December 5
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 5.
[edit] Events
- 1888 - Columbus is admitted to the AA to replace Cleveland.
- 1922 - Connie Mack spends money to begin building another winner. He sends $40,000 and several players to Portland (Pacific Coast League) for 3B Sammy Hale.
- 1926 - Cardinals C Bob O'Farrell is named National League MVP. O'Farrell caught 146 games and batted .293. He polls 79 points. Reds 2B Hughie Critz is runner-up with 60. Critz set a major-league record handling 588 assists, which will be topped by Frank Frisch with 643 in 1927.
- 1927 - The National Board of Arbitration rules the Texas League cannot place teams in Tulsa and Oklahoma City without permission of the Western League, which now operates in those cities. This landmark decision establishes league property rights in the cities of each circuit.
- 1927 - In an attempt to combat "chain store" baseball, the American Association votes to bar further ownership of its clubs by the ML clubs.
- 1950 - Mel Ott, who has been working in the Giants farm system, hires on for two years in the Oakland managerial spot vacated by Charlie Dressen.
- 1950 - Mel Ott leaves the Giants' organization signing a two-year pact with to manage the Pacific Coast League's Oakland club. 'Marvelous Mel' will be replacing Charlie Dressen.
- 1952 - ML attendance figures show an 11 percent drop.
- 1952 - Figures reveal an eleven percent drop in attendance at major league games during the previous season.
- 1955 - Carl Stotz announces his plans to organize a rival Little League of his own.
- 1955 - The Red Sox sell pitcher Ellis Kinder to the Cardinals.
- 1955 - The Cardinals buy 41-year-old Ellis Kinder from the Bosox. He will team up with the like-aged Walker Cooper to form just the second 40+ battery. Curt Davis and Clyde Sukeforth, in 1945, are the other duo.
- 1955 - Carl Stotz plans to set up a rival Little League of his own.
- 1957 - The American League purchases a $1.8 million group accident policy to help clubs buy new players in case of a major disaster.
- 1957 - The minor leagues threaten to sue ML baseball if it televises Sunday games in their territory.
- 1957 - The Cards turn down the Phillies offer of Richie Ashburn and Harvey Haddix for Ken Boyer, trusting that Boyer will turn into a good 3B. Then, in one of their best trades ever, the Cardinals acquire outfielders Curt Flood and Joe Taylor from the Reds for pitchers Marty Kutyna and Ted Wieand. The 19-year-old Flood, who appeared in eight games for Cincinnati over the past two seasons, will anchor the St. Louis OF for the next 12 years.
- 1957 - The Cubs send veteran Bob Rush and two players to the Braves for C Sammy Taylor and P Taylor Phillips.
- 1958 - The Phils, under pressure provided by the Yankees' threat to broadcast into their territory, drop any plans for 1959 broadcasts to New York City. The Cards and Pirates follow suit.
- 1958 - The Phillies, hoping to fill the National League void in the Big Apple caused by departure of the Giants and Dodgers to the west coast, drop any plans for 1959 broadcasts into New York City after the Yankees threaten to broadcast into Philadelphia.
- 1959 - The Phils ship Chico Fernandez and Ray Semproch to Detroit for Ken Walters, Ted Lepcio, and minor leaguer Alex Cosmidis. The Cuban born Fernandez was the first black for the Phils, and will be the second black to play for Detroit.
- 1959 - Representing ML baseball, the Yankees' Yogi Berra visits Italy to present baseball equipment and aid in the sport's development.
- 1960 - President Joe Cronin suggests that if the National League starts its new New York franchise in 1961, the American League will stay out of Los Angeles until 1962. The NL turned down the suggested compromise of November 22nd because Houston will not be ready in 1961.
- 1966 - Bill DeWitt sells the Reds to a group of Cincinnati investors for an estimated $7 million.
- 1967 - Stan Musial resigns as GM of the Cardinals and is replaced by Bing Devine. Musial remains a senior veep.
- 1969 - Chub Feeney succeeds Warren Giles as president of the National League. He is elected for a 4-year term, beginning January 1, 1970.
- 1973 - Ron Santo becomes the first player to invoke the new 10 and five rule. The Cubs want to trade Santo to the Angels for two pitchers, but he vetoes the deal.
- 1973 - The Dodgers trade OF Willie Davis to the Expos for relief P Mike Marshall. Marshall will win the Cy Young Award for the Dodgers in 1974.
- 1977 - The White Sox trade C Brian Downing and pitchers Chris Knapp and Dave Frost to the Angels for outfielders Bobby Bonds and Thad Bosley, and minor league P Rich Dotson.
- 1978 - After sixteen years with the Reds, Pete Rose signs a four-year, $3.2 million deal with the Phillies. Other teams which pursued 'Charlie Hustle' included the Mets, Braves, Pirates and the Royals.
- 1978 - A week after Sparky Anderson leaves the Reds, free agent Pete Rose signs a 4-year, $3.2 million contract with the Phillies, temporarily making him the highest-paid athlete in team sports.
- 1979 - A month after being acquired by the Blue Jays, Chris Chambliss goes to the Atlanta Braves with Luis Gomez for Barry Bonnell, Pat Rockett, and Joey McLaughlin. Chambliss will play eight seasons for the Braves.
- 1983 - The Phillies trade veteran 1B Tony Perez to Cincinnati for a player to be named later.
- 1984 - The A's send base-stealing OF Rickey Henderson and P Bert Bradley to the Yankees in exchange for pitchers Jay Howell and Jose Rijo, OF Stan Javier, and minor leaguers Tim Birtsas and Eric Plunk. On the same day, the Yankees trade C Rick Cerone to the Braves for P Brian Fisher.
- 1984 - It's a busy day for the Yankees as the Bronx Bombers obtain base-stealing outfielder Rickey Henderson and pitcher Bert Bradley from the A's in exchange for pitchers Jay Howell and Jose Rijo, outfielder Stan Javier, and minor leaguers Tim Birtsas and Eric Plunk and also trade catcher Rick Cerone to the Braves for pitcher Brian Fisher.
- 1987 - The Tigers swap pitcher Dan Petry to the Angels for center fielder Gary Pettis.
- 1988 - Not the best trade the Cubs have ever made. The Cubs and Rangers complete a 9-player swap, with Chicago giving up OF Rafael Palmeiro, P Jamie Moyer, and P Drew Hall in exchange for IF Curtis Wilkerson and pitchers Mitch Williams, Paul Kilgus, and Steve Wilson, and a pair of minor leaguers to be named.
- 1990 - The Blue Jays trade first baseman Fred McGriff and shortstop Tony Fernandez to the Padres for second baseman Roberto Alomar and outfielder Joe Carter.
- 1990 - Free-agent OF Vince Coleman signs a 4-year contract with the Mets. He has led the National League in stolen bases each of the last six seasons, and this year (June 3rd) copped his 500th theft in his 804th game, the quickest player to reach that plateau.
- 1990 - In a major trade, the Blue Jays send 1B Fred McGriff and veteran SS Tony Fernandez to San Diego for 2B Roberto Alomar and slugging OF Joe Carter.
- 1992 - The Dodgers sign free agent OF Cory Snyder to a 2-year contract.
- 1992 - The Twins trade P David West to the Phillies in exchange for P Mike Hartley.
- 1994 - The Rangers sign free agent C Dave Valle to a 2-year contract.
- 1994 - It is announced that Richard Ravitch will step down as negotiator for the owners on December 31. He resigns tomorrow.
- 1995 - The Twins bring back free agent DH Paul Molitor.
- 1995 - The Angels sign free agent 3B Tim Wallach.
- 1996 - Two days after signing C Joe Girardi, the Yankees send back-up catcher Jim Leyritz to the Angels in exchange for minor leaguers Ryan Kane and Jeremy Blevins. Leyritz, the Yankee with the longest tenure"”5 years, 126 days"”was vulnerable because of his $1.75 million yearly contract.
- 1996 - Following his most productive season with the Oakland A's, Terry Steinbach elects to take less money and return home. Like Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, and Jack Morris before him, the Minnesota veteran signs with Twins.
- 1996 - The new collective bargaining agreement is unanimously approved by player association executive committee clearing the path for interleague play and guaranteeing no work stoppages until 2001.
- 1998 - The Orioles sign free agent 1B Will Clark to a 2-year contract.
- 1999 - Major league baseball and ESPN agreed to settle their lawsuit by signing a new 6-year, $800 million deal. The suit involved ESPN's decision to give NFL football games priority over late-season Sunday night baseball games on its main channel.
- 2001 - New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani announces he wants to complete new stadium deals for the Mets and Yankees before he leaves office at the end of the month. Before the September 11 attacks, which dramatically changed the city's financial stature, the mayor thought an arrangement in which the city, the state and the owners agreed to pay one-third of the cost of the new stadiums might complete the negotiations with the teams.
- 2005 - Reaching preliminary deal with the Dodgers a day before baseball's winter meetings, Rafael Furcal agrees to a $39 million, three-year contract to play shortstop in the City of Angels. The 28-year old Dominican infielder was also strongly pursued by the Braves, his former team for the past six seasons, and the Cubs.
[edit] Births
- 1860 - Billy Shindle, infielder (d. 1936)
- 1862 - Harry Fuller, infielder (d. 1895)
- 1864 - Patsy Tebeau, infielder, manager (d. 1918)
- 1868 - Frank Bowerman, catcher, manager (d. 1948)
- 1871 - Dick Cogan, pitcher (d. 1948)
- 1871 - Tom Smith, pitcher (d. 1929)
- 1871 - Snake Wiltse, pitcher (d. 1928)
- 1872 - Pink Hawley, pitcher (d. 1938)
- 1873 - Mike Mahoney, infielder (d. 1940)
- 1884 - Ed Summers, pitcher (d. 1953)
- 1885 - Larry Strands, infielder (d. 1957)
- 1887 - Raleigh Aitchison, pitcher (d. 1958)
- 1888 - Ed Porray, pitcher (d. 1954)
- 1893 - Joe Gedeon, infielder (d. 1941)
- 1901 - Ray Moss, pitcher (d. 1998)
- 1901 - Carey Selph, infielder (d. 1976)
- 1904 - Ray Fitzgerald, pinch hitter (d. 1977)
- 1905 - Gus Mancuso, catcher; All-Star (d. 1984)
- 1906 - Lin Storti, infielder (d. 1982)
- 1911 - Stu Flythe, pitcher (d. 1963)
- 1911 - Don Padgett, catcher (d. 1980)
- 1911 - Dick Stone, pitcher (d. 1980)
- 1915 - Bobby Mattick, infielder, manager (d. 2004)
- 1916 - Steve Rachunok, pitcher (d. 2002)
- 1916 - Len Schulte, infielder (d. 1986)
- 1919 - Baby Ortiz, pitcher (d. 1984)
- 1921 - Dave Ferriss, pitcher; All-Star
- 1922 - Bill Rodgers, outfielder (d. 2002)
- 1928 - Jack Urban, pitcher (d. 2006)
- 1938 - Al Moran, infielder
- 1938 - Chico Ruiz, infielder (d. 1972)
- 1940 - John Papa, pitcher
- 1941 - Bob Sprout, pitcher
- 1942 - Steve Shea, pitcher
- 1948 - Buddy Harris, pitcher
- 1954 - Gary Roenicke, outfielder
- 1956 - Dave Hudgens, infielder
- 1956 - Bill Swaggerty, pitcher
- 1958 - Scott Munninghoff, pitcher
- 1962 - Alan Cockrell, outfielder
- 1962 - German Jimenez, pitcher
- 1962 - Phillip Wellman, minor league player and manager
- 1963 - Sam Khalifa, infielder
- 1964 - Gene Harris, pitcher
- 1965 - Scott Lewis, pitcher
- 1967 - Matt Grott, pitcher
- 1970 - Andy Stewart, catcher
- 1970 - Charles York, minor league player
- 1972 - Cliff Floyd, outfielder; All-Star
- 1972 - Mike Mahoney, catcher
- 1972 - Pat Evans, minor league player
- 1973 - Hanley Frias, infielder
- 1974 - Ken Vining, pitcher
- 1975 - Mike Hughes, minor league player
- 1978 - Josh Stewart, pitcher
[edit] Deaths
- 1916 - John Cuff, catcher (b. 1864)
- 1930 - Ben Guiney, catcher (b. 1858)
- 1937 - John Lovett, pitcher (b. 1877)
- 1942 - Ed Eiteljorge, pitcher (b. 1871)
- 1942 - Val Picinich, catcher (b. 1896)
- 1945 - Harry Brooks, pitcher/outfielder (b. 1865)
- 1950 - Bill Dahlen, infielder, manager (b. 1870)
- 1951 - Jim Duggan, infielder (b. 1885)
- 1951 - Joe Jackson, outfielder (b. 1889)
- 1954 - Russ Christopher, pitcher; All-Star (b. 1917)
- 1957 - Alex Ferson, pitcher (b. 1866)
- 1959 - Oscar Siemer, catcher (b. 1901)
- 1961 - Frank Mahar, pinch hitter (b. 1878)
- 1964 - Ed Wingo, catcher (b. 1895)
- 1967 - Jack Lively, pitcher (b. 1885)
- 1969 - Joe Rabbitt, outfielder (b. 1900)
- 1970 - Joe Wyatt, outfielder (b. 1900)
- 1973 - Spencer Pumpelly, pitcher (b. 1893)
- 1974 - Jim Beckman, pitcher (b. 1905)
- 1986 - George Abrams, pitcher (b. 1899)
- 1994 - Woody Abernathy, pitcher (b. 1915)
- 1995 - Bill Bruton, outfielder (b. 1925)
- 1996 - Cliff Mapes, outfielder (b. 1922)
- 2005 - Billy Reed, infielder (b. 1922)
