February 4

Events, births and deaths that occurred on February 4.

[edit] Events

• 1861 - Wearing ice skates, the champion Atlantics defeat the Charter Oak Club, 36 - 27 on a game played on frozen Litchfield Pond in South Brooklyn.
• 1882 - National League players are now responsible for carrying their own bats and uniforms on road trips. They are also required to purchase and keep clean two complete uniforms, including the white linen ties to be worn on the field at all times.
• 1893 - The first recorded version of Casey at the Bat, as recited by Russell Hunting, hits the music charts. DeWolf Hopper's more famous version will not be released until October 1906.
• 1899 - Hughie Jennings will not go south with the Brooklyn team but will get in shape as baseball coach for Cornell University.
• 1909 - Former Pitcher John Clarkson dies in Belmont, Massachusetts, at the age of 47. Clarkson won 328 games during a 12-year career in the 19th century. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963.
• 1915 - The New York Yankees purchase Wally Pipp and Hugh High from the Detroit Tigers for a reported $5,000 each. Baseball historian Lyle Spatz (Yankees Coming, Yankees Going) writes that this was the first of some promised funneling of ball players to the recently-sold Yankees franchise.
• 1922 - Joe Harris, formerly with the Cleveland Indians, is reinstated by Judge Landis because of his good World War I record. Harris had been on the ineligible list for having played with and against ineligible players in independent games. "His service in France, where he was gassed after bitter fighting, caused him to do things he might not have done," says Judge Landis in reinstating him. Last December, Harris was traded by Cleveland along with "Tioga" George Burns and Elmer Smith to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Stuffy McInnis.
• 1925 - In a deal of outfielders, the Brooklyn Robins acquires Cotton Tierney from the Boston Braves for Bernie Neis.
• 1934 - The National Recovery Administration says athletes advertising athletic goods must actually use them or advertisers will lose the NRA Blue Eagle and be fined.
• 1956:
  • The Major Leagues vote to establish the Cy Young Memorial Award for the outstanding pitcher of the year. At first, there will be one award for both major leagues.
  • The American League says it will test the automatic intentional walk during spring training.
• 1957 - Manager Joe McCarthy and outfielder Sam Crawford are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. McCarthy, the winningest manager in major league history, won nine pennants and four consecutive World Championships with the New York Yankees. Crawford, one of the greatest hitters of the deadball era, finished his career with 309 triples, first on the all-time list.
• 1958 - The Hall of Fame fails to enshrine any new members for the first time since 1950.
• 1960:
  • The BBWAA voters fail to elect a new Hall of Fame member. Edd Roush gets 146 votes, but 202 are necessary for election. Sam Rice (143) and Eppa Rixey (142) are next in line. All three will eventually be elected.
  • The San Francisco Giants move their offices to Candlestick Park. They will work out of a locker room until the Giants' facility is completed.
• 1962 - Roberto Clemente accepts Pittsburgh's annual "Dapper Dan Award", acknowledging both Pirate fans and fellow Pirates in the process. Les Biederman writes in The Sporting News: "Clemente, the Pirates' National League batting champion, gave credit to the encouragement of the Pittsburgh fans for his feats in 1961 that earned him the Dapper Dan Award at the 26th annual banquet before more than 2,000 persons (all male) at the Hilton Hotel. The Puerto Rican, who climaxed his greatest season in the majors with a .351 batting average, accepted the plaque from Dapper Dan President Al Abrams, sports editor of the sponsoring Post Gazette, and responded to a standing ovation with a moving and sincere speech. 'Without the fans' encouragement here, I never could win this award,' Clemente told the hushed crowd. 'This award belongs to the fans and my teammates as much as it does to me.'"
• 1969 - Attorney Bowie Kuhn is named commissioner, succeeding Spike Eckert. Kuhn receives a one-year contract paying him $100,000. Major league owners turned to Kuhn after failing to agree on either of two other candidates, Mike Burke of the New York Yankees and Chub Feeney of the San Francisco Giants. The early favorite, John McHale, took his name out of the running early, as he had accepted the job of President of the expansion Montreal Expos a short time before Eckert was ousted.
• 1971 - Commissioner Bowie Kuhn announces former Negro League players will have a separate wing in the Hall of Fame. Due to the controversy the announcement causes, it is decided inclusion in regular Hall of Fame is more fitting and more of an honor for the former black players.
• 1976 - Federal Judge John W. Oliver upholds a recent decision by arbitrator Peter Seitz, who had granted free agency to pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally. Both players had challenged baseball's reserve clause. Messersmith will sign a free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves, while McNally will stay retired.
• 1984 - The New York Yankees obtain third baseman Toby Harrah from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for outfielder Otis Nixon and pitcher George Frazier.
• 1985 - Slugger Greg Luzinski announces his retirement. In a 15-season career, "The Bull" was a .276 hitter with 307 home runs and 1128 RBI with the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox.
• 1990 - The St. Petersburg Pelicans get home runs from Lamar Johnson and Steve Kemp and rout the West Palm Beach Tropics, 12 - 4, to win the first - and only - championship of the Senior Professional Baseball Association.
• 1991 - The 12 members of the board of directors of the Hall of Fame vote unanimously to ban Pete Rose from the ballot. Rose will become eligible again only if the commissioner reinstates him by December, 2005.
• 1998 - Free agent DH/OF Jose Canseco signs to a one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
• 2002 - The Minnesota Supreme Court refuses to consider an appeal of an injunction that forces the Twins to fulfill their Metrodome lease this year. The decision puts an end for this season any possibility of contraction in major league baseball.
• 2004 - Avoiding an arbitration hearing, the St. Louis Cardinals and Albert Pujols agree to a $100 million, seven-year deal. The 24-year slugging 1B/OF, who hit .359 with 43 home runs and 124 RBI in 2003, was the runner up to Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants in National League MVP voting.
• 2005:
  • A dentist, who became partially blind after being struck attempting to catch a foul ball, is appealing his case against the Philadelphia Phillies which alleges more needs to be done to protect fans. The case, dismissed by a Philadelphia Common Pleas judge citing multiple warnings were made by the club including public address announcements, text on the back of the ticket, and posted signs in the ballpark, will now be heard in the state's Commonwealth Court.
  • Needing to fill the void created by the departure of Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou, the Chicago Cubs avoid arbitration and sign Aramis Ramirez to a $8.95 million, one-year contract. Ramirez, who hit .318 with 36 home runs and 103 RBI in 2004, established club records for a third baseman.
• 2006:
  • In the Caribbean World Series, Alex Gonzalez, headed to the Boston Red Sox to be their new shortstop, hits a three-run home run off Jorge Sosa in the top of the 9th inning, lifting the Caracas Lions of Venezuela to an 11 - 9 victory over the Dominican Republic's Licey Tigers. Venezuela overcomes deficits of 5 - 0 and 6 - 1 before Gonzalez's blast. Closer Francisco Rodriguez pitches a scoreless 9th to complete the win. Venezuela, which has won all three of its games so far, hands the Dominican Republic's representatives their first loss. Alex Cabrera also homers for the Lions and the Tigers hit five, including one apiece by Miguel Tejada and Jose Offerman. In the earlier game, Victor Rodriguez drives in the go-ahead run in the top of the 9th inning and the Carolina Giants of Puerto Rico beat Mexico's Mazatlan Reindeer, 10 - 9, for their first victory in the Series. Mexico's Mazatlan - last year's champions - are winless in three games.
• 2008 - In the Caribbean Series, the Tigres del Licey upset the Aguilas Cibaeñas, who had manhandled them in the recent Dominican League finals. The two teams both enter the contest 2-0. Ramon Ortiz pitches a strong 6 2/3 innings to outduel Fabio Castro. In a matchup of 0-2 teams, the Tigres de Aragua beat the Yaquis de Obregón, 5 - 0, behind fine pitching from Giovanni Carrara and three relievers, while Luis Maza scores three runs.
• 2009:
  • The Venados de Mazatlán beat the Tigres del Licey 12 - 9 in the 2009 Caribbean Series. Venados 1B Adrián González sets a new Caribbean Series record with three home runs in a game.
  • Joan Carlos Pedroso socks his 200th home run since Cuba reintroduced wood bats in 1999-2000. He becomes the first player to reach that plateau in the wood bat era, 38 ahead of his closest rival, Frederich Cepeda.
• 2010:
  • The Twins sign 2B Orlando Hudson to a one-year deal. Hudson won a Gold Glove with the Dodgers last year but became expendable after the team re-signed late-season acquisition Ron Belliard. The Nationals, who are also looking for a second-sacker, then settle on Adam Kennedy after seeing their first choice Hudson slip away.
  • Randy Ruiz drives in two runs as Mayaguez beats Hermosillo, 5 - 3, on Day 3 of the 2010 Caribbean Series, giving the team from Puerto Rico its first win of the tournament. In the other game played today, Escogido ups its record to a perfect 3-0 as they win the battle of the Lions, 3 - 2 over Caracas. Freddy Guzman is the hero for the Dominican Lions, as he steals home in the 7th to score the deciding run, one of three steals for him on the night. His heroics nullify a two-run homer by Oscar Salazar for the losers.
• 2011:
  • Long-time New York Yankees P Andy Pettitte announces his retirement at a press conference, after hesitating all off-season about whether to return to play another year in the Bronx. The Yankees have signed veterans Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia as potential replacements, but Pettitte's decision still leaves a gaping hole in the team's starting rotation.
  • David Welch throws a no-hitter in the Australian Baseball League playoffs. The Sydney Blue Sox hurler fans ten and walks three in a 8 - 0 win over the Adelaide Bite.
  • The Baltimore Orioles sign DH Vladimir Guerrero to a one-year contract, while the Yankees sign 3B Eric Chavez who will attempt a comeback after being plagued by back injuries for the past four years and announcing his retirement early last season.
  • In the 2011 Caribbean Series, Obregón and Toros del Este move to 2 and 1 with wins over Anzoátegui and Caguas, respectively. The Dominican League's Toros win 4 - 3 in the opener with a three-run push in the 9th inning as Puerto Rican closer Saul Rivera fails to hold the lead, walking two men and allowing a triple to Esteban German, who then comes in to score the game-winner. In the second game, the Mexican Yankees take advantage of four errors by their Venezuelan League rivals to take a 7 - 3 decision. Agustín Murillo, who has committed four errors of his own in the tournament so far, redeems himself by driving in three runs for the winners.
• 2012 - In the 2012 Caribbean Series, Escogido moves to 3-0 with a 6 - 1 win over Puerto Rican representatives Mayagüez. Cuban hurler Raul Valdes gives up only 4 hits in 6 innings to claim the win. Mayaguez hurts its own cause with three costly errors. In the other contest, Mexico's Yaquis de Obregón defeats Aragua, 4 - 2; Aragua falls to 0-3. Rolando Valdez is solid through 7 innings for the winners, and Karim Garcia breaks a 2 - 2 tie in the 7th when LF Cesar Suarez loses his fly ball in the sun, allowing Alfredo Amezaga and Barbaro Canizares to score.
• 2013:
  • In the 2013 Caribbean Series, winless Caguas stuns undefeated Escogido with a 6 - 4, 10-inning win. Rey Navarro has a two-run single in the 8th and a two-run homer off Jailen Peguero in the 10th after starting the Series 1 for 10. Saul Rivera then saves the game, retiring Hanley Ramirez, Ricardo Nanita and Miguel Tejada in order. In the other game, the Yaquis de Obregón get a combined shutout from Rolando Valdez and three relievers in a 2 -0 win over the Navegantes del Magallanes; a two-run homer by Alfredo Amezaga in the 1st off Austin Bibens-Dirkx provides all the game's scoring.
  • The Athletics acquire IF Jed Lowrie and reliever Francisco Rodriguez from Houston in return for OF/1B Chris Carter, P Brad Peacock and C Max Stassi.
  • Brandon Webb, winner of the 2006 National League Cy Young Award, announces his retirement, ending a third attempt at a comeback following a series of shoulder surgeries. He suffered the injury as the starter on Opening Day in 2009 and never managed to make it back to a major league mound.

[edit] Births

• 1854 - Lou Say, infielder (d. 1930)
• 1859 - Jack (RL) Jones, infielder (d. 1936)
• 1874 - William Gallagher, infielder (d. 1950)
• 1875 - Lefty Davis, outfielder (d. 1919)
• 1875 - Jim McGuire, infielder (d. 1917)
• 1877 - Germany Schaefer, infielder (d. 1919)
• 1883 - Doc Miller, outfielder (d. 1938)
• 1888 - Rankin Johnson, pitcher (d. 1972)
• 1889 - Hod Leverette, pitcher (d. 1958)
• 1890 - Possum Whitted, outfielder (d. 1962)
• 1892 - Eddie Ainsmith, catcher (d. 1981)
• 1892 - Rollie Naylor, pitcher (d. 1966)
• 1894 - Vern Spencer, outfielder (d. 1971)
• 1896 - Andy Woehr, infielder (d. 1990)
• 1898 - Johnny Mann, infielder (d. 1977)
• 1898 - John Perrin, outfielder (d. 1969)
• 1899 - Cy Morgan, minor league outfielder and scout (d. 1969)
• 1908 - Hank Garrity, catcher (d. 1962)
• 1916 - Schoolboy Johnny Taylor, Negro League pitcher (d. 1987)
• 1924 - Dorothy Harrell, AAGPBL infielder (d. 2011)
• 1929 - Osvaldo Faraone, scorekeeper; Italian Baseball Hall of Fame
• 1935 - Horace Turbeville, college coach (d. 2007)
• 1942 - Joe Sparma, pitcher (d. 1986)
• 1949 - Steve Brye, outfielder
• 1950 - Max Leon, pitcher
• 1951 - Stan Papi, infielder
• 1953 - Rob Picciolo, infielder
• 1954 - Al Javier, outfielder
• 1955 - Gary Allenson, catcher
• 1955 - Rusty Kuntz, outfielder
• 1956 - Chris Bando, catcher
• 1957 - Randy Gomez, catcher
• 1959 - Keith Creel, pitcher
• 1959 - Pat Perry, pitcher
• 1960 - Tim Pyznarski, infielder
• 1960 - Al LeBoeuf, minor league infielder and manager
• 1962 - Joe Law, minor league pitcher
• 1962 - Dan Plesac, pitcher; All-Star
• 1964 - Jeff Gardner, infielder
• 1965 - Brian Brooks, minor league outfielder
• 1969 - Kent Blasingame, scout
• 1969 - Brad Cornett, pitcher
• 1970 - John Frascatore, pitcher
• 1970 - Kye-won Park, KBO infielder
• 1971 - Dennis Konuszewski, pitcher
• 1971 - Andy McCormack, minor league pitcher
• 1973 - Chris Coste, catcher
• 1974 - Mervyl Melendez, college coach
• 1976 - Troy Farnsworth, minor league infielder
• 1976 - Kyle Kane, minor league pitcher
• 1977 - Scott Pratt, minor league infielder
• 1980 - Jason Dooley, minor league pitcher
• 1980 - Steve Schmoll, pitcher
• 1980 - Doug Slaten, pitcher
• 1981 - Ben Hendrickson, pitcher
• 1981 - Tom Mastny, pitcher
• 1983 - William Bergolla, infielder
• 1984 - Doug Fister, pitcher
• 1984 - Justin Prinstein, Hoofdklasse pitcher
• 1984 - Qing Zhu, China Baseball League infielder
• 1986 - Adrian Anthony, Hoofdklasse outfielder
• 1986 - Jordan Smith, pitcher
• 1987 - Tim Fedroff, minor league player
• 1991 - Carlos Virgen, minor league pitcher
• 1992 - Bogdan Stovba, Ukrainian national team catcher

[edit] Deaths

• 1890 - Ed Greer, outfielder (b. 1865)
• 1902 - Tom Hernon, outfielder (b. 1866)
• 1909 - John Clarkson, pitcher; Hall of Famer (b. 1861)
• 1916 - Frank Wyman, outfielder (b. 1862)
• 1919 - Lefty Davis, outfielder (b. 1875)
• 1920 - Ed Siever, pitcher (b. 1877)
• 1923 - George Tebeau, outfielder (b. 1861)
• 1928 - Bill McCarthy, catcher (b. 1886)
• 1936 - Frank Jones, infielder/outfielder (b. 1858)
• 1937 - Harry Wolverton, infielder, manager (b. 1873)
• 1940 - Pat Callahan, infielder (b. 1866)
• 1943 - Frank Dwyer, pitcher, manager (b. 1868)
• 1944 - Dixie Davis, pitcher (b. 1890)
• 1949 - Pat Martin, pitcher (b. 1892)
• 1954 - Ollie Smith, outfielder (b. 1865)
• 1958 - Ted Turner, manager (b. 1892)
• 1961 - Parke Carroll, general manager (b. 1904)
• 1961 - Red Kelly, outfielder (b. 1884)
• 1964 - Fred Smith, pitcher (b. 1878)
• 1966 - Tom Harris, minor league player (b. 1894)
• 1966 - Mike Milosevich, infielder (b. 1915)
• 1967 - Earle Mack, infielder, manager (b. 1890)
• 1972 - Joe Green, pinch hitter (b. 1897)
• 1974 - Hank Winston, pitcher (b. 1904)
• 1977 - Nemo Leibold, outfielder (b. 1892)
• 1978 - Dave Keefe, pitcher (b. 1897)
• 1979 - Lou Bauer, pitcher (b. 1898)
• 1980 - Dud Branom, infielder (b. 1897)
• 1981 - Grant Gillis, infielder (b. 1901)
• 1988 - Joe Bankhead, Negro League pitcher (b. 1926)
• 2003 - Jim Mertz, pitcher (b. 1916)
• 2005 - Luis Sanchez, pitcher (b. 1953)
• 2006 - Peter Arthur, minor league pitcher (b. ~1974)
• 2006 - Joe McGuff, sportswriter (b. 1926)
• 2007 - Steve Barber, pitcher; All-Star (b. 1938)
• 2007 - Jim Pisoni, outfielder (b. 1929)
• 2009 - Ramon Hernandez, pitcher (b. 1940)
• 2011 - Woodie Fryman, pitcher; All-Star (b. 1940)