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February 1
From BR Bullpen
| Stats of players who were born this day | |
| Stats of players who died on this day | |
| Standings on this day | |
| Permanent link to Today's Entry | |
| Sources | |
| Baseball Library Chronology | |
| Today in Baseball History | |
Events, births and deaths that occurred on February 1.
[edit] Events
- 1913 - Olympic hero Jim Thorpe signs with the New York Giants of the National League.
- 1914 - An exhibition game involving major league teams takes place in Cairo, Egypt. The game is part of a special 56-game world tour. The Chicago White Sox and New York Giants play to a 10-inning, 3 - 3 tie.
- 1919 - The Brooklyn Robins trade first baseman Jake Daubert to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Tommy Griffith. Daubert, a former National League MVP with Brooklyn, is shipped out shortly after receiving an out-of-court settlement from the Robins for the balance of his salary ($2,150) because the 1918 season ended a month early.
- 1926 - The New York Yankees sell first baseman Wally Pipp to the Cincinnati Reds. In 1925, an injury forced Pipp out of the Yankees lineup, resulting in his permanent replacement by future Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig.
- 1928 - Former standout Hughie Jennings dies at the age of 58. The future Hall of Famer batted .311 over a 17-year career, including a career-high .401 in 1896. Jennings also managed the Detroit Tigers to three consecutive American League pennants from 1907 through 1909.
- 1947 - Commissioner Happy Chandler announces the creation of a pension plan for major league players. Players who have accumulated five seasons in the major leagues will receive $50 a month starting at the age of 50. For each year of additional service, a player will receive an extra $10 per month, up to a maximum of $100.
- 1959 - Zack Wheat, a Brooklyn Robins favorite of the 1910s and 1920s, is elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Wheat, a .317 hitter over his 19-year career, batted .300 or better 14 times.
- 1962 - The National League releases its first 162-game schedule.
- 1965 - The National League clubs adopt an emergency team replacement plan to restock any club struck by disaster.
- 1970 - The Veterans Committee selects former Commissioner Ford Frick and former players Earle Combs and Jesse Haines to the Hall of Fame. Haines won 210 games for the St. Louis Cardinals and pitched in four World Series. Although he played 100 games in a season just nine times, Combs accumulated 1,866 hits and batted .325. Frick was commissioner from 1951 to 1965, but he is best remembered for suggesting that an asterisk be placed next to the name of anyone who broke Babe Ruth's home run record during the eight additional games on the schedule in 1961.
- 1973 - Monte Irvin is elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues. Irvin becomes the fourth player to gain election through the committee, joining Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard. Irvin won two batting crowns for the Newark Eagles before joining the New York Giants.
- 1985 - In an effort to add some much-needed power to a lineup essentially composed of speedsters, the St. Louis Cardinals trade OF/1B David Green, SS Jose Uribe (who is still known as "Jose Gonzalez"), P Dave LaPoint, and OF/1B Gary Rajsich to the San Francisco Giants for slugging OF/1B Jack Clark.
- 1995 - Talks resume between the major league owners and the Players' Association in attempt to resolve the on-going strike. The owners agree to drop their demand for a salary cap, replacing it with a proposal for a luxury tax.
- 1999 - The New York Yankees trade highly-touted third base prospect Mike Lowell to the Florida Marlins for three minor league pitchers - Mark Johnson, Ed Yarnall and Todd Noel. Lowell, named minor league player of the year last season, is expendable after Scott Brosius' outstanding 1998 performance.
- 2001 - Postseason hero Jim Leyritz signs a $500,000, one-year minor league contract with the New York Mets. The former New York Yankees utility player has hit one home run per every 7.6 postseason at-bat, the third best performance for players with five or more postseason homers.
- 2002 - Six-time All-Star Kenny Lofton agrees to a $1.25 million, one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox. The 34-year center fielder, who has played with the Indians, Braves and Astros, has a .302 lifetime batting average in an 11-season career.
- 2003 - Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino announces four senators, Edward M. Kennedy, John F. Kerry, John McCain, and Tom Daschle, will file legislation nominating Jackie Robinson for the Congressional Gold Medal.
- 2005 - A web site claims Yogi Berra has filed a $10 million lawsuit against TBS due to a Sex and the City promotion which used Berra's name as a possible answer concerning the definition of yogasm. The choices included (a) a type of yo-yo trick, (b) sex with Yogi Berra and (c) what Samantha has with a guy from yoga class.
- 2008 - Johan Santana signs a 6-year, $137.5 million deal with the New York Mets to become the highest-paid pitcher in major league history, breaking Barry Zito's record. The contract is the penultimate step in a trade of Santana to New York; only a physical remains and this will be passed a day later.
- 2010:
- Jon Miller, who has been broadcasting San Francisco Giants games since 1997, is this year's Ford Frick Award winner. Widely respected for his work, Miller broadcast games for four teams prior to working for the Giants, including those of the Baltimore Orioles from 1983 to 1996. Since 1990, he has described ESPN's nationally-televized Sunday night game in partnership with Joe Morgan.
- Teams round out their rosters with a flurry of late free agent signings. The Dodgers ink OF Reed Johnson, the Red Sox add reliever Joe Nelson, the Giants sign P Byung-Hyun Kim and Horacio Ramirez, and the Mariners reach a deal with 1B Ryan Garko.
- The Athletics send IF Aaron Miles to the Reds in return for OF Willy Taveras and IF Adam Rosales, then immediately designate Taveras for assignment.
- 2011:
- A judge in the Dominican Republic denies bail to P Alfredo Simon, who has been detained for a month for his implication in a fatal shooting on New Year's eve. The decision means that Simon is likely to stay in jail for another year while the investigation continues.
- The Padres claim P Samuel Deduno on waivers from the Rockies and designate utility player Oscar Salazar for assignment.
- 2012 - In signings today, 1B Dan Johnson goes to the White Sox; IF Carlos Guillen to the Mariners; P Juan Cruz to Pittsburgh; IF Jamey Carroll to Minnesota; and P Chad Durbin to Washington.
- 2013:
- More trouble for Alex Rodriguez: in the wake of earlier reports of the superstar being a client of a clinic in Boca Raton, FL under investigation for supplying PEDs, ESPN reports today that he has been receiving weekly injections at home from the director of the suspect clinic, Anthony Bosch.
- The 2013 Caribbean Series opens at newly-built Estadio Sonora in Hermosillo, Sonora, as Fernando Valenzuela throws the ceremonial first pitch before the game between Venezuela's Navegantes del Magallanes and the Dominican Republic's Leones del Escogido. Escogido wins, 7 - 2, as Francisco Pena hits a two-run homer as part of a four-run barrage in the 5th. In the second game, Yaquis de Obregón, representing the host Mexican Pacific League, shut outs the Criollos de Caguas from Puerto Rico, 3 - 0, as Luis Mendoza pitches 6 scoreless innings and Luis Ayala gets the save.
[edit] Births
- 1858 - Lew Brown, catcher (d. 1889)
- 1867 - Pete Wood, pitcher (d. 1923)
- 1874 - Harry Bemis, catcher (d. 1947)
- 1875 - Billy Sullivan, catcher, manager (d. 1965)
- 1878 - W.S. Borland, college coach (d. ????)
- 1882 - Joe Harris, pitcher (d. 1966)
- 1884 - Joe Connolly, outfielder (d. 1943)
- 1884 - Jim Kelly, outfielder (d. 1961)
- 1884 - Rosey Rowswell, announcer (d. 1955)
- 1884 - Candy Jim Taylor, Negro League player and manager (d. 1948)
- 1890 - Earle Mack, infielder, manager (d. 1967)
- 1891 - Doc Bennett, scout (d. 1974)
- 1892 - Dixie McArthur, pitcher (d. 1986)
- 1892 - Tom McGuire, pitcher (d. 1959)
- 1892 - Doc Wiley, Negro League catcher (d. ????)
- 1894 - Walt Golvin, infielder (d. 1973)
- 1894 - Rube Parnham, pitcher (d. 1963)
- 1896 - Frank Lane, general manager (d. 1981)
- 1898 - Bud Messenger, pitcher (d. 1971)
- 1903 - Carl Reynolds, outfielder (d. 1978)
- 1908 - Vince Barton, outfielder (d. 1973)
- 1909 - Red Patterson, writer (d. 1992)
- 1910 - Dutch Lieber, pitcher (d. 1961)
- 1911 - Hal Sayles, minor league executive (d. 1980)
- 1915 - Woody Abernathy, pitcher (d. 1994)
- 1915 - Yoshinori Okoso, owner; Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame (d. 2005)
- 1917 - Elmer Burkart, pitcher (d. 1995)
- 1917 - Eiji Sawamura, NPB pitcher; Japanese Baseball Hall of Famer (d. 1944)
- 1919 - Norm Brown, pitcher (d. 1995)
- 1920 - Giichi Hayashi, NPB pitcher and manager (d. 2008)
- 1921 - Dave Madison, pitcher (d. 1985)
- 1922 - Raymond Mazzucco, minor league pitcher (d. 2012)
- 1925 - Mary Nesbitt, AAGPBL pitcher and infielder
- 1925 - Takumi Otomo, NPB pitcher (d. 2013)
- 1925 - Clarence Russell, minor league outfielder (d. 2009)
- 1930 - Chuck Churn, pitcher
- 1931 - Don Fracchia, minor league pitcher
- 1931 - Bob Smith, pitcher (d. 2013)
- 1932 - Jun Hakota, NPB infielder
- 1934 - Bob Conley, pitcher
- 1936 - Claus Helmig, minor league pitcher
- 1943 - Ron Woods, outfielder
- 1944 - Paul Blair, outfielder; All-Star
- 1944 - Hal King, catcher
- 1947 - Jim McKee, pitcher (d. 2002)
- 1947 - Kunikazu Ogawa, minor league and NPB pitcher
- 1947 - Danny Thompson, infielder (d. 1976)
- 1950 - Don Castle, designated hitter
- 1952 - Stan Kasten, owner
- 1955 - Ernie Camacho, pitcher
- 1955 - Mark Souza, pitcher
- 1956 - Geoff Combe, pitcher
- 1957 - Tom Wieghaus, catcher
- 1959 - Mike Barnett, coach
- 1959 - Katsuo So, NPB pitcher
- 1960 - Cecilio Guante, pitcher
- 1961 - Jim Benedict, scout
- 1964 - Mark Germann, scout
- 1966 - Darrin Chapin, pitcher
- 1966 - Eduardo Zambrano, outfielder
- 1967 - Juan Guerrero, infielder
- 1967 - Tim Naehring, infielder
- 1967 - Hiromoto Okubo, NPB catcher
- 1968 - Kent Mercker, pitcher
- 1970 - Edwin Hurtado, pitcher
- 1970 - Joe Vitko, pitcher
- 1972 - Rich Becker, outfielder
- 1972 - Matt Haas, scout
- 1975 - Brian Manning, minor league outfielder
- 1976 - Phil Norton, pitcher
- 1978 - Erick Almonte, infielder
- 1978 - Dusty Bergman, pitcher
- 1980 - Reid Casey, minor league player
- 1980 - Hector Luna, infielder
- 1980 - Alexander Toropov, minor league pitcher
- 1982 - Matt Harrington, minor league pitcher
- 1982 - Matt Houston, minor league catcher
- 1982 - Jean Machi, pitcher
- 1982 - Ryan Wing, minor league pitcher
- 1983 - Bryon Bell, minor league pitcher
- 1983 - Dane De La Rosa, pitcher
- 1983 - Serguey Linares, minor league pitcher
- 1984 - Oscar Angulo, minor league infielder
- 1984 - Marcos Guimaraes, Brazilian national team outfielder
- 1984 - Yeo-sang Lee, KBO infielder
- 1985 - Colin Curtis, outfielder
- 1985 - Elian Herrera, infielder
- 1985 - Luis Nieblas, minor league catcher
- 1986 - Kristopher Negron, infielder
- 1986 - Justin Sellers, infielder
- 1987 - Marco Carrillo, minor league pitcher
- 1987 - Austin Jackson, outfielder
- 1987 - Joseph Mahoney, infielder
- 1987 - Robert Zarate, minor league pitcher
- 1988 - Brett Anderson, pitcher
- 1988 - Allan de San Miguel, minor league catcher
- 1990 - Stolmy Pimentel, minor league pitcher
- 1993 - Richard White, minor league pitcher
- 1995 - Rafael Moreno, minor league pitcher
[edit] Deaths
- 1890 - George Trenwith, infielder
- 1912 - Jim Doyle, infielder (b. 1881)
- 1914 - Sam Weaver, pitcher (b. 1855)
- 1923 - John Shearon, outfielder (b. 1870)
- 1928 - Hughie Jennings, infielder, manager; Hall of Famer (b. 1869)
- 1929 - Walt Wilmot, outfielder (b. 1863)
- 1945 - Tubby Spencer, catcher (b. 1884)
- 1946 - Dad Hale, pitcher (b. 1880)
- 1948 - Jim McCormick, infielder (b. 1868)
- 1954 - Norman Plitt, pitcher (b. 1893)
- 1957 - Grover Seitz, minor league outfielder and manager (b. 1908)
- 1958 - Mysterious Walker, pitcher (b. 1884)
- 1961 - Woody Abernathy, minor league outfielder (b. 1908)
- 1965 - James Calleran, minor league infielder and manager (b. 1905)
- 1967 - Chaney White, Negro League outfielder (b. 1894)
- 1969 - Razor Ledbetter, pitcher (b. 1894)
- 1973 - Lou Bevil, pitcher (b. 1922)
- 1974 - Claude Berry, catcher (b. 1880)
- 1978 - Jack Saltzgaver, infielder (b. 1903)
- 1979 - Milt Byrnes, outfielder (b. 1916)
- 1980 - Greg Mulleavy, infielder (b. 1905)
- 1980 - Fred Walters, catcher (b. 1912)
- 1982 - Ed Edelen, pitcher (b. 1912)
- 1988 - Red Phillips, pitcher (b. 1908)
- 1999 - Paul Calvert, pitcher (b. 1917)
- 2001 - Sam Harshany, catcher (b. 1910)
- 2006 - Jake Wade, pitcher (b. 1912)
- 2007 - Ray Berres, catcher (b. 1907)
- 2008 - Whitey Ries, minor league infielder and manager (b. 1929)
- 2008 - Tom Venditelli, minor league infielder and manager (b. 1930)
- 2012 - Herb Adams, outfielder (b. 1928)
