IN THE NEWS: Toni Stone, the first female to play professional baseball at a big league level, dies at age 75. Stone played 2B for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro League in 1953.
IN THE NEWS: Yankee SS Derek Jeter is the unanimous choice for American League Rookie of the Year. Jeter was the Yanks Opening Day shortstop, the first rookie to start at SS for New York since Tom Tresh in 1962.
IN THE NEWS: In Chicago, the ML owners decisively reject a proposed labor agreement that would have ended a 3-year stalemate. The 18-12 vote threatens to plunge baseball back into full-fledged hostilities between the owners and players' union.
Todd Hollandsworth is voted the 1996 National League Rookie of the year, the 5th year in a row that the award has gone to a Dodger. The previous four were Eric Karros, Mike Piazza, Raul Mondesi, and Hideo Nomo. Hollandsworth played 41 games in 1995 (103 at bats) but a broken right hand in May and a broken right thumb in August of '95 kept him eligible for the rookie award.
IN THE NEWS: At Yokohama, Japanese All Star Hideki Matsui hits a grand slam off Shane Reynolds. Reynolds retires 20 of the next 21 batters, but loses 6–4.
IN THE NEWS: At Tokyo, in the finale of the Japanese vs. ML All Stars, the Japanese rally for three runs to earn an 8–8 tie. The Americans hit .302 in the series with 11 homers, and come away with four wins, two losses, and two ties. None of the games go extra innings. Steve Finley, 8-for-20 with nine RBI, is named MVP.
IN THE NEWS: The Cy Young Award stays in Atlanta with the expected announcement of John Smoltz as the 1996 National League winner. Since 1991, five of the six Cy Young winners have been Braves. Smoltz is named first on 26 of 28 ballots, with Kevin Brown finishing second in the voting.
Owner Bud Selig meets with Don Fehr, the players' labor leader, in a futile attempt to convince Fehr to accept the owners' demands. With the deadline for an agreement at midnight on the 14th, there is virtually no hope that the two sides will agree. If the two sides reach the deadline without an agreement, the interleague schedule for next year will be wiped out, and a traditional schedule followed.
IN THE NEWS: San Diego 3B Ken Caminiti is named the MVP of the National League. After the All-Star break, Caminiti led all NL players with a.360 average, 28 homers, and 81 RBI. He sealed the Padres NL West title by going 4-for-4 on September 27 against the Dodgers Ismael Valdes.
The Indians trade P Julian Tavarez, 2B Jose Vizcaino, IF Jeff Kent, and a player to be named to the Giants in exchange for slugging 3B Matt Williams and a player to be named. Williams, with the Giants for 10 years, underwent shoulder surgery in mid-August and missed the remainder of the season.
The Blue Jays ink their ace pitcher Juan Guzman to a 2-year $9 million deal with incentives. Along with the just-signed Pat Hentgen and nabbing Roger Clemens next month, the Jays load up for next year.
Texas star Juan Gonzalez beats out Seattle's Alex Rodriguez for the AL MVP. He averaged 1.08 RBI per game, the best ratio in the majors since 1938. He finished the year with 47 homers and 144 RBI.
The Toronto Blue Jays and the Pittsburgh Pirates complete a 9-player swap with the Jays acquiring the 2B they are looking for in 29-year-old Carlos Garcia. In addition, the Jays pick up OF Orlando Merced and reliever Dan Plesac. The Bucs receive six prospects, including pitchers Jose Pett and Jose Silva, along with Knoxville IF Brandon Cromer and three players to be named.
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