sox sign 43-year-old Rickey Henderson, who will bat .223 in 72 games for Boston this season, to a minor-league contract. Last year with the Padres, the future Hall of Famer got his 3000th career hit while breaking the major league records for walks and runs.

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2003 The Mets sign 40-year-old David Cone, who compiled an 80-48 record with the team from 1987-1992, to a minor league contract. The veteran right-hander is coming out of retirement hoping to win the fifth spot in the rotation.

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2005 Avoiding an arbitration hearing, Ben Sheets (12-14, 2.70) and the Brewers agree to a one-year contract valued at $5.5 million. The All-Star right-hander, who made $2.5 million last season, established a team record last May, striking out 18 batters in a game.

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2005 After 19 years at shortstop for the Reds, Barry Larkin announces his retirement as an active player to become a special assistant to Nationals' general manager Jim Bowden, who served as Cincinnati's GM from 1992 to 2001. The 40-year-old former Gold Glove infielder spent his entire career in his hometown.

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2006 Avoiding an arbitration hearing, Adam Dunn (.247, 40, 101) and the Reds agree to an $18.5 million two-year deal, which gives the team a 2008 option for $13 million with a buyout for $500,000. The 26-year-old outfielder/first baseman, who led the big leagues for the second consecutive season in strikeouts, had asked for $8.95 million, with the club countering with $7.1 million.

2008 Takashi Saito (2-1, 1.40), who signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers two years ago after playing 14 seasons in the Japanese Central League with the Yokohama Bay Stars, agrees to a $2 million, one-year contract to stay with Los Angeles. The 37-year-old All-Star closer had 39 saves in 43 chances last season.

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2008 In a much anticipated congressional hearing, Roger Clemens and his former personal trainer, Brian McNamee, testify for four and a half hours concerning the allegations of the Rocket's use of performance-enhancing drugs. Republicans appear to believe the seven-time Cy Young Award winner, while Democrats seem to favor his chief accuser's account of events.

2009 To avoid arbitration for the remainder of his career, Ryan Howard agrees to a three-year, $54 million deal with Philadelphia. The Phillies slugger, who led the major leagues in home runs (48) and RBI (146), was unable to reach a contract settlement in less than friendly negotiations with the team and was awarded $10 million by arbitrators during the 2008 off-season, tying the highest sum ever given to a player in the process.

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2012 Yoenis Cespedes and the A's have reached a reported four-year, $36 million deal, pending the results of a physical examination. The Cuban defector, slotted to play center field, moving Coco Crisp to left, hit .458 with a double, three triples, two home runs, and five RBIs in the six games he played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

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Today in Baseball History
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On February 13 in Baseball History...

• • 1953 - The Philadelphia Athletics change the name of Shibe Park to Connie Mack Stadium in honor of their longtime owner and manager.
  • 1970 - The N.L. offices begin their move from Cincinnati to San Francisco. The transfer will be completed February 23.
  • 1974 - Cool Papa Bell is named to the Hall of Fame by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues. Bell started in the Negro Leagues as a pitcher, but was moved to center field to take advantage of his blinding speed. He helped the St. Louis Stars and Homestead Grays win three titles apiece.
    
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  • 1987 - Tigers pitcher Jack Morris is awarded a $1.85 million salary by arbitrator Richard Bloch, the highest amount awarded to date through that process.

Baseball Birthdays on February 13...

• • 1861 - Seery, Emmett
  • 1866 - Schmit, Crazy
  • 1868 - Sheehan, Biff
  • 1873 - Turner, Tuck
  • 1876 - Buelow, Fritz
  • 1877 - DeArmond, Charlie
  • 1878 - Bradley, Bill
  • 1883 - Maggert, Harl
  • 1883 - Chase, Hal
  • 1885 - Vahrenhorst, Harry
  • 1887 - Zinn, Guy
  • 1887 - Foster, Eddie
  • 1890 - Tipple, Dan
  • 1893 - Dyer, Ben
  • 1894 - Martin, Billy
  • 1901 - Layne, Herman
  • 1904 - Bolton, Cecil
  • 1904 - Fitzberger, Charlie
  • 1906 - Kelley, Harry
  • 1907 - LaMaster, Wayne
  • 1908 - Campbell, Gilly
  • 1909 - Rudolph, Ernie
  • 1909 - Gill, George
  • 1911 - Hash, Herb
  • 1913 - Miller, Hack
  • 1915 - Swigart, Oad
  • 1917 - Wallen, Norm
  • 1919 - Rhawn, Bobby
  • 1921 - Castiglione, Pete
  • 1925 - Palm, Mike
  • 1926 - Habenicht, Bob
  • 1927 - Brideweser, Jim
  • 1930 - Grunwald, Al
  • 1938 - Hughes, Dick
  • 1941 - Brenneman, Jim
  • 1944 - Bando, Sal "Third baseman Sal Bando captained the feisty Oakland Athletics during their dynasty of the early 1970s, providing his share of punch and leadership to an exciting and talented ballclub. Although he retired third in career home runs by an American League third baseman - 242, behind only Graig Nettles and Brooks Robinson - his strongest point was neither his hitting not his fielding, but his drive to succeed." - Silverman, Matthew. Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia. Total Sports Publishing. May 2000
  • 1954 - Moore, Donnie
  • 1958 - Williams, Frank
  • 1964 - Howitt, Dann
  • 1965 - Colbert, Craig
  • 1966 - Browne, Jerry
  • 1967 - Pye, Eddie
  • 1968 - Mieske, Matt
  • 1969 - Mimbs, Mike
  • 1970 - Stocker, Kevin
  • 1971 - Williams, Todd
  • 1976 - Rose, Brian

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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2/14
BIRTHDAYS
1870 Bob Quinn MLB executive (owner Boston Red Sox 1923–33; part owner Boston Braves 1936–45; President National Baseball Hall of Fame 1948–51), born in Columbus, Ohio (d. 1954)

1913 Mel Allen sportscaster (voice of NY Yankees), born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 1996)


1956 Dave Dravecky pitcher & amputee (SF Giants), born in Youngstown, Ohio


1963 John Marzano catcher (Seattle Mariners), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


1970 Kelly Stinnett catcher (NY Mets), born in Lawton, Oklahoma


1985 Tyler Clippard born in Lexington, Kentucky

 

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1887 For a record price of $10,000, the Cubs, then known as the White Stockings, sell current National League batting champ and future Hall of Famer Mike King Kelly to the Beaneaters. The popular box office draw, who will earn his nickname King while playing in Boston, will continue to be productive, hitting .311 for three years during his first tenure with the team.

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1928 The American Legion baseball program, on the brink of bankruptcy, receives a pledge of $50,000 from Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis and the MLB Advisory Council to continue developing a national championship program for teenagers. With the much-needed funding, Legion Baseball will continue in 1928, and the following season, teams from every state and the District of Columbia will participate in the youth tournament.

1934 Sam Rice, who spent the first 19 seasons with the Senators, ends his career after playing one year with the Indians. The 44-year-old future Hall of Famer collected 2,987 career hits during his two decades in the major leagues.

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1945 After his retirement as the team's president, Bob Quinn's son, John, succeeds him as the Braves' general manager. The former owner of the Red Sox and Braves, whose grandson will also become a major league GM, will serve as president of the Baseball Hall of Fame from 1948 to 1951, resigning from the position after suffering two strokes.

1957 "Anything that tends to break down the bulwarks of segregation must be forcibly met by this general assembly. We have a situation in Georgia which has come about because of a national situation. I am referring to the Negroes in organized baseball in this state. It is unfortunate that some few people would participate in the destruction of our institutions for a few dollars." - GEORGIA STATE SENATOR LEON BUTTS, commenting on his bill that prohibits blacks from playing baseball with whites.
Ten years after the integration of major league baseball, the Georgia Senate unanimously approves Leon Butts' bill barring that prohibits blacks from playing baseball with whites except at religious gatherings. The Lumpkin legislator's measures, which carry fines up to $1000 and imprisonment for 60 days to a year for committing the misdemeanor, will directly impact the minor league spring training centers of the Braves and Cardinals whose farmhands workout, respectively, in Waycross and Albany.

1959 The Orioles, to find a backup for first baseman Bob Boyd, buy 32-year-old veteran infielder/outfielder Whitey Lockman from the Giants for an undisclosed sum. In June, Baltimore will trade their new acquisition to the Reds for Walt Dropo, who has played the position exclusively since winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1950.

Whitey & Walt​

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1976 Braves’ season-ticket holders and the Atlanta media receive Valentine’s Day cards from the team. The verse reads:
“Rose is a Red Morgan’s one too.
They finished first, like we wanted to.
But last year’s behind us, we’re happy to say.
Now we’re tied for first, Happy Valentines Day.”

 

1986 The Mets sign Doc Gooden to a one-year, $1.32 million contract, making the 21-year-old the youngest millionaire in major league history. The National League's reigning Cy Young Award winner, who struck out 268 batters and posted a league-leading 1.53 ERA en route to compiling a 24-4 record last season, avoids going to arbitration after agreeing to his new deal.

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1996 Kevin McClatchy and his group of investors purchase the Pirates from the Pittsburgh Associates. The deal includes the condition of having to build a baseball-only ballpark in Pittsburgh within five years.

2001 The Ford C. Frick Award, named in memory of the former baseball commissioner who was a broadcaster, will be given to the Marlins' radio announcer Rafael Ramirez during Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this summer. 'Felo,' who began his 56-year career broadcasting games in Cuba, has been in the Miami broadcast booth since the team's inaugural season in 1993.

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2001 According to the Detroit Free Press, major league baseball is informing umpires to remove pitchers without issuing a warning who deliberately throw a beanball at a batter's head from the game. The crackdown, according to officials, is a clarification and reinforcement of an existing rule.

2002 Detroit signs Dmitri Young (.302, 21, 69) to a four-year contract with two team options. In December, the Tigers traded outfielder Juan Encarnacion (.242, 12, 52) and minor league right-hander Luis Pineda to acquire the first baseman/outfielder from the Reds.

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2003 After much speculation and the help of Major League Baseball, the Chunichi Dragons return Kevin Millar to the Marlins for an undisclosed amount of money for relinquishing their rights to the outfielder. After reconsidering an offer from the Red Sox, who blocked the waiver deal to obtain him, the 31-year-old California native had a change of heart and didn't want to play for the Japanese Central League team.

 

2005 The Twins sign arbitration-eligible Johan Santana (20-6, 2.61) to the richest contract in franchise history, agreeing to a four-year, $40 million deal. Last season, the 25-year-old southpaw, garnering all 28 first-place votes, became the first Venezuelan to win the Cy Young Award.


2007 For the first time at Wrigley Field, the Cubs will allow ads on the green doors located in the ivy in the left- and right-field bleachers, according to Jay Blunk, director of marketing and sales. Although other companies have approached the team, Under Armour, whose company spokesman is newly acquired outfielder Alfonso Soriano, is the "right fit" for the 7-by-12 foot signage featuring the performance apparel's signature logo.

2009 The Angels and Bobby Abreu (.296, 20, 100) agree to a $5 million, one-year deal. The 34-year-old free-agent outfielder, taking a significant pay cut after having a solid season with the Yankees last season, is expected to add some much-needed punch from the left side for the AL West champions.


2011 The Yankees come to terms with free-agent Andruw Jones on a $1.5 million, one-year contract, eliminating the team's likelihood of resigning Johnny Damon. The 'Curacao Kid,' best known for his outstanding outfield defense for the Braves at the start of his career, will spend two seasons in the Bronx before finishing his 17-year major league tenure with a lifetime .254 batting average.


2011 Avoiding arbitration, Carlos Marmol agrees to a three-year, $20 million deal with the Cubs. The 28-year-old closer saved 38 games in 43 opportunities last season and compiled a 2-3 record along with an ERA of 2.55.

2014 Avoiding arbitration, 24-year-old outfielder Jason Heyward and the Braves agree to a two-year, $13.3 million deal. After the season, Atlanta will trade their 2007 first-round pick (14th overall) and right-handed reliever Jordan Walden to the Cardinals for right-handers Tyrell Jenkins and Shelby Miller.

2014 Freddie Freeman agrees to a franchise-record eight-year, $135 million contract, surpassing the six-year, $90 million deal the Braves gave Chipper Jones in 2000. The 24-year-old All-Star first baseman, who finished fifth in the MVP balloting this season, has hit .285 during his four years with the team, averaging annually 17 home runs and 70 RBIs.

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57,037

 

Today in Baseball History
Home | Contact | Baseball Almanac | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Advertise | Support​

Search archives: Historical Events Baseball Birthdays Baseball Deaths
On February 14 in Baseball History...

• • 1887 - Chicago's National League club sells Mike King Kelly to Boston for the unheard-of sum of $10,000.
    
  • 1957 - The Georgia Senate unanimously approves Senator Leon Butts' bill barring blacks from playing baseball with whites. Religious gatherings are the only exceptions to this bill.
    
  • 1976 - The Braves send Valentine's Day cards to their season-ticket holders and the media. The Braves finished in fifth place in 1975, 40� games behind Cincinnati. Atlanta will finish the 1976 season in last place, 32 games behind the Reds, but they are first in rhyming. Their card reads: Rose is a Red Morgan's one, too. They finished first, Like we wanted to. But last year's behind us; We're happy to say. Now we're tied for first, Happy Valentine's Day.

Baseball Birthdays on February 14...

• • 1855 - Sylvester, Lou
  • 1855 - Gerhardt, Joe
  • 1858 - Irwin, Arthur
  • 1860 - Tray, Jim
  • 1864 - Getzien, Charlie
  • 1867 - Murphy, Morgan
  • 1869 - Stewart, Ace
  • 1873 - Jordan, Harry
  • 1878 - Kay, Bill
  • 1879 - Jordan, Tim
  • 1880 - Berry, Claude
  • 1881 - Eells, Harry
  • 1884 - Lewis, Jack
  • 1885 - Kruger, Abe
  • 1886 - McCarthy, Bill
  • 1890 - Hechinger, Mike
  • 1891 - Schorr, Ed
  • 1897 - Smith, Earl
  • 1903 - Eubanks, Uel
  • 1908 - Judd, Oscar
  • 1910 - Sabo, Alex
  • 1911 - Marshall, Bill
  • 1915 - Barrett, Red
  • 1917 - Bergamo, Augie
  • 1918 - Zientara, Benny
  • 1925 - Lively, Buddy
  • 1931 - Caffie, Joe
  • 1933 - Borland, Tom
  • 1940 - Gabrielson, Len
  • 1943 - Osteen, Darrell
  • 1945 - Terlecki, Bob
  • 1949 - Fritz, Larry
  • 1951 - Milbourne, Larry
  • 1952 - McEnaney, Will
  • 1956 - Dravecky, Dave
  • 1957 - Cocanower, Jaime
  • 1959 - Sanchez, Alejandro
  • 1963 - Marzano, John
  • 1964 - McGuire, Bill
  • 1964 - Brown, Keith
  • 1968 - Scudder, Scott
  • 1970 - Stinnett, Kelly
  • 1973 - Garibay, Daniel
  • 1975 - Marte, Damaso

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.​