December 8
From BR Bullpen
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| Stats of players who died on this day | |
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Events, births and deaths that occurred on December 8.
[edit] Events
- 1880 - At the annual National League meeting, the league rejects the Nationals' bid for admission, electing Detroit instead, although there is no established club there. The Michigan city is chosen for geographic reasons, since its 1880 population (116,340) is smaller than both Washington's (147,293) and Cincinnati's (255,139), the city being replaced.
- 1881 - The National League adopts a few new playing rules: the 3-foot line along 1B is adopted for the first time; runners can no longer be put out returning to their bases after foul ball not caught; the fine for pitchers hitting batters with pitches is repealed; the "block ball" rule allowing runners to take as many bases as possible on balls going into the crowd, the fielding team being able to put them out only after returning the ball to the pitcher in his box.
- 1885 - At an AA meeting in Philadelphia, the Metropolitan club is removed from the Association, and the National club of Washington is admitted. By court order, the Metropolitans will be readmitted.
- 1887 - In a controversial move the AA doubles its basic admission price to 50 cents. In late August 1888, the league, suffering from decreases in attendance and revenues, reinstitutes the old admission fee.
- 1899 - Louisville president Barney Dreyfuss is transferring to the Pittsburgh club (of which he is part owner) most of his top stars, including player-manager Fred Clarke, Hans Wagner, Claude Ritchey, Tommy Leach, Rube Waddell, and Deacon Phillippe. Louisville is a likely candidate in the reduction of NL franchises from 12 to 8.
- 1914 - The National League votes to hold the 1915 player limit to 21 per team. They also create the disabled list (DL) which allows a player to be kept out of play for 10 days and another players substituted for him.
- 1914 - Afraid of losing his unsigned second baseman to the upstart Federal League, Connie Mack sells Eddie Collins to the White Sox for the hefty sum of $50,000. The A's have already lost Eddie Plank and Chief Bender to the new league.
- 1914 - After weeks of rumors, the bomb drops: Connie Mack sells Eddie Collins, generally regarded as the game's finest position player, to the White Sox for $50,000. Collins signs a 5-year contract worth $75,000 and gets $15,000 as a signing bonus. The deal breaks up the A's "$100,000 infield" and raises conjecture that Mack, too, will leave to manage the Yankees. Ban Johnson reportedly had a hand in the negotiations, sending the A's star to counter the box office effect of the Chifeds signing Walter Johnson.
- 1916 - The National Commission fines 51 players $25 to $100 for performing in post-season exhibitions. Among the guilty: Babe Ruth, Jack Barry, Duffy Lewis, 10 other Red Sox players, and Ty Cobb.
- 1928 - The Cardinals sell veteran SS Rabbit Maranville to the Braves.
- 1936 - Babe Ruth turns down an offer to manage the Albany farm team.
- 1936 - In a 3-way deal, the Indians send Thornton Lee to the White Sox, who ship Jack Salveson to the Senators, who transfer Earl Whitehill to Cleveland.
- 1939 - The Braves trade veteran Danny MacFayden to the Pirates for Bill Swift and cash.
- 1939 - The White Sox trade Gee Walker to the Senators for Pete Appleton and Taffy Wright. The Sox also pick up OF Moose Solters from the Browns for OF Ray Radcliffe, both sluggers coming of poor years. The Dodgers get Gus Mancuso and Newt Kimball from the Cubs for Al Todd.
- 1939 - At the December meeting of both leagues in Cincinnati, Judge Landis votes against all amendments favorable to farm systems. The Rules committee, with an eye towards raising declining batting averages, votes to restore the sacrifice fly for 1940. Seven American League owners push through a new rule barring the American League champion from making any trades within the league. Clearly aimed at the Yankees, winners of the last four world series, the National League owners decline to vote it for their league.
- 1941 - Yesterday's bombing of Pearl Harbor and America's sudden involvement in the war, changes the owners' plan at the American League meeting of shifting the Browns from St. Louis to Los Angeles.
- 1941 - A day after Pearl Harbor, American League owners deny permission to St. Louis Browns owner Don Barnes to move his failing franchise to Los Angeles.
- 1947 - In a move that will anchor The Boys of Summer, Brooklyn acquires SS Billy Cox, P Preacher Roe, and infielder Gene Mauch from Pittsburgh for pitchers Vic Lombardi, Hal Gregg, and former batting champ, 37-year-old Dixie Walker. In the spring Walker had requested in writing to be traded, but then changed his mind.
- 1948 - Pittsburgh trades 2B Frankie Gustine and P Cal McLish to the Cubs for P Cliff Chambers and C Clyde McCullough.
- 1951 - The American League alters its restrictions on night games, adopting the National League's suspended game rule and lifting its ban on lights for Sunday games.
- 1954 - The Cardinals send veteran pitcher Gerry Staley, who had won 84 games for St. Louis in the past six seasons, along with 3B Ray Jablonski to the Reds for Frank Smith (8 - 1 in 1954). After a year in St. Louis the Cards will waive good-bye to Smith and Cincinnati will sign him back.
- 1959 - American League President Joe Cronin reports that expansion plans are indefinite. Branch Rickey scores him for his indecisiveness.
- 1959 - The Continental League awards a franchise to Atlanta.
- 1959 - Two days after trading Norm Cash, the White Sox send young OF Johnny Callison to the Phillies for veteran infielder Gene Freese. This ranks as one of the Phils' better trades.
- 1961 - The Mets purchase outfielder Richie Ashburn from the Cubs.
- 1961 - The Mets purchase OF Richie Ashburn from the Cubs for a reported $50,000.
- 1962 - Former major leaguers Frank Crosetti and John Schulte bring suit to prevent any increase in pension benefits which fails to include players from different eras.
- 1966 - Five years after breaking Babe Ruth's record, the Yankees trade OF Roger Maris to the Cardinals for journeyman 3B Charlie Smith. In two days, the Yanks send Pedro Ramos the Phils for P Joe Verbanic.
- 1976 - The Cubs acquire Greg Gross from Kansas City for infielder Julio Gonzales. Then in a three-team deal, the Cubs also get OF Jim Dwyer from the Mets for Pete LaCock. LaCock then goes to KC for Sheldon Mallory who goes to New York.
- 1976 - The Indians trade OF George Hendrick to the Padres for three players.
- 1977 - The Rangers engineer a series of deals with the Braves, Mets, and Pirates, unloading a total of six players and getting three in return. Among those involved are 1B Willie Montanez (to New York), Bert Blyleven (Pittsburgh), and Al Oliver (Texas).
- 1978 - The Rangers trade 3B-SS Toby Harrah to the Indians for 3B Buddy Bell.
- 1980 - The Cardinals and Padres complete the first major trade at the annual winter meetings in Dallas, TX. Reliever Rollie Fingers, who won 11 games and saved 23 for San Diego in 1980, and 24-year-old catcher Terry Kennedy, who hit .254 for St. Louis, are the keys in the 11-player swap.
- 1980 - The first major trade ever made at the annual winter meeting takes place in Dallas when Padres' reliever Rollie Fingers and Cardinals' catcher Terry Kennedy are the key players involved in an eleven-player swap.
- 1981 - In the first major deal of the winter meetings, the Cubs trade P Mike Krukow to the Phillies for pitchers Dickie Noles and Dan Larsen and versatile Keith Moreland.
- 1983 - Ill-advisedly, the Dodgers send pitching prospect Sid Fernandez and SS Ross Jones to the Mets in exchange for utility players Carlos Diaz and Bob Bailor.
- 1983 - Dr. Bobby Brown, who played 3B for the Yankees before embarking on a successful medical career, is elected president of the AL by the club owners.
- 1987 - Cincinnati trades OF Dave Parker to the A's for pitchers Jose Rijo and Tim Birtsas, the Braves trade SS Rafael Ramirez to the Astros for a pair of minor leaguers, and in the day's biggest (and most lopsided) deal, the Cubs send dominating reliever Lee Smith to the Red Sox for pitchers Al Nipper and Calvin Schiraldi.
- 1988 - Pitcher Bruce Hurst, considered the cream of this year's free-agent crop, signs a 3-year contract with the Padres. The Yankees sign free-agent pitcher Andy Hawkins, and the Expos trade P John Dopson and SS Luis Rivera to Boston for SS Spike Owen, and OF Tracy Jones to San Francisco for OF-1B Mike Aldrete.
- 1991 - Brewer reliever Julio Machado (3-3) is arrested for murder in Venezuela. Muchado is accused of shooting a woman following an auto accident between his car and a car in which the woman was a passenger. Muchado will be convicted and, following appeals, be sentenced to 12 years in 1996.
- 1991 - The Reds trade P Randy Myers to the Padres in exchange for IF-OF Bip Roberts and a player to be named.
- 1991 - The Angels acquire 1B-OF Von Hayes from the Phillies in exchange for P Kurt Abbott and OF Ruben Amaro Jr.
- 1992 - The Angels trade IF Luis Sojo to the Blue Jays in exchange for 3B Kelly Gruber.
- 1992 - The Marlins sign free agents Dave Magadan, Charlie Hough, and Geronimo Berroa.
- 1992 - It's signing day as the Giants ink free agent OF Barry Bonds and make him baseball's highest - paid player, with a 6-year contract worth $43.75 million.
- 1992 - The Twins sign free agent P Jim Deshaies.
- 1992 - The Royals sign free agent P David Cone and free agent SS Greg Gagne to 3-year contracts.
- 1992 - The Cubs sign free agent P Dan Plesac to a 2-year contract.
- 1992 - The Indians sign free agent P Bob Ojeda.
- 1992 - Heart specialist, Dr. Bobby Brown, a former Yankee infielder, is elected by the owners to be the president of the American League.
- 1992 - The Blue Jays sign free agent P Dave Stewart.
- 1992 - The White Sox sign free agent P Dave Stieb.
- 1992 - The Athletics sign free agent P Storm Davis to a 2-year contract.
- 1992 - The Red Sox sign free agent P Scott Bankhead to a 2-year contract.
- 1992 - Barry Bonds signs the richest contract in major league history. Bobby's son will make $43-million over the next six years with the Giants.
- 1992 - The Phillies sign free agent outfielder Pete Incaviglia and Milt Thompson to 2-year contracts.
- 1994 - Darryl Strawberry and his agent, Eric Goldschmidt, are indicted for allegedly failing to report a half million dollars of income from the sale of autographs at baseball card shows.
- 1995 - The Giants sign free agent OF Stan Javier to a 2-year contract.
- 1996 - The Orioles sign free agent P Jimmy Key to a 2-year contract.
- 1996 - The Dodgers sign free agent 3B Todd Zeile to a 3-year contract.
- 1997 - The Blue Jays sign free agent C Mike Stanley to a 2-year contract, and free agent IF Tony Fernandez to a 1-year pact.
- 1997 - The Indians sign free agent OF Kenny Lofton to a 3-year contract, and free agent P Dwight Gooden to a 2-year pact. They also trade OF Marquis Grissom and P Jeff Juden to the Brewers in exchange for Ps Ben McDonald, Ron Villone, and Mike Fetters. Fetters is then sent to the Athletics in exchange for P Steve Karsay.
- 1997 - The Devil Rays sign free agent 1B Paul Sorrento to a 2-year contract. Tomorrow, they agree to terms with free agent 3B Wade Boggs.
- 1997 - The Rangers sign free agent SS Kevin Elster.
- 1997 - The Diamondbacks sign free agent P Willie Blair to a 3-year contract.
- 1997 - The Dodgers sign free agent SS Jose Vizcaino to a 3-year contract.
- 1999 - The Rockies sign free agent OF Tom Goodwin to a 3-year contract and tomorrow they ink free agent C Brent Mayne to a 2-year contract.
- 2000 - The Giants sign free agent vet IF Shawon Dunston to a contract.
- 2000 - The Pirates sign free agent P Terry Mulholland to a 2-year contract.
- 2000 - The Rangers sign free agent 1B Andres Galarraga to a contract.
- 2000 - The Diamondbacks sign free agent 1B Mark Grace to a 2-year contract. Grace was with the Cubs for 13 years and had more hits in the 1990s than any other player.
- 2000 - The Cubs sign free agent P Jeff Fassero to a 2-year contract.
- 2001 - The Astros sign free agent C Gregg Zaun to a 2-year contract.
- 2001 - The Braves sign free agent 3B Vinny Castilla to a 2-year contract.
- 2001 - The Yankees sign free agent P Steve Karsay to a 4-year contract.
- 2005 - After signing the two-time gold glover shortstop to a four-year, $40 million deal, the Red Sox trade Edgar Renteria to the Braves for third base prospect Andy Marte, The 30-year old Colombian infielder, who led the majors with 30 errors last season, will help to void created when Atlanta free-agent Rafel Furcel signed with the Dodgers earlier this week.
- 2005 - The Pirates send southpaw Dave Williams (10-11, 4.41) to the Reds for Pittsburgh area native Sean Casey. The popular first baseman, who is dubbed "˜The Mayor' because of his outgoing personality, becomes expendable as Cincinnati seeks pitching to compliment its heavy-hitting lineup.
- 2008:
- Joe Gordon becomes the first player elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee since it was reconstituted. It had been 7 years since Bill Mazeroski had been the most recent pick by the Committee. The new Committee had been criticized for not enshrining anyone in their first elections.
- Greg Maddux announces his retirement. The 4-time Cy Young Award winner set all-time records for putouts by a pitcher (546), double plays (98) and seasons with 15+ wins (18). He had gone 355-227 with a 3.16 ERA (132 ERA+) and ranked in the top 10 all time in wins (8th) and starts (740, 4th). Maddux, like 354-game winner Roger Clemens, had begun his career while sportswriters were bemoaning the fact that no one would ever reach 300 wins again.
- The Detroit Tigers try to shore up a gap at catcher by acquiring Gerald Laird from the Texas Rangers. They give up two pitching prospects, Guillermo Moscoso and Carlos Melo.
[edit] Births
- 1853 - Steve Libby, infielder (d. 1935)
- 1856 - Jack Rowe, infielder, manager (d. 1911)
- 1868 - Jocko Halligan, outfielder (d. 1945)
- 1874 - Joe Connor, catcher (d. 1957)
- 1877 - Bill Thomas, outfielder (d. 1950)
- 1879 - Jimmy Austin, infielder, manager (d. 1965)
- 1879 - Jack Thoney, outfielder (d. 1948)
- 1883 - Charlie Wacker, pitcher (d. 1948)
- 1887 - Eddie Dent, pitcher (d. 1974)
- 1889 - Phil Redding, pitcher (d. 1929)
- 1890 - John McGraw, pitcher (d. 1967)
- 1892 - Walt Johnson, pitcher (d. 1965)
- 1894 - Razor Ledbetter, pitcher (d. 1969)
- 1900 - Mose Solomon, outfielder (d. 1966)
- 1907 - Bill Beckmann, pitcher (d. 1990)
- 1918 - Sam Zoldak, pitcher (d. 1966)
- 1918 - Walter Lowe, minor league infielder
- 1925 - Hank Thompson, infielder (d. 1969)
- 1937 - Jim Pagliaroni, catcher
- 1940 - Brant Alyea, outfielder
- 1941 - Ed Brinkman, infielder; All-Star (d. 2008)
- 1941 - Ken Roy, minor league umpire (d. 2009)
- 1946 - Alan Foster, pitcher
- 1950 - Tim Foli, infielder
- 1956 - Alan Wirth, pitcher
- 1960 - John Mizerock, catcher, manager
- 1965 - Jeff Grotewold, designated hitter
- 1965 - John Orton, catcher
- 1967 - Tom McGraw, pitcher
- 1968 - Mike Mussina, pitcher; All-Star
- 1971 - Garvin Alston, pitcher
- 1972 - Jolbert Cabrera, outfielder
- 1973 - Jeff Davanon, outfielder
- 1975 - Brian Barkley, pitcher
- 1976 - Reed Johnson, outfielder
- 1976 - Rontrez Johnson, outfielder
- 1976 - Jose Leon, infielder
- 1978 - Vernon Wells, outfielder; All-Star
- 1981 - Kory Casto, outfielder
- 1982 - Alfredo Aceves, pitcher
- 1982 - J.C. Holt, minor league infielder
- 1987 - Santo Frias, minor league pitcher
- 1987 - Alexander Torres, minor league pitcher
[edit] Deaths
- 1907 - Washington Fulmer, outfielder (b. 1840)
- 1909 - Bill Hogg, pitcher (b. 1881)
- 1918 - Ed Mincher, outfielder (b. 1850)
- 1931 - Jack Bellman, catcher (b. 1864)
- 1932 - Bill Gray, infielder (b. 1871)
- 1935 - Baldy Louden, infielder (b. 1883)
- 1945 - Henry Fournier, pitcher (b. 1865)
- 1948 - Pelham Ballenger, infielder (b. 1894)
- 1951 - Bobby Lowe, infielder, manager (b. 1865)
- 1955 - Buck Washer, pitcher (b. 1882)
- 1958 - Bernie Friberg, infielder (b. 1899)
- 1958 - Tris Speaker, outfielder, manager; Hall of Famer (b. 1888)
- 1961 - Coonie Blank, catcher (b. 1892)
- 1961 - Lou Koupal, pitcher (b. 1898)
- 1963 - Red Worthington, outfielder (b. 1906)
- 1966 - Bill Bolden, pitcher (b. 1893)
- 1968 - Benn Karr, pitcher (b. 1893)
- 1974 - Bert Niehoff, infielder (b. 1884)
- 1975 - Fred Blackwell, catcher (b. 1891)
- 1975 - Johnny Couch, pitcher (b. 1891)
- 1977 - Art Ewoldt, infielder (b. 1894)
- 1978 - Nick Cullop, outfielder (b. 1900)
- 1979 - Del Young, infielder (b. 1912)
- 1981 - Bill Windle, infielder (b. 1904)
- 1985 - Dave Madison, pitcher (b. 1921)
- 1985 - Bill Wambsganss, infielder (b. 1894)
- 1986 - Pip Koehler, outfielder (b. 1902)
- 1993 - Bob Barnes, pitcher (b. 1902)
- 1999 - Wally Hebert, pitcher (b. 1907)
- 2006 - José Uribe, infielder (b. 1959)
