2002
» In the biggest free-agent signing this year, the Phillies sign Indians 1B Jim Thome to a 6-year contract.
The Cubs sign free agent P Mike Remlinger to a 3-year contract.
In support of a national strike, the Venezuelan professional league suspends its games. Many of the eight teams in the league belong to news media owners opposed to President Hugo Chavez. When the strike continues, the league will cancel its season on January 13.
1999
» The Indians sign free agent P Scott Kamieniecki to a 2-year contract.
1998
» The Cubs sign free agent P Scott Sanders.
The Mets sign free agent 3B Robin Ventura to a 4-year contract.
1996
» The Cubs sign SS Shawon Dunston, bringing him back to Chicago.
The Astros sign free agent P Sid Fernandez.
1995
» Michael Stirn, the fan who caught the ball Cal Ripken hit for a home run on the night he broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak, sells it to a Maryland businessman for $41,736.
1993
» The Indians sign free agent 1B Eddie Murray.
The Phillies trade P Mitch Williams to the Astros in exchange for P Doug Jones and Jeff Juden.
1991
» The Mets sign free agent OF Bobby Bonilla to a 5-year, $29 million contract.
1981
» Fernando Valenzuela becomes the 3rd consecutive Dodger to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Expos OF Tim Raines, who hit .304 with 71 stolen bases, is 2nd.
1978
» TSN announces the Gold Glove winners. SS Mark Belanger wins for the 8th and final time, while 1B Keith Hernandez and C Bob Boone are each honored for the first time.
1976
» Danny Murtaugh, who had retired two months earlier as Pirates manager, dies at Chester, Pennsylvania, of a heart attack at age 59.
1974
» The Red Sox trade OF Tommy Harper to the Angels for IF Bob Heise.
At the Major League winter meetings in New Orleans, the Rules Committee institutes several changes: among the changes is one permitting the use of cowhide, rather than just horsehide, in the manufacture of baseballs.
After several rounds of bourbon are consumed by Phillies GM Paul Owens and Detroit GM Jim Campbell at the winter meetings, Owens agrees to trade promising catcher Bob Boone and P Larry Christensen to Detroit for veterans Bill Freehan and Jim Northrup. Tomorrow morning, Owens won't recall the trade and the deal is never made. "How do you unshake a handshake?" says the disappointed Campbell.
1971
» The teams keep trading. Among those changing teams are Doyle Alexander (Baltimore), Dick Allen (White Sox), Tommy John (LA), and John Mayberry (KC).
The Yanks send P Stan Bahnsen to the White Sox for INF Rich McKinney. Bahnsen will win 21 games for the White Sox in 1972, while McKinney will fail to win the 3B job in NY. The Yanks also get Bernie Allen from Texas in a trade for lefties Terry Ley and Gary Jones.
1970
» In a 6-player swap with the Pirates, the Royals acquire SS Fred Patek. The Pirates pick up P Bob Johnson in the deal, but the righty will go just 17–16 in three years.
1967
» The Twins trade P Ron Kline to the Pirates for infielder Bob Oliver, Kline was 7–1 in 1967 and will post a 12–5 record in relief for the Bucs in 1968.
1966
» California trades P Dean Chance and a player to be named to the Twins for OF Jimmie Hall, 1B Don Mincher, and P Pete Cimino.
1965
» P Lindy McDaniel and OF Don Landrum are traded by the Cubs to the Giants for C Randy Hundley and P Bill Hands.
Baltimore sends 1B Norm Siebern to the Angels for OF Dick Simpson.
1963
» The Angels trade OF Leon Wagner to Cleveland for P Barry Latman and a player to be named later, who turns out to be Joe Adcock.
The Houston Colt 45s draft minor league pitcher Jim Ray from Rochester (Baltimore Orioles).
The ML Rules Committee bans oversized catcher's mitts, effective in 1965.
The Indianapolis and Little Rock franchises are transferred from the International League to the Pacific Coast League. The International League is reduced to eight clubs and the Pacific Coast League membership raised to 12 clubs.
1961
» The ML clubs vote to curb bonuses. All first-year players not on ML rosters, except one minor leaguer, can be drafted by any other club for $8,000. Clubs are expected to be unwilling to pay large bonuses for players who will be subject to a draft for just $8,000.
1958
» IL President Frank Shaughnessy reports that club owners are sympathetic to player demands for a pension plan, but says there is no way that $250,000 can be raised to start one.
National League President Warren Giles says he doubts New York City will get a franchise for several years. He says the NL will reject expansion now, even if assured of a stadium and financial backing.
The Indians send 2B Bobby Avila to the Orioles for P Russ Heman and cash.
The Red Sox box up Jimmy Piersall to Cleveland for 1B Vic Wertz and OF Gary Geiger.
1957
» The Hollywood (PCL) franchise moves to Salt Lake City, and the Los Angeles (PCL) team moves to Spokane. The San Francisco franchise (PCL) transfers to Phoenix, AZ.
1952
» Dodger executive Buzzie Bavasi dismisses the Yankees reaction to Jackie Robinson's charges. Commissioner Ford Frick plans no action against Robinson.
1948
» Stan Musial is picked MVP in the National League. Musial led the NL in batting at .365, runs (135), RBI (131), and in doubles and triples. His 39 home runs were one short of Mize and Kiner.
1943
» With only nine minor leagues operating during the season, the minor league convention in New York has an incipient revolt to oust longtime head William G. Bramham in favor of Frank Shaughnessy, president of the International League, who had five pledges. But Bramham rules that 15 non operating circuits which had paid dues are eligible to vote. Five of the leagues had given proxies. A later appeal to Commissioner Landis fails.
1942
» The Reds send SS Eddie Joost and pitcher Nate Andrews to the Braves for SS Eddie Miller.
1941
» The Giants name the popular Mel Ott as player-manager replacing Bill Terry, who moves up to the GM spot.
1937
» At the minor league meeting in Milwaukee, the Tigers trade popular OF Gee Walker, 3B Marv Owen, and young C Mike Tresh to the White Sox for Vern Kennedy, Tony Piet, and Dixie Walker. The trade causes an uproar with Tiger fans, and owner Walter Briggs issues an announcement from his Miami home that "the deal was made with my approval." Kennedy will start the 1938 season with nine straight wins, but ends up the year at 12–9.
1936
» The Cards sell Virgil Davis and Charley Gelbert to the Reds, and the Browns buy Ethan Allen from the Cubs.
1931
» Toronto sells Ken Strong to Detroit. A former All-American football player at NYU, Strong hit .340. However, a botched operation on his wrist during the winter leaves him unable to throw effectively, and he settles for a pro football career with the New York Giants that eventually takes him to that sport's Hall of Fame.
1928
» Cardinals 1B Jim Bottomley is voted National League MVP with 76 points to 70 for Giants 3B Fred Lindstrom, whose .358 BA was 3rd behind Rogers Hornsby and Paul Waner.
1916
» Under pressure from the Players' Fraternity, the National Commission orders that injured players shall get full pay for the duration of their contracts. The injury clause previously let clubs suspend players after 15 days pay.
1887
» The International League disbands. Syracuse, Toronto, Hamilton, and Buffalo split off to form the International Association, while Newark, Jersey City, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton become the nucleus of the Central League.
1882
» John O'Rourke wins a $205 settlement from Boston for salary payments due him in November of 1880.