December 17

Events, births and deaths that occurred on December 17.

[edit] Events

• 1888 - Former Detroit players Deacon White and Jack Rowe purchase a controlling interest in the minor league Buffalo club. Though their reserve rights have been sold to Pittsburgh, both men announce plans to play in Buffalo next year.
• 1889 - The Players League adopts some new rules, including the 2-umpire system and an increase in pitching distance from 55 1/2 feet to 57 feet. A lively ball is chosen, assuring high scores in the upcoming season.
• 1891 - The American Association passes out of existence after ten years as a settlement is finally reached with the National League. Four AA clubs (St. Louis, Louisville, Washington, and Baltimore) join the National League's existing eight clubs to form a 12-club league formally styled "The National League and American Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs." The other four AA clubs are bought out for about $130,000. The NL will allow Sunday games for the first time but will retain its 50 cent minimum admission price.
• 1910 - John Harris sells the Boston National League team to a syndicate headed by William Hepburn Russell, a New York lawyer and city official, for $100,000. The team will be nicknamed the Rustlers after their new owner.
• 1914 - Charles Comiskey pulls a surprise, reaching down to Peoria and naming Clarence "Pants" Rowland, scout and minor league executive, to manage his White Sox.
• 1920 - The American League votes to allow pitchers who used the spitball in 1920 to continue using it as long as they are in the league. The National League will do the same. There will be 17 designated spitters in all, eight in the NL and nine in the AL. For the NL: Bill Doak, Phil Douglas, Dana Fillingim, Ray Fisher, Marvin Goodwin, Burleigh Grimes, Clarence Mitchell, and Dick Rudolph. For the AL: A.W. Ayers, Slim Caldwell, Stan Coveleski, Red Faber, Dutch Leonard, Jack Quinn, Allan Russell, Urban Shocker, and Allen Sothoron.
• 1924:
  • The Senators add another veteran pitcher to their staff by purchasing Dutch Ruether from Brooklyn. Ruether will go 30-13 for his year and a half in Washington.
  • The Yankees get 4-time 20-game winner Urban Shocker from the Browns for pitchers Milt Gaston, Joe Giard, and Joe Bush. Shocker led the Browns in wins in each of the past five seasons and will be a mainstay on two pennant-winning staffs for New York. Bush had beaten the Browns 17 straight times after losing to them on June 12, 1922.
• 1928:
  • National League President John Heydler's designated hitter idea gets the backing of John McGraw, but the American League is against it.
  • At a joint meeting, a rule is changed that ends the practice of minor league teams selling star prospects to friendly Major League clubs for high prices, then getting the players back, forcing another ML club to pay the reputed price for the player. Other changes ban the signing of players under the age of 17 and set a $7,500 price tag on any first-year player.
• 1932 - Sunny Jim Bottomley is traded by the Cardinals to the Reds for Owen Carroll and Estel Crabtree (of Crabtree, Ohio).
• 1935 - Heinie Manush is traded from Washington to the Boston Red Sox for Roy Johnson and Carl Reynolds.
• 1942 - The Yankees trade OF Roy Cullenbine and C Buddy Rosar to the Indians for Roy Weatherly and IF Oscar Grimes. With the draft in mind, all four players are married with one child each. Rosar had been in the doghouse with Joe McCarthy for leaving the team without permission the weekend of July 18-19 to take a police examination in Buffalo. The leave-taking prompted the Yankees to sign veteran C Rollie Hemsley.
• 1949 - The Yankees and Detroit swap first basemen, the Tigers getting Dick Kryhoski while New York takes Dick Wakefield, signed by the Tigers in 1941 to a $52,000 bonus.
• 1953 - In a tax-avoidance scheme, the New York Yankees sell Yankee Stadium and Kansas City properties for $6.5 million in a deal with Johnson Corp and the Knights of Columbus, who immediately lease the property back to the Yanks.
• 1957 - The Pasadena City Board confers with the Dodgers on the possible temporary use of the Rose Bowl.
• 1959 - In a child-payment hearing related to his divorce, Ted Williams alleges the Red Sox paid him $60,000, not the reported $100,000. He claims his entire yearly income was $83,000.
• 1964 - The Yankees fire long-time television and radio voice Mel Allen. The well-known broadcaster popularized the "going, going, gone" home run call and often said "how about that" to describe happenings on the ball field.
• 1968 - The owners announce they will increase contributions to the players' pension fund by $1 million to $5.1 million per year. Players vote down the proposal, 491-7.
• 1992 - The Twins sign free agent DH/outfielder Dave Winfield. Last season for the World Champion Blue Jays, the St. Paul native hit .290 and had 108 RBIs and 26 home runs.
• 1993 - Rickey Henderson returns to the A's, signing a two-year $8.6 million dollar contract.
• 1995:
  • The Orioles acquire P Kent Mercker from the Braves in exchange for pitchers Joe Borowski and Rachaad Stewart.
  • The Royals obtain SS Jose Offerman from the Dodgers in exchange for P Billy Brewer.
• 1996:
  • David Wells signs a 3-year $13.5 million contract with the Yankees.
  • The Red Sox sign P Chris Hammond, 5-8 last year with the Marlins.
• 1998:
  • The Pirates sign free agent P Pete Schourek to a 2-year contract.
  • The Orioles sign free agent P Xavier Hernandez to a 2-year contract.
• 1999:
  • The Mariners sign all-time Japanese League saves leader Kazuhiro Sasaki to a 2-year contract.
  • The Orioles sign free agent C Greg Myers to a 2-year contract.
  • The Dodgers sign free agent and former Dodger star P Orel Hershiser to a contract.
• 2000 - City and club officials announce plans for the financing and construction of a new, downtown Miami retractable roof ballpark for the Marlins. The state-of-the-art $385 million stadium, which will be a 40,000-seat facility with 60 luxury suites, includes a 40-year lease and an agreement to rename the team the "Miami Marlins". The deal will soon run into snags and the stadium will not be built for another decade, however.
• 2001:
  • The Yankees sign free agent OF Rondell White, who played for the Cubs this past year, to a 2-year contract.
  • The Indians sign free agent SS Ricky Gutierrez to a 3-year contract.
• 2002:
  • After bringing the Giants to the brink of a world championship, Russ Ortiz (14-10, 3.78) is traded by San Francisco to the Braves for sophomore southpaw Damian Moss (12-6, 4.11) and minor league prospect Manuel Mateo. The 27-year old right-hander left Game 6 of the World Series with 5 - 0 lead, but the Giants bullpen was unable to hold the lead and lost the series to the Angels in seven games.
  • The Cubs sign free agent OF Troy O'Leary to a one-year contract for $750,000.
  • The Braves sign free agent P Paul Byrd to a 2-year contract.
• 2003 - After agreeing to basics weeks ago, the Yankees and 35-year old Gary Sheffield (.330, 39, 132) finalize a $39 million, three-year deal which includes $13.5 million in deferred money and a $13 million team option for 2007. The seven-time All-Star outfielder played with Braves last year and has spent time with the Padres, Marlins and Dodgers after breaking in with the Brewers in 1988.
• 2004:
  • A three-team deal is concluded which includes Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson and pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii traded to the Yankees, Dodger outfielder Shawn Green and pitcher Brad Penny being sent to the Diamondbacks with Javier Vazquez and prospects going to the Dodgers. The blockbuster transaction falls apart as Los Angeles backs out at the eleventh hour.
  • The last-place Mariners continue to sign impact free agents in hopes to improve upon last season's poor performance (63-99) as the team inks 25-year-old Adrian Beltre (.334, 48, 121) to a $64 million, five-year deal. The former Dodger third baseman joins Richie Sexson, a free agent Seattle signed to a four-year, $50 million contract two days ago.
  • Although the terms of the deal are not made public, Edgar Renteria (.287, 10, 72) inks a four-year contract believed to be worth $40 million with the World Champion Red Sox. The former Cardinal shortstop, who made the last out in the World Series ending Boston's 86-year drought, replaces fellow Colombian Orlando Cabrera, the player obtained in July in the Nomar Garciaparra trade.
• 2009 - The Mets sign Japanese right-handed reliever Ryota Igarashi to a two-year contract. Igarashi has spent his entire 11-year career in Nippon Pro Baseball with the Yakult Swallows.
• 2010:
  • A flurry of deals take place today before the holiday break rolls in. San Diego's deal for SS Jason Bartlett, rumored for a week already, is officially completed, with prospects Adam Russell, Brandon Gomes, Cesar Ramos and Cole Figueroa heading to Tampa Bay. The Padres then complete the revamp of their infield by signing free agent 2B Orlando Hudson for two years. Hudson's former team, the Twins, in turn announce they have reached a deal with Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka for three years.
  • The Yankees bring Pedro Feliciano across town, signing the rubber-armed reliever from the Mets, the Astros sign utility player Bill Hall to strengthen their bench, and the Athletics claim P Philip Humber on waivers from the Royals.
• 2011:
  • The Padres send P Mat Latos to Cincinnati in return for Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal, Edinson Volquez and Brad Boxberger. Latos is considered one of the most talented young pitchers in the majors in spite of a mediocre 9-14 record last year.
  • The Phillies re-sign SS Jimmy Rollins to a three-year deal worth $33 million, with an option for a fourth season at the same salary.
  • The Mariners repatriate lefty reliever George Sherrill, who broke in with the team in 2004, signing him as a free agent.
• 2012 - Houston sign 1B Carlos Pena and Boston signs SS Stephen Drew, both for one year.

[edit] Births

• 1859 - Bill Hutchison, pitcher (d. 1926)
• 1867 - Babe Doty, pitcher (d. 1929)
• 1867 - Jack Wadsworth, pitcher (d. 1941)
• 1875 - Jim McHale, outfielder (d. 1959)
• 1876 - Roy Patterson, pitcher (d. 1953)
• 1880 - Cy Falkenberg, pitcher (d. 1961)
• 1883 - Rebel Oakes, outfielder, manager (d. 1948)
• 1886 - Jack McAdams, pitcher (d. 1937)
• 1889 - Ben Harris, pitcher (d. 1927)
• 1893 - Bert Yeabsley, pinch hitter (d. 1961)
• 1896 - Jim Mattox, catcher (d. 1973)
• 1898 - Red Lutz, catcher (d. 1984)
• 1898 - Oscar Tuero, pitcher (d. 1960)
• 1900 - Karl Swanson, infielder (d. 2002)
• 1914 - Dave Smith, pitcher (d. 1998)
• 1916 - Allen Lewis, writer (d. 2003)
• 1918 - Dale Jones, pitcher (d. 1980)
• 1919 - Johnny Kucab, pitcher (d. 1977)
• 1920 - Mike Schultz, pitcher (d. 2004)
• 1922 - Eugene Spangler, minor league outfielder (d. 2010)
• 1926 - Ray Jablonski, infielder; All-Star (d. 1985)
• 1934 - Kent Hadley, infielder (d. 2005)
• 1935 - Teodoro Obregón, minor league infielder
• 1935 - Cal Ripken, manager (d. 1999)
• 1936 - Jerry Adair, infielder (d. 1987)
• 1936 - Rollie Sheldon, pitcher
• 1938 - Leo Cardenas, infielder; All-Star
• 1947 - Michiyo Arito, NPB infielder and manager
• 1947 - Charlie Sands, designated hitter
• 1957 - Mark Dempsey, pitcher
• 1957 - Bob Ojeda, pitcher
• 1959 - Bryan Clutterbuck, pitcher
• 1959 - Marvell Wynne, outfielder
• 1963 - Chris Jones, minor league player
• 1965 - Jeff Cook, minor league outfielder
• 1965 - Takahiro Ikeyama, NPB infielder
• 1965 - Joe Kruzel, minor league manager
• 1967 - Steve Parris, pitcher
• 1967 - Miguel Sabino, minor league outfielder
• 1967 - Rafael Valdez, pitcher
• 1968 - Curtis Pride, outfielder
• 1969 - Rudy Pemberton, outfielder
• 1969 - David Oliveras, minor league pitcher
• 1970 - Mike Cather, pitcher
• 1971 - Bret Hemphill, catcher
• 1971 - Joey Vreonis, minor league pitcher
• 1975 - Brandon Villafuerte, pitcher
• 1976 - Edwin Almonte, pitcher
• 1976 - Jason Dellaero, infielder
• 1976 - Eric Eckenstahler, pitcher
• 1976 - Juan Aracena, minor league player
• 1978 - Alex Cintron, infielder
• 1978 - Chase Utley, infielder; All-Star
• 1979 - David Kelton, outfielder
• 1980 - Larry Broadway, minor league infielder
• 1980 - Dale Thayer, pitcher
• 1982 - Josh Barfield, infielder
• 1982 - Juan Mateo, pitcher
• 1982 - Rodolfo Navarro, minor league player
• 1983 - Christian Castorri, minor league pitcher
• 1984 - Stuart Pomeranz, pitcher
• 1985 - Fernando Abad, pitcher
• 1986 - Josh Edgin, pitcher
• 1987 - Christopher Duffy, minor league infielder
• 1987 - Donovan Solano, infielder
• 1988 - Jonathan Lozada, minor league outfielder
• 1989 - Zach Cates, minor league pitcher
• 1990 - Henry Moreno, minor league player
• 1996 - Maddison Lenard, Australian women's national team pitcher

[edit] Deaths

• 1891 - Ed Springer, pitcher (b. 1867)
• 1916 - Scoops Carey, infielder (b. 1870)
• 1916 - Elias Peak, infielder (b. 1859)
• 1927 - Bill Gilbert, pitcher (b. 1868)
• 1933 - Charlie DeArmond, infielder (b. 1877)
• 1934 - Charlie Atherton, infielder (b. 1873)
• 1947 - Lee Viau, pitcher (b. 1866)
• 1953 - Walt DeVoy, outfielder (b. 1886)
• 1953 - Lou McEvoy, pitcher (b. 1902)
• 1954 - Red Proctor, pitcher (b. 1900)
• 1955 - Rube DeGroff, outfielder (b. 1879)
• 1956 - Ona Dodd, infielder (b. 1886)
• 1957 - Fritz Ostermueller, pitcher (b. 1907)
• 1958 - Les Scarsella, infielder (b. 1913)
• 1959 - Del Young, outfielder (b. 1885)
• 1961 - Ping Bodie, outfielder (b. 1887)
• 1968 - Cap Crossley, minor league player and manager (b. 1902)
• 1968 - Hank Severeid, catcher (b. 1891)
• 1970 - Jim Park, pitcher (b. 1892)
• 1975 - Kerby Farrell, infielder, manager (b. 1913)
• 1980 - Hank Baylis, Negro League infielder (b. 1923)
• 1985 - Elmer Bowman, pinch hitter (b. 1897)
• 1985 - Ken O'Dea, catcher; All-Star (b. 1913)
• 1989 - Zeb Eaton, pitcher (b. 1920)
• 1991 - Jesse Flores, pitcher (b. 1914)
• 1995 - George Cox, pitcher (b. 1904)
• 2006 - Larry Sherry, pitcher (b. 1935)
• 2008 - Dave Smith, pitcher; All-Star (b. 1955)
• 2010 - Walt Dropo, infielder; All-Star (b. 1923)
• 2010 - Jake Tarr, minor league catcher (b. 1932)
• 2012 - Frank Pastore, pitcher (b. 1957)