Today In Baseball History: January

CrimsonCowboy

CrimsonCowboy

Moderator
January 1st:

1927: Future Hall of Famer Zack Wheat is released by Brooklyn after 18 years with the team.

1961: Briggs Stadium in Detroit is officially renamed Tiger Stadium.

1970: Chub Feeney takes over as N.L. President, a post he would hold for 16 years.

1974: Lee MacPhail takes over as AL president.
 
January 2nd:

1912: Dodgers owner Charles Ebbets announces the purchase of 4.5 acres of land in the Pigtown segment of Brooklyn, the site of a new ballpark. Ebbets Field would be built on the site and be the team's home until 1957.

1918: The Dodgers trade Casey Stengel and George Cutshaw to the Pirates for Burleigh Grimes, Al Mamaux, and Chuck Ward.

1977: Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends Braves owner Ted Turner for tampering in the free agent signing of Gary Matthews.

1986: Former owner of the Browns, Indians, and White Sox Bill Veeck dies at age 71.

1992: Frank Viola signs a free agent deal with the Red Sox.
 
January 3rd:

1920: The secret deal for the Red Sox to sell Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $125,000 is announced to the public. Red Sox owner Harry Frazee also secured a $300,000 loan from the Yankees as part of the deal.

1973: Heading a partnership that included Lester Crown, John DeLorean, and Nelson Baker Hunt, George Steinbrenner purchases the Yankees from CBS.

1977: Mary Shane of the White Sox becomes the first woman to do play by play for a ML team on a regular basis.

1991: Hall of Famer Luke Appling dies at age 83.

2005: Commissioner Bud Selig approves a trade that sends Randy Johnson from the Diamondbacks to the Yankees for Javier Vazquez, Dioner Navarro, Brad Halsey, and $9 million.

2005: Team officials announce the Angels will be known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

2008: The A's trade Nick Swisher to the White Sox for minor leaguers Gio Gonzalez, Fautino De Los Santos, and Ryan Sweeney.

2013: The Indians sign Nick Swisher to a four year deal worth $56 million.
 
January 4th:

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

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

2002: The Twins name Ron Gardenhire manager.

2002: The Cardinals sign Matt Morris to a three year deal worth $27 million.

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

1927: Commissioner Landis begins a three day hearing to investigate if the Tigers threw a series to the White Sox during the 1917 season.

1934: A fire destroys the newly built concrete and steel grandstand and center field bleachers at Fenway Park. Team owner Tom Yawkey will have construction crews work overtime to rebuild in time for the Red Sox home opener on April 17th against the Senators.

1963: Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby dies at age 66.

1982: Vin Scully receives the Ford Frick Award.

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

1999: Yogi Berra receives an apology from George Steinbrenner for his dismissal as manager in 1985, ending his self-imposed exile from the team and Yankee Stadium.

2001: The Mariners sign Japanese star Ichiro Suzuki to a three year deal worth $14 million.

2009: Twins owner Carl Pohlad dies at age 93.

2009: The Cubs and Milton Bradley agree to a three year deal worth $30 million.

2010: The Braves and Troy Glaus agree to a one year deal.

2010: After 22 seasons with the Expos, Mariners, Astros, Diamondbacks, Yankees, and Giants, Randy Johnson announces his retirement. "The Big Unit" won 303 games, a World Series MVP, pitched two no-hitters and a perfect game, and holds the record for left-handers with 4,875 strikeouts.

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

2011: The Rangers and Adrian Beltre agree to a six year deal worth $96 million.
 
January 6th:

1914: To help batters pick up the ball out of the pitchers hand, baseball rules all ballparks must have a centerfield wall that is green and blank, becoming known as the batter's eye.

1942: Bob Feller reports to Norfolk to begin his World War II enlistment in the Navy.

1964: In a stunning move, A's owner Charley Finley announces his intentions to relocate the team from Kansas City to Louisville. The AL owners would eventually deny the move

1981: San Diego changes the name of the Padres home ballpark to Jack Murphy Stadium, honoring the late sports editor of the San Diego Union, who is credited to having he stadium built and helping bring baseball and football to the city.

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

1997: Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley announces the team is up for sale.

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

2015: Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Craig Biggio, and Randy Johnson are elected to the Hall of Fame. It marked the first time since 1955 that four players got elected in the same year.

2016: The Royals resign Alex Gordon to a four year deal worth $72 million.
 
January 7th:

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

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

2007: The Diamondbacks and Randy Johnson agree to a two year deal worth $26 million.

2010: The Red Sox trade Casey Kotchman to the Mariners for Bill Hall, a player to be named, and cash.

2011: The Rays trade Matt Garza, Fernando Perez, and Zachary Rosscup to the Cubs for Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, Brandon Guyer, and Robinson Chirinos.
 
January 8th:

1916: Percy Haughton and Arthur Chamberlain Wise purchase the Braves for $500,000.

1986: Willie McCovey is elected to the Hall of Fame.

1991: Gaylord Perry, Fergie Jenkins, and Rod Carew are elected to the Hall of Fame.

1995: Mike Schmidt is elected to the Hall of Fame.

2002: The Rangers and Juan Gonzalez agree to a two year deal worth $24 million.

2002: Ozzie Smith is elected to the Hall of Fame.

2003: Eddie Murray and Gary Carter are elected to the Hall of Fame.

2008: Rich "Goose" Gossage is elected to the Hall of Fame.

2014: Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Frank Thomas are elected to the Hall of Fame.
 
January 9th:

1903: Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchase the former AL franchise in Baltimore for $18,000 and move the team to New York. The team becomes known as the Highlanders before changing to the Yankees in 1913.

1960: In the first episode of "Home Run Derby", Mickey Mantle defeats Willie Mays 9-8 in the contest held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles.

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

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

1990: Unless a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, the owners announce a lockout date of February 15th.

2002: The Astros sign Billy Wagner to a three year deal worth $27 million.

2002: The Diamondbacks sign Craig Counsell to a three year deal worth $7.25 million.

2005: The Mets and Carlos Beltran agree to a seven year deal worth $119 million.

2012: Barry Larkin is elected to the Hall of Fame.
 
January 11th:

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

1960: The Phillies trade Richie Ashburn to the Cubs for Alvin Dark, Jim Woods, and John Buzhardt.

1968: Ewing Kauffman become the owner of the new AL expansion team in Kansas City, to be named the Royals.

1973: By an 8-4 vote, the AL owners approve a three year experiment for the designated hitter. The NL owners vote against it.

1977: The Dodgers trade Ivan DeJesus and Bill Buckner to the Cubs for Rick Monday.

1983: For the third time, Billy Martin is hired as Yankees manager.

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

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

2005: The Dodgers trade Shawn Green to the Diamondbacks for Dioner Navarro, William Juarez, Danny Muegge, and Beltran Perez.

2008: The Indians announce their ballpark's name will change from Jacobs Field to Progressive Field.

2010: Mark McGwire formally apologizes for his use of performance enhancing drugs for about a decade starting before the 1990 season.

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

1981: 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.

1994: Steve Carlton is elected to the Hall of Fame.

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

2005: The Marlins and Paul Lo Duca agree to a three year deal worth $18 million.

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

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

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

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

1988: Steve Garvey announces his retirement after 19 season with the Dodgers and Padres. Garvey ended his career with a .294 career average.

1996: Cuban defector Livan Hernandez agrees to a four year deal worth $4.5 million with the Marlins.

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

2005: The players and MLB agree to a stricter steroid policy. First time offenders receive a ten game suspension with a four resulting in a one year ban.

2009: The Brewers and Trevor Hoffman agree to a one year deal worth $6 million.
 
January 14th:

1954: Joe DiMaggio marries Marilyn Monroe at city hall in San Francisco.

1963: The White Sox trade Luis Aparaicio and Al Smith to the Orioles for Hoyt Wilhelm, Dave Nicholson, Ron Hansen, and Pete Ward.

1976: Ted Turner, the owner of WTCG-TV, purchases the Atlanta Braves for $12 million. He originally plans for the team to be shown on his local TV station, but the FCC permits the station to use a satellite later in the year that allows it to broadcast on cable, the Braves are shown across the nation and gains the title of "America's Team".

1981: The Giants name Frank Robinson manager.

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

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

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

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

2012: The Mariners trade Michael Pineda to the Yankees for Jesus Montero.

2015: The Braves trade Evan Gattis and prospect James Hoyt to the Astros for minor leaguers Rio Ruiz, Mike Foltyniewicz, and Andrew Thurman.
 
January 15th:

1942: In his famous "Green Light Letter", President Franklin D. Roosevelt, responding to question from Commissioner Landis, says it's in the best interest for baseball to keep playing during World War II. FDR encourages owners to have more games at night so war workers could attend them.

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

1981: Bob Gibson is elected to the Hall of Fame.

2002: The Dodgers trade Gary Sheffield to the Braves for Brian Jordan, Odalis Perez, and a minor leaguer.

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

2010: The Dodgers sign Matt Kemp to a two year deal.

2013: The Nationals sign Rafael Soriano to a two year deal worth $28 million.
 
January 17th:

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

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

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

2002: The A's and Jermaine Dye agree to a three year extension worth $32 million.

2003: The Twins and Torii Hunter agree to a four year deal worth $32 million.
 
January 18th:

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

1947: After a misunderstanding by Tigers owner Walter Briggs, Hank Greenberg is sold to the Pirates after Briggs believed he posed in a Yankees jersey. After initially thinking about retiring, the Pirates convince him not to and joins the team.

1969: Ted Williams becomes the Senators manager.

1973: Orlando Cepeda signs a deal with the Red Sox, making him the first player to be signed solely to be a designated hitter.

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

2008: The owners agree to extend Commissioner Bud Selig's contract through 2012.

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

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

2012: Minutes before the deadline, the Rangers and Yu Darvish agree to a six year deal worth $60 million.

2014: The Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw agree to a seven year deal worth $215 million, the largest contract ever given to a pitcher. The deal includes an opt-out after five years.
 
January 19th:

1932: Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis denies the appeal for reinstatement by "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, implicated in the Black Sox Scandal. Jackson would proclaim his innocence the rest of his life.

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

1972: Sandy Koufax is elected to the Hall of Fame.

2006: The sale of the Reds to Bob Castellini and two businessmen is approved by the owners.

2013: Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver dies at age 82.

2013: Stan Musial dies at age 92.
 
January 20th:

1947: Hall of Fame catcher Josh Gibson, referred to in his days playing in the Negro League as "Black Babe Ruth", dies at age 35 after suffering a stroke.

1966: Ted Williams is elected to the Hall of Fame.

1997: Curt Flood dies at age 59. Flood became famous for refusing a trade from the Cardinals to the Phillies, challenging baseball's reserve clause, taking the case to the Supreme Court. Although he lost the case, Flood's argument helped laid the groundwork for free agency in sports.

2001: Former Texas Rangers owner George W. Bush is sworn in as the 43rd President of the United States.
 
January 21st:

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

1941: The Indians sign Bob Feller to a deal worth $30,000, making him the highest paid pitcher in the game.

1947: Carl Hubbell, Lefty Grove, Frankie 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.

1987: Vida Blue reaches a deal with the A's. However, he announces his retirement the next month.

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

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

2009: The Orioles and Nick Markakis agree to a six year deal worth $66.1 million.

2010: The Phillies and Joe Blanton agree to a three year deal worth $24 million.

2011: The Blue Jays trade Vernon Wells to the Angels for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera.
 
January 23rd:

1967: Stan Musial is named Cardinals general manager.

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 team failed to mail a new contract by the deadline, allowing Lynn to become a possible free agent.

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