December 19
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 19.
Events[edit]
- 1914 - Washington manager Clark Griffith meets with Walter Johnson in Kansas City and convinces the star to re-sign for $12,500, considerably less than his recent contract with the Chifeds, with the assurance that Griffith would convince the Washington management to spring for a bigger contract later. Washington will later sign Johnson to $16,000 a year for five years. Griffith gets $6,000 from Charles Comiskey to allow Johnson to repay his Chifed signing bonus.
- 1928 - Senators player-manager Bucky Harris is traded to the Tigers for infielder Jack Warner. The future Hall of Famer will replace George Moriarty (68-86, 6th place) as the Motor City skipper.
- 1934 - The Yankees send five players to San Francisco as part of the payment for Joe DiMaggio. He will play another season in the Pacific Coast League and will report at the end of 1935.
- 1936 - The Bees purchase Eddie Mayo from the Giants.
- 1957 - In a continuing family squabble, Charles Comiskey, Jr. denies his sister, Mrs. Dorothy Comiskey Rigney's, allegation that he used the "rule or ruin" tactic to gain control of the club.
- 1974 - The race to sign newly-minted free agent Catfish Hunter begins in the law offices of Cherry, Cherry & Flythe in Ahoskie, North Carolina. Yankee and Red Sox representatives are the first arrivals.
- 1976:
- The 1976 Amateur World Series ends in Cartagena, Colombia. Cuba edges Puerto Rico for the title because Puerto Rico, which finished at 8-2 like Cuba, withdraws from the tournament and forfeits the final game.
- A single-engine plane crashes into the upper deck of Baltimore's Memorial Stadium injuring the pilot and three others. Minutes prior to the mishap the plane had buzzed the stadium during the final moments of the Steelers' play-off victory over the Colts.
- 1983:
- The Pirates sign free agent OF Amos Otis, a five-time American League All-Star, to a one-year contract.
- The Tigers sign free agent slugger Darrell Evans, who hit .277 with 30 home runs for the Giants last season. 18 teams were interested in signing him and in 1985, he will lead the American League in home runs.
- Former Cy Young Award winner Vida Blue is sentenced to 90 days in prison, and recently convicted and suspended 1B Willie Aikens is traded by Kansas City to Toronto for DH Jorge Orta.
- 1985 - The Expos trade P Bill Gullickson and C Sal Butera to the Reds for pitchers Jay Tibbs, Andy McGaffigan and John Stuper, and C Dann Bilardello.
- 1986:
- After finding no other clubs interested in signing him, free agent pitcher and 20-game winner Jack Morris agrees to salary arbitration with the Tigers while at the same time accusing the major league owners of collusion against free agents. Morris had offered to sign a one-year contract, with salary to be determined by an arbitrator, with either the Yankees, Angels, Twins or Phillies, but was turned down by all four.
- Michael Sergio, a Mets fan who parachuted into Shea Stadium during Game 6 of the World Series, is sentenced to 100 hours of community service and fined $500.
- 1990 - Takeshi Yamasaki of the Chunichi Dragons goes into a burning building to save someone's life.
- 1991:
- Former minor league umpire Pam Postema files a sex discrimination suit against the National and American leagues, the Triple-A Alliance, and the Baseball Office for Umpire Development.
- The Blue Jays sign free agent veteran DH/OF Dave Winfield. The former Angel hit .286 with 28 home runs last season.
- The Orioles sign P Rick Sutcliffe as a free agent. The former 1984 Cy Young Award winner was 6-5 with a 4.10 era with the Cubs last season.
- Yankees P Steve Howe is arrested in Montana on a charge of possession of cocaine. Howe has been suspended from baseball five times for drug and alcohol problems.
- 2001:
- Free agent Moises Alou (.331, 27, 108) signs a $27 million, three-year deal with the Cubs. The former Astro All-Star's presence in the Chicago line-up, along with Fred McGriff and Sammy Sosa, will give the team a fearsome 3-4-5 threesome. The Cubs sign also trade OF Michael Tucker to the Royals in exchange for a player to be named.
- Several hours before a midnight deadline, Barry Bonds accepts the Giants' offer of salary arbitration. San Francisco's decision to go to arbitration avoids a bidding war for their franchise player, and this season's National League MVP Award winner will be likely worth at least $20 million for one year of service.
- Colorado sends Pokey Reese, acquired from the Reds yesterday, to the Red Sox for C Scott Hatteberg. The Sox will make Pokey a free agent by not tendering him a contract and he'll sign in January with Pittsburgh. Hatteberg will go the same route and sign with the A's.
- 2002 -One of Japan's most heralded players, 28-year-old outfield slugger Hideki Matsui (.334, 50, 107), reaches a preliminary agreement with the Yankees on a $21 million, three-year contract. "Godzilla", the three-time Most Valuable Player of Japan's Central League, rejected the Yomiuri Giants' $33 million, four-year offer opting to play for the Bronx Bombers.
- 2003:
- Agreeing to a $6 million, two-year contract with the Angels, Jose Guillen (.311, 31, 86) will become the team's right fielder next season. The deal will give Tim Salmon the opportunity to become Anaheim's designated hitter full-time.
- Gary Deporter, the managing partner of the late broadcaster Harry Caray's area restaurants, submits the winning bid of $106,600 to obtain the foul ball that Steve Bartman deflected, costing the Cubs a costly out during Game 6 of the NLCS. The plan is to have the ball destroyed as an act of exorcism during a worldwide toast to Harry on his birthday, February 26th.
- 2009 - 3B Scott Rolen re-signs with the Cincinnati Reds for two years. He had been acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at the trading deadline last season.
- 2010:
- Kansas City trades ace pitcher Zack Greinke, the 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner, and SS Yuniesky Betancourt to the Milwaukee Brewers in return for a package of young players, headed by SS Alcides Escobar. P Jake Odorizzi, OF Lorenzo Cain and P Jeremy Jeffress complete the Royals' haul, as Milwaukee outbids the Yankees and the Rangers to obtain Greinke.
- 45-year-old Carlos Yánes beats the Pinar del Río Tobacco Growers for his 234th win in Cuba, tying Jorge Luis Valdés for second all-time behind only Pedro Luis Lazo.
- 2011:
- The Texas Rangers make the winning bid for star Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish. As expected, the $51.7 million offer is the largest ever made through the posting system, breaking the record of $51.1 million which the Red Sox offered for Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2006. The Rangers now have 30 days to agree on a contract with Darvish.
- The Diamondbacks sign free agent OF Jason Kubel and the Nationals offer OF Mike Cameron a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.
- 2012:
- Boston signs free agent P Ryan Dempster for two years and $26.5 million.
- Seattle trades P Jason Vargas to the Angels for 1B Kendrys Morales.
- 2013 - After three months of frenzied speculation, it appears that Japanese ace hurler Masahiro Tanaka will not be posted after all, and thus will not leave Japan for the United States next year. Tanaka went 24-0 for the Rakuten Golden Eagles and led them to the first Japan Series title in franchise history, but his team is unhappy that it can only receive $20 million for its top player, after changes to the posting system agreed to recently by Major League Baseball and Nippon Pro Baseball. However, in five days' time, Rakuten will turn around and grant Tanaka's request.
- 2014
- The Dodgers end the Yankees' fifteen-year streak of owning Major League Baseball's biggest payroll. When the luxury tax calculations are in for the year, the Dodgers owe $26.6 million, based on a payroll of $257 million. The Yankees also need to pay the tax levied on payrolls above $189 million, and their bill is $18.3 million, down from $28 million in 2013.
- A busy off-season continues with a number of trades and signings. The Padres acquire their third starting outfielder in a few days, landing Justin Upton from the Braves for four prospects, and also obtain 3B Will Middlebrooks from Boston, giving up catcher Ryan Hanigan, who has been with the team for less than a week. The Marlins also continue to be active, as they get OF/IF Martin Prado and P David Phelps from the Yankees for P Nate Eovaldi, 1B Garrett Jones and prospect Domingo German and also send 3B Casey McGehee to San Francisco for a couple of minor leaguers. The Dodgers complete their rumored deal for Jimmy Rollins, sending a couple of pitchers to Philadelphia to obtain the Phillies' long-time shortstop. In free agent signings, the Royals ink OF Alex Rios for one year at $11 million and the Cubs add back-up C David Ross.
- 2017 - For the fourth straight year, the Dodgers are assessed the largest luxury tax payment in MLB, while the Yankees have to make a payment for the 15th straight year - in spite of going through a successful youth movement before the season. Los Angeles will have to pay $36.2 million and New York $15.7 million. Three other teams are assessed much smaller amounts.
- 2018 - Major League Baseball and the Cuban Baseball Federation reach a historic deal that will allow players from the island to be scouted and signed without having to defect. This recognizes the fact that there should be no going back to the days when players had to put their life and the well-being of their families at risk, and deal with unsavory criminal elements, in order to come to the United States. It creates a situation that is akin to that which prevailed before the Cuban Revolution in 1959. However, the Administration of President Donald Trump will kill the deal on April 8th as part of a policy of maintaining as hard a line as possible in dealing with Cuban authorities.
- 2019 - The Players Association files a grievance on behalf of OF Jacoby Ellsbury, who was released earlier this month with two years remaining on a $153 million contract signed before the 2014 season, The Yankees are trying to void the contract, claiming that Ellsbury underwent unauthorized medical treatment, whereas the Association claims that this is simply a ploy to circumvent what was a guaranteed contract. The dispute is likely headed to arbitration.
Births[edit]
- 1852 - Amory Hodges, umpire (d. 1917)
- 1859 - Willis Wyman, outfielder (d. 1942)
- 1860 - Jerry Mahoney, umpire (d. 1947)
- 1864 - Mike Drissel, catcher (d. 1913)
- 1874 - Welcome Gaston, pitcher (d. 1944)
- 1875 - Burley Bayer, infielder (d. 1933)
- 1875 - Kid O'Hara, outfielder (d. 1954)
- 1879 - Mike Welday, outfielder (d. 1942)
- 1882 - Paul Krichell, catcher (d. 1957)
- 1886 - Doc McMahon, pitcher (d. 1929)
- 1887 - Art Butler, infielder (d. 1984)
- 1889 - Morten Clark, infielder (d. 1943)
- 1891 - Pep Goodwin, infielder (d. 1972)
- 1892 - Jack Farrell, infielder (d. 1918)
- 1892 - Mike Herrera, infielder (d. 1978)
- 1892 - Fred Thomas, infielder (d. 1986)
- 1893 - Paul Strand, outfielder (d. 1974)
- 1894 - Ford Frick, commissioner; Hall of Famer (d. 1978)
- 1898 - Lou Koupal, pitcher (d. 1961)
- 1899 - Tony Hinkle, college coach (d. 1992)
- 1900 - Wally Gilbert, infielder (d. 1958)
- 1900 - Tex Jeanes, outfielder (d. 1973)
- 1903 - Thorpe Hamilton, minor league infielder and manager (d. 1995)
- 1906 - Tom Sullivan, catcher (d. 1944)
- 1911 - Pat Patterson, infielder; All-Star (d. 1984)
- 1915 - Mickey Witek, infielder (d. 1990)
- 1915 - Eddie Yount, outfielder (d. 1973)
- 1917 - Ray Poat, pitcher (d. 1990)
- 1918 - Bill DeKoning, catcher (d. 1979)
- 1918 - Tommy O'Brien, outfielder (d. 1978)
- 1921 - Sy Morton, infielder (d, 1993)
- 1923 - Vern Freiburger, infielder (d. 1990)
- 1924 - Rex Barney, pitcher (d. 1997)
- 1926 - Bobby Layne, minor league pitcher (d. 1986)
- 1933 - Gordie Windhorn, outfielder (d. 2022)
- 1934 - Al Kaline, outfielder; All-Star, Hall of Famer (d. 2020)
- 1934 - Osamu Kubota, NPB pitcher
- 1935 - Tony Taylor, infielder; All-Star (d. 2020)
- 1936 - Lenious Johnson, Negro League player (d. 2014)
- 1936 - Jack Kubiszyn, infielder
- 1937 - Dom Anile, college coach (d. 2018)
- 1942 - Maurice Oakes, Canadian national team player (d. 2012)
- 1943 - Hiroshi Shintaku, NPB catcher
- 1943 - Walt Williams, outfielder (d. 2016)
- 1944 - Rob Gardner, pitcher (d. 2023)
- 1945 - Art Kusnyer, catcher
- 1945 - Geoff Zahn, pitcher
- 1949 - Kazuyoshi Takemura, NPB pitcher
- 1951 - Pedro Medina, Cuban league catcher and manager
- 1955 - Kevin Stanfield, pitcher
- 1956 - Stan Cliburn, catcher
- 1956 - Stew Cliburn, pitcher
- 1956 - Tom Lawless, infielder; manager
- 1958 - Burk Goldthorn, minor league catcher
- 1959 - Don Mitchell, scout
- 1961 - Nobuyuki Kagawa, NPB catcher (d. 2014)
- 1962 - Osamu Abe, NPB infielder
- 1962 - Clay Parker, pitcher
- 1962 - Bill Wegman, pitcher
- 1964 - Mike Fetters, pitcher
- 1965 - Jamie Allison, minor league outfielder
- 1965 - Chito Martinez, outfielder
- 1965 - Peter Niemand, South African national team pitcher
- 1966 - Joe Slusarski, pitcher
- 1967 - Doug Johns, pitcher
- 1968 - James Mouton, outfielder
- 1968 - Jeff Scholzen, scout
- 1969 - Duane Brown, minor league pitcher
- 1969 - Tony Tijerina, minor league catcher and manager
- 1969 - Alexander Vidyaev, Russian national team infielder
- 1970 - Tom Wilson, catcher
- 1971 - Ruben Niebla, coach
- 1972 - Jerry Taylor, minor league player
- 1973 - Jose Silva, pitcher
- 1974 - Rubén García, Spanish national team pitcher
- 1975 - Russell Branyan, infielder
- 1975 - Cesar Gerónimo, Jr., minor league outfielder
- 1976 - Jason Kershner, pitcher
- 1977 - Chun-Wen Wang, CPBL outfielder
- 1978 - Andy Bent, minor league player
- 1978 - Andy Cannizaro, infielder
- 1978 - Vinnie Chulk, pitcher
- 1978 - Marshall McDougall, infielder
- 1978 - Mark Woodyard, pitcher
- 1979 - Chip Ambres, outfielder
- 1979 - Ben Crockett, minor league pitcher
- 1979 - Rafael Soriano, pitcher; All-Star
- 1979 - Justin Turner, minor league infielder
- 1980 - Gerardo Casadiego, minor league pitcher
- 1980 - Anthony Garibaldi, minor league infielder
- 1981 - Johe Acosta, minor league outfielder and manager
- 1981 - Paul Lubrano, minor league player
- 1982 - Jeff Baisley, infielder
- 1982 - Jay Johnson, minor league outfielder
- 1983 - Jose Campusano, minor league outfielder
- 1983 - Tsung-Hung Chen, CPBL infielder
- 1983 - Estelin Soto, minor league pitcher
- 1985 - Michael Taylor, outfielder
- 1986 - Eric Barrett, minor league pitcher
- 1986 - Scott McGregor, minor league pitcher
- 1987 - Aaron Loup, pitcher
- 1988 - Marcos Frias, minor league pitcher
- 1988 - Adrian Martinez, minor league catcher and manager
- 1988 - Aleksandr Vučković, Croatian national team infielder
- 1989 - Ian Parmley, outfielder
- 1989 - James Ramsey, minor league outfielder
- 1990 - Tim Cooney, pitcher
- 1991 - Christian Carmouche, minor league infielder and manager
- 1990 - Jason Hampton, college coach
- 1992 - Edubray Ramos, pitcher
- 1992 - Austen Williams, pitcher
- 1993 - Taylor Gushue, catcher
- 1993 - Jose Leclerc, pitcher
- 1994 - Yusuke Ohyama, NPB infielder
- 1994 - Tzu-Chien Shih, CPBL pitcher
- 1996 - Vito Friscia, minor league infielder
- 1996 - Evan Kravetz, pitcher
- 1996 - Jalen Miller, minor league infielder
- 1997 - Rony Garcia, pitcher
- 1997 - Seong-bin Hwang, KBO outfielder
- 1999 - Anthony Herron, minor league infielder
- 2007 - Kristýna El Ghannam, Czech women's national team infielder-pitcher
Deaths[edit]
- 1882 - Hicks Hayhurst, umpire (b. 1827)
- 1901 - Jim Gifford, manager (b. 1845)
- 1908 - Reddy Foster, pinch hitter (b. 1864)
- 1912 - Cheever Goodwin, umpire (b. 1850)
- 1916 - Doug Allison, catcher, manager (b. 1845)
- 1916 - John McGuinness, infielder (b. 1857)
- 1925 - Corty Maxwell, umpire (b. 1851)
- 1938 - Art Griggs, infielder (b. 1883)
- 1943 - Bill Bergen, catcher (b. 1878)
- 1949 - Robert Gibson, pitcher (b. 1869)
- 1950 - Wingo Anderson, pitcher (b. 1886)
- 1951 - Pete Hill, outfielder, manager; Hall of Fame (b. 1882)
- 1951 - Bob Lindemann, outfielder (b. 1878)
- 1954 - Big Jeff Pfeffer, pitcher (b. 1882)
- 1955 - Moxie Divis, outfielder (b. 1894)
- 1965 - John Knight, infielder (b. 1885)
- 1967 - Walter Tappan, infielder (b. 1890)
- 1970 - Nap Rucker, pitcher (b. 1884)
- 1970 - Charlie Wilson, infielder (b. 1905)
- 1979 - Bud Sketchley, outfielder (b. 1919)
- 1983 - Zip Collins, outfielder (b. 1892)
- 1984 - Bill Warwick, catcher (b. 1897)
- 1986 - Al Stokes, catcher (b. 1900)
- 1987 - Cornelius Cook, pitcher (b. 1909)
- 1989 - Rafaelito Ortiz, pitcher (b. 1914)
- 1991 - George Andrews, minor league outfielder (b. 1904)
- 1991 - Howie Dallmar, college coach (b. 1922)
- 1991 - Pearley Johnson, infielder (b. 1905)
- 1998 - Joe Mack, infielder (b. 1912)
- 2000 - Lou Polli, pitcher (b. 1901)
- 2000 - Lou Thuman, pitcher (b. 1916)
- 2002 - Claude Crocker, pitcher (b. 1924)
- 2002 - Bob Rinker, catcher (b. 1921)
- 2003 - Carmen Mauro, outfielder (b. 1926)
- 2008 - Dock Ellis, pitcher (b. 1945)
- 2011 - Kay Webb - AAGPBL pinch hitter (b. 1926)
- 2012 - George O'Donnell, pitcher (b. 1929)
- 2013 - George Cook, minor league pitcher (b. 1927)
- 2016 - Phil Gagliano, infielder (b. 1941)
- 2017 - Mamie Johnson, Negro Leagues pitcher (b. 1935)
- 2019 - John McCollister, author (b. 1935)
- 2020 - Bill Froberg, scout (b. 1957)
- 2021 - Pete Alborano Sr., college coach (b. 1934)
- 2022 - Tom Browning, pitcher; All-Star (b. 1960)
- 2022 - Yasuo Minagawa, NPB pitcher (b. 1947)
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