BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

This Day in Baseball History December 23​

1902 The U.S Patent Office issues John A. Hillerich a patent that devises a method of hardening the surface of a bat, improving the wood's ability to drive a baseball, and preserving the material from checking, chipping, or splintering on its surface from exposure to the sun or the weather. The name "Louisville Slugger" had become the Kentuckian's business registered trademark in 1894.

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1905 The A's sell Lave Cross to the Senators. The thirty-eight-year-old third baseman will appear in 171 games for Washington over the next two seasons before ending his 21-year career with a .292 lifetime batting average playing for seven teams.

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1953 Jim' Junior' Gilliam (.278, 6, 63) wins the National League Rookie of the Year Award. The Dodger second baseman, who hit a circuit-best 17 triples while leading the league with 710 plate appearances, easily beats Harvey Haddix and Ray Jablonski for the freshman honor.

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1958 The Dodgers trade George Lee Anderson to the Phillies for outfielder Rip Repulski and two minor league pitching prospects, Jim Golden and Gene Snyder. 'Sparky,' better known as a major league manager than being a 'good field, no-hit' infielder, becomes the first skipper to win a World Series in the American (1984 Tigers) and the National League (1975-76 Reds).

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1960 Former first baseman Ripper Collins, who played with the Cardinals' Gashouse Gang, joins the Cubs' college of coaches, a group of interim skippers that will manage the team for part of the season. The original 'faculty' will include El Tappe, Goldie Holt, Bobby Adams, Harry Craft, Rube Walker, Vedie Himsl, and Charlie Grimm.

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1975 A landmark decision by Peter Seitz begins a new era in major league baseball as the arbitrator's judgment makes pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally the first true free agents in baseball history. After each played for their team, the Dodgers and Expos, respectively, without signing a contract during their option year, each challenged the owners' assumption that the reserve clause meant the automatic renewal of one-year contracts.John Gaherin, the owners' labor representative, dismisses Peter Seitz

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1985 Thousands of fans, including former President Richard Nixon and Commissioner Peter Ueberroth, attend a memorial mass conducted by John Cardinal O'Connor at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral held for Roger Maris. The Yankee owner George Steinbrenner arranged the moving service for the recently deceased ballplayer.

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1994 Major league owners implement a salary cap and revenue sharing on striking players. The new provisions never take effect because a ruling by a judge, which ends the protracted labor dispute, orders that the games use the existing labor agreements for the next two seasons

1997 The Cubs trade outfielder Doug Glanville to the Phillies for second baseman Mickey Morandini, who hits a respectable .272 in 298 games during his two years with Chicago. Philadelphia's newest player becomes a clubhouse leader, enjoying his most productive years in the majors by providing excellent defense in the outfield while handling a bat and stealing bases in his six-seasons stint in Philadelphia.

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2000 Giants sign 38-year-old Eric Davis for outfield insurance to a one-year $1.5 million free-agent contract. The veteran outfielder, who played with the Cardinals for the past two years, will end his 17-year career at the end of the season, averaging 28 home runs a season and compiling a .269 batting average during his 17-year career with six teams, including his first nine with the Reds.

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2004 Free-agent J.D. Drew (.305, 31, 118), former flycatcher of the Braves, signs a five-year, $55 million deal with the Dodgers. After being traded by the Cardinals to Atlanta last season, the left-handed-hitting outfielder, known to be injury-prone, played in a career-high 145 games.

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2004 The Cardinals ink former Angel infielder David Eckstein (.276, 2, 35) to a three-year contract. The 29-year-old free agent shortstop will replace Gold Glover Edgar Renteria, who signed with the Red Sox, making the Boston shortstop, Orlando Cabrera, available to Anaheim, Eckstein's former team.

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2005 The Yankees introduce their 32-year-old clean-shaven Johnny Damon to the media. One of the 2004 Boston World Championship shaggy hair heroes signs a $52 million, four-year deal to play centerfield and bat leadoff with his former arch-rivals, much to the chagrin of the Red Sox nation.

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2007 The Phillies sign 38-year-old outfielder So Taguchi (.290, 3, 30) to a one-year, $1 million deal, including performance bonuses and a 2009 club option. The 'So Man,' a Hyogo Prefecture, Japan native, batted .406 (13-32) as a pinch-hitter for the Cardinals to lead the National League last season.

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2008 The Yankees reach a preliminary agreement on a $180 million, eight-year contract with Mark Teixeira (.308, 33, 121). The 28-year-old first baseman joins CC Sabathia ($161 million, seven years) and A.J. Burnett ($82.5 million, five years), becoming the third free agent signed to a big contract by the Bronx Bombers this month.

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2008 The Yankees announce prices for some of the seats at their new stadium for the exhibition games against the Cubs on April 3 and 4 will match the amounts charged for the original Yankee Stadium's opener against Boston in 1923. Fans can purchase bleacher seats for 25 cents, and grandstand tickets will go for $1.10.

 

2009 Versatile outfielder Coco Crisp (.228, 3, 14), who can play all three spots in the outfield, signs a $5.25 million, one-year contract with the A's. Last season, the 30-year-old flychaser underwent surgery on both shoulders, limiting his playing time to only 49 games with the Royals, leading the team to decline an $8 million option on the speedy switch-hitter from California.

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2009 Darren Oliver inks a $3.5 million, one-year pact that includes a 2011 option, making the 39-year-old southpaw a Ranger for the third time in his 16-year major league career. The left-handed reliever retired in 2005 but resurrected his career with the Mets the following year before becoming a fixture in the Angels bullpen the past three seasons.

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2009 Finalizing a $5.75 million, one-year deal, Nick Johnson returns to the Yankees to become the team's designated hitter, a void created by Hideki Matsui's departure. Before the 2004 season, the Bronx Bombers dealt the 31-year-old first baseman to the Expos for right-handed starter Javier Vazquez, recently reacquired by the club in a trade with Atlanta.

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2011 The Cubs trade lefty reliever Sean Marshall to the Reds for southpaw starter Travis Wood, outfielder Dave Sappelt and minor league infielder Ronald Torreyes. In February, Chicago's former set-up man will sign a three-year, $18 million extension with his new team that runs through 2015.

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December 24 Baseball Birthdays
1951 John D'Acquisto, born in San Diego, California


1975 Natalie Ward shortstop/2nd baseman (Olympic bronze 1996)

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This Day in Baseball History December 24​

1929 The Giants file a $200,000 damage suit against Francis X. McQuade for seeking to "wreck and destroy" the club. The team's long-time club treasurer countersues, and the NY Supreme Court will eventually rule that he is entitled to back pay, not his job.

1940 The Indians trade Ben Chapman to the Senators for Joe Krakauskas, a southpaw who will post a 3-7 record during his three years with Cleveland. In May, Washington will release Chapman, who will finish the season with the White Sox, batting .226 in 57 games for his team.

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1949 Los Angeles County General admits Grover Cleveland Alexander after he is found unconscious in an alley near his Hollywood apartment. The seriously ill Hall of Famer, who will spend several days in the hospital before being released, suffers from alcoholism and epilepsy.

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1959 The Braves sign 20-year-old outfielder Rico Carty, who, after spending four years in the minors, will hit .330 in his first season with the club, finishing second to Dick Allen for Rookie of the Year honors in 1964. During his eight years with the team, the Dominican outfielder will hit .317 before being traded to Texas for right-hander Jim Panther before the 1973 campaign.

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1967 While skiing at Lake Tahoe, Red Sox right-hander Jim Lonborg (22-9) tears the ligaments in his left knee. After surgery, last season's Cy Young Award winner will rush his comeback, damaging his rotator cuff.
1969

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"I do not feel that I am a piece of property to be bought and sold irrespective of my wishes." - CURT FLOOD, responding to being traded to Philadelphia.

In a letter to Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, Curt Flood states his refusal to report to the Phillies after being traded by the Cardinals, citing he is not a piece of property to be sold. The MLB Players Association announces support for the outfielder's suit against baseball and agrees to pay the legal fees for the case that eventually goes to the U.S. to the U.S. Supreme Court.​

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1990 The Expos trade 31-year-old outfielder Tim Raines and two minor leaguers to the White Sox for outfielder Ivan Calderon and reliever Barry Jones. 'Rock,' a career .300 hitter, will play a key role in Chicago's two divisional titles during his five-year tenure with the team.

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2002 In a deal that prompts Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino to label the Yankees an evil empire, Cuban defector Jose Contreras reaches an agreement with New York. The 31-year-old right-hander, considered the top pitcher on Cuba's national team, was declared a free agent after gaining residency in Nicaragua

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2004 Ranger manager Johnny Oates, who retired 28 games into the 2001 season, finishing with a 506-476 (.515) record during his seven seasons with the team, passes away at 58 on Christmas Eve from a brain tumor first diagnosed in 2002. Next season, Texas retires jersey #26 and adds a commemorative patch to the right sleeve of their uniform to honor their likable skipper.

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2004 After Jason Varitek receives a $40 million, four-year deal, the Red Sox surprise their veteran catcher by naming him the team captain. Joining Jimmie Foxx, Carl Yastrzemski, and Jim Rice, the 32-year-old switch-hitting backstop learns of the honor when presented with home and road jerseys bearing a red "C" during the press conference announcing his contract.

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2005 After agreeing to a one-year, $1 million contract, Mike Stanton will become the first player in Nationals' history to have played with the team twice in its short tenure. After coming in from the Washington bullpen for the last three months of the 2005 season, the 38-year-old southpaw reliever was traded to the Red Sox for right-handed prospects Rhys Taylor and Yader Peralta.

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2009 Former Detroit closer Fernando Rodney signs an $11 million, two-year contract with the Angels. The 32-year-old right-handed reliever, who saved 37 games with only one blown opportunity last season, is expected to compete with the team's current closer Brian Fuentes, the major league leader in saves in 2009, forthe coveted spot in the bullpen.

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2009 Matt Capps and the Nationals reach a preliminary agreement on a $3.5 million, one-year contract, with an additional $425,000 included in performance bonuses for games finished by the closer. In July, Washington will trade its 26-year-old right-handed All-Star reliever to the Twins for highly-touted backstop prospect Wilson Ramos and minor league southpaw Joe Testa.

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2010 Ricky Nolasco, recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, has agreed to a $26.5 million, three-year deal to stay with the Marlins. The Florida right-hander, who has compiled a 54-39 record along with a 4.45 ERA during his five seasons with the Fish, will remain the team's #2 starter behind Josh Johnson.

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Albert Pujols (Maple Wood Community College) was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 MLB Draft

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Tony Gwynn with a couple of batting titles
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Griffith Stadium, Washington D.C. Sept 30, 1949 - Red Sox skipper Joe McCarthy and catcher Birdie Tebbetts are mad as hornets after ump Bill Grieve issued 9th-inning walk to Senators pinch-hitter Buddy Lewis in a crucial game during the pennant race. Red Sox hung on to win 11-9

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New York #Mets pitcher Jerry Koosman gets Baltimore #Orioles batter Davey Johnson to hit a fly ball for the final out of the 1969 World Series at Shea Stadium! ~ Happy 81st Birthday "Kooz"!
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December 25 Baseball Birthdays
1856 James "Pud" Galvin HOF pitcher (MLB's first 300-game winner; no-hitters 1880, 84; Buffalo Bisons), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1902)


1908 Jo-Jo Moore left fielder (MLB All Star 1934–38, 40; World Series 1933; NY Giants), born in Gause, Texas (d. 2001)

Jo-Jo Moore, Jimmy Ripple, Mel Ott and Bill Terry​

1927 Nellie Fox Hall of Fame infielder (15 x MLB All Star; AL MVP 1959; Chicago White Sox), born in St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania (d. 1975)

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This Day in Baseball History December 25​

1888 In front of 2,000 spectators, the first indoor baseball game ever played takes place at the Philadelphia State Fairground Building. The Downtowners beat the Uptowners, 6-1, with the teams using a larger-than-usual ball, a crude bat, and their bare hands.

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1927 Future Hall of Famer second baseman Jacob Nelson Fox is born in St. Thomas, Pennsylvania. 'Nellie,' a .288 career hitter playing for the A's, White Sox, and Astros during his 19 seasons in the big leagues, will become the last active major league player to have Connie Mack as a manager.

Nellie & Little Luis

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1958 All-time career stolen base leader outfielder Rickey Henderson is born in Chicago. The 'Man of Steal' will end his 25-year Hall of Fame career with 1406 thefts.

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1989 Billy Martin dies in an automobile accident as a passenger on an icy road near his home in Binghamton, New York. An unconfirmed rumor, denied by George Steinbrenner, had the 61-year-old ready to become the Yankees' manager for a sixth time, replacing Bucky Dent if the team faltered at the start of the 1990 season.

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2001 Signing a one-year, $4.7 million contract to play for the Yomiuri Giants, Hideki Matsui became the highest-paid player in Japanese baseball history. The outfielder's salary surpasses the $4 million mark the Orix Blue Wave gave Ichiro Suzuki for the 2000 season.

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2019 Edwin Encarnacion and the White Sox agree to a one-year, $12 million deal with a club option for an additional season. The 36-year-old infielder/DH plays 44 games in the COVID-shorten season before ending his 16-year career with a .260 lifetime batting average.

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