December 6

Events, births and deaths that occurred on December 6.

[edit] Events

• 1877 - William Hulbert is reelected president of the National League. The Hartford Dark Blues are dropped from the league.
• 1879 - The American College Baseball Association is founded in Springfield, MA. The six schools forming the group are Harvard‚ Yale‚ Princeton‚ Amherst‚ Dartmouth‚ and Brown‚ and they vote to exclude professional players from their teams. Yale‚ with the best team‚ will withdraw from the Association and only five teams will compete for the pennant in 1880. Princeton will win the 1880 season with a 6-2 record‚ though Yale will go 7-1. Yale will rejoin in 1881 and go 7-3‚ tops of the 6.
• 1882 - Abraham Mills is elected president of the National League. The league replaces the Troy Trojans and Worcester Ruby Legs with the New York Gothams and Philadelphia Quakers, respectively.
• 1888 - The American Association votes against adopting the National League's salary classification system‚ to the surprise of the press and the delight of the Brotherhood.
• 1898 - Baltimore manager Ned Hanlon‚ not unexpectedly‚ speaks out against the Brush resolution to curb rowdyism‚ cited by some as resulting in less interest and smaller crowds. "This past season I saw none that ought to scare anyone."
• 1913 - Exhibition teams made up of members of the Chicago White Sox and New York Giants play at Keio University Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. The next day, they play against the University's team.
• 1914 - In a vision of things to come, an indoor baseball game is played in Chicago, IL to raise money for the family of recently deceased Chicago Cubs third baseman Jim Doyle.
• 1920 - A lawsuit that awarded $264,000 in damages to the Baltimore Federal League club on April 12, 1919, is reversed by a court of appeals, which upholds the reserve clause and holds that baseball is not interstate commerce nor subject to antitrust laws. The original suit was initiated because the Baltimore Feds were not included in the settlement of the Federal League war. They wanted a major league team in Baltimore and did not receive satisfaction. The ruling will be upheld in 1922 by the U.S. Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice William Howard Taft.
• 1921 - The Cincinnati Reds trade Heinie Groh to the New York Giants for George Burns, Mike Gonzalez and cash.
• 1923 - While in Paris‚ John McGraw announces plans for a tour of Europe by the Giants and White Sox in 1924‚ as world interest in baseball grows. In Romania‚ Queen Marie will throw out the first ball to mark the game's debut in July.
• 1937 - It is announced that Ford Frick has been reelected President of the National League for 3 years.
• 1938:
  • In a trade of major names‚ the Giants send Dick Bartell‚ Hank Leiber‚ and Gus Mancuso to the Cubs for Billy Jurges‚ Frank Demaree‚ and Ken O'Dea. The trade works best for the Giants as the New York-born Jurges will anchor the infield for 7 years; Chicago-born Bartell lasts just a season at Wrigley.
  • Larry MacPhail ends an agreement with the Yankees and Giants to ban broadcasts in the New York area and sells the radio rights of the Dodgers games to Wheaties.
• 1939:
  • In a trade of veteran shortstops - or "worn-out shortstops‚" as one newspaper describes it - the Cubs acquire Billy Rogell from the Detroit Tigers for Dick Bartell. Rogell‚ who injured his arm playing handball the previous year‚ will hit just .136 before hanging up his spikes. The Tigers will release "Rowdy Richard" 5 games into the 1941 season‚ but he will stick with the Giants until 1946.
  • The Bees are busy clearing their pitching staff. Jim Turner goes to the Reds for 1B Les Scarsella and cash‚ while Johnny Lanning is sent to Pittsburgh for P Jim Tobin and cash.
• 1946 - The major leagues finally accept the contention that invasion of minor league territory will result in compensation for the entire league. The major league clubs also agree to return the selection of the All-Star teams, except for pitchers, to a fan ballot.
• 1952:
  • The American League approves a 2-league waiver rule curbing inter-league trading after June 15th.
  • At the Winter Meetings a new bonus rule is approved‚ replacing the one that was instituted in 1946 and repealed in 1950. This new rule sets the bonus limit at $4‚000 or the player could be lost though the draft. This second bonus rule lasts until abolished in 1957.
• 1954 - The Tigers trade 1B Walt Dropo with P Ted Gray and OF Bob Nieman to the White Sox for 1B Ferris Fain and Jack Phillips.
  • The Orioles conclude their second large trade in three weeks sending C Clint Courtney‚ SS Jim Brideweser‚ and P Bob Chakales to the White Sox for C Matt Batts‚ IF Fred Marsh‚ and P Don Johnson and Don Ferrarese. Courtney batted .270 in 397 at bats‚ and struck out an American League-low 7 times‚ the league's lowest since Joe Sewell hung up his spikes in 1933.
• 1955 - Brooklyn trades 3B Don Hoak and OF Walt Moryn to the Cubs for 3B Randy Jackson.
• 1958 - The Senators give walking papers to 3B Eddie Yost‚ sending him to Detroit along with Rocky Bridges and OF Neil Chrisley. The Nats receive infielders Reno Bertoia and Ron Samford and OF Jim Delsing in exchange.
• 1959:
  • The White Sox reacquire Minnie Minoso‚ along with C Dick Brown and pitchers Jake Striker and Don Ferrarese from the Indians. The give up young 1B Norm Cash‚ OF Bubba Phillips‚ and C Johnny Romano.
  • The Cubs trade OF Lee Walls and Lou Jackson‚ and P Bill Henry to the Reds for slugger Frank Thomas.
• 1960 - A group headed by movie star Gene Autry and former football star Bob Reynolds is awarded the new Los Angeles Angels American League franchise.
• 1965 - Baltimore sends OF Jackie Brandt and P Darold Knowles to the Phillies for P Jack Baldschun.
• 1968 - William Eckert resigns as commissioner.
• 1971 - The Reds trade P Milt Wilcox to the Indians for OF Ted Uhlaender. Uhlaender had 13 homers the past 2 seasons‚ and all but one came in Cleveland. He'll hit none in Cincinnati.
• 1973 - The Astros trade OF Jimmy Wynn to the Dodgers for P Claude Osteen and a minor leaguer.
• 1976 - The Red Sox trade 1B Cecil Cooper to the Brewers for 1B George Scott and OF Bernie Carbo. This ranks as one of the Brew Crew's best-ever trades.
• 1979 - In one of their better trades‚ the Royals acquire 1B Willie Aikens and IF Rance Mulliniks from the Angels for OF Al Cowens‚ SS Todd Cruz‚ and P Craig Eaton. Aikens will have four solid years in Kansas City‚ including two two-homer games in the 1980 World Series.
• 1982:
  • The Red Sox trade 3B Carney Lansford‚ OF Garry Hancock‚ and a minor leaguer to Oakland for OF Tony Armas and C Jeff Newman. Lansford‚ who led the American League in hitting in 1981‚ is expendable with the emergence of Wade Boggs at 3B.
  • Kenneth Moffett‚ who helped mediate the 1981 strike settlement‚ is named to succeed Marvin Miller as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players' Association.
• 1983 - The Pirates trade OF Mike Easler to the Red Sox for lefthanded starter John Tudor.
• 1984 - The White Sox trade 1983 AL Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt and two minor leaguers to the Padres for pitcher Tim Lollar, utility man Luis Salazar, and minor leaguers Ozzie Guillen and Bill Long. Guillen will win the American League Rookie of the Year Award next season.
• 1988:
  • The Rangers complete their second major trade in as many days‚ sending 1B Pete O'Brien‚ OF Oddibe McDowell‚ and 2B Jerry Browne to Cleveland for 2B Julio Franco.
  • The Expos and Phillies also complete a trade‚ P Kevin Gross to Montreal for pitchers Jeff Parrett and Floyd Youmans.
  • The A's sign free agent pitcher Mike Moore from the Mariners. Seattle receives the A's first round pick in the 1989 amateur draft as compensation‚ and will use it to select P Scott Burrell.
• 1989:
  • The Mets trade reliever Randy Myers to the Reds for fellow closer John Franco. Also in the deal, the Mets get Don Brown and Cincinnati Kip Gross.
  • Joe Carter is sent by the Indians to San Diego for Chris James, Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga.
  • Free agent closer Jeff Reardon signs with the Red Sox.
• 1990:
  • Free agent George Bell signs with the Cubs.
  • Fifteen more players become "free look" free agents as part of the settlement of the most recent collusion case against the owners. It will also cost the clubs a whopping $280 million in damages.
  • At Leland's auction house in New York City‚ Shoeless Joe Jackson's signature is sold for $23‚100‚ the most money ever paid for a 19th or 20th century signature. Jackson‚ who could not read or write‚ copied the signature from one written out by his wife. The signature‚ which was resold within hours‚ was cut from an unknown document.
• 1991 - The Brewers obtain P Jesse Orosco from the Indians in exchange for a player to be named later.
• 1992 - The Yankees trade 1B J.T. Snow and P Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen to the Angels in exchange for P Jim Abbott.
• 1996 - The Seattle Mariners acquire righty Scott Sanders‚ (9-5‚ 3.38 ERA) from the Padres for lefty Sterling Hitchcock. Hitchcock was the ace of the Mariner staff after Randy Johnson went down with back surgery. He finished with a 13-9 record‚ but had a 5.35 ERA.
• 2000 - The Dodgers sign free agent P Andy Ashby to a 3-year contract.
• 2001 - Major League Baseball reportedly gives John Henry permission to sell the Florida Marlins to Montreal Expos owner Jeffrey Loria. The Expos are expected to be either contracted or taken over by Major League Baseball‚ which would buy the team from Loria in case contraction is aborted‚ leaving him an opportunity to own the Marlins.
• 2002:
  • In a cynical move‚ the Yankees offer the same two-year $4.6 million contract to three lefty relievers - Mike Stanton ‚ Mark Guthrie and Chris Hammond - and give each 15 minutes to decide. Hammond‚ 37‚ signs for $4.8 million over two years. Hammond‚ out of baseball for two years‚ had a remarkable season in 2002‚ posting a 0.95 ERA in 63 games and did not allow an earned run after June 28th. He is the third pitcher since 1900 to post a sub-one ERA while pitching 70+ innings. The veteran Stanton doesn't bother to respond to the step-child treatment and‚ preferring to remain in the New York area‚ will sign a three-year contract with the Mets in a week.
  • The Indians send C Einar Diaz and P Ryan Drese to the Rangers in exchange for P Aaron Myette and 1B Travis Hafner. Indians GM Mark Shapiro denies that the trade is "Jim Thome-motivated." In his last four minor league seasons‚ Hafner has averaged .316‚ 23 homers‚ and 93 RBIs. He will put up similar numbers in his first few years with the Indians.
  • The Players Association agrees to allow the Montreal Expos to play 22 home games in Puerto Rico next summer.
• 2004 - Baseball officials report that they are closer to an agreement on a drug-testing program that will incorporate more tests‚ and stiffer penalties. Donald Fehr says he expects the plan to be in place by spring training.
• 2005 - The Toronto Blue Jays award a five-year, $55 million contract to highly-coveted starting pitcher A.J. Burnett, formerly of the Florida Marlins. The contract includes an opt-out clause after the 2008 season, which Burnett will exercise to reap even more riches from the New York Yankees.
• 2006:
  • The Mets send P Brian Bannister to the Royals in exchange for P Ambiorix Burgos.
  • The Phillies obtain P Freddy Garcia from the White Sox in exchange for P Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez.
  • A number of free agents sign with new teams today: the Dodgers agree to a one-year contract with C Mike Lieberthal; the Giants sign C Bengie Molina to a three-year deal; the Indians sign P Joe Borowski; and the Athletics agree to a two-year deal with P Alan Embree.
• 2007:
  • The Rule V Draft is held. Tim Lahey goes first to the Tampa Bay Rays, followed by Evan Meek to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Brian Barton, expected to go first, slips to #10. Former major leaguers taken include R.A. Dickey, Travis Blackley and Jose Capellan.
  • The Los Angeles Dodgers sign free agent outfielder Andruw Jones for $36 million over two years. Jones had led the 2005 NL with 51 home runs but is coming off a disappointing 88 OPS+ in 2007. Jones will hit just 3 home runs and bat .158 for the Dodgers and be released after the season.
  • Jose Guillen and Jay Gibbons are suspended by Major League Baseball for steroid use, following the results of George Mitchell's investigation. No penalty is given to Troy Glaus, Scott Schoeneweis, Rick Ankiel and Gary Matthews Jr., who have also been found to be users by the Mitchell investigation.
• 2008 - Seibu Lions hitting coach Hiromoto Okubo resigns after being accused of striking a female friend last month. Okubo was credited with helping Seibu's offense lead the Pacific League in homers in 2008; the team went on to win the 2008 Japan Series and 2008 Asia Series.
• 2009 - Ricardo Fraccari of Italy is elected President of the International Baseball Federation, succeeding Harvey Schiller, at the Federation's annual meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. Fraccaro was previously the Vice-President of the European Baseball Confederation. He vows to pursue Dr. Schiller's efforts to have baseball reinstated as an olympic sport. Also at the meetings, Justin Smoak of Team USA is named the IBAF Senior Athlete of the Year, in recognition of his performance at the 2009 Baseball World Cup.
• 2010:
  • Pat Gillick, the executive who built the Toronto Blue Jays from an expansion team to an American League power that won two World Series in the early 1990s, is elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Former Players Association head Marvin Miller falls just one vote shy of election.
  • Hisashi Iwakuma announces he is closing negotiations with the Oakland Athletics and will remain with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2011. Selected under the posting system, Iwakuma was offered a four-year, $15 million deal, which he felt was below his value.
  • Flush with young starting pitchers, the Blue Jays trade last year's Opening Day starter, Shaun Marcum, to the Brewers for top Canadian prospect Brett Lawrie.
  • The Orioles acquire 3B Mark Reynolds, renowned for both his homers and strikeouts, from the Diamondbacks for P David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio. In a related move, the D-Backs sign 3B Melvin Mora, formerly of Colorado, to a one-year deal; they also ink P J.J. Putz for two years, with the aim of installing him as their new closer.
• 2011:
  • The Mets announce a number of moves at the annual Winter Meetings, held in Dallas, TX. First, they sign relievers Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco to free agent deals; the two were teammates in Toronto last season. Then, they trade OF Angel Pagan to San Francisco in return for yet another reliever - Ramon Ramirez - and OF Andres Torres­.
  • Meanwhile, the Blue Jays fill some of the hole in their bullpen by trading for hard-throwing reliever Sergio Santos from the White Sox, giving up top pitching prospect Nestor Molina in return.
  • The Twins trade SP Kevin Slowey to Colorado for a player to be named. Slowey was 0-8, 6.67 in 2011 and did not figure in the Twins' plans for next season.
  • Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun is named recipient of the Hall of Fame's J.G. Taylor Spink Award for 2012.
• 2012:
  • The Rule V Draft is held on the last day of the Winter meetings in Nashville, TN. Former first-round draft choice Josh Fields is picked first overall, by the Astros. An interesting selection is made by the Indians, who pick 1B Chris McGuiness, MVP of the Arizona Fall League, from the Rangers.
  • The Phillies obtain OF Ben Revere from the Twins in return for Ps Vance Worley and Trevor May.

[edit] Births

• 1852 - Trick McSorley, infielder (d. 1936)
• 1865 - Pat Whitaker, pitcher (d. 1902)
• 1867 - Tun Berger, infielder (d. 1907)
• 1873 - Harry Wolverton, infielder, manager (d. 1937)
• 1879 - Jap Payne, Negro League outfielder (d. 1942)
• 1881 - Dave Rowan, infielder (d. 1955)
• 1885 - Jack Stansbury, infielder (d. 1970)
• 1886 - Hap Morse, infielder (d. 1974)
• 1893 - Hack Eibel, outfielder (d. 1945)
• 1894 - Bruno Betzel, infielder (d. 1965)
• 1894 - Walter Mueller, outfielder (d. 1971)
• 1896 - Bob Larmore, infielder (d. 1964)
• 1896 - Frank Luce, outfielder (d. 1942)
• 1899 - Jocko Conlan, outfielder; Hall of Famer (d. 1989)
• 1903 - Tony Lazzeri, infielder; All-Star, Hall of Famer (d. 1946)
• 1909 - Stan Hack, infielder, manager; All-Star (d. 1979)
• 1913 - Bill Kerksieck, pitcher (d. 1970)
• 1913 - Roy Welmaker, Negro League pitcher (d. 1998)
• 1914 - Turkey Tyson, pinch hitter (d. 2000)
• 1918 - Mike Sakovich, minor league infielder (d. 2010)
• 1920 - Gus Niarhos, catcher (d. 2004)
• 1925 - Rance Pless, infielder
• 1927 - Tommy Brown, infielder
• 1934 - Dan Dobbek, outfielder
• 1936 - Frank Franchi, scout (d. 1997)
• 1937 - Freddie Velazquez, catcher
• 1938 - Amado Samuel, infielder
• 1942 - Arnold Umbach, pitcher
• 1944 - Tony Horton, infielder
• 1945 - Larry Bowa, infielder, manager; All-Star
• 1945 - Jay Dahl, pitcher (d. 1965)
• 1952 - Chuck Baker, infielder
• 1952 - Jeff Schneider, pitcher
• 1953 - Gary Ward, outfielder; All-Star
• 1954 - Juan Carlos Oliva, Cuban league pitcher
• 1954 - Mike Parrott, pitcher
• 1955 - Luis Rosado, infielder
• 1957 - Steve Bedrosian, pitcher; All-Star
• 1959 - Larry Sheets, designated hitter
• 1960 - Oscar Martinez, minor league infielder
• 1963 - Lance Blankenship, infielder
• 1964 - Kevin Campbell, pitcher
• 1964 - Tim Peters, minor league pitcher
• 1966 - Terry McDaniel, outfielder
• 1967 - Kevin Appier, pitcher; All-Star
• 1971 - Jose Contreras, pitcher; All-Star
• 1971 - Adam Hyzdu, outfielder
• 1971 - Clarence Johns, scout
• 1971 - Tony Runion, minor league player
• 1972 - Rick Short, infielder
• 1972 - Neil Weber, pitcher
• 1974 - Gerardo Estrada, Guatemalan national team catcher
• 1977 - Kevin Cash, catcher
• 1977 - Rafic Saab, scout
• 1978 - Chris Basak, infielder
• 1978 - Jason Bulger, pitcher
• 1980 - Jason Cooper, minor league player
• 1980 - Ehren Wassermann, pitcher
• 1984 - Hisayoshi Chono, NPB outfielder
• 1984 - Randy Gress, minor league infielder
• 1985 - Jason Rodriguez, minor league infielder
• 1986 - Ryan Tucker, pitcher
• 1988 - Adam Eaton, outfielder
• 1988 - Dmitri Seredenko, Russian national team pitcher
• 1990 - Victor Cadette, minor league player

[edit] Deaths

• 1905 - Jack Leary, infielder (b. 1857)
• 1911 - Ed Glenn, infielder (b. 1875)
• 1911 - John Hamill, pitcher (b. 1860)
• 1942 - Amos Rusie, pitcher; Hall of Famer (b. 1871)
• 1943 - Charley Hall, pitcher (b. 1885)
• 1943 - George Magoon, infielder (b. 1875)
• 1948 - Bill Dammann, pitcher (b. 1872)
• 1950 - Jing Johnson, pitcher (b. 1894)
• 1952 - Don Hurst, infielder (b. 1905)
• 1955 - Honus Wagner, infielder, manager; Hall of Famer (b. 1874)
• 1959 - Wid Conroy, infielder (b. 1877)
• 1962 - Dutch Hoffman, outfielder (b. 1904)
• 1965 - Frank Crossin, catcher (b. 1891)
• 1975 - Jim Stroner, infielder (b. 1901)
• 1976 - Mandy Brooks, outfielder (b. 1897)
• 1977 - John Pomorski, pitcher (b. 1905)
• 1985 - Burleigh Grimes, pitcher, manager; Hall of Famer (b. 1893)
• 1987 - Jim Johnson, pitcher (b. 1945)
• 1989 - Art Parks, outfielder (b. 1911)
• 1993 - Ray Thomas, catcher (b. 1910)
• 1997 - Lou Clinton, outfielder (b. 1937)
• 1999 - Roy Talcott, pitcher (b. 1920)
• 2001 - Jay Beekmann, college coach (b. 1921)
• 2002 - Clarence Beers, pitcher (b. 1918)
• 2002 - Randy Burden, minor league pitcher (b. 1979)