BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

"Probably the best ballplayer I've ever seen when you take everything into consideration. Seemed like Willie never made a mistake." ~ Sandy Koufax talking about fellow baseball legend Willie Mays
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In 1937, the great Josh Gibson had a slugging percentage of .974 in 39 games.
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Baseball Birthdays January 18
1896 Bill McGowan HOF umpire (AL 1925-54; 8 x World Series; 4 x MLB All-Star Games), born in Wilmington, Delaware (d. 1954)


(1938-1997) Curt Flood (St Louis Cards), born in Houston, Texas


1944 Carl Morton pitcher (NL Rookie of the Year 1970; Montreal Expos, Atlanta Braves), born in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 1983)


1964 Jenny Holliday softball pitcher (Olympic bronze 1996), born in Melbourne, Australia


1972 Mike Lieberthal catcher (Philadelphia Phillies), born in Glendale, California


1978 Brian Falkenborg player, born in Newport Beach, California


1990 Gift Ngoepe 1st black African to play in Major League Baseball, born in Pietersburg, South Africa
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This Day in Baseball History
January 18th​

1887 Kansas City receives a franchise in the Western League. The minor league team, which will fold after the 1888 season, will be known as the Cowboys, the same name used by the defunct teams representing the city in the National League and Union Association and the franchise that will play in the American Association beginning in 1889.

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1938 Grover Cleveland Alexander becomes the tenth and only player this year to be elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. Old Pete's 373 victories is the record for the most career wins in the National League, a mark he shares with Christy Mathewson.

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1947 Due to his misunderstanding of a photo taken in 1943, believing Hank Greenberg had posed in a Yankee jersey, Tiger owner Walter Briggs sells the 1946 American League home run leader (44) to the Pirates for $35,000 after ensuring that the other AL teams wouldn't put in a waiver claim. Pittsburgh dissuades the disgruntled Hammerin' Hank not to retire, and he will join and mentor the National League's young home run leader, 25-year-old Ralph Kiner, in the Steel City.

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1950 "You can call this a very drastic pay cut. Feller thinks it’s drastic, too. But he himself made the suggestion. In fact, he offered to take more than the 25 percent maximum pay cut allowed." - HANK GREENBERG, Indian GM explaining the reduction in Bob Feller's salary. Bob Feller asks and gets his salary reduced to $45,000, a $20,000 cut, because he believes his sub-par record of 15-14 doesn't merit an increase. Right-handed' Rapid Robert' rebounds, posting a 16-11 record and an ERA of 3.43 for the Indians next season.

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1952 The White Sox board of directors accept the resignation of Charlie A. Comiskey, Jr., the team's Vice President and secretary, after turning down his request for a promotion and more money. The 25-year-old's dissatisfaction with the club was a complete surprise to his mother, Grace Comiskey, the Chicago ball club's president.

1958 Willie O'Ree becomes the first black player in the National Hockey League when he plays left wing for the Bruins in their 3-0 victory over the Canadiens at the Montreal Forum. The 22-year-old's NHL debut for Boston occurs 18 months before Pumpsie Green breaks the color line of the Red Sox, the last major league team to integrate.

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1969 Ted Williams becomes the manager of the Senators, agreeing to a five-year deal for a reported salary of $75,000 per season. The team, which finished in last place in the previous campaign, will post an 86-76 record in Williams' first year at the helm, accounting for the only .500 season during their 11-year tenure in Washington.

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1969 Interior Secretary Stewart Udall announces the District of Columbia Stadium will now be known as the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, in memory of the former AG and NY Senator, assassinated last June while campaigning to be president. The renamed ballpark, better known as RFK Stadium, will continue to host the 'new' Washington Senators franchise result of a joint action taken by the Interior Department and the DC Armory Board, which operates the stadium under a contract with the National Park.

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1973 Former Giant first baseman Orlando Cepeda comes to terms with the Red Sox, making him the first player signed specifically to be a designated hitter. On Opening Day at Fenway Park, 'Cha-Cha' will miss an opportunity to make history when three hits and three walks give the Yankees' Ron Blomberg, batting sixth in the lineup, the distinction of being the first DH to bat in a major league game.

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1989 Nearing the end of his second term, President Reagan pardons George Steinbrenner for convictions connected with illegal contributions to the 1972 presidential campaign of Richard M. Nixon. The Yankee owner, who pleaded guilty in 1974 to conspiring to violate federal election laws, was fined $15,000 but did not spend time in jail.

2002 The Mariners avoid arbitration with pitcher Freddy Garcia (18-6, 3.05) by signing him to a one-year, $3.8-million deal. The 25-year-old standout right-handed hurler led the American League in earned run average last season.

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2002 Kerry Wood (12-6, 3.36) avoids arbitration, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Cubs believed to be worth between $3.5 and 4 million. The right-handed fireballer, who struck out 217 batters in 174.1 innings, is again eligible for arbitration after each of the next two seasons and can become a free agent following the 2004 season.

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2002 Scott Rolen (.289, 25, 107) avoids arbitration by agreeing to the largest annual salary in Phillies' history, an $8.6 million, one-year deal that includes bonuses. The 26-year-old Gold Glove third baseman turned down a 10-year contract worth up to $140 million, making it clear he planned to file for free agency after the season.

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2005 Eric Gagne and the Dodgers agree to a $19-million, two-year deal. The 2003 National League's Cy Young Award winner, who set a major league record with 84 consecutive saves from August (2002) to July (2004), made $5 million last year after arbitrators ruled in favor of the club's offer over the $8 million requested by the LA closer.

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2008 The removal of the iconic Jacobs Field sign on the front of the building begins, making room for the Progressive Field replacement sign to be scheduled for installation next month. The Progressive Corporation, a major insurance company located in Mayfield Village, secured the naming rights by agreeing to pay $57.6 million to rebrand the 13-year-old ballpark until 2024.

2008 Mark Teixeira signs a one-year contract worth $12.5 million to play for the Braves. The slugging first baseman, acquired from the Rangers at the trading deadline last season, added a much-needed punch to the Atlanta lineup.

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2008 Avoiding arbitration, Justin Morneau (.271, 31, 111), a potential free agent after the 2010 season, comes to terms with the Twins on a $7.4 million one-year deal. The 26-year-old Canadian first baseman was the American League MVP in 2006

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2008 Avoiding arbitration, Justin Morneau (.271, 31, 111), a potential free agent after the 2010 season, comes to terms with the Twins on a $7.4 million one-year deal. The 26-year-old Canadian first baseman was the American League MVP in 2006.

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2008 The Tigers avoid arbitration with their new third baseman when Miguel Cabrera agrees to an $11.3 million, one-year deal. The All-Star infielder was acquired, along with southpaw Dontrelle Willis, from the Marlins in exchange for six highly-touted prospects, including Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller, as part of a blockbuster trade during the winter meetings last month.

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2008 The A's sign Joe Blanton (14-10, 3.95) to a $3.7 million, one-year deal, avoiding arbitration with the 27-year-old right-hander. The Oakland workhorse, throwing the second-most innings in American League with 230, has been the subject of trade talks as Oakland continues to rebuild for the future.

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2008 The Rockies, still hoping to come to terms on a longer-term deal with their All-Star outfielder, sign Matt Holliday for two more years for $23 million. The agreement is reached just a few hours before the arbitration deadline for exchanging salary figures between players and teams.

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2008 The Rays avoid arbitration with two key players when the club reaches agreements with southpaw Scott Kazmir (13-9, 3.48) and infielder Carlos Pena (.282, 42, 99). The left-hand hurler, who led the AL in strikeouts last season, inks a $3,785,000, one-year pact while the club's first baseman, the American League comeback player of the year, signs a $24+ million, three-year deal.

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2008 Thirty major league owners voted unanimously to extend Bud Selig's contract by three years at their quarterly meetings, retaining him as commissioner through 2012. In the post since 1992, the 73-year-old has championed change in baseball, supporting the wild card, interleague play, and the World Baseball Classic in a sport not known for innovation.

2009 Cole Hamels agrees to a three-year contract with the Phillies valued at $20.5 million. The 25-year-old southpaw, who posted a 4-0 record with a 1.80 ERA in five postseason starts for the World Champions, pitches poorly in the first year but rebounds by compiling an overall 36-31 (.537) record with a 3.36 ERA during the three seasons of the deal.

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2010 Thinking two Hairstons must be better than one, the Padres obtain utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. (.251, 10, 39), the older brother of Scott, signed by the club three days ago. The siblings are sons of former major leaguer Jerry Hairston and Sammy Hairston's grandchildren, who played in four games with the White Sox in 1951.

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2010 After agreeing to spend more money on their payroll this season, the Marlins keep their word to the players' association when they sign second baseman Dan Uggla to a $7.8 million, one-year contract. Recently, the tight-fisted Fish also agreed to a $39 million, four-year deal with right-hander Josh Johnson.

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2011 Royals' starter Gil Meche, who signed a controversial five-year, $55 million free-agent contract before the 2007 season, announces his retirement from baseball due to ongoing troubles caused by a shoulder injury. With this decision, the 32-year-old right-hander forfeits the remaining $12 million on his contract, but he believes Kansas City has been fair to him and does not want to take the club's money when he cannot pitch effectively.

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2011 The Yankees sign Rays' free-agent Rafael Soriano to a $35 million, three-year deal. The All-Star right-handed reliever, who led the AL in saves last year with 45, will be used by New York as a set-up man to Mariano Rivera, the team's 41-year-old iconic closer.

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2012 Just minutes before the signing deadline, the Rangers and right-hander Yu Darvish agree to a six-year, $60 million contract. The 25-year-old Japanese, who posted an 18-6 record along with an ERA of 1.44 superstar with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters last season, will cost Texas more than $111 million with the $51.7 million posting fee owed to his former team.

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2014 St. Louis officials reveal details about the team's new Hall of Fame that will be established this spring at the dedication of their new museum at the Cardinals Nation in the Ballpark Village. The team's initiative will immortalize the greatest players and other key figures in franchise history, starting with the twenty-two individuals selected due to their previous induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame or having their number retired by the club.

2014 The Dodgers confirm Clayton Kershaw's record-breaking $215 million seven-year contract, the largest deal ever given to a pitcher. The two-time National League Cy Young Award, who will earn $30.7 million annually, requested and received an opt-out clause after five years, making the right-hander eligible to become a free agent at the of age 30.

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Washington Senators manager Ted Williams chats with New York #Mets pitching stars Jerry Koosman and Tom Seaver before the 1969 All-Star Game in Washington, D.C

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“Old Days”Babe Ruth's last season in a Major League Uniform was as 1st Base Coach for the 1938 Brooklyn Dodgers.
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Born #OTD 1931,Don Zimmer:Over 50 yrs as Player,Mgr.and Coach.The True Definition of a Baseball Lifer. #Dodgers #Mets #Padres #Yankees #Cubs #RedSox
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Frank Messer & Scooter Phil Rizzuto Day
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Babe Ruth 1948 being presented Lincoln Continental Coupe. Ford Motor Co. presented the car to Ruth in honor of his tireless devotion to promoting Little League Baseball.
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“Old Days”A Confident Looking Baltimore Orioles Team line up for Game 1 of the 1969 World Series vs the Mets at Memorial Stadium.#Orioles #Baltimore #Mets
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Baseball Birthdays January 19

1962 Chris Sabo 3rd baseman (3-time MLB All Star), born in Detroit, Michigan


1966 Anthony Young pitcher (NY Met, Chicago Cubs), born in Houston, Texas


1969 Orlando Palmeiro outfielder (St Louis, California Angels), born in Hoboken, New Jersey


1970 Rick Krivda pitcher (Baltimore Orioles), born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania


1970 T. J. Mathews pitcher (St Louis Cardinals), born in Columbia, Illinois


1971 Jeff Juden pitcher (Philadelphia Phillies, SF Giants), born in Salem, Massachusetts


1973 Chris Stynes infielder (KC Royals, Reds), born in Queens, New York


1974 Amaury Telemaco pitcher (Chicago Cubs), born in Higüey, Dominican Republic


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This Day in Baseball History
January 19th​

1900 Boston Beaneater catcher Marty Bergen, reportedly depressed by his son's death in 1898, allegedly kills his family with an ax and commits suicide in Brookfield, Massachusetts. Billy Hamilton is the only Boston player to attend the 28-year-old backstop's funeral.

1916 The National Association releases a list of 123 Federal League free agents under the peace agreement terms. Next month, U.S. District Court by Judge Kenesaw M. Landis, who will become the game's first commissioner in 1920, dismisses, by mutual consent, the upstart league's year-old suit that charged organized baseball of antitrust violations.

1931 Under the terms of a new agreement with the Pacific Coast League, the Robins purchase Ernie Lombardi's contract from the Oakland Oaks for $50,000. The 23-year-old 'Schnozz,' inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986, plays well for Brooklyn but will be traded to the Reds after his rookie season because the team has a plethora of catchers.

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1932 Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis denies Shoeless Joe Jackson's appeal for reinstatement. The White Sox outfielder, banned for life for his alleged involvement in fixing the 1919 World Series known as the Black Sox scandal, will continue to proclaim his innocence for the remainder of his life.

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1937 Cy Young, Nap Lajoie, and Tris Speaker are named on 75% of the 201 BBWAA ballots and will join last year's inaugural selection of Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson as inductees of baseball's new Hall of Fame, scheduled to be opened in two years. The Centennial Commission, a small group of executives charged with picking individuals overlooked by the 1936 Veterans election, which failed to name any 19th-century players, selects Connie Mack, John McGraw, Morgan Bulkeley, Ban Johnson, and George Wright for induction at the Cooperstown ceremony.

Lajoie, Speaker, Young



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1938 After resigning as the Reds' general manager at the end of the 1936 season, Larry MacPhail is coaxed back into baseball by the Dodgers. The Brooklyn Board of Directors, anxious to improve the club's poor performance on the field and reverse its financial woes, sign the fiery innovator to a contract that gives him complete control of the franchise.

1942 Eleanor Gehrig receives a telegram from Samuel Goldwyn's creative publicity chief William Hebert about the selection of Teresa Wright to portray her in The Pride of the Yankees, a movie about her late husband, Lou. Miss Wright will earn a Best Actress Oscar nomination for the role where she appears opposite Gary Cooper, the Hollywood superstar chosen to play the legendary Yankees first baseman.

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1961 Don Newcombe is released by the Indians, ending his ten-year major league career with a .623 winning percentage with 149 victories and only 90 losses. The one-time hard-throwing right-hander, best known for his playing days with the Dodgers, won the Rookie of the Year (1949), Cy Young (1956), and Most Valuable Player (1956) awards while with Brooklyn.

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1963 After Eddie Stanky, the Cardinals' director of player development, turns down the job, the Orioles promote first base coach Hank Bauer as the team's manager to replace the fired Billy Hitchcock, who had posted an 86-76 record with the Birds last season. The former A's skipper and Yankee All-Star outfielder will guide the Birds, thanks to the acquisition of future Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, to their first AL pennant and World Series championship in 1966.

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1965 Danny O'Connell and Hobie Landrith surprise the Senators' front office when they resign to pursue different business opportunities. Rube Walker and Joe Pignatano, former major league catchers who played for the Dodgers with the team's manager, Gil Hodges, replace the departing coaches.

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1972 At the age of 36 years and 20 days, former Dodger southpaw Sandy Koufax, who placed himself on the voluntarily retired list because of an arthritic left arm in 1966, becomes the youngest player elected into the Hall of Fame. The baseball writers also select Yankee legend Yogi Berra and Early Wynn, a 300-game winner.

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1983 Ozzie Smith becomes the game's first $1-million shortstop when the infielder inks a three-year pact with the World Champion Cardinals. The 'Wizard of Ahs,' best known for his outstanding defense, won his third consecutive Gold Glove in the offseason.

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1997 Ivan Rodriguez, avoiding salary arbitration, agrees to a contract worth $6.65 million to catch for the Rangers. 'Pudge' set the record for most doubles by a catcher with 44 last season, and the All-Star receiver also set the major league mark for at-bats by a backstop, with 639, surpassing Johnny Bench's 621, established in 1970.

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1999 During his State of the Union address, President Bill Clinton introduces Sammy Sosa, sitting with First Lady Hillary Clinton, a big Cubs fan, in the House of Representatives chamber balcony, calling the Dominican outfielder "a hero in two countries." The Commander-in-Chief salutes the Chicago slugger for his relief efforts in the Dominican Republic after the country was devastated by recent hurricanes.

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