BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

2/15
BIRTHDAYS
1900 George Earnshaw pitcher (World Series 1929-30; Philadelphia Athletics), born in Little Rock, Arkansas (d. 1976)


1948 Ron "Penguin" Cey 3rd baseman (LA Dodgers), born in Tacoma, Washington


1959 Joe Hesketh (Boston Red Sox), born in Lackawanna, New York


1966 Melido Perez pitcher (NY Yankees), born in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic


1974 Ugueth Urbina pitcher (Montreal Expos), born in Caracas, Venezuela
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1983 Russell Martin, born in East York, Canada

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FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1931 Crescent Lake Field, the Yankees spring training site since 1925, is renamed Miller Huggins Field in honor of the team's late manager, who passed away at the end of the 1929 season. In 1963, the facility will become known as Huggins-Stengel Field to honor another Bronx Bomber skipper, Casey Stengel, the pilot of the National League's expansion team, presently working out in the St. Petersburg ballpark.

1946 The Phillies hire the first female major league scout when they sign Edith Houghton, who will ink fifteen players, mostly from Philadelphia high schools, to contracts. The North Philadelphia native will continue to scour the Philly area for local talent until 1952, before returning to the Navy to serve her country during the Korean and Vietnam wars. (Ed. Note: Although Edith Houghton is given credit as the first paid female scout, Bessie Largent and her husband, Roy, worked as a team for the White Sox in that capacity beginning in 1925, signing 25 major leaguers, the most distinguished being Hall of Fame shortstop Luke Appling.

1946 Three days before he will marry New York department store heiress Coral Gimbel, Hank Greenberg comes to terms with the Tiger, signing a contract for $60,000. After leading the American League in home runs (44) and RBIs (127) this season, the slugging first baseman threatens to retire rather than take a pay cut, prompting Detroit to trade the future Hall of Famer to the Pirates.

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1961 Donald M. Grant, chairman and a minority owner of the Mets, offers Branch Rickey a contract to become the general manager of the new National League expansion team. After the former GM of the Browns, Cardinals, Dodgers, and Pirates turns down the job, George Weiss, who filled the same role with the Yankees from 1947 to 1960, accepts the position.

1973 In a national poll, Phillies' southpaw Steve Carlton beats out golf legend Jack Nicklaus to win the $15,000 diamond-studded gold buckled Hickok Belt, an award given to the top "Professional Athlete of the Year." Last season's National League Cy Young Award winner joins an elite list of previous recipients, including Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, Jim Brown, Rocky Marciano, and Arnold Palmer.

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1990 With the issue of the implementation of salary cap unresolved, a thirty-two-day lockout begins when major league owners refuse to open spring training camp without reaching a new Basic Agreement with the players. The season will be delayed one week due to baseball's seventh work stoppage and will need to be extended for three days to accommodate the 162-game schedule.

2001 After turning down the Mets' offer of salary arbitration that at the very least would have been worth $2 to $3 million, Bobby Jones signs a one-year free-agent deal with the Padres for only $625,000. The 31-year-old right-hander, 11-6 last year with New York, will lose 19 games for the Padres this season.

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2003 After the Japanese Central League's Dragons release Kevin Millar for an undisclosed payment, the Red Sox, who blocked Marlins' sale of him of him going to Japan with a waiver claim, acquire the 31-year-old first baseman-outfielder (.306, 16, 57). In a complicated deal brokered by MLB, Florida repaid the money that Chunichi had paid for Millar, who previously turned down the opportunity to stay in the United States, and Boston compensated the National League team with a similar amount in return for Millar.

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2006 According to Adam Katz, Sammy Sosa's agent, the 37-year-old slugger will probably retire eleven homers shy of becoming the fifth major leaguer to hit 600 round-trippers. Earlier, the Dominican outfielder rejected a non-guaranteed contract from the Nationals that included performance bonuses.

2006 Former Dodgers starter Jeff Weaver (14-11, 4.22) agrees to a one-year contract with the other team with Los Angeles in its name. The deal for the last major player left on the free-agent market is worth $8,325,000, and the 29-year-old right-hander can earn an additional $600,000 in performance bonuses for innings pitched, and game starts with the Angels.

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2007 Ending more than two months of speculation about Barry Bonds' deal with the Giants, the commissioner office approves the one-year contract worth $15.8 million. The 42-year-old slugger had reached a preliminary agreement with the team early in December, but finalizing the contract was delayed when language about promotional appearances and an additional clause, stating San Francisco could void the deal with the outfielder if the alleged use of steroid leads to an indictment.

 

2007 The Yankees announce the team will wear black armbands on the left sleeve of their uniforms in memory of teammate Cory Lidle. The 34-year-old right-hander, along with flight instructor Tyler Stanger, died when their plane crashed into a 52-story high-rise apartment building in Manhattan on a rain-swept afternoon last October.

2011 Stan Musial receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an award in which the honorees are selected by the sitting president, from Barack Obama. The Cardinals' legend, who benefitted from the local grass-roots effort on his behalf, joins major leaguers Hank Aaron, Moe Berg, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, and Ted Williams as a recipient of the most prestigious honor given to a United States civilian.

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2012 The Rays and Joe Maddon agree to a three-year contract extension to keep the two-time American League Manager of the Year with Tampa through the 2015 season. During his six-year tenure with the club, the 58-year-old skipper has compiled a 495-477 (.509) record, leading the team to the postseason three times in the last four years, including an American League pennant in 2008.

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2016 "Baseball is known as our national pastime, but the game has deep roots and a rich history here in New York State. From the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in storied Cooperstown to the Mets and Yankees — the pinnacles of Major League Baseball, to our recently crowned Little League World Series champions from Maine-Endwell, New York State is clearly the epicenter of baseball greatness. It is time that we formally recognize baseball as our official state sport." - JAMES SEWARD, New York state senator. New York State Sen. James Seward (R-Milford), thanks to a suggestion from a group of fourth-graders at Cooperstown Elementary School, announces he has introduced legislation (S.4288) to designate baseball as New York’s official state sport. In a press release, Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson says he "enthusiastically supports" the proposed bill, citing that Cooperstown serves as baseball's spiritual home.
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Today in Baseball History
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Search archives: Historical Events Baseball Birthdays Baseball Deaths
On February 15 in Baseball History...

• • 1916 - The Yankees buy Frank Home Run Baker from the Athletics for $37,500. He had sat out the 1915 season.
    
  • 1931 - The spring training site of the Yankees in St. Petersburg is renamed Miller Huggins Field in honor of the team's late manager.
    
  • 1956 - The Pirates and the Kansas City A's cancel an exhibition game in Birmingham, Alabama, because of a local ordinance barring black players from playing against white players.
    
  • 1964 - Cubs second baseman Ken Hubbs, twenty-two, is found dead in his private plane which crashed on February 13, 1964, near Provo, Utah, while en route to Colton, California. As a rookie in 1962, Hubbs had played in 78 consecutive games without making an error.
    
  • 1990 - Owners refuse to open the spring training camps without a new Basic Agreement with the Players' Association. The lockout will last 32 days and postpone the start of the regular season by one week.

Baseball Birthdays on February 15...

• • 1860 - Stricker, Cub
  • 1862 - Weber, Joe
  • 1867 - Reilly, Charlie
  • 1869 - Fagan, Bill
  • 1869 - Irwin, Charlie
  • 1870 - LaChance, Candy
  • 1876 - Molesworth, Carlton
  • 1886 - Kusel, Ed
  • 1888 - Betcher, Frank
  • 1892 - Braithwood, Al
  • 1895 - Ring, Jimmy
  • 1897 - Wolfe, Chuck
  • 1897 - Johnson, Art
  • 1898 - LaMotte, Bobby
  • 1900 - Earnshaw, George
  • 1904 - Estrada, Oscar
  • 1905 - Lee, Hal
  • 1906 - Cremins, Bob
  • 1909 - Miles, Dee
  • 1919 - Detweiler, Ducky "I went out there and did the best I could, tried to give a little spark to the old (1942) Boston Braves, but it didn't help much 'cause we were down there at the bottom of the standings." - Ducky Detweiler (December 2012, 'Personal Interview', Author Richard Panchyk)
  • 1926 - Harris, Bubba
  • 1927 - Hicks, Buddy
  • 1932 - Johnson, Footer
  • 1938 - Estrada, Chuck "Chuck Estrada, reflecting on his days as pitching coach of the Texas Rangers: 'We had a very scientific system of bringing in relief pitchers. We used the first one who answered the phone.'" - Baseball Digest (November 1974)
  • 1942 - Henry, Bill
  • 1943 - Arlich, Don
  • 1943 - Moeller, Joe
  • 1944 - Vaughan, Glenn
  • 1945 - Moschitto, Ross
  • 1948 - Cey, Ron "I felt that the '81 team was very unique, and a team of destiny, because we had five outfielders during their career that were All-Stars. All four infielders were multiple All-Stars, one catcher that became an All-Star, plus seven pitchers that were or became All-Stars. Also, of those pitchers, there were three Rookies of the Year, and at least three were Cy Young Award winners. That's why it was such a unique thing, the '81 team. The '77 team was probably the most talented even though we won 102 games and went to the World Series in 1984, the '77 team was a stronger team. But the '81 team accomplished the ultimate goal." - Cey, Ron. Cey chats Dodgers, past and present. 23 May 2006.
  • 1950 - Yount, Larry
  • 1950 - Auerbach, Rick
  • 1951 - Cruz, Tommy
  • 1956 - Cosey, Ray
  • 1959 - Hesketh, Joe
  • 1961 - Davidson, Mark
  • 1962 - Roomes, Rolando
  • 1963 - Jones, Barry
  • 1966 - Perez, Melido
  • 1968 - Mercedes, Luis
  • 1969 - Williams, Brian
  • 1971 - Jones, Terry
  • 1974 - Urbina, Ugueth
  • 1975 - Medina, Rafael
  • 1977 - Gonzalez, Alex

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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2/16
BIRTHDAYS
1866 Billy 'Sliding Billy' Hamilton HOF outfielder (NL batting champion 1891, 93; 5 × NL stolen base leader; KC Cowboys, Philadelphia Phillies), born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 1940)


1967 John Valentin, infielder (Boston Red Sox), born in Mineola, New York


1969 Tim Costo infielder (Cincinnati Reds)


1971 Mike Hubbard catcher (Chicago Cubs), born in Lynchburg, Virginia


1976 Eric Byrnes outfielder and broadcaster (Oakland A's, Arizona Diamondbacks), born in Redwood City, California

1981 Jerry Owens

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FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1924 Boston Braves' third baseman Tony Boeckel becomes the first major leaguer killed in an automobile accident, dying from injuries received as a passenger yesterday in San Diego. Yankee outfielder Bob Meusel, another passenger of the car driven by Los Angeles theater man Bob Albright, escapes without severe injuries.

1950 The BBWAA does not select any players for the Hall of Fame this season, with former Giants Mel Ott (69%) and Bill Terry (63%) the top vote-getters. 'Master Mel' gets the nod next season, and 'Memphis Bill' enters in 1954 after both get named 75% of the writers' ballots required for induction.

1952 Hall of Fame shortstop Honus Wagner officially retires after 39 years in the major leagues, 21 as a player with the Louisville Colonels and Pirates, and spending another 18 years as a coach with Pittsburgh. The 'Flying Dutchman,' who led the league in stolen bases for five seasons, won eight batting titles, the most in National League history until Tony Gwynn tied the mark in 1997.

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1953 Brooklyn, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia participate in a four-way trade that sends five players to new clubs. Joe Adcock (Reds) and Jim Pendleton (Dodgers) will now play for the Braves, Earl Torgeson (Braves) goes to the Phillies, Rocky Bridges (Dodgers) is now a Red, with Russ Meyer (Phillies) joining the Dodgers.

1967 Red Ruffing, the former Yankee pitcher who authored 273 major league wins, is selected to be in the Hall of Fame by getting the most votes on the second ballot made necessary after the BBWAA fails to choose a player in January. Former Cardinal outfielder Joe Medwick also received 75% of the writer's votes, usually enough to be selected; however, only the top vote-getter gets the nod in this special run-off election.

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1989 Orel Hershiser, who will earn $3,166,167 in the final year of the deal, becomes baseball's first three-million-dollar man when he signs a three-year $7.9 million contract with the Dodgers. The 1987 Cy Young Award recipient will post an 18-18 record and an ERA of 3.65 during the terms of the agreement.

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1996 General Mills announces a special edition of a Wheaties cereal box honoring the 75th Commemorative Year of the Negro Leagues, featuring superstars Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and 'Cool Papa' Bell. In 1934, Yankee first baseman Lou Gehrig became the first athlete depicted on the Breakfast of Champions box.

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2001 Yankee premier reliever Mariano Rivera (7-4, 2.85, 36 saves) signs a four-year approximately $40 million contract with the Bronx Bombers. The 31-year-old Panama native surpassed Dennis Eckersley's major league record with 16 saves in postseason games.

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2003 Pete Rose becomes a member of the Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame along with the Splendid Splinters' teammate Dom DiMaggio, both not in attendance. 'Charlie Hustle,' who collected a record of 4,256 major-league hits, joins 1998 inductee Shoeless Joe Jackson, also prohibited from becoming a member of Baseball's National Hall of Fame.

Ted & Dom
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2004 After leaving the Phillies as a free agent following the 2002 season to play for the Rangers, Doug Glanville returns to Philadelphia, signing a one-year contract with the team. The 31-year-old outfielder retires at the end of the season after compiling a lifetime batting average of .277 during his nine-year tenure in the major leagues, including playing time with the Yankees and the Cubs, leaves with a 293-game errorless streak intact.

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2004 The Rangers trade Alex Rodriguez along with cash to the Yankees in exchange for Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later, Joaquin Arias. The deal comes on the heels of the Red Sox's inability to land the American League MVP in a swap with Texas for Manny Ramirez due to the players' association's objection because of the need to restructure A-Rod's existing contract as a result of the tentative transaction.

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2007 Altering the regulations for the first time since 1996, the rules committee approves several changes, including eliminating tie games halted after the fifth inning due to weather by resuming the contest in the next scheduled start at the same ballpark. The new standards also implement a ten-game suspension for scuffing a baseball, prohibits players from going into a dugout to make a catch, and allow pitchers to wear multicolored gloves.

2008 Kyle Kendrick, who posted a 10-4 record and an ERA under 4.00 last season as a rookie, is stunned when he hears about his trade to Japan for Takeru Kobayashi, a champion hot dog eater. The bogus deal, an elaborate hoax that includes skipper Charlie Manuel, assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr., fellow hurler Brett Myers, and members of the media, totally fools the Phillies sophomore pitcher.

2011 Rickie Weeks and the Brewers come to terms on a $38.5 million, four-year deal that includes a 2015 option based on plate appearances, which could increase the contract's total value to $50 million. The 28-year-old second baseman broke a franchise record last season with 754 trips to the plate, mostly as the leadoff hitter.

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2011 Speaking to reporters at the Phillies' spring training complex, a tearful Dallas Green, former big-league manager and senior adviser to general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., thanks everyone for their support after the shooting death of his granddaughter. Nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green was one of six victims killed five weeks ago in a shooting rampage during U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords' 'Congress on Your Corner' gathering outside a Tucson supermarket.

2013 After an appearance at a local winter festival, Guido's costume, worn by one of the Brewers' racing sausages, goes missing. A seven-foot Italian sausage impersonator will be seen later in the night, signing autographs at bars in Milwaukee.
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Today in Baseball History
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February 16 all
Search archives: Historical Events Baseball Birthdays Baseball Deaths

​

On February 16 in Baseball History...
1950 - Writers fail to name anyone to the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown. Mel Ott and Bill Terry top the list for enshrinement, but neither receives the necessary 126 votes.
1952 - Hall of Famer Honus Wagner, 77, retires as a coach. He receives a pension from the Pirates and the number 33 he wore as a coach will be the first to be retired in Pittsburgh.
1967 - Red Ruffing is selected for the Hall of Fame through a special runoff election since nobody received the required 75 percent vote in January. Ruffing won 273 games and pitched in seven World Series for the Yankees.
1989 - Orel Hershiser becomes the first player in major league history to sign a contract that calls for a $3 million annual salary by inking a three-year, $7.9 million contract with the Dodgers that will pay him $3,166,667 in 1991.
Baseball Birthdays on February 16...

1865 - Sanders, Ben
1866 - Hamilton, Billy
1866 - Scheible, Jack
1872 - McPartlin, Frank
1873 - Sullivan, John
1875 - Coogan, Dan
1880 - Lundgren, Carl
1880 - Burke, Frank
1884 - Moran, Herbie
1889 - Dowd, Kip
1895 - Cox, Red
1897 - Ferguson, Alex
1897 - Castner, Paul
1912 - Harrell, Ray
1918 - Crespi, Creepy
1923 - Raney, RIBS
1926 - Judson, Howie "It's often been said of big league pitchers that when the going got rough they couldn't take it. That charge cannot be laid to Howie Judson, pitcher for the Redlegs. He's gradually growing blind but all of his concern is for his mother and two younger brothers." - Staff Writer Harold C. Burr
1929 - Hahn, Fred
1931 - Fisher, Maurice
1934 - Eaddy, Don
1936 - Landrum, Don
1942 - Cullen, Tim
1943 - Darwin, Bobby
1947 - Crowley, Terry
1949 - Didier, Bob
1951 - Abbott, Glenn
1952 - Hairston, Jerry "It was a psychological thing for me. I figured the pitcher was tired and that he would float something right over the plate. Not necessarily that he would do that, but it was a psychological edge for me. In my opinion, you have to trick yourself a lot. I would put the pressure on the pitcher. The only reason I was hitting was because my team had momentum, so the pressure was on the other club to stop us." - Jerry Hairston in Baseball Digest

1952 - Foote, Barry
1960 - Bullock, Eric
1960 - Pecota, Bill
1962 - Henry, Dwayne
1964 - Rossy, Rico
1965 - Dimichele, Frank
1969 - Costo, Tim
1971 - Hubbard, Mike
1974 - Figueroa, Luis
1975 - Pena, Angel
1976 - Byrnes, Eric

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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