BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

2012 Left-handed starter Cole Hamels (14-9, 2.79) and the Phillies come to terms on a $15 million, one-year contract. The southpaw's deal surpasses the highest previous amount offered to an arbitration-eligible player of $12.4 million that the Cubs paid Carlos Zambrano in 2007.


2012 Calling them the "greatest comeback team in the history of baseball," President Barack Obama welcomes the World Champion Cardinals to the White House. Albert Pujols, now an Angel after signing an extremely lucrative free-agent deal last month, and manager Tony La Russa, who retired at the end of the season, are noticeably absent from the East Room ceremony.


2012 The Red Sox and Jacoby Ellsbury avoid arbitration, agreeing on a one-year, $8.05 million non-guaranteed deal. The 28-year-old outfielder, the American League Comeback Player of the Year, finished second in AL Most Valuable Player balloting behind Tiger right-hander Justin Verlander, hit .321, belting 32 home runs, and driving in 105 runs for the last-place team.

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2014 The Tigers come to terms with Max Scherzer on a one-year contract for $15,525,000, avoiding arbitration with the 29-year-old right-hander, who will be eligible for free agency after next season. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner posted a 21-3 record last season, along with a 2.90 ERA and 240 strikeouts, before earning two victories in the ALDS against Oakland for the AL Central Division champs.

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2020 The Rockies announce the team plans to retire the #33, honoring former outfielder Larry Walker, who spent parts of ten seasons with Colorado, hitting .334 along with 258 round-trippers for the club. The BBWAA will elect the 1997 National League MVP, a season he compiled a .366 batting average and slugged 49 home runs, to the Hall of Fame in a few days after the Canadian ballplayer appears on the ballot for the tenth and final time.

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Today In 1970: Willie Mays is named the "Player of the Decade" by the Sporting News! "The Say Hey Kid" averaged 35 HR - 100 RBI - .300 BA (1960-69) while winning 9 Gold Gloves! #SFGiants
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D1Baseball
@NCStateBaseball
should have one of its more talented pitching staffs in recent memory. "NC State looks like a team that will be deadly if it can just enter the final three innings of a game with a lead."

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David Wells paid a $2,500 fine for wearing Babe Ruth's original Yankee cap. He bought the cap for $35,000, was told he couldn't wear it in a game, and did so anyway. He sold it 13 years later at auction for $535,000.
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"One time he hit a line drive right past my ear. I turned around and saw the ball hit his ass sliding into second" Satchel Paige regarding Cool Papa Bell's speed
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During a road trip, some Blue Jays fans wanted to meet Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Lourdes Guerriel Jr went to tell him about it, and Vladdy went out of his way to make this an experience they’ll never forget.
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Teddy Ballgame
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"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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Louis Santop was regarded by many as “the first Negro League superstar” whose clout made him a crowd favorite for Hilldale. The Hall of Fame catcher was born #OTD in 1889.
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