IN THE NEWS: The KC Athletics, which waived young Joe Rudi to the Indians in May, got him back, along with backup C Phil Roof. The Indians receive veteran OF Jim Landis and P Jim Rittwage. Rudi hit .254 at Dubuque this past season.
The Giants send Matty Alou, coming off a .231 season, to the Pirates for P Joe Gibbon and infielder Ossie Virgil. Alou will rebound to lead the National League in hitting and have four straight seasons over .331.
IN THE NEWS: Masanori Murakami, 4-1 this year, does not renew his contract with the Giants, signing instead with the Nankai Hawks of Osaka for $40,000.
IN THE NEWS: OF Frank Robinson is traded from Cincinnati to the Orioles for pitchers Milt Pappas and Jack Baldschun and OF Dick Simpson. The Reds Bill DeWitt defends the trade by labeling Robinson "an old 30,"a concept that Robinson will quickly prove wrong.
While giving a speech in Columbus, MO, Branch Rickey collapses and dies a few days short of his 84th birthday. Player, manager, an extraordinary judge of baseball talent, and a shrewd trader, he became perhaps the game's most influential executive.
IN THE NEWS: Detroit trades P Phil Regan to the Dodgers for IF Dick Tracewski. Regan will lead the National League in saves in 1966 while winning 14 of 15 decisions.