1993
» Baseball's collective bargaining agreement runs out with no new agreement yet signed.

1990
» A's 3B Carney Lansford is severely injured in a New Year's Eve snowmobile accident. He will undergo surgery on January 6th to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee as well as repair other ligament damage. Lansford will play just five games in 1991, but return to the starting lineup in 1992.

1984
» Despite six weeks of negotiations, the Basic Agreement between the players and owners that was reached after the 1981 strike expires. The players are now seeking increased contributions to their pension plan from the clubs' additional television revenues, while the owners are hoping to slow the rapid growth of player salaries.

1979
» The Basic Agreement between players and owners expires, precipitating more than 19 months of bitter negotiations, culminating in the 1981 player strike.

1974
» Happy New Year. The Yankees sign Catfish Hunter to a 5-year contract worth a reported $3.75 million. This is triple the salary of any other ML player. Catfish will win 40 games over the next two seasons before suffering arm trouble.

1972
» A plane carrying Roberto Clemente to Nicaragua on a mercy mission for earthquake victims crashes into the Atlantic Ocean. Clemente, who batted .317 in 18 seasons with the Pirates, is presumed dead at age 38.

1966
» After 15 seasons with the Braves in three different cities, 3B Eddie Mathews is traded to the Astros, with P Arnie Umbach and a player to be named, for P Bob Bruce and OF Dave Nicholson.

1962
» The state of Ohio withdraws a suit against the Reds when owner Bill DeWitt agrees in writing that the club will stay in Cincinnati for 10 years.

1949
» The 1940s is the only decade in ML baseball history in which no new stadiums are built. After Cleveland opened Municipal Stadium in 1932, no new ballpark will be opened until County Stadium in Milwaukee is unveiled in 1953.

The 1940s will end with eight blacks on ML rosters: three each on the Dodgers and Indians, and two with the Giants. Although it will be another decade before all ML teams would be integrated, most teams will be playing blacks in the next two years. All but the Browns, Cubs, and Reds set attendance records in the 1940s. There were 81 scheduled night games in 1940 and 384 in 1949. The change to playing under the lights is underscored by the release of the 1950 schedule. The Cardinals have permission to open the season with the Pirates in a night game.

1918
» Kid Gleason replaces Pants Rowland as White Sox manager following the team's skid to 5th.

Giants pitcher Fred Toney is sentenced to four months in jail after he pleads guilty to violating the Mann Act, which prohibits taking a woman across state lines for immoral purposes.

1914
» Ban Johnson's efforts to strengthen the New York Yankees succeed when he arranges the purchase of the team by Colonel Jacob Ruppert and Cap Huston for $460,000 from Bill Devery and Frank Farrell. After Detroit owner Navin refuses to let Hugh Jennings go, the new Yankee owners will name longtime Detroit pitcher Bill Donovan as manager. Donovan was recently manager of Providence (IL).

1897
» Charles H. Ebbets, 38, who "has handled every dollar" entering the Brooklyn club's treasury for the past 15 years, gains a controlling 80 percent interest in the team.

1889
» Three players purchased from the disbanded Kansas City AA franchise by the National League are divided by lot among the bidding NL clubs. Billy Hamilton is assigned to Philadelphia, while Boston is lucky enough to get both Herman Long and Dan Stearns in the drawing.