2002
» In a sinister move, the Yankees offer the same two-year $4.6 million contract to three lefty relievers -- Mike Stanton, Mark Guthrie and Chris Hammond -- and give each 15 minutes to decide. Hammond, 37, signs for $4.8. Hammond, out of baseball for two years, had a remarkable season, posting a .095 ERA in 63 games and did not allow an earned run after June 28. He is the 3rd pitcher since 1900 to post a sub–one ERA while pitching 70+ innings. The veteran Stanton doesn't bother to respond to the step–child treatment and, preferring to remain in the New York area, will sign a 3-year contract with the Mets in a week.
The Indians send C Einar Diaz and P Ryan Drese to the Rangers in exchange for P Aaron Myette and 1B Travis Hafner.
The MLB Players Association agrees to allow the Montreal Expos to play 22 home games in Puerto Rico next summer.
2001
» Major league baseball reportedly gives John Henry permission to sell the Florida Marlins to Montreal Expos owner, Jeffrey Loria. The Expos are expected to be either contracted or taken over by Major League Baseball, which would buy the team from Loria in case contraction is aborted, leaving him an opportunity to own the Marlins.
2000
» The Dodgers sign free agent P Andy Ashby to a 3-year contract.
1996
» The Seattle Mariners acquire righty Scott Sanders, (9–5, 3.38 ERA) from the Padres for left-handed Sterling Hitchcock. Hitchcock was the ace of the Mariner staff after Randy Johnson went down with back surgery. He finished with a 13–9 record, but had a 5.35 ERA.
1992
» The Yankees trade 1B J.T. Snow and pitchers Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen to the Angels in exchange for P Jim Abbott.
1991
» The Brewers obtain P Jesse Orosco from the Indians in exchange for a player to be named.
1990
» Free agent George Bell signs with the Cubs.
Fifteen more players become "free look" free agents as part of the settlement of the most recent collusion case against the owners. It will also cost the clubs a whopping $280 million in damages.
At Leland's auction house in New York City, Shoeless Joe Jackson's signature is sold for $23,100, the most money ever paid for a 19th or 20th century signature. Jackson, who could not read or write, copied the signature from one written out by his wife. The signature, which was resold within hours, was cut from an unknown document.
1989
» The Mets trade reliever Randy Myers to the Reds for fellow closer John Franco; Joe Carter and Fred Lynn are sent by Cleveland to San Diego for Sandy Alomar, Carlos Baerga. and Chris James; and free-agent relief specialist Jeff Reardon signs with the Red Sox.
1988
» The Rangers complete their 2nd major trade in as many days, sending 1B Pete O'Brien, OF Oddibe McDowell, and 2B Jerry Browne to Cleveland for 2B Julio Franco. The Expos and Phillies also complete a trade, P Kevin Gross to Montreal for pitchers Jeff Parrett and Floyd Youmans.
The A's sign free agent pitcher Mike Moore from the Mariners. Seattle receives the A's first round pick as compensation, and will use it to select P Scott Burrell.
1984
» The White Sox trade 1983 American League Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt and two minor leaguers to the Padres for P Tim Lollar, IF-OF Luis Salazar, and minor leaguers Ozzie Guillen and Bill Long. SS Guillen will win the AL Rookie of the Year Award next season and hold down the Sox shortstop spot till the end of the 1990s. Workhorse Hoyt will be out of baseball in two years, amidst rumors of drug use.
1983
» The Pirates trade OF Mike Easler to the Red Sox for lefthanded starter John Tudor.
1982
» The Red Sox trade 3B Carney Lansford, OF Garry Hancock, and minor leaguer Jerry King to Oakland for OF Tony Armas and C Jeff Newman. Lansford, who led the AL in hitting in '81, is expendable with the emergence of Wade Boggs at 3B.
Kenneth Moffett, who helped mediate the 1981 baseball strike settlement, is named to succeed Marvin Miller as executive director of the ML Baseball Players' Association.
1979
» In one of their better trades, the Royals acquire 1B Willie Aikens, Rance Mulliniks from the Angels for OF Al Cowens, Todd Cruz, and Craig Eaton. Aikens will have four solid years in KC, including two 2–homer games in the World Series.
1976
» The Red Sox trade 1B Cecil Cooper to the Brewers for 1B George Scott and OF Bernie Carbo. This ranks as one of the Brew Crew's best trades.
1973
» The Astros trade OF Jim Wynn to the Dodgers for P Claude Osteen and Dave Culpepper.
1971
» The Reds trade P Milt Wilcox to the Indians for OF Ted Uhlaender. Uhlaender had 13 hpmers the past two seasons, and all but one came in Cleveland. He'll hit none in Cincinnati.
1968
» William Eckert resigns as commissioner.
1965
» Baltimore sends OF Jackie Brandt and P Darold Knowles to the Phillies for P Jack Baldschun.
1960
» A group headed by movie star Gene Autry and former football star Bob Reynolds is awarded the new American League Los Angeles Angels. Fred Haney will be GM. Finley withdraws his bid for Los Angeles and offers to purchase control of the Kansas City Athletics.
1959
» The White Sox re acquire Minnie Minoso, along with C Dick Brown and pitchers Jake Striker and Don Ferrarese from the Indians. The give up young 1B Norm Cash, OF Bubba Phillips, and C John Romano.
The Cubs trade outfielders Lee Walls and Lou Jackson, and P Bill Henry for slugger Frank Thomas.
1958
» The Senators give walking papers to 3B Eddie Yost, sending him to Detroit along with Rocky Bridges and OF Neil Chrisley. The Nats receive infielders Reno Bertoia, Ron Samford, and OF Jim Delsing in exchange.
1955
» Brooklyn trades 3B Don Hoak and OF Walt Moryn to the Cubs for 3B Ransom Jackson.
1954
» The Tigers trade 1B Walt Dropo with P Ted Gray and OF Bob Nieman to the White Sox for 1B Ferris Fain and Jack Phillips.
The Orioles conclude their 2nd large trade in three weeks sending C Clint Courtney, SS Jim Brideweser, and P Bob Chakales to the White Sox for C Matt Batts, infielder Fred Marsh, and pitchers Don Johnson and Don Ferrarese. Courtney batted .270 in 397 at bats, and struck out an American League-low seven times, the league's lowest since Joe Sewell hung up his spikes in 1933.
1952
» The American League approves a 2-league waiver rule curbing inter-league trading after June 15th.
1946
» The major leagues finally accept the contention that invasion of minor league territory will result in compensation for the entire league. The major league clubs agree to return the selection of the All-Star teams, except for pitchers, to a fan ballot.
1939
» In a trade of veteran shortstops–or "worn-out shortstops," as one newspaper described it–the Cubs acquire Billy Rogell from the Detroit Tigers for Dick Bartell. Rogell, who injured his arm playing handball the previous year, will hit just .136 before hanging up his spikes. The Tigers will release "Rowdy Richard" five games into the 1941 season, but he will stick with the Giants until 1946.
The Bees are busy clearing their pitching staff. Jim Turner goes to the Reds for 1B Les Scarsella and cash, while Johnny Lanning is sent to Pittsburgh for P Jim Tobin and cash. On December 8th, P Danny MacFaydan joins Tobin in a trade for P Bill Swift.
1938
» In a trade of major names, the Giants send Dick Bartell, Hank Leiber, and Gus Mancuso to the Cubs for Billy Jurges, Frank Demaree, and Ken O'Dea. The trade works best for the Giants as the New York-born Jurges will anchor the infield for seven years; Chicago-born Bartell lasts just a season at Wrigley.
Larry MacPhail ends an agreement with the Yankees and Giants to ban broadcasts in the New York area and sells the radio rights of the Dodgers games to Wheaties.
1937
» It is announced that Ford Frick has been reelected president of the National League for three years.
1923
» While in Paris, John McGraw announces plans for a tour of Europe by the Giants and White Sox in 1924, as world interest in baseball grows. In Romania, Queen Marie will throw out the first ball to mark the game's debut in July.
1921
» John McGraw finally gets Heinie Groh from the Reds; it costs him C Mike Gonzalez, OF George Burns, and a reported $250,000. Other figures range as low as $100,000.
1920
» A 5-year-old lawsuit that awarded $264,000 damages to the Baltimore Federal League club on April 12, 1919, is reversed by a court of appeals, which upholds the reserve clause and holds that baseball is not interstate commerce nor subject to antitrust laws. The original was initiated because the Baltimore Feds were not included in the settlement of the Federal League war. They wanted a ML team in Baltimore and did not get it. This ruling will be upheld in 1922 by the U.S. Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice William Howard Taft, brother of Cubs former owner, Charles Taft.
1914
» Indoor baseball is a winter fad in some cities. In Chicago, $2,000 is raised at an indoor game for the benefit of the family of Jimmy Doyle, deceased former Chicago 3B.
1913
» Exhibition teams made up of White Sox and Giants players make a Tokyo stop as part of their world tour and play each other at Keio University Stadium. The Sox win, 9–4. Tomorrow, a combined team defeats Keio University, 16–3, then the White Sox beat the Giants again, 12–9. Nearly a decade will pass before American professionals again play in Japan; Herb Hunter will take a team of "all stars" to Japan in 1920 and 1922.
1888
» The AA votes against adopting the National League's salary classification system, to the surprise of the press and the delight of the Brotherhood.
1882
» At the National League meeting, Troy and Worcester are officially replaced by New York and Philadelphia. A.G. Mills is elected president. Starting in 1883, pitchers will be charged with an error after a walk, balk, wild pitch, or HBP. Catchers will be charged with an error after a passed ball.