BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

12.7.24
BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS

1936 Bo Belinsky pitcher (no-hitter 1962; LA Angels)


1942 Alex Johnson outfielder (MLB All Star, AL batting champion 1970, California Angels


1947 Johnny Bench HOF catcher (14 x MLB All Star; World Series 1975, 76 [MVP]; NL MVP 1970, 72; 10 x Gold Glove; Cincinnati Reds


1967 Tino Martinez first baseman (MLB All-Star 1995, 1997; World Series 1996, 98–2000 Seattle Mariners, NY Yankees)


1989 Kyle Hendricks MLB pitcher (Chicago Cubs)

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Today in Baseball History
December 7th
1939 At the urging of Senator owner Clark Griffith, the other American League owners enact a rule prohibiting the league's pennant winner from buying, selling, or trading players during the following season. The winter meeting decision will have the desired effect when the Yankees finish in third place.

1939 During their winter meeting, the BBWAA elects Lou Gehrig, who played in his last major league game on June 30th, to the Hall of Fame, waiving the five-year waiting period due to his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis. At age 36, the Yankees' first baseman becomes the youngest to be honored, surpassed by Dodger southpaw Sandy Koufax, five months younger when selected in 1972.

 

1957 Tony Kubek (.297, 3, 39) is selected over Boston's infielder Frank Malzone (.292, 15, 103) by the BBWAA as the American League Rookie of the Year. Much to the dismay of the 27-year-old Red Sox Gold Glove All-Star third baseman, he becomes ineligible when the writers, during the season, change the minimum number of career at-bats to determine rookie status.


1962 Tom Tresh, the Yankees shortstop and left fielder, is selected as the American League's Rookie of the Year by the BBWAA. The 24-year-old son of former major league catcher Mike Tresh gets 13 of the 20 votes cast by the writers, with Bob Rodgers (4), Dean Chance (1), Dick Radatz (1), and Bernie Allen (1) also receiving consideration.


1966 The Cubs trade Dick Ellsworth to the Phillies for right-hander Ray Culp and cash. During his eight-year tenure in Chicago, the southpaw authored a 22-win (1963) and 22-loss (1966) season while compiling 84 victories, the most by a Northside hurler during the decade.

 

1973 The Giants sell Juan Marichal to the Red Sox, where the high leg-kicking right-handed Dominican will post a 5-1 record. During his 14 seasons with San Francisco, the future Hall of Famer compiled a 238-140 (.630) record.


1973 In a controversial move, the Royals deal outfielder Lou Piniella and pitcher Ken Wright to the Yankees for 38-year-old right-hander Lindy McDaniel, who will win only six games during his two years with the club. The trade draws the Kansas City fans' ire when their departed 29-year-old outfielder enjoys 11 solid seasons in the Bronx, batting .295 and playing a major role in New York's four appearances in the World Series.

 

1984 The Mets send right-handed starter Walt Terrell to the Tigers for infielder Howard Johnson. New York's new third baseman will spend nine years with the club, returning to the organization to become a minor-league manager and big-league coach.


1988 Nolan Ryan becomes the first major leaguer to play for all four original expansion teams when he signs as a free agent with the Rangers, who played their first 11 seasons as the new Senators in Washington, D.C. The right-hander broke in with the Mets (1966, 1968-71) before being traded to the Angels (1972-79) and then signing with the Astros (1980-1988), known initially as the Colt .45s.


1988 The Mets deal Wally Backman and prospect Mike Santiago to the Twins for minor leaguers Jeff Bumgarner, Steve Gasser, and Toby Nivens. The trade leaves second base open for Gregg Jefferies, but the highly touted rookie infielder will falter, hitting a meager .258 next season.

 

1992 The Reds sign free-agent outfielder Roberto Kelly to a three-year deal. The 28-year-old All-Star outfielder will play solid baseball for his new team, compiling a .313 batting average in 125 games in Cincinnati before being traded to Atlanta during the season in 1994 for Deion Sanders.

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1995 On the day he is traded to the Yankees, Tino Martinez celebrates his 28th birthday and the birth of his daughter, Victoria. After reaching an agreement on a five-year, $20.25 million deal with his new team, the former Mariners' first baseman is acquired by the Bronx Bombers today, along with pitchers Jim Mecir and Jeff Nelson for southpaw Sterling Hitchcock and third baseman Russell Davis.

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1999 The Mariners sign Mets' free-agent first baseman John Olerud to a $20-million, three-year deal. The former Washington State University All-American garners a Gold Glove in his three seasons with Seattle, playing a pivotal role in the team's historic 116-46 campaign in 2001, compiling a .401 on-base percentage.

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2001 In a rare deal between the crosstown rivals, the Yankees trade outfielder/DH David Justice (.241, 18, 51) to the Mets for third baseman Robin Ventura (.237, 21, 61). The teams had exchanged players only six times in forty years, the last time being in 1992 when the Mets dealt Frank Tanana for Kenny Greer, a minor league pitcher.

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2004 The Executive Board of the Players' Association authorizes union head Donald Fehr and their lawyers to work on a new agreement to address the steroid problem in major league baseball. In light of the BALCO scandal, the 40 players attending the meeting appeared to agree with the owners that there is a need for more frequent and stricter testing.

2004 After refusing a $60 million, four-year extension from the Red Sox last winter, Nomar Garciaparra signs a one-year deal with the Cubs, the team he was traded to in July, for $8 million. The All-Star shortstop, coming off an injury-plagued season, can increase the contract's value with bonus incentives based on performance and playing time to $11 million.

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2005 The Rangers trade Alfonso Soriano to the Nationals for outfielders Brad Wilkerson and Terrmel Sledge, along with minor league pitching prospect Armando Galarraga. Texas frees up funds to seek much-needed pitching by dumping the All-Star second baseman's salary.


2005 The Diamondbacks acquire All-Star catcher Johnny Estrada (.261, 4, 39) from the Braves for a pair of right-handed relievers, Lance Cormier (7-3, 5.11) and Oscar Villarreal (2-0, 5.27). The deal, the first for Arizona's new general manager Josh Byrnes, fills the D-Backs' need for a starting backstop and provides Atlanta to give emerging rookie Brian McCann more playing time.

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2006 Near the end of the Winter Meetings, the Royals sign Gil Meche to a five-year deal valued at $55 million, matching Mike Sweeney's contract as the largest in franchise history. During his five major league seasons, all with the Mariners, the 28-year-old right-hander compiled a 55-44 career record and a 4.65 ERA in 147 games.

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2009 The Lowell Spinners, the Red Sox short-season affiliate, well-known for their unique promotional events, publicly extend an invitation to Michaele and Tareq Salahi to attend the team's Eighth Annual Alumni Dinner to be held later this month at the city's Memorial Auditorium. The infamous couple recently became newsworthy for appearing at a White House State Dinner without being included on the guest list.

2009 Brad Penny and the Cardinals come to terms on a one-year deal, which will pay the right-hander $7.5 million, with an additional $1.5 million available in incentives. After compiling a 7-8 record with a 5.61 ERA and being moved to the bullpen by the Red Sox, the two-time All-Star hurler (2006, 2007) asks Boston to release him, which allows the 31-year-old to finish the season with San Francisco.

2009 Adam Everett and the Tigers agree to a one-year, $1.55 million deal, keeping the infielder in Detroit. The slick-fielding shortstop batted .238 with three homers and 44 RBIs for the second-place club last season.

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2009 Carl Pavano accepts the Twins' salary arbitration offer, keeping the right-hander with Minnesota next season. The Southington, CT native posted a 5-4 record with a 4.64 ERA in a dozen starts for the team after being obtained from Cleveland in August.

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2011 The Marlins continue to sign prime free agents when they reach a deal with 32-year-old southpaw Mark Buehrle (13-9, 3.59) for $58 million over four years. Miami has also come to terms with shortstop Jose Reyes and closer Heath Bell while pursuing super-star Albert Pujols and starting pitcher C.J. Wilson.

2011 In separate deals with free agents, the Pirates sign left-handed starter Erik Bedard and outfielder Nate McLouth, who played with the franchise from 2005 to 2009. The Bucs' new southpaw compiled a 5-9 record last season with Seattle and Boston, and the 30-year-old Gold Glove flycatcher returns to the Steel City three years after being traded to Atlanta, where he hit .229 in 250 games.

2011 The Astros hire Jeff Luhnow as the team's general manager to replace Ed Wade, fired last month in the first major moves made by the new owner, Jim Crane. The 45-year-old new GM, a vice president with St. Louis since 2003, will try to improve upon Houston's 56-106 finish last season, the worst record in franchise history.

2011 Tim McCarver is named the Ford C. Frick Award recipient, becoming the second television analyst, joining Tony Kubek to win the broadcasting excellence award. The former catcher and longtime broadcaster has provided regional analysis for the Mets, Yankees, and Phillies, as well as appearing on the national stage doing the Game of the Week and postseason telecasts for NBC, CBS, and FOX.

2011 At the Winter Meetings, Jose Reyes is introduced as the Marlins' new shortstop. The 28-year-old switch-hitting infielder, the NL's batting champ, signed a six-year, $106 million contract to play with Miami after the cash-strapped Mets showed little interest in retaining their homegrown All-Star.

2012 The Nationals bolster an already solid rotation when the team signs veteran Dan Haren to a one-year deal for $13 million. The 32-year-old right-hander joins starters Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, and Ross Detwiler.

2013 Center Fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and the Yankees agree to a seven-year deal, valued around $153 million, joining Brian McCann as the team's second major free-agent signing this week. The outfielder, who played a major role in the Red Sox' World Championship last season, also received offers from the Tigers, his former team, and the Mariners.

2015 The Diamondbacks obtain right-handed starter Shelby Miller from the Braves for outfielder Ender Inciarte, pitching prospect Aaron Blair, and Dansby Swanson, the first player selected in this year's MLB June Amateur Draft. The transaction marks the first time a team deals a #1 overall pick within the first year of the player's career, a move made possible because teams are now allowed to trade recently drafted picks after the World Series.

2020 "It could have been a joy, a celebration. Instead, I played angry. In baseball, if a couple things go wrong for you, and those things get misperceived, or distorted, you get a label. I was labeled an outlaw, and after a while that's what I became." - DICK ALLEN, reflecting on his embattled major leaguer career in an autobiography.
Seventy-eight-year-old Dick Allen, known as the Wampum Walloper, died in the Pennsylvania town where he was born. Although the controversial All-Star first baseman/DH had difficulties with the press and teammates, the former Rookie of the Year (1964 Phillies) and Most Valuable Player (1972 White Sox) became one of the most dominant players in the game during his 15-year major league career.


2022 Joining a well-paid infield featuring Fernando Tatis Jr. (14 years, $340 million) and Manny Machado (10 years and $300 million), Red Sox free-agent shortstop Xander Bogaerts agrees to an 11-year, $280-million deal with the Padres. The four-time All-Star from Oranjestad, Aruba, batted .292 during his decade with Boston.

2022 The Mets and right-hander Justin Verlander agree to a two-year free-agent deal worth $86.7 million with an option for an additional season. The team hopes the signing of the 39-year-old reigning American League Cy Young Award winner will fill the void created by the recent departure of Jacob deGrom, also a multiple CYA winner who signed with the Rangers.


2023 Ron Darling, Class of 1981, becomes the second Yale player elected into the College Baseball Hall of Fame after compiling an impressive collegiate record that included 25 consecutive complete games, 23 wins, 236 strikeouts, and a career 2.18 ERA. The Hawaiian-born, Massachusetts-raised right-hander, best known for his playing days with the Mets, batted .384 with a .589 slugging percentage during his sophomore year with the Bulldogs.

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Frank Quinn, ‘48, a right-hander who led the Yale baseball team to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA College World Series, was selected to CBHOFin 2021. - LP)

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706

 

i MET MICKEY ONCE WHEN HE WAS GOLFING NEAR LEESBURG WITh BIRDIE TEBBTS,He SIGNED MY TOPPS CARD,WHEN I LEFT HOMe FOR uf mOM TOSSED IT smh!

 

12/8 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS
1923 Joe Burke baseball executive (president KC Royals 1981-92)

1941 Ed Brinkman shortstop (MLB All Star 1973; Gold Glove Award 1972 Detroit Tigers; Washington Senators)


1968 Mike Mussina, HOF pitcher (5 x MLB All Star; 7 x Gold Glove Award; Baltimore Orioles, NY Yankees)


1978 Vernon Wells III center fielder (Toronto Blue Jays; 3-time MLB All-Star & Gold Glove)


1981 Jeremy Accardo Pitcher


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This Day in Baseball History
December 8th​

1914 Afraid of losing his unsigned second baseman to the upstart Federal League, Connie Mack sells Eddie Collins to the White Sox for $50,000, a hefty sum at the time. The A's have already lost Eddie Plank and Chief Bender to the new league.

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1941 Yesterday's bombing of Pearl Harbor and America's sudden involvement in the war change the tentative plans of the American League owners, who were considering shifting a franchise. The group would have considered moving the Browns from St. Louis to Los Angeles at their meeting.


1941 Following yesterday's attack on Pearl Harbor, Cubs' owner Phillip K. Wrigley donates 165 tons of steel, slotted to be used for the proposed light standards at Wrigley Field, to the war effort. After President Franklin Roosevelt requested more major league night baseball games, the team looked into the possibility of using wooden poles and second-hand equipment to illuminate the Northside ballpark, with the War Production Board rejecting the plan on three occasions.

1947 Brooklyn acquires sure-handed infielder Billy Cox and southpaw Preacher Roe from the Pirates, and both will play vital roles in the Dodgers' successes during the next decade. The deal, which includes utility player Gene Mauch, sends hurlers Vic Lombardi, Al Gregg, and Dixie Walker, a former batting champ who asked to be traded in the spring because he didn't want to play with Jackie Robinson, to Pittsburgh.

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1961 The Mets purchase outfielder Richie Ashburn from the Cubs. The veteran outfielder, the club's first-ever representative on the National League's All-Star team, will be given a boat after being named the Most Valuable Player of the last-place team, which unfortunately will sink before he uses it.

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1966 The Yankees trade two-time MVP Roger Maris to the Cardinals for third baseman Charley Smith, who will hit only .224 during his two-year tenure in New York. The former Bronx Bomber outfielder will play a vital role in the Redbirds' World Championship next season, helping the club win another pennant the following year.

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1980 The first significant trade ever made at the annual winter meeting occurs in Dallas when Padres' reliever Rollie Fingers and Cardinals' catcher Terry Kennedy are the key players involved in an eleven-player swap.

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1983 The Dodgers trade southpaw Sid Fernandez and utility infielder Ross Jones to the Mets in exchange for infielder/outfielder Bob Bailor and left-hander Carlos Diaz. 'El Sid' will compile a 98-78 record, posting a respectableERA of 3.14 during his ten-year tenure with New York

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1984 Replacing Lee MacPhail, the owners elect Dr. Bobby Brown as the American League president. The former Yankee infielder, now a heart specialist, will serve until 1994, with very few controversies during his ten-year tenure in the post. The owners considered Brown to replace Bowie Kuhn as commissioner, but wanting a businessman the top job, offered him Brown the position of president of the American League.

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1988 Free-agent southpaw Bruce Hurst agrees to a three-year, $5.25 million deal to pitch for the Padres. The left-hander leaves the Red Sox, the only major league team he has known, after compiling an 88-73 record during nine seasons with Boston.

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1992 Former Pirates outfielder Barry Bonds signs the richest contract in major league history when he agrees to a $43-million, six-year deal to play for the Giants. The free agent will not disappoint the San Francisco fans, winning the National League Most Valuable Player award, his third in four years, when he hits a career-high .336 batting average to go along with 46 homers and 123 RBIs.
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2021
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