BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

1996 The soil is poured at Tropicana Field, making it the first dirt infield on an artificial turf field since Busch Stadium in 1975. Dirt is usually only found around the bases and home plate when synthetic grass is employed.

2000 Although offered more money by three other clubs, switch-hitting shortstop Jose Valentin elects to stay with the White Sox, signing a three-year deal with a fourth-year option worth $5 million a year.

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2003 Jesse Orosco (2-2, 7.68) may still be the oldest player in the major leagues next season. The 46-year-old southpaw reliever agrees to a minor league contract with the Diamondbacks, earning $800,000 if he makes the big league roster.

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2004 At a lunchtime celebration at Union Station, which includes a protest, the recently relocated Washington National League franchise announces its new name, logo, and colors. Using the DC franchise's original name, which used the nickname Senators from 1901-56, the club clad in red, white, and blue will become known as the Nationals.

2006 The Dodgers sign free-agent Juan Pierre to a five-year, $44 million deal. The speedy center fielder did not
miss a game during his last four seasons playing with Florida and Chicago.

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2010 Joey Votto, receiving 31 of 32 first-place votes, is the overwhelming choice of the BBWAA to be the National League's Most Valuable Player. The Reds' first baseman, who helped Cincinnati reach the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, hit .324 and led the major leagues with a .424 on-base percentage.

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2011 Major League Baseball and the Players Association sign a memorandum of understanding on a new five-year Basic Agreement, ensuring fans of uninterrupted baseball through the 2016 season. The new deal includes the following:
mandatory testing of blood for HGH
15 teams in each league by 2013
another round of playoffs
two more wild-card teams
the expansion of the use of instant replay.

2011 Ryan Braun (.332, 33, 111) becomes the first Brewer selected as the Most Valuable Player since 1989 when Robin Yount won the award. The Milwaukee left fielder, listed first on 20 ballots and second on the other 32 writers' votes, outpointed runner-up LA's Matt Kemp (.324, 39, 126) in the overall voting, 388-332.

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2016 ”The game of baseball has a handful of signature sounds. You hear the crack of the bat. You’ve got the crowd singing in the seventh-inning stretch. And you’ve got the voice of Vin Scully.” - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, reflecting on the impact of broadcaster Vin Scully’s long career.​

President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to broadcaster Vin Scully, the voice of the Dodgers for the past 67 seasons. The recently retired play-by-play announcer joins other baseball notables, including Hank Aaron, Moe Berg, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Ted Williams, and Stan Musial, to have received the nation's highest civilian honor.

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2019 The Mariners and Double-A Arkansas Travelers' infielder Evan White, their 17th pick of the 2017 draft, agree to a six-year, $24 million contract, making him the first player at that level to receive a long-term extension. Last season, his second year of professional ball, the minor league first baseman, the former University of Kentucky Wildcat, posted a .293 batting average, 18 home runs, and 55 RBIs, playing 92 games for the Texas League club

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2022 To fill the void created by the departure of Rafael Palmeiro, the Rangers sign Will Clark to a multi-year $30-million free-agent contract. After spending eight seasons with the Giants, the slugging first baseman enjoys a productive five years with his new team, batting .308 and averaging 15+ home runs during his tenure with Texas.

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Philadelphia Phillies slugger Greg Luzinski

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Today in 1954: It's a great moment in Pittsburgh #Pirates history as the team drafts Roberto Clemente from the Montreal Royals, the Brooklyn #Dodgers AAA minor league club!
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The Waner brothers with Ruth and Gehrig
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Johnny Bench blocks the plate against Boog Powell during the 1970 Reds-Orioles World Series in Baltimore

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November Baseball Birthdays 11/23
1910 Hal Schumacher pitcher (World Series 1933; MLB All-Star 1933, 35; New York Giants), born in Hinkley, New York (d. 1993)


1914 Emmett Ashford umpire (first certified black umpire), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1980)


1930 Jack McKeon manager (World Series 2003, Florida Marlins; 2 × NL Manager of the Year 1999, 2003), born in South Amboy, New Jersey

1940 Luis Tiant pitcher (MLB All-Star 1968, 74, 76), born in Marianao, Cuba


1954 Glenn Brummer born in Olney, Illinois


1954 Ken Schrom born in Grangeville, Idaho


1959 Brook Jacoby third baseman, 1981-92 (Cleveland Indians and 2 other teams,Blue Jays Coach), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


1963 Dale Sveum player and coach, born in Richmond, California

1964 Jose Gonzales born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic


1980 Jonathan Papelbon born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Sea Dogs HOF


1984 Justin Turner, 3rd baseman (MLB All-Star 2017, 21; World Series 2020; NLCS MVP 2017; Los Angeles Dodgers), born in Long Beach, California


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This Day in Baseball History November 23​

1943 Commissioner Landis suspends William Cox indefinitely after the Phillies owner acknowledges making some "sentimental" bets on his team, not knowing it was against the rules. The gambling allegations first surfaced in July, when the club's recently fired manager, Bucky Harris, revealed he had evidence that his former boss was wagering on Philadelphia's games.

1962 The BBWAA selects Dodger shortstop Maury Wills as the National League's Most Valuable Player. The Gold Glove infielder stole a record 104 bases this season and served as a catalyst in the team's 102 victories and their attempt to capture a pennant, an effort that fell short in a three-game playoff against San Francisco.

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1964 The Mets purchase Future Hall of Fame southpaw Warren Spahn from the Braves. In addition to serving on the club's coaching staff, the crafty southpaw will post a 4-12 record in twenty appearances.

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1971 The Pirates name Bill Virdon, who will guide Pittsburgh to a 96-59 finish and a divisional flag in his managerial debut, to take over for the retiring Danny Murtaugh as the World Champion Pirates manager. The Bucs' former skipper will return to the dugout during the 1973 season to replace his replacement.

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1977 The Red Sox sign free agent Mike Torrez when the former Yankee agrees to a seven-year, $2.5 million deal to pitch for Boston. The 32-year-old right-hander compiles a 60-55 record before his trade to the Mets five years later but becomes the scapegoat for a frustrated Fenway Faithway fan base as the losing pitcher in the 1978 one-game playoff against the Bronx Bombers.

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1981 The Hewpex Sports Network replaces Early Wynn with Jerry Howarth, who will spend 36 seasons in the Blue Jays' broadcast booth before announcing his retirement at the start of spring training in 2018. For the first 23 years, he worked with legendary announcer Tom Cheek as part of Toronto's play-by-play radio team, with their partnership becoming known as "Tom and Jerry."

1988 Steve Sax signs a three-year deal as a free agent with the Yankees worth $3.75 million. The former NL Rookie of the Year will replace fan-favorite Willie Randolph at second base, and Randolph will sign with the World Champion Dodgers, taking Sax's spot.

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2007 While visiting his wife's family and scheduled to be the best man at a wedding later in the day, Joe Kennedy awakes and collapses in the bedroom at 1:00 am and dies unexpectedly. The 6'4", 250-pound Blue Jays southpaw reliever, who signed with the club in September after being released by the Diamondbacks, also played for the A's, Rockies, and Devil Rays during his seven-year career.

2007 The woeful Reds bullpen gets a big boost when they sign free-agent Francisco Cordero to a four-year, $46 million contract. The 32-year-old former Brewers closer collected 44 saves in 51 chances while posting a 2.98 ERA with Milwaukee last season.

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2009 Joe Mauer (.365, 28, 96) becomes the fifth Twin to be named the American League's Most Valuable Player, joining Zoilo Versalles (1965), Harmon Killebrew (1969), Rod Carew (1977), and Justin Morneau (2006). The slugging Gold Glove catcher, who missed the first month of the season with a back injury, receives 27 of 28 first-place votes cast by the BBWAA, and the St. Paul native easily outpoints Yankee teammates Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter.

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2010 Josh Hamilton joins Jeff Burroughs (1974), Juan Gonzalez (1996, 1998), Ivan Rodriguez (1999), and Alex Rodriguez (2003) as the fifth Ranger player to win the American League's Most Valuable Player award. The Texas slugging outfielder, who received 22 of the 28 first-place votes cast by the writers, led the major leagues in batting with a .359 average, hitting 32 homers and driving in 100 runs despite missing 29 games in September after suffering two broken ribs.

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2010 Aubrey Huff agrees to a $22 million, two-year deal to stay with the World Champions Giants. Last January, San Francisco signed the 33-year-old to a one-year contract hoping he could provide some pop in the middle of the batting order, and the first baseman/outfielder did not disappoint, hitting a team-leading 26 home runs along with 86 RBIs.

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2011 The A's send right-hander Gio Gonzalez and pitching prospect Robert Gilliam to the Nationals for southpaw Tommy Milone, catcher Derek Norris, right-hander Brad Peacock, and minor-league hurler A.J. Cole. After agreeing to a five-year, $42 million extension following the trade, Washington's newest member of the rotation will enjoy a spectacular first season in the nation's capital, going 21-8 with an ERA of 2.89.

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2011 The oft-injured Grady Sizemore agrees to a one-year, incentive-laden contract to stay with the Indians after the club declined his $9 million option for 2012. The Tribe will pay the 29-year-old All-Star outfielder $5 million next season, along with the opportunity to make another $4 million based on plate appearances and another $500,000 if he is selected comeback player of the year.

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2015 The Dodgers, the first club to break the color barrier when Jackie Robinson made his major league debut in 1947, hire their first minority manager in franchise history. Dave Roberts, the team's former center fielder and most recently the Padres' bench coach for the past two seasons, takes over the reins from the new Marlins skipper Don Mattingly, who left Los Angeles after guiding the club to three consecutive NL West titles.

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2018 Kansas City hires former Cardinals’ skipper Mike Matheny as a special adviser for player development. The 48-year-old may be a possible successor to the Royals’ veteran manager Ned Yost, who agreed to a one-year contract for the upcoming campaign on the final day of the season.

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING
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Josh Gibson and Cool Papa Bell
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Today in 1954: It's a great moment in Pittsburgh #Pirates history as the team drafts Roberto Clemente from the Montreal Royals,
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Lou Gehrig helps his mother Christina with the Thanksgiving dishes
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Babe Ruth caught thanksgiving dinner
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