December 22
From BR Bullpen
| Stats of players who were born this day | |
| Stats of players who died on this day | |
| Standings on this day | |
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| Today in Baseball History | |
Events, births and deaths that occurred on December 22.
[edit] Events
- 1881 - Harry Wright signs to manage the Providence Grays for the 1882 season.
- 1899 - The fledging American League owners meet to map a strategy against the established National League. They agree to place a team in Chicago with Charles Comiskey as the owner-manager of the franchise.
- 1915 - Organized baseball and the Federal League sign a peace treaty at Cincinnati, ending their two-year war. The FL agree to go out of existence, but the ML pay an enormous price: $600,000 for distribution to FL owners; amalgamation of two FL franchises, one each into National League and American League; recognition of FL players eligibility, and agreement to bid for them in a Fed-controlled auction. The Baltimore Terrapins, hoping to get the Cardinals, balks, but conferees, eager for settlement, defer its claims "”a decision they will repent at leisure.
- 1921 - Socks Seibold, the holder of the American League season home run record before Babe Ruth, dies at 51 age when his car plunges over an embankment.
- 1953 - Jack Dunn III officially turns over the name Orioles to the major league franchise. His family had successfully operated the International League Orioles franchise for years in Baltimore, Maryland.
- 1959 - The upstart Continental League awards its last franchise to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
- 1962 - Harris County voters approve a bond issue to complete the financing of an all-weather stadium to house the Houston Colt .45's.
- 1980:
- The Boston Red Sox mail Fred Lynn and Carlton Fisk their new contracts two days after the Basic Agreement December 20 deadline. Boston's inaction make their All-Stars eligible for free agency.
- The St. Louis Cardinals release outfielder Bobby Bonds. Despite his 326 home runs and 456 stolen bases in 13 seasons, Bonds hit just .203 with St. Louis. He will make one more stop, his sixth in the last four years, with the Chicago Cubs in 1981.
- 1982 - Versatile Lee Mazzilli is traded for the third time this year. The New York Yankees send him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for four minor leaguers, including pitcher Tim Burke.
- 1983:
- Free agent reliever Kent Tekulve re-signs with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1983 he had 18 saves and a 1.64 ERA for Pittsburgh.
- Pete Rose wins a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and is awarded a $36,083 tax refund for 1978.
- 1987 - The New York Yankees send pitcher Steve Trout and outfielder Henry Cotto to the Seattle Mariners for pitchers Lee Guetterman, Clay Parker and minor leaguer Wade Taylor.
- 1994:
- The San Francisco Giants trade P John Burkett to the Texas Rangers in exchange for SS Rich Aurilia and minor leaguer Desi Wilson.
- The Cincinnati Reds sign free agent P Jack Morris.
- 1995 - Anheuser-Busch agrees to sell the St. Louis Cardinals for $150 million to an investment group that agrees to keep the team in St. Louis.
- 1997:
- The Kansas City Royals sign free agent 1B Hal Morris.
- The New York Mets trade OF Carl Everett to the Houston Astros for P John Hudek.
- 1999:
- The Atlanta Braves obtain 2B Quilvio Veras, 1B Wally Joyner, and OF Reggie Sanders from the San Diego Padres in exchange for 1B Ryan Klesko, 2B Bret Boone, and P Jason Shiell.
- P Kip Wells, drafted in the first round by the Chicago White Sox, finally signs for 1.495 million plus an invite to the White Sox spring camp.
- The Montreal Expos obtain P Hideki Irabu from the New York Yankees in exchange for P Jake Westbrook and two players to be named. P Christian Parker will be one of those named.
- The Boston Red Sox sign free agent P Jeff Fassero to a contract.
- The Baltimore Orioles sign free agent P Buddy Groom to a two-year contract.
- In an interview in Sports Illustrated magazine, Atlanta Braves P John Rocker offends virtually every race and ethnic group in a hateful outburst. Community leaders, media, management, coaches and teammates alike call for action to be taken against the left handed who had 38 saves for Atlanta this past season.
- 2000 - The Seattle Mariners sign Bret Boone to a $3.25 million, one-year deal. The former San Diego Padres second baseman played in only 127 games season due to a bruised right knee which ended his season in late August.
- 2001 - The Texas Rangers sign highly sought free agent pitcher Chan Ho Park to a five-year, $65 million contract. The Korean right-hander led the Dodgers last year in wins (15), starts (35), innings pitched (234.0), strikeouts (218) and opponents' batting average (.187).
- 2002 - Two free agent pitchers sign contracts, Ugueth Urbina with the Texas Rangers and Tanyon Sturtze with the Toronto Blue Jays.
- 2005:
- The Houston Astros agreed to terms with pitchers Dave Borkowski and Steve Sparks.
- The Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to terms with pitcher Brett Tomko on a two-year contract.
- The Minnesota Twins agreed to terms with OF/-DH Rondell White on a one-year contract.
- The New York Yankees agreed to terms with OF Bernie Williams on a one-year contract.
- The San Diego Padres agreed to terms with 2B Mark Bellhorn on a one-year contract.
- The Seattle Mariners agreed to terms with OF Matt Lawton on a one-year contract.
[edit] Births
- 1852 - Bill Boyd, infielder, manager (d. 1912)
- 1860 - Pop Tate, catcher (d. 1932)
- 1862 - Connie Mack, catcher, manager; Hall of Famer (d. 1956)
- 1864 - Charlie Cady, pitcher (d. 1909)
- 1866 - Buster Burrell, catcher (d. 1962)
- 1879 - Owen Shannon, catcher (d. 1918)
- 1885 - Tex Erwin, catcher (d. 1953)
- 1886 - Hughie Miller, infielder (d. 1945)
- 1893 - Jesse Winters, pitcher (d. 1986)
- 1894 - Harvey McClellan, infielder (d. 1925)
- 1897 - Harvey Freeman, pitcher (d. 1970)
- 1908 - Ed Fallenstein, pitcher (d. 1971)
- 1910 - Stan Klopp, pitcher (d. 1980)
- 1918 - Bill Kennedy, pitcher (d. 1995)
- 1919 - Alex Monchak, infielder
- 1922 - Johnny Bero, infielder (d. 1985)
- 1923 - Bob Hall, pitcher (d. 1983)
- 1937 - Tony Curry, outfielder (d. 2006)
- 1937 - Charlie James, outfielder
- 1938 - Matty Alou, outfielder; All-Star
- 1939 - Al Ferrara, outfielder
- 1940 - Ellie Hendricks, catcher
- 1942 - Jack Jenkins, pitcher (d. 2002)
- 1944 - Steve Carlton, pitcher; All-Star, Hall of Famer
- 1947 - Charley Taylor, minor league pitcher and coach
- 1948 - Steve Garvey, infielder; All-Star
- 1950 - Tom Makowski, pitcher
- 1950 - Tommy Sandt, infielder
- 1953 - Tom Underwood, pitcher
- 1954 - Sheldon Burnside, pitcher
- 1954 - Ken Landreaux, outfielder; All-Star
- 1955 - Lonnie Smith, outfielder; All-Star
- 1956 - Gary Cooper, outfielder
- 1956 - Dave Schmidt, catcher
- 1958 - Glenn Wilson, outfielder; All-Star
- 1958 - George Wright, outfielder
- 1958 - Curtis Reed, minor league outfielder
- 1959 - Orlando Isales, outfielder
- 1961 - Andy Allanson, catcher
- 1964 - Mike Jackson, pitcher
- 1968 - David Nied, pitcher
- 1971 - Jon Ratliff, pitcher
- 1974 - Trevor Enders, pitcher
- 1976 - Jason Lane, outfielder
- 1976 - Wes Obermueller, pitcher
- 1983 - Greg Smith, pitcher
[edit] Deaths
- 1887 - Jud Birchall, outfielder (b. 1855)
- 1909 - Jimmy Sebring, outfielder (b. 1882)
- 1912 - Ed Kennedy, infielder (b. 1861)
- 1914 - Phil Powers, catcher (b. 1854)
- 1916 - Howard Earl, outfielder (b. 1869)
- 1921 - Socks Seybold, outfielder (b. 1870)
- 1922 - Dad Meek, catcher (b. 1867)
- 1928 - Hugh Reid, outfielder (b. 1852)
- 1933 - Nin Alexander, catcher (b. 1858)
- 1933 - Joe Flynn, outfielder (b. 1861)
- 1934 - Kitty Brashear, pitcher (b. 1877)
- 1940 - Patsy McGaffigan, infielder (b. 1888)
- 1940 - Bill Schwartz, catcher (b. 1864)
- 1945 - Bill Crouch, pitcher (b. 1886)
- 1950 - Rip Egan, pitcher (b. 1871)
- 1950 - Cal Vasbinder, pitcher (b. 1880)
- 1955 - Queenie O'Rourke, infielder (b. 1883)
- 1960 - Jack Onslow, catcher, manager (b. 1888)
- 1964 - Lou Fiene, pitcher (b. 1884)
- 1968 - Benny Bengough, catcher (b. 1898)
- 1968 - Ike Powers, pitcher (b. 1906)
- 1974 - Allyn Stout, pitcher (b. 1904)
- 1980 - Earl Grace, catcher (b. 1907)
- 1980 - Joe Graves, infielder (b. 1906)
- 1981 - Ed Gallagher, pitcher (b. 1910)
- 1982 - Tony Faeth, pitcher (b. 1893)
- 1982 - John Mercer, infielder (b. 1892)
- 1987 - Bobby Hogue, pitcher (b. 1921)
- 1989 - Archie Campbell, pitcher (b. 1903)
- 1996 - Fred Green, pitcher (b. 1933)
- 1997 - Flea Clifton, infielder (b. 1909)
- 1997 - Jose Oliva, infielder (b. 1971)
- 1997 - Hal Rice, outfielder (b. 1924)
- 2001 - Bob Davis, pitcher (b. 1933)
- 2004 - Doug Ault, infielder (b. 1950)
- 2006 - Sam Chapman, outfielder; All-Star (b. 1916)
