Today In Baseball History: December

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 1st:

1956: Frank Robinson is unanimously named NL Rookie of the Year. Luis Aparaicio wins in the AL.

1964: The Houston Colt .45s officially change their name to the Astros.

1970: The White Sox trade Luis Aparaicio to the Red Sox for Mike Andrews and Luis Alvarado.

1971: The Cubs announce Ernie Banks will be a coach for the team the following season, ending his 19 year career.

1987: Brett Butler signs a two year deal with the Giants.

1989: The Angels and Mark Langston agree to a five year deal worth $16 million.

1998: The Rangers sign Rafael Palmerio to a five year deal worth $45 million.

2000: Turk Wendell, who wore #99, agree to a three year deal with the Mets worth $9,999,999.99.

2011: The Red Sox introduces Bobby Valentine as their new manager.

2015: The Dodgers name Dave Roberts manager.

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 5th:

1957: The Reds trade Curt Flood and Joe Taylor to the Cardinals for Marty Kutyna, Willard Schmidt, and Ted Wieand.

1973: The Dodgers trade Willie Davis to the Expos for Mike Marshall.

1973: The Cubs Ron Santo becomes the first player to use his 10-5 rights to veto a trade. The Cubs were going to deal him to the Angels for two pitchers.

1977: The Angels trade Bobby Bonds, Thad Bosley, and Richard Dotson to the White Sox for Brian Downing, Dave Frost, and Chris Knapp.

1978: The Phillies sign Pete Rose to a four year deal worth $3.2 million.

1984: The A’s trade Rickey Henderson and Bert Bradley to the Yankees for Jay Howell, Jose Rijo, Stan Javier, and two minor leaguers.

1990: The Blue Jays trade Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez to the Padres for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter.

1996: The Players and owners agree to a new five year collective bargaining agreement, which clears the way for inter league play.

2002: The Mets sign Tom Glavine to a three year deal worth $35 million.

2010: The Nationals and Jayson Werth agree to a seven year deal worth $126 million.

2011: The Golden Era Committee posthumously elects Ron Santo to the Hall of Fame.

2014: The Rays name Kevin Cash manager.

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 8th:

1914: Afraid of losing him to the Federal League, The A’s sell Eddie Collins to the White Sox for $50,000.

1961: The Mets purchase Richie Ashburn from the Cubs.

1966: The Yankees trade Roger Maris to the Cardinals for Charley Smith.

1980: As part of a seven player deal, the Padres send Rollie Fingers to the Cardinals with Terry Kennedy among those going to San Diego. It was the first trade ever made at the annual Winter Meetings.

1992: Bobby Brown is named AL President.

1992: The Giants sign Barry Bonds to a six year deal worth $43 million.

2005: The Red Sox trade Edgar Renteria to the Braves for minor league prospect Andy Marte.

2005: The Reds trade Sean Casey to the Pirates for Dave Williams.

2005: At 47 years old, Julio Franco signs a two year deal with the Mets.

2009: Longtime baseball reporter Peter Gammons announces he’s leaving ESPN for the MLB Network.

2011: The Angels and Albert Pujols agree to a ten year deal worth $254 million. The team earlier in the day signed C.J. Wilson to a five year deal worth $77.5.

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 12th:

1903: The Cardinals trade Mordecai Brown and Jack O’Neil to the Cubs for Larry McLean and Jack Taylor.

1930: The rules committee states a ball that bounces over the wall will be become a ground rule double and no longer considered a home run.

1933: The A’s trade Lefty Grove, Rube Wallberg, and Max Bishop to the Red Sox for Bob Klein, Rabbit Warstler, and $125,000.

1966: By a 4-3 vote, The Supreme Court refuses Wisconsin’s suit to block the Braves move to Atlanta.

1975: The Tigers trade Mickey Lolich and Billy Baldwin to the Mets for Rusty Staub and Bill Laxton.

1998: Kevin Brown becomes the first player in ML history to sign a $100 million contract, agreeing with The Dodgers on a seven year deal worth $15 million per season.

2007: The Giants and Aaron Rowand agree to a five year deal worth $60 million.

2008: The Yankees and AJ Burnett agree to a five year deal worth $82.5 million.

2013: The Mariners and Robinson Cano agree to a 10 year deal worth $240 million.

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 13th:

1911: The Boston Doves are purchased by New York politician James Gaffney and attorney Montgomery Ward. Due to Gaffney’s ties with Tammany Hall, the team changes its name to the Braves.

1956: The Dodgers trade Jackie Robinson to the Giants for Dick Littlefield and $35,000. Instead of playing for the Giants, Robinson would retire.

1969: Curt Flood attends the Players Association meeting to seek financial help in his suit against baseball. The player reps vote unanimously to support him.

1996: Roger Clemens signs a free agent deal with the Blue Jays.

2000: Manny Ramirez signs an eight year contract worth $160 million with the Red Sox.

2003: The Cardinals trade JD Drew and Eli Marrero to the Braves for Ray King, Jason Marquis, and Adam Wainwright.

2007: The much anticipated Mitchell Report On PED use in baseball is released. The committee led by former Senator George Mitchell calls the steroid era in baseball a collective failure and named 89 Former and current players who were alleged to have used PEDs. Among those named were Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Gary Sheffield.

2007: The Yankees and Alex Rodriguez agree to a ten year deal worth a record $275 million.

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 14th:

1948: The Senators trade Early Wynn and Mickey Vernon to the Indians for Eddie Robinson, Joe Haynes, and Eddie Klieman.

1977: The Red Sox trade Fergie Jenkins to the Rangers for pitcher John Poloni, who never played in another big league game.

1985: Roger Maris dies at age 51.

2000: The Cardinals trade Fernando Tatis and Britt Reames to the Expos for Dustin Hermanson and Steve Klein.

2010: The Phillies and Cliff Lee agree to a five year deal worth $120 million.

2013: The Mets sign Bartolo Colon to a two year deal worth $20 million.

2014: New commissioner Rob Manfred denies Pete Rose’s application for reinstatement.

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 16th:

1973: Even With A’s owner Charley Finley threatening legal action, the Yankees name Dick Williams manager.

1975: The A’s name Chuck Tanner manager.

1975: Bill Veeck once again becomes White Sox owner, when his group purchases 80% of the team.

1981: The Reds trade Ray Knight to the Astros for Cesar Cedeno.

2000: Charles Johnson signs a five year deal worth $35 million with the Marlins.

2001: The Giants sign Jason Schmidt to a four year deal worth $31 million.

2001: The Cardinals sign Tino Martinez to a three year deal worth $21 million.

2002: The Astros sign Jeff Kent to a two year deal.

2004: The A’s trade Mark Mulder to the Cardinals for Dan Haren, Kiko Calero, and minor league catcher Daric Barton.

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 24th:

1949: Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander if found unconscious near his home. He was found to be suffering from alcoholism and epliepsy.

1990: The Expos trade Tim Raines and two minor leaguers to the White Sox for Ivan Calderon and Barry Jones.

2002: The Yankees agree to a deal with Cuban defector Jose Contreras. The deal prompts Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino to call the Yankees “The Evil Empire:

2004: The Red Sox and catcher Jason Varitek agree to a four year deal. He also is named team captain.

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 25th:

1927: Hall of Famer Nellie Fox is born in St. Thomas, Pennsylvania.

1958: Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson is born in Chicago, Illinois.

1989: Former ML manager Billy Martin dies in a car accident near his home in Binghamton, New York. He was 61 years old.

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 26th:

1919: In a transaction that wouldn’t become official until January, The Red Sox sell Babe Ruth to the Yankees. The Yankees purchase him for $100,000 and a guaranteed $300,000 loan with Fenway Park used as collateral.

2001: The Angels sign Aaron Sele to a three year deal.

2008: The Giants sign Randy Johnson to a one year deal worth $8 million.

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 27th:

1984: The Yankees sign Ed Whitson to a five year deal.

2001: The Angels trade Mo Vaughn to the Mets for Kevin Appier.

2004: The Giants sign Moises Alou to a one year deal. It marks the second time he’ll play for his father, Felipe, who also managed him with the Expos from 1992-1996.

2013: The Rangers and Shin-Soo Choo agree to a seven year deal worth $130 million.

[50PoundHead]

December 25th:

1927: Hall of Famer Nellie Fox is born in St. Thomas, Pennsylvania.

1958: Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson is born in Chicago, Illinois.

1989: Former ML manager Billy Martin dies in a car accident near his home in Binghamton, New York. He was 61 years old.

I was driving through rural Pennsylvania a few years ago and came upon this billboard.

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 28th:

1926: The Cardinals name Bob O’Farrell to replace Rogers Hornsby as manager.

1994: The Astros trade Ken Caminiti, Andujar Cedeno, Steve Finley, Roberto Petagine, Brian Williams, and a player to be named later (Sean Fesh) to the Padres for Derek Bell, Doug Brocail, Ricky Gutierrez, Pedro Martinez, Phil Plantier, and Craig Shipley.

1998: After signing free agent Gregg Jefferies, the Tigers trade outfield prospect Luis Gonzalez to the Diamondbacks for Karim Garcia.

2005: The White Sox sign Jon Garland to a three year deal worth $29 million.

2005: The Diamondbacks trade Troy Glaus and prospect Sergio Santos to the Blue Jays for Orlando Hudson and Miguel Batista.

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 29th:

1969: The New York Times reports Curt Flood will sue baseball over its reserve clause.

2005: The Rangers agree to a five year deal worth $60 million with Kevin Millwood.

2009: The Giants sign Mark DeRosa to a two year deal.

2009: The Mets and Jason Bay agree to a four year deal worth $66 million.

[CrimsonCowboy]

December 31st:

1897: Charles Ebbets gains 80% control of the Dodgers.

1966: The Braves trade Eddie Mathews, Sandy Alomar, and Arnie Umbach to the Astros for Dave Nicholson and Bob Bruce.

1972: Roberto Clemente is killed when the plane he charters to take relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua crashes off the coast of Puerto Rico.

1974: The Yankees sign Catfish Hunter to a five year deal worth $3.75 million.