2002
» The Giants sign free agent 2B Ray Durham to a 3-year contract.
2001
» Figures released by major league baseball show that the Milwaukee Brewers were baseball's most profitable club, after revenue sharing, in 2001. Without revenue sharing, the Brewers were the fourth-most profitable team.
The Mets send 3B Robin Ventura to the Yankees in exchange for OF David Justice. It is the first deal between the two New York teams in eight years.
The Blue Jays trade P Billy Koch to the A's. In return, Toronto gets minor league 3B Eric Hinske and minor league P Justin Miller.
The Orioles sign free agent OF Brady Anderson to a 1-year contract.
2000
» The Red Sox sign free agent P Frank Castillo to a 2-year contract.
1999
» In a disappointment to the Mets, the Mariners sign free agent 1B John Olerud to a 3-year contract.
1998
» The Diamondbacks lure Padres free agent OF Steve Finley with a 4-year contract.
The Cubs sign free agent 3B Gary Gaetti, free agent OF Glenallen Hill, and tomorrow sign free agent C Benito Santiago. Following a car crash last January where he suffered mangled ligaments in his right knee, Santiago played just 15 games in 1998 for the Blue Jays. In his last appearance at Wrigley Field, in 1996, Santiago hit three consecutive home runs.
1995
» The Yankees obtain 1B Tino Martinez, P Jeff Nelson, and minor league P Jim Mecir from the Mariners in exchange for P Sterling Hitchcock and 3B Russ Davis. In a memorable day, Martinez signs a 5-year, $20.25 million contract, and his wife gives birth to their 3rd child.
The Red Sox sign free agent OF-DH Jose Canseco to a 2-year contract.
1994
» The Cardinals trade 2B Luis Alicea to the Red Sox in exchange for P Nate Minchey and minor league OF Jeff McNeely.
1992
» Owners vote to reopen the collective bargaining agreement with the players.
The Blue Jays sign free agent DH–1B Paul Molitor.
The Reds sign free agent OF Roberto Kelly to a 3-year contract.
1989
» Storm Davis, 19-7 for the A's last season, signs as a free agent with the Royals. Other free-agent signees include Craig Lefferts (San Diego), Pete O'Brien (Seattle), Oil Can Boyd (Montreal), and Keith Hernandez (Cleveland).
1988
» The Rangers sign free-agent pitcher Nolan Ryan to a one-year contract.
1987
» Free-agent OF Bob Dernier, who hit a career-high .317 with 31 stolen bases for the Cubs last season, signs a one-year contract with his original ML club, the Phillies.
1984
» In a straight trade, the Mets send P Walt Terrell to the Detroit Tigers for 3B Howard Johnson. Hojo will start for eight years in New York. Terrell will have six seasons in Detroit, interrupted by stays with four other teams.
1983
» In a complicated 3-team swap, pitcher Scott Sanderson is traded from the Expos to the Cubs. Montreal receives pitcher Gary Lucas from San Diego, and the Padres get P Craig Lefferts, 1B-OF Carmelo Martinez, and 3B Fritz Connally from Chicago.
The Mariners trade 2B Tony Bernazard to the Indians for OF Gorman Thomas and IF Jack Perconte.
The Reds sign their first major free agent: OF Dave Parker, who accepts a 2-year contract.
The Royals trade P Mike Armstrong and minor league catcher Duane Dewey to the Yankees for slugger Steve Balboni and P Roger Erickson.
1979
» The Cardinals trade OF Jerry Mumphrey and P John Denny to the Indians for OF Bobby Bonds. The Tigers swap OF Ron LeFlore to the Expos for P Dan Schatzeder.
1978
» The Red Sox trade P Bill Lee to the Expos for IF Stan Papi.
1977
» In a swap that helps Baltimore, the Orioles trade pitchers Rudy May, Randy Miller, and Bryn Smith to the Expos for pitchers Don Stanhouse, Joe Kerrigan, and OF Gary Roenicke.
1973
» A controversial trade for Kansas City: they get veteran P Lindy McDaniel from the Yankees for OF Lou Piniella and P Ken Wright.
In a continuing housecleaning of hometown heroes, the Giants sell future Hall of Famer Juan Marichal to the Red Sox.
1966
» The Cubs trade P Dick Ellsworth to the Phils for P Ray Culp and cash.
1962
» J.G. Taylor Spink, longtime publisher of The Sporting News, dies at age 74 in St. Louis.
1960
» Detroit trades 2B Frank Bolling and a player to be named later (OF Neil Chrisley) to Milwaukee for OF Billy Bruton, 2B Chuck Cottier, C Dick Brown, and P Terry Fox.
1959
» American League umpires Bill Summers and Ed Rommel retire.
1957
» The AP votes Tony Kubek of the Yanks as the Rookie of the Year. Frank Malzone of the Red Sox, who was declared ineligible, receives one vote. Malzone, with better offensive numbers, will later claim that he was robbed by New York writers, when the BBWA changes the minimum number of at-bats during the season, thus excluding him.
1949
» After ten years in pinstripes, Charlie "King Kong" Keller is released by the Yankees. He'll sign for a season in Detroit.
1946
» The Indians send young OF Gene Woodling to Pittsburgh for veteran receiver Al Lopez. Lopez will play just 61 games in 1947, before taking over as manager of Indianapolis for three seasons. He will return to skipper the Indians in 1951.
1939
» Lou Gehrig, age 36, is unanimously elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame, the sole choice this year. The five-year waiting period is waived for the Iron Horse.
1937
» Five of baseball's pioneers are added to the Hall of Fame: Connie Mack, John McGraw, Morgan Bulkeley, Ban Johnson, and George Wright.
The National League extends permission for night baseball but the American League refuses to permit arc light games.
The Red Sox acquire the contract of 19-year-old Ted Williams from San Diego (PCL), but he will not report to Boston until 1939.
1914
» Chief Bender signs a 2-year deal with the Federal League; he will be assigned to Baltimore.
1898
» Roy Thomas, University of Pennsylvania outfielder, is signed by the Phillies for 1899. Sporting Life calls him the "greatest amateur player of this generation."
1887
» The Arbitration Committee meets and grants reserve rights to minor league clubs for the first time. In the most prominent contract dispute, prospect Bug Hilliday signs with minor league Des Moines, despite the claims by ML St. Louis.
1881
» At the National League annual meeting the owners reject the applications of Phil Baker and Charley Jones for reinstatement.