IN THE NEWS: Ron Guidry is the unanimous choice for the American League Cy Young Award. The southpaw led the league in wins, percentage, shutouts (9), and ERA (1.74).
IN THE NEWS: The 3rd annual reentry free-agent draft is held at the Plaza Hotel, New York City. Pete Rose, Tommy John, and Darrell Evans are the biggest names among the eligible players.
IN THE NEWS: The Yankees release Andy Messersmith, who will sign with the Dodgers. Messersmith never really recovered from the separated shoulder suffered in spring training.
IN THE NEWS: Boston's Jim Rice outpoints New York's Ron Guidry, 353-291, to win the American League MVP Award. Rice led the league in hits (213), triples (15), home runs (46), RBI (139), and slugging (.600), and became the first AL player to accumulate 400 total bases in a season since Joe DiMaggio in 1937.
IN THE NEWS: Luis Tiant, formerly of the Red Sox, becomes the first to sign with a new club following the reentry draft. The 38+-year-old pitching star joins the Yankees, and will go 13–8 next year.
IN THE NEWS: The Pirates Dave Parker wins the National League MVP Award, 320-194 over the Dodgers Steve Garvey. Parker had 30 home runs, 117 RBI, and league-leading figures in batting (.334), slugging (.585), and total bases (340).
IN THE NEWS: 2B Lou Whitaker, who batted .285 for the Tigers, wins the American League Rookie of the Year, receiving 21 of 28 votes.
The Yankees sign Tommy John, a reentry free agent formerly with the Dodgers. The sinkerballer will be a valuable addition to the Yankees, winning 43 games in the next two seasons.
The Ford Motor Credit Company purchases holdings of the General Electric Credit Company, thereby acquiring 100 percent interest in the Houston Astros.
IN THE NEWS: The Reds fire manager Sparky Anderson after nine years, during which the club averaged 96 wins per season and won five divisional titles, four league pennants, and two World Championships. The surprise move comes six days after the Reds return from a trip to Japan. Anderson has one year left on a contract and had no idea he'd be fired.
The Orioles sign pitcher Steve Stone, a reentry free agent formerly with the White Sox.