1998
» The Indians sign free agent 2B Roberto Alomar to a 4-year contract. Alomar joins his brother, Sandy.
Padres 1B Wally Joyner undergoes corrective eye surgery to bring his eyesight up to 20/20. His eye sight had deteriorated to 20/3000.
1993
» The Rangers sign free agent P Rick Honeycutt.
The Braves trade P Pete Smith to the Mets in exchange for OF Dave Gallagher.
1986
» Cardinals reliever Todd Worrell, who led the National League with 36 saves, is named NL Rookie of the Year. Worrell had helped St. Louis to the 1985 World Series as a late-season call-up but was still a rookie as defined by the BBWAA.
In yet another unwise trade of prospects for aging veterans, the Yankees deal pitchers Brian Fisher, Doug Drabek, and Logan Easley to the Pirates for pitchers Rick Rhoden, Cecilio Guante, and Pat Clements. Drabek will win the NL Cy Young Award for Pittsburgh in 1990.
The Twins announce that interim manager Tom Kelly will return on a permanent basis next season.
1982
» Cal Ripken, Jr., who hit .264 with 28 home runs as a SS-3B for the Orioles, is named American League Rookie of the Year.
1976
» The Reds Joe Morgan outpoints teammate George Foster to win his 2nd straight National League MVP Award. Morgan led with a .576 slugging average, and hit .320, scored 113 runs, knocked in 111, and stole a base.
Bob Kennedy is named head of baseball operations for the Cubs. His first move is to inform Jim Marshall he's fired as manager and Salty Saltwell, after a year as GM, is named secretary and director of park operations. Herman Franks, briefly a Cubs coach under Leo Durocher, will be named the new manager. Ironically, Durocher turned down a Wrigley offer to manage the Cubs for the 1977 season.
1975
» Gene Mauch signs a 3-year contract to manage the Twins, replacing the fired Frank Quilici.
1973
» Bob Gibson wins the last of nine Gold Gloves on the mound, and Joe Morgan wins the first of five at 2B.
1972
» The Yankees acquire veteran Matty Alou from the A's for Rob Gardner and Rich McKinley. It is the 2nd time the Yankees have traded Gardner to the A's for an Alou. Last year it was Felipe Alou.
1971
» C-IF Earl Williams, who belted 33 home runs and knocked in 87 runs for the Braves, wins the NL Rookie of the Year honors. Williams gets 18 of 24 votes, with the others going to Phillie Willie Montanez.
1969
» Dave Bristol is named manager of the Pilots.
1964
» 3B Ken Boyer of the Cardinals is voted National League MVP, with 243 votes to 187 for Philadelphia OF Johnny Callison.
1953
» The Dodgers sign the relatively unknown Walter Alston to a one-year pact as their manager for 1954.
1913
» Joe Tinker is out as Reds manager, but is still their property as a player. On December 12th he will be sold to Brooklyn for $25,000, $10,000 of which goes to him. P Earl Yingling and OF Herbie Moran are sent to Cincinnati later as part of the deal. When Charles Ebbets puts off signing Tinker, he jumps to the Feds, signing to manage Chicago for $12,000.
1904
» San Francisco beats Oakland, 2–1 behind James Whalen (32–23). Whalen ends the game with two shutout innings starting a 47 consecutive shutout inning streak through next season. The Oaks scored their lone run in the seventh inning. San Francisco wins the nitecap, 3–0.
1883
» The AA agree to expand to 12 teams by admitting Brooklyn, Washington, Indianapolis and Toledo.
1882
» The AA agrees to expand to 12 teams by admitting Brooklyn, Washington, Indianapolis, and Toledo.