Today In Baseball History: January

CrimsonCowboy

CrimsonCowboy

Moderator
Happy New Year!!!! January 1st:

1927: After 18 seasons with the team, future Hall of Famer Zack Wheat is released by the Brooklyn Robins.

1961: Detroit's home stadium is officially renamed Tiger Stadium.

1970: Chub Feeney takes over for Warren Giles as N.L. President.

1974: Lee MacPhail takes over for Joe Cronin as A.L. President.

1982: Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis becomes simply Busch Stadium.
 
January 4th:

1942: Rogers Hornsby is elected to the Hall of Fame.

1971: Veterans Stadium, the new home of the Phillies, is dedicated.

2002: The Twins name Ron Gardenhire manager.

2004: Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg are elected to the Hall of Fame.
 
January 5th:

1927: Commissioner Landis begins a three day hearing into the allegations that the Tigers threw a four game series against the White Sox in 1917.

1982: Dodgers announcer Vin Scully is named the winner of the Ford Frick Award.

1994: The Royals trade Kevin McReynolds to the Mets for Vince Coleman and cash.

1999: After receiving an apology from George Steinbrenner for being dismissed as manager in 1985 after just 16 games, Yogi Berra ends his self-imposed exile from Yankee Stadium.

2001: The Mariners sign Ichiro Suzuki to the three year deal worth more than $14 million.

2011: Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar are elected to the Hall of Fame.

2011: The Rangers sign Adrian Beltre to a six year deal worth $96 million.

2012: The Cubs trade pitcher Carlos Zambrano to the Marlins for pitcher Chris Volstad and cash.
 
January 6th:

1914: A new rule takes effect that says att ballparks must have a center field wall that is green and blank. It becomes known as the batter's eye.

1942: After being the first M.L. player to enlist in the service, Bob Feller reports to Norfolk to begin his time in the Navy.

1964: A's owner Charlie Finley announces he signed a two year deal to move the team to Louisville from Kansas City. The A.L. owners would veto the move.

1981: The San Diego city council approves the name change of the Padres ballpark to Jack Murphy Stadium.

1997: Phil Niekro is elected to the Hall of Fame.

1997: Owner Peter O'Malley announces the Dodgers are for sale. The family had owned the team since 1951.

2010: Andre Dawson is elected to the Hall of Fame.
 
January 7th:

1933: Commissioner Landis volunarily cuts his pay by 40%.

1985: Lou Brock and Hoyt Wilhelm are elected to the Hall of Fame.

1992: Rollie Fingers and Tom Seaver are elected to the Hall of Fame.

2007: Randy Johnson agrees to a two year deal worth $26 million with the Diamondbacks. The agreement means that only a physical and MLB approval is needed for a trade from the Yankees to be finalized. The Yankees would eventually receive reliever Luis Vizcaino and four minor leaguers.

2010: The Red Sox trade first baseman Casey Kotchman to the Mariners for outfielder Bill Hall along with a player to be named later and cash.

2011: The Cubs send outfielder Sam Fuld and four minor leaguers to the Rays for starter Matt Garza, outfielder Fernando Perez, and a minor leaguer.
 
January 9th:

1903: The defunct A.L. franchise in Baltimore is purchased for $18,000 by Frank Farrell and Bill Devery and moved to New York. The team nickname becomes the Highlanders. It would change to the Yankees in 1913.

1952: The Marines recall Ted Williams to active duty in the Korean War.

1960: Mickey Mantle defeats Willie Mays 9-8 in the first televised episode of Home Run Derby.

1984: Braves pitcher Pascual Perez is arrested in the Dominican Republic for possession of cocaine. He will remain in jail for the start of the season.

1989: Carl Yastrzemski and Johnny Bench are elected to the Hall of Fame.

1990: Jim Palmer and Joe Morgan are elected to the Hall of Fame.

1990: A lock-out of M.L. players is announced to start on February 15th.

2001: The Indians sign Juan Gonzalez to a one year deal worth $10 million.

2002: Billy Wagner signs a three year deal worth $27 million with the Astros.

2005: Carlos Beltran signs a seven year deal worth $119 million with the Mets.

2012: Barry Larkin is elected to the Hall of Fame.
 
I'll never forget January 15th, 2002...don't think I've ever been more excited looking forward to a season than I was that day. Basically doing cartwheels in the hallway of my high school.
 
January 10th:

1928: The Giants trade Rogers Hornsby to the Braves for outfielder Jimmy Welsh and catching prospect Shanty Hogan. The Braves became Hornsby's third team in three years.

1991: The Orioles trade pitchers Curt Schilling, Pete Harnish, and outfielder Steve Finley to the Astros for first baseman Glenn Davis.

2002: The Yankees sign David Wells to a two year deal worth seven million.

2006: Bruce Sutter becomes the fourth relief pitcher elected to the Hall of Fame.
 
January 11th:

1915: Colonel Jack Ruppert and Colonel Tillinghast L. Hutson purchase the Yankees for $460,000.

1949: The Story Quarry is Milwaukee is selected as the site for construction of the new County Stadium. The site is selected in hopes of luring a MLB team to the city.

1960: The Phillies trade Richie Ashburn to the Cubs for infielders Alvin Dark and Jim Woods along with pitcher John Buzhardt.

1968: Ewing Kauffman is named owner of the new A.L. franchise in Kansas City.

1973: The N.L. owners veto the D.H. rules after the A.L. approved.

1977: The Dodgers trade outfielder/first baseman Bill Buckner, and shortstop Ivan DeJesus to the Cubs for outfielder Rick Monday.

1983: Billy Martin is named Yankees manager for the third time.

2000: Tony Perez and Carlton Fisk are elected to the Hall of Fame.

2000: Hall of Famer Bob Lemon dies at age 79.

2008: The Indians change the name of their stadium from Jacobs Field to Progressive Field.

2010: The Reds sign Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman to a six year deal worth $30.25 million.
 
January 12th:

1920: MLB adopts the draft plan created by Charlie Ebbets to keep competitive balance is adopted. Ebbets plan called for the order of the draft to be based on inverse order of the final standings.

1981: At age 42, Gaylord Perry signs a one year deal with the Braves.

1983: Brooks Robinson and Juan Marichal are elected to the Hall of Fame.

1988: Willie Stargell is elected to the Hall of Fame.

2005: The Dodgers sign Derek Lowe to a four year deal worth $36 million.

2009: Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice are elected to the Hall of Fame.

2012: The owner vote to give Commissioner Bud Selig a two year contract extension.
 
January 13th:

1958: New York Senator Kenneth Keating proposes a ban on M.L. telecasts within 100 mile radius of minor league territories.

1978: Hall of Fame Joe McCarthy dies at age 90.

1982: Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson are elected to the Hall of Fame.

1988: Former N.L. MVP Steve Garvey retires after 19 seasons.

2005: The M.L. owners approve the sale of the Brewers to Mark Attanasio. The sale was for $223 million.

2006: The Braves trade catcher Johnny Estrada to the Diamondbacks for relievers Oscar Villarreal and Lance Cormier.

2009: The Brewers sign 41-year old reliever Trevor Hoffman to a one year deal.
 
January 14th:

1922: The Senators name Clyde Milan manager.

1954: Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe get married in San Francisco.

1963: The Orioles trade pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm and outfielder Dave Nicholson to the White Sox for shortstop Luis Aparicio and outfielder Al Smith.

1976: Ted Turner, the owner of Atlanta TV station WTCG, purchases the Braves for $12 million.

1981: The Giants name Frank Robinson manager. Robinson, who became the first black manager in M.L. in 1975 with the Indians, becomes the first in N.L. history.

1987: Catfish Hunter and Billy Williams are elected to the Hall of Fame.

2000: The Cardinals trade third baseman Fernando Tatis and pitcher Brett Reames to the Expos for pitchers Dustin Hermanson and Steve Kline.

2002: The Giants sign Barry Bonds to a five year deal worth $90 million.

2008: The Cardinals trade third baseman Scott Rolen to the Blue Jays for third baseman Troy Glaus.

2008: The A's trade center fielder Mark Kotsay to the Braves for pitcher Joey Devine and a prospect.

2012: The Mariners trade pitcher Michael Pineda to the Yankees for catching prospect Jesus Montero.
 
January 15th:

1942: President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues his "Green Light Letter", answering Commissioner Landis' question about playing during World War II. FDR tells Landis that playing baseball would be good for the country and also encouraged owners to have more night games to give war workers more chances to attend.

1964: Willie Mays signs a contract worth $105,000 with the Giants, making him the game's highest paid player.

1967: Tom Brown becomes the first player in M.L. history to play in the Super Bowl, doing so with the Green Bay Packers.

2002: The Dodgers trade outfielder Gary Sheffield to the Braves for outfielder Brian Jordan and pitcher Odalis Perez.

2009: The Braves sign Derek Lowe to a four year deal worth $60 million.

2013: The Nationals sign reliever Rafael Soriano to a two year deal worth $28 million.

January 16th:

1964: By a 9-1 vote, the A.L. owners nix the plans of A's owner Charley Finley to move the team from Kansas City to Louisville for two years.

2001: Dave Winfield and Kirby Puckett are elected to the Hall of Fame.

2003: The owners establish a minimum age of 14 for bat boys. This after the four year old son of Giants manager Dusty Baker was almost in a collision at home plate during the World Series.

2003: The owners unanimously approve a new rule making the winning league receiving home field advantage in the World Series.

2003: Gary Carter is elected to the Hall of Fame.

2009: The Red Sox sign infielder Kevin Youkilis to a four year extension worth $41 million.

2014: The owners approve expanded replay. By rule, managers will get one challenge per game and beginning in the seventh inning, the crew chiefs will be able to ask for a review from the command center at the MLB headquarters in New York.
 
January 17th:

1915: The Cleveland Naps change their nickname to the Indians.

1970: The Sporting News names Willie Mays as the player of the decade for the 1960s.

1983: The Braves and Bob Horner agree to a four year deal worth $6 million.

1986: The Braves and their mascot Chief Noc-A-Homa end their 17 year association. Levi Walker, the third to play the mascot, is dissatisfied with his pay of $60 a game and the Braves were disappointed in him missing seven scheduled appearances the last year.

2002: The A's sign Jermaine Dye to a three year extension worth $32 million.
 
January 18th:

1938: Grover Cleveland Alexander is elected to the Hall of Fame.

1947: The Tigers sell Hank Greenberg to the Pirates.

1969: The Senators name Ted Williams manager.

1973: Orlando Cepeda signs with the Red Sox. Cepeda becomes the first player signed by a team to be their designated hitter.

2005: The Dodgers sign reliever Eric Gagne to a two year deal worth $19 million.

2008: By unanimous vote by the owners, Commissioner Bud Selig's contract is extended by three years.

2009: The Phillies sign Cole Hamels to a three year deal worth $20.5 million.

2011: The Yankees sign reliever Rafael Soriano to a three year deal worth $35 million.

2012: Just minutes before the deadline to sign a deal, the Rangers and Japanese star pitcher Yu Darvish agree to a six year deal worth $60 million.

2014: The Dodgers announce they had reached an agreement on a record contract with pitcher Clayton Kershaw. It was a seven year deal worth $215 million, the richest ever for a pitcher.
 
January 19th:

1932: Commissioner Landis denies the appeal for reinstatement by Shoeless Joe Jackson.

1937: Cy Young, Nap Lajoie, and Tris Speaker are elected to the Hall of Fame.

1961: The Indians release Don Newcombe, ending his ten year M.L. career.

1972: At age 36, Sandy Koufax becomes the youngest player elected to the Hall of Fame. Also elected are Yogi Berra and Early Wynn.

1983: Ozzie Smith becomes the first shortstop to make a million dollar salary in a three year deal with the Cardinals.

2009: Bill Werber, the oldest living ex-player and last teammate of Babe Ruth, dies at 100 years old.
 
January 20th:

1871: The Boston Red Stockings, the current day Atlanta Braves, are incorporated.

1966: Ted Williams becomes the first A.L. position player to be elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

1984: As compensation for losing a "Type A" free agent, the White Sox draft Tom Seaver, who was left unprotected by the Mets.

1997: Curt Flood, who challenged Baseball's reserve clause, taking it all the way to the Supreme Court, dies at age 59 due to throat cancer. Though he lost his case, Flood's cause laid the groundwork for free agency in baseball.
 
January 21st:

1921: Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis is named the first commissioner of MLB.

1941: The Indians sign Bob Feller to a contract worth $30,000.

1947: Carl Hubbell, Lefty Grove, Frank Frisch, and Mickey Cochrane are elected to the Hall of Fame.

1953: Al Simmons and Dizzy Dean are elected to the Hall of Fame.

1969: Stan Musial and Roy Campanella are elected to the Hall of Fame.

2006: The Orioles trade pitcher Jorge Julio and John Maine to the Mets for pitcher Kris Benson.

2008: The Cardinals and catcher Yadier Molina agree to a four year deal worth $15.5 million.

2011: The Blue Jays trade outfielder Vernon Wells to the Angels for catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera.
 
January 22nd:

1913: The Giants agree to share the Polo Grounds with the Highlanders.

1976: Robin Roberts and Bob Lemon are elected to the Hall of Fame.

1982: Reggie Jackson signs a four year deal with the Angels.

2003: Ivan Rodriguez signs a one year deal worth $10 million with the Marlins.

2010: The Phillies and Shane Victorino agree to a three year deal worth $22 million.

2014: The Yankees sign Japanese pitcher Mashiro Tanaka to a seven year deal worth $155 million.
 
January 23rd:

1967: Four years after retiring as a player, Stan Musial is named the Cardinals GM.

1968: Joe Medwick is elected to the Hall of Fame.

1975: Ralph Kiner is elected to the Hall of Fame.

1979: Willie Mays is elected to the Hall of Fame.

1981: A front office mistake forces the Red Sox to trade Fred Lynn to the Angels. The Red Sox failed to mail a new contract, allowing the possibility of Lynn becoming a free agent.

2008: The Rockies and Troy Tulowitzki agree on a six year deal worth $31 million.
 
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