BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS
1960 Paul Assenmacher pitcher (Cleveland Indians)


1963 Doug Henry pitcher (NY Mets)


1966 Mel Rojas pitcher (Montreal Expos)


1966 Norberto Martin infielder (Chicago White Sox)

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This Day in Baseball History
December 10th​

1918 The National League elects their secretary, John Heydler, as the circuit's president. The former umpire had briefly served in the post after Harry Pulliam's unexpected death in 1909.

1919 The National League, spearheaded by the leadership of Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss, approves the banning of the spitball, allowing just the current spitballers presently throwing the pitch to use it under a "grandfather" clause. A year later, the American League will adopt the same rule.


1924 The American and National League agree to a permanent rotation system for the World Series. The new arrangement calls for the first two games at one league's park, the next three at the other team's home field, and the final two games (if necessary) played at the first venue. The Senior Circuit is granted the inaugural advantage in next season's Fall Classic.

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1935 The Philadelphia A's trade Jimmie Foxx and Johnny Marcum to the Red Sox for Gordon Rhodes, prospect George Savino, and $150,000. The future Hall of Fame slugger will play six years with Boston, including his third MVP season in 1938, in which he hit .349, slugged 50 home runs, and drve in 175 runs.

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1956 In case of a tie at the season's end, the American League opts for a three-game playoff, replacing the one-game winner-take-all format. The National League has always used the best-of-three series to break deadlocks.

1969 The Indians trade Luis Tiant and Stan Williams to the Twins for Dean Chance, Bob Miller, Graig Nettles, and Ted Uhlaender. None of the players in the deal will stay with their new clubs for more than two seasons, except for Nettles, who will spend three seasons with Cleveland before being traded to New York.

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1971 In one of the worst deals in franchise history, the Mets trade 24-year-old Nolan Ryan and three prospects to the Angels for six-time All-Star third baseman Jim Fregosi. The Texan fireballer will set the all-time strikeout record (5,714) and become a Hall of Fame member, while their new 30-year-old infielder (.232, 5, 32) plays less than two full seasons in New York, providing little help for the team.

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1975 The American League owners agree to let Bill Veeck back into baseball by allowing him to reacquire the White Sox when the maverick purchases the team from John Allyn for nearly $10 million. The Pale Hose new owner's second tenure in the Windy City will include the infamous Disco Demolition Night promotion in 1979, which results in a riot and a forfeit to Detroit at Comiskey Park.

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1981 The Cardinals and Padres swap shortstops when Garry Templeton goes to San Diego along with outfielder Sixto Lezcano as Ozzie Smith and right-hander Steve Mura head for St. Louis. The teams will not finalize the trade for two months until an outside arbitrator determines Smith's salary with his new club.

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1982 The Mets trade starter Mike Scott, who compiled a 14-27 record during his four years with the team, to the Astros in exchange for Danny Heep. After learning to throw the split-finger fastball from Roger Craig, the right-hander becomes the staff's ace, leading Houston to the post-season, throwing a no-hitter, and winning 110 out 191 decisions during his nine-year tenure with the club.

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1984 The Expos trade catcher Gary Carter to the Mets for backstop Mike Fitzgerald, flycatcher Herm Winningham, third baseman Hubie Brooks, and right-hander Floyd Youmans. The perennial All-Star plays a key role in New York's success over the rest of the decade.

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1990 Maniford Harper, known to his friends as Hack, is true to his word when he is buried in a Cub uniform, keeping to the arrangements that made him a central Illinois celebrity in 1980. The 75-year-old Washburn (IL) native's devotion to the team began when, as a polio-stricken 11-year-old, Chicago legend Hack Wilson, among several players visiting the local Shriners Hospital, put his hand on the boy's shoulder and correctly predicted, 'Kid, stick it out. Someday you're gonna walk'.

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1991 The Giants send outfielder Kevin Mitchell and right-hander Mike Remlinger to the Mariners for hurlers Bill Swift, Mike Jackson, and Dave Burba. Mitchell won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1989.

1998 After 24 years and 1,071 appearances, 44-year-old Dennis Eckersley, who has pitched in more games than any other major leaguer, retires as an active player. 'Eck' is the first hurler to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career, a feat John Smoltz will also accomplish in 2002.

1998 Tampa Bay signs Blue Jays free-agent Jose Canseco to a one-year deal to play left field and as a designated hitter. The 34-year-old slugger will have a productive year, going deep 34 times and driving in 95 runs, but his performance doesn't enhance the Devil Rays' last-place finish in the AL East.

 

2008 Nick Peters becomes the 60th winner of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award, named for its first recipient and given annually by the BBWAA "for meritorious contributions to baseball writing." The San Francisco native covered the Giants for 47 years, a span (1961-2007) in which he reported on more Giants games than anyone in franchise history.

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2008 The Mets complete a $37 million, three-year contract with free-agent reliever Francisco Rodriguez. The former Angels' closer, who fills a big void in the New York bullpen due to Billy Wagner's injury, set a major league record last season, recording 62 saves.

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2008 In a 12-player, three-team trade, the Indians send outfield prospect Franklin Gutierrez to Seattle to get Mets side-slinging reliever Joe Smith and second baseman Luis Valbuena from the Mariners. New York's Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez, southpaw Jason Vargas, and three minor leaguers go to the Mariners for closer JJ Putz, who will be the setup man for recently acquired Francisco Rodriguez, center fielder Jeremy Reed, and reliever Sean Green.

2008 With the fourth richest deal in major league history, the most ever offered to a pitcher, the Yankees and free-agent CC Sabathia agree on a $161 million, seven-year contract, with an opt-out clause after three years. The 28-year-old right-hander's $23 million average annual salary eclipses the Mets' February agreement with Johan Santana.

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2009 The Pirates sign Bobby Crosby (.231, 22, 64), the 2004 American League Rookie of the Year, to a $1 million, one-year contract. Last season, the 29-year-old versatile infielder played multiple games for the A's at all four infield positions.

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2019 "You can put it on the board, yes!" - HAWK HARRELSON, White Sox broadcaster's call of an opponent striking out.
The Hall of Fame names long-time White Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson as the winner of the 44th Ford Frick Award, an honor that recognizes excellence in baseball broadcasting. During his 33 years in the broadcast booth, the former big league first baseman/outfielder endeared himself to the Chicago fans with his colorful storytelling and unwavering passion for the Southside team.

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BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS 12.11
1961 Mike Henneman pitcher 1987-96 (Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros)


1964 Thomas Howard outfielder 1990-2000 (San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, and 4 other teams)


1965 Jay Bell infielder (MLB All-Star 1993, 99; World Series 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks; Gold Glove Award 1993 Pittsburgh Pirates)


1972 Francisco Rodriguez pitcher (Minnesota Twins, Tigers)

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Today in Baseball History​

December 11th​

1917 The Phillies trade 30-year-old Grover Cleveland Alexander and catcher Bill Killefer to the Cubs for right-hander Mike Prendergast, who compiles a 13-15 record in his one-plus season with Philadelphia, and reserve backstop William Dillhoefer, who bats .091 in the eight games he plays for the team. From 1918 to 1926, 'Old Pete' compiles a 128-83 record in a Cubs uniform en route to a Hall of Fame career, including playing for the Cardinals.

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In 1924, the Kansas City Monarchs brought the City of Fountains its first major professional league championship trophy by winning the inaugural Negro Leagues World Series. Five Baseball Hall of Famers took part in the 1924 series. Biz Mackey, Judy Johnson, and Louis Santop played for Hilldale, while Bullet Rogan and José Méndez suited up for the Kansas City Monarchs. Monarchs owner J. L. Wilkinson also has a place in the Cooperstown.

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1928 National League president John Heydler proposes a designated batter for the pitcher to speed up the game and add more offense. The American League opposes the idea, and the NL withdraws the proposal before asking Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis to break the deadlock.

 

1941 The Giants deal hurler Bill Lohrman, catcher James O'Dea, first baseman Johnny McCarthy, and $50,000 to the Cardinals for Johnny Mize. Despite missing three years due to WWII, the Giants' new first baseman will spend five productive seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the team, hitting .299 and averaging more than 100 RBIs per season.

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1950 A. B. 'Happy' Chandler's contract as commissioner isn't renewed for a second term when he receives only nine of the twelve owners' votes needed for re-election. The future Hall of Famer is credited for integrating the majors, putting six umpires on the field during the World Series, and establishing the players' pension fund in 1947, with the $475,000 made by selling the rights to broadcast the World Series on the radio.

1951 "I can no longer produce for my ballclub, my manager, my teammates, and my fans the sort of baseball their loyalty to me deserves." - Joe DiMaggio At the Yankees' Fifth Avenue suite in the Squibb Tower, a tearful Joe DiMaggio, two weeks after his 37th birthday, announces to the press his decision to retire from baseball. The Bronx Bomber outfielder, claiming he "no longer has it" due to age and injuries, ends his thirteen-year career with a lifetime .325 BA and 361 home runs, rejecting owner Dan Topping's $100,000 offer to play next season.

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1952 The Pirates name Fred Haney as the team's manager, replacing Billy Meyer, who was selected as The Sporting News Major League Manager of the Year in 1948 following his first season at the helm. The Bucs will finish each season in last place, compiling a dismal 163-299 (.353) record during their new skipper's three-year tenure in Pittsburgh.

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1954 The Phillies purchase Connie Mack Stadium for $1,675,000 from Arnold Johnson, the A's new owner, who acquired the ballpark as part of his purchase of the American League team. The Phils, who had been paying a minimal rent to share the park with the American League team, become the sole occupants of the aging downtown facility, their home for the next 15 seasons, when their Junior Circuit rivals move to Kansas City.

1956 Bob Feller, a future Hall of Fame hurler with the Indians, becomes the first president of a major league player association. One of many attempts by the players to form a union will prove to be very successful a decade later with the hiring of Marvin Miller to be the MLBPA's first executive director in 1966.

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1959 After the Pirates reject the A's offer to exchange Dick Groat for Roger Maris, Kansas City, prohibited from trading the outfielder to the Yankees for 18 months, send the right fielder, shortstop Joe DeMaestri, and first baseman Kent Hadleyand to the Bronx for Hank Bauer, Don Larsen, Norm Siebern, and Marv Throneberry. The American League put a moratorium on trades by Kansas City, hoping to alleviate the perception that the team was serving as a 'big league' farm club for the Bronx Bombers.

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1962 The Red Sox trade Tracy Stallard, Pumpsie Green, and a player to be named later (Al Moran) to the Mets in exchange for Felix Mantilla. Stallard, best known for throwing the pitch to Roger Maris for the record-breaking 61st home run, will become a twenty-game loser for New York in 1964.

1965 Braves' southpaw Warren Spahn, 44, becomes the first player in franchise history, and the only one not to play in Atlanta, to have his number retired. The winningest left-handed pitcher in baseball history, who wore number 21, won 363 games during his 21-year career, ending this season with brief stints with the Mets and Giants.

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1968 The Angels trade two catchers, Ed Kirkpatrick and Dennis Paepke, to the Kansas City A's for Hoyt Wilhelm. Before being traded to Atlanta in September, the right-handed knuckleballer will post a 5-7 record and ten saves while compiling a respectable ERA of 2.47 during his five months with the Halos.