BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

This Day in Baseball History
February 11th​

1915 New York Giants president Harry Hempstead rejects the International League's request to put a team in the Bronx. The proposed shift of the Jersey City team to the nearby borough, the future home of the Yankees starting in 1923, was conceived to prop up the failing minor league franchise and perhaps as an opportunity to thwart the invasion of the Federal League into the Big Apple.

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1962 Before spring training, Don Zimmer and right-hander Bob Miller, residents in the St. Pete area, become the first players to don a Mets jersey when they model the club's away uniform tops for a photo shoot at Huggins Field. The expansion team's inaugural third baseman, traded to the Reds in May for southpaw Bob Miller, poses with his nine-year-old son Tommy on his shoulders.

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1974 In the first arbitration ruling in baseball history, Detroit lawyer Harry H. Platt, a labor arbitrator for thirty years, decides in favor of Dick Woodson, who posted a 10-8 record and a 3.95 ERA for the Twins last season. The 27-year-old right-hander, the first player to invoke the new free agency clause, is awarded the $29,000 he asked for rather than having to take Minnesota's offer, which was six thousand dollars less.

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1977 The Cubs trade two-time NL batting champ Bill Madlock along with Rod Sperring to the Giants for Bobby Murcer, Steve Ontiveros, and a minor leaguer. During the 1979 season, San Francisco will trade the fiercely competitive 'Mad Dog' to the Pirates, where he will play a major role in the team's world championship that season and will win two more batting crowns during his seven-year tenure in Pittsburgh.

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1982 Ozzie Smith agrees to go to the Cardinals to complete the December deal, which finally sends Gary Templeton to the Padres. An outside arbitrator, Tom Roberts, will determine the Wizard of Oz's Cardinal salary before the season starts, awarding the light-hitting Gold Glove shortstop $450,000 rather than the $750,000 he requested.

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1985 Kent Hrbek signs a five-year, $6 million contract with the Twins, making him the team's first million-dollar player. The 24-year-old Minnesota first baseman, paid $375,000 last season, was the runner-up for the American League Most Valuable Player, finishing second to Tiger closer Willie Hernandez, batted .311 with 27 homers and 107 RBIs for the second-place club.

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1987 After turning down the Mets' $800,000 one-year offer and being granted free agency by the team, World Series MVP Ray Knight signs a two-year deal with the Orioles for $600,000. The 34-year-old third baseman, who won the 1986 NL Comeback Player of the Year Award, will play one season in Baltimore before being traded to the Tigers for Mark Thurmond.

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1997 General Mills, the makers of Wheaties, unveils three new Jackie Robinson cereal boxes to be sold in stores nationwide. The Dodgers' Hall of Fame infielder will be the first athlete to be honored on all three varieties of Wheaties: Original Wheaties, Honey Frosted Wheaties, and Crispy Wheaties 'n' Raisins.

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2001 As thousands cheer, Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh's 30-year-old sports venue, is imploded when electricity surges through a detonating cord connected to more than 4,800 pounds of dynamite in 2,500 spots in the former home of the Pirates and NFL's Steelers. Roberto Clemente's 3,000th hit and Mike Schmidt's 500th career home run are part of the historic park's legacy.

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2005 Jose Canseco's controversial book, Juiced, is made available in selected markets in anticipation of his appearance on CBS's Sixty Minutes. The self-proclaimed godfather of steroids in baseball alleges Mark McGwire, Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmeiro, and Ivan Rodriguez used illegal performance-enhancing drugs.

2005 The Mets announce their former slugging All-Star Darryl Strawberry will rejoin the team as an outfield instructor during spring training. The often-troubled Rookie of the Year will join former 1986 World Champion teammates Gary Carter, Lenny Dykstra, Howard Johnson, and Tim Teufel at Shea Stadium on February 27, when single-game tickets go on sale.

2006 Avoiding an arbitration hearing, starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano (14-6, 3.26) and the Cubs agree to a one-year deal worth $6.5 million. After earning $3.76 million last season, the emotional right-hander had asked for $7.2 million, with Chicago offering $6 million.

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2007 Avoiding salary arbitration, AL's reigning batting champ Joe Mauer (.347, 13, 84) and the Twins come to terms on a $33 million, four-year contract. The hometown 23-year-old All-Star backstop is the first catcher to lead the majors in batting average, becoming the first to win the American League batting crown.

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2008 Craig Biggio, following in the footsteps of fan favorites Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, and Jeff Bagwell, agrees to a three-year personal services contract with the Astros. The 42-year-old retired ballplayer spent his 20-year career with Houston, leading the franchise in games, at-bats, hits, doubles, and total bases.

2009 The Nationals sign slugger Adam Dunn to a two-year, $20 million deal. The 29-year-old southpaw swing free-agent, who played for Arizona last season, will bat cleanup for Washington, replacing Nick Johnson at first base.

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2010 During WFUV Radio's Spring Gala at Fordham University, Ernie Harwell, the Tigers' long-time voice, will receive the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports Broadcasting. The 92-year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster is the third recipient of the VSLA, named for the former alum and Dodger broadcast icon, joining inaugural honoree Vin Scully (2008) and Dick Enberg (2009).

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2012 Logan Morrison becomes the first player in the Marlins' 19-year history to don the No. 5 after the team received permission from the National League to 'unretire' the digit once reserved to honor the late Carl Barger, the club's first president and chief operating officer. The Miami first baseman/outfielder had asked owner Jeffrey Loria to allow him to switch from No. 20 to No. 5 in memory of his father, who encouraged his son to model his game after Hall of Famer George Brett, who wore the number. The team chose the number 5 for Carl Barger because Joe DiMaggio, his favorite player, wore it playing for the Yankees.

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Yankees Ace Mel Stottlemyre pitches to the DetroitTigers Jim Northrup during a 1970s game at Yankee Stadium"
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Steve Sax. Ryne Sandberg. Wrigley Field
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Henry Aaron and Chipper Jones
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Faced only 6 pitchers more than 100 times. Slugged .680 against Drysdale, .584 against Seaver, .552 against Niekro, .500 against lefty-killer Steve Carlton. From`67-`72 was the best power hitter of the time with the highest OPS (.957) for any player in baseball. Willie McCovey
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“Three Finger” Mordecai Peter Centennial Brown
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Baseball Birthdays February 12, 2024
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1893 Earl Sheely White Sox 1at Baseman


1917 Dom DiMaggio Red Sox


1926 Joe Garagiola Cardinals catcher


1942 Pat Dobson Pitcher Tigers, Orioles,Yankees


1945 Don Wilson Astros


1949 Len Randle Infield Rangers, Mets, Yanks, Cubs


1955 Chet Lemon, White Sox OF


1965 Ruben Amaro, Jr Phils, Indians
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This Day in Baseball History
February 12th​

1878 After designing the device last season to protect his team's promising but skittish catcher James Tyng, Fredrick Thayer receives a patent for his innovative invention, the catcher's mask. The Harvard captain, who will never play in a major league game, designed an oblong wireframe modeled after a fencing mask with eye holes that supports a series of strategically-placed pads made from animal skins.

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1924 The National League announces it will join the AL in awarding a thousand dollars to the player selected by writers as the league's Most Valuable Player. Dazzy Vance, who posts a 28-6 record along with an ERA of 2.16 for the Dodgers, easily outpoints Rogers Hornsby to become the Senior Circuit's first MVP.

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1930 After leading his A's to a world championship, Connie Mack becomes the first Philadelphian sports figure to receive the prestigious Edward W. Bok Prize. The honor, now known as the Philadelphia Award, recognizes distinguished Philadelphians for their achievements in education, industry, law, politics, science, medicine, philosophy, and the creative arts.

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1942 The White Sox and Cubs issue a 150-word joint statement that eliminates the Northside team's possibility of renting Comiskey Park as a venue for National League night games next season. The Chicago rivals agree it is in the city's best interest to retain the north-south boundary that demarcates the fans' loyalty to the two Windy City clubs.

1942 Former Texarkana outfielder Gordon Houston is the first professional ballplayer killed in WW II. The 25-year-old minor league batting champion, who became a full-time fighter pilot following the Pearl Harbor attack, dies when his Republic P-43 Lancer crashes at Washington's McChord Field after leading a sortie along the West Coast, looking for Japanese submarines.

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1944 Bob Coleman, who filled in for Casey Stengel last season when the Boston skipper suffered a broken leg after being hit by a taxi cab trying to cross a street, is named to replace the 'Old Perfessor' as the manager of the Braves. The 54-year-old, considered one of the best managers in minor league history, can not work his magic, finishing sixth followed by a slow start in 1945, the team fires former big-league catcher.
Casey and Coleman

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1980 The American League thwarts Marv Davis' plan to buy the A's from Charlie Finley when the circuit offers to buy out the Oakland Coliseum lease. The billionaire businessman, who will also make failed bids for the NFL's Cowboys and Broncos, had hoped to move the franchise from the City by the Bay to Denver.

1981 Arbitrator Raymond Goetz officially declares Carlton Fisk a free agent, citing the Boston Red Sox had violated the CBA by not mailing the catcher's contract by the December 20th deadline as specified in the agreement. Next month, the 33-year-old future Hall of Fame backstop will sign a $3.5 million deal to catch for the White Sox this upcoming season.

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2002 For the first time in history, Major League Baseball will own a team after acquiring the Expos from Jeffrey Loria. The former Montreal owner sells the Expos for $120 million, then buys the Florida Marlins for $158.5 million with a loan from major league baseball to cover the shortfall. Many personnel changes occur with the unanimous approval of the Florida Marlins' sale to Jeffrey Loria, the former owner of the Montreal Expos, and the MLB's acquisition of the Montreal franchise. The Expos name Frank Robinson as the manager, Tony Tavares as president, and Omar Minaya as GM, while south of the border, former Expo skipper Jeff Torborg becomes the Marlins' pilot, with Larry Beinfest as the GM, and David Samson taking over the duties of team president.

 

2003 Federal Judge James Holderman gives the Cubs and the owners of rooftop bleachers, which provide fans a view of Wrigley Field, a year to settle their dispute. The team believes the seating provided above the field via rooftops directly competes with the club for ticket sales revenue, with the surrounding neighbors, in turn, have not been sympathetic to the team's expansion plans.

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2007 The Major League Baseball Players Association asks the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider its 2-1 decision, allowing the names of more than 100 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs to be made available to authorities investigating the use of steroids in baseball. MLB collected the 1993 urine samples to gauge the prevalence of steroid use, with players and owners agreeing the results would be confidential.

2007 An agreement is reached after a year of negotiations on the sale of the Braves from Time Warner to Liberty Media. Seventy percent of the owners must approve the deal, which includes the
retention of general manager John Schuerholz and manager Bobby Cox.​

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2008 To add experience to a young rotation, the Twins sign Livan Hernandez (11-11, 4.93) to a $5 million, one-year deal with an additional $2 million in performance bonuses. The 32-year-old Cuban right-hander will also add innings to a staff depleted due to the departures of starters Johan Santana and Carlos Silva.

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2009 "While Alex deserves credit for publicly confronting the issue, there is no valid excuse for using such substances, and those who use them have shamed the game." - COMMISSIONER BUD SELIG, commenting on Alex Rodriguez's admission of using PEDs. Three days after Alex Rodriguez apologizes for using steroids, commissioner Bud Selig chastises the Yankee superstar and all the other players using such substances for bringing shame to the game. The third baseman's apology followed a SI.com report that he was one of 104 players who tested positive in tests taken in 2003 to determine the extent of steroid use in the national pastime.

2009 Ervin Santana avoids arbitration, agreeing to a deal with the Angels, which could be worth $42 million over the next five years. The 26-year-old right-hander, who posted a 16-7 record with a 3.49 ERA for the AL West Champions last season, is the youngest active hurler with 50 career victories (51-37).

2009 Dan Uggla (.260, 32, 92), eligible for arbitration for the first time, is awarded $5.35 million by the process. The All-Star second baseman, who has averaged 30 home runs and 90 RBIs in his first three seasons in the majors, rejected the Marlins' offer of $4.4 million.

2009 Bluefish catcher John Nathans sues Jose Offerman, a former major league All-Star with the Red Sox and Dodgers, for the infielder's 2007 bat-wielding attack at a minor league game played at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The backstop is seeking $4.8 million in damages against the Long Island Ducks player, claiming the 2007 incident left him with career-ending injuries, including inner ear damage, vertigo, headaches, and post-concussion syndrome.

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2010 Corey Hart (.260, 12, 48) is awarded a raise from $3.25 million to $4.8 million in the Brewers' first salary arbitration hearing in a dozen years. In the first case to use the process this year, Milwaukee's offer of $4.15 million to their 27-year-old right-fielder, an All-Star in 2008, was rejected by a panel of arbitrators.

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2010 Tim Lincecum, the two-time reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, reaches a preliminary agreement on a $23 million, two-year deal with the Giants before starting a scheduled arbitration hearing. The 25-year-old right-hander has compiled a 40-17 record along with an ERA of 2.90 ERA during his first three big-league seasons, and all played for San Francisco.

2011 "Doris From Rego Park" debuts on Jonathan Schwartz's weekend program on WNYC-FM. The song, written and performed by Don Rosler, is a tribute to Doris Bauer, the Mets fan who became a New York institution as a late-night caller to WFAN sports radio before dying in 2003.

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2014 Derek Jeter, who will turn 40 in June, announces the 2014 season will be his final one, informing his fans via a lengthy Facebook post. The 13-time All-Star shortstop acknowledged that his numerous injuries had taken their toll, making the game more of a struggle and less enjoyable.

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2016 Jenrry Mejia becomes the first player to receive a lifetime ban for three failed tests for performance-enhancing substances after testing positive for boldenone, a steroid used in horse racing. The 26-year-old Mets former closer claims that he only failed one test, states the second set of results to be inaccurate, and believes that MLB fabricated the latest violation to remove him from the sport.

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