2002
» Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Eric Hinske is named Rookie of the Year in the American League, and Rockies pitcher Jason Jennings is named the National League's top rookie. Hinske, 25, was acquired from Oakland in the Billy Koch deal, and hit .279 with 24 homers. He had 122 points to finish ahead of Orioles pitcher Rodrigo Lopez (15–9) with 97 points. Jennings had 150 points to runner–up Brad Wilkerson with 59 points. Jennings was 4–1 in 2001, and posted a 16–8 record this season, including 9–4 at Coors Field. He is the first Rockie to win the award.
2001
» The Arizona Diamondbacks win the first World Series of their 4-year existence with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Yankees. Alfonso Soriano breaks a 1-1 tie with a home run in the 8th inning to give NY the lead, but Arizona comes back with two runs in the bottom half of the 9th off Mariano Rivera to get the win. Luis Gonzalez drives home the winning run while Randy Johnson gets the win in relief. Johnson and Curt Schilling share the World Series MVP award.
1999
» The Brewers hire Davey Lopes as their new manager.
Larry Dolan agrees to buy the Cleveland Indians from Richard Jacobs for $320 million. The sale is subject to approval by major league owners. If approved, the deal will be a record for a baseball franchise. The O'Malley family sold the Dodgers to the Fox division of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation for $311 in 1998.
1997
» The Phillies Scott Rolen is named National League Rookie of the Year. He barely qualified as a rookie, logging exactly 130 at bats in 1996 before breaking his wrist on September 7th when he was hit by a pitch. One more at bat would disqualified him for the award in 1997.
Former Red Sox IF-OF Wil Cordero pleads guilty to beating his wife, and gets a 90-day sentence, suspended for two years. Cordero was arrested on June 11th.
Former Angels IF-OF Tony Phillips pleads guilty to misdemeanor cocaine possession and is ordered into a drug diversion program. Phillips was arrested on August 10th.
1996
» The Angels name Terry Collins as their new manager.
1994
» Dwight Gooden receives a year-long suspension for violating his aftercare program. He reportedly has continued to test positive for cocaine.
1987
» Padres catcher Benito Santiago is a unanimous selection as the National League Rookie of the Year, now called the Jackie Robinson Award, while Pirates pitcher Mike Dunne is the second choice on 22 of 24 ballots.
1982
» Yankees coach Mike Ferraro lands his first ML managing job, signing a 2-year contract to lead the Cleveland Indians. He will be fired before the end of the 1983 season.
1981
» The Reds trade OF Ken Griffey to the Yankees for P Fred Toliver and minor-leaguer Brian Ryder. Griffey was about to become a free agent.
The Phillies announce that Pat Corrales will manage the club in 1982, replacing Dallas Green, who quit to become Cubs GM.
1980
» Steve Carlton joins Sandy Koufax, Tom Seaver, and Jim Palmer as the only pitchers to win three Cy Young Awards, garnering 23 of 24 first-place votes to take National League honors. Carlton was 24-9 with a 2.34 ERA and led the NL with 286 strikeouts.
Forty-year-old Sadaharu Oh, professional baseball's all-time home run king with 868 in 22 seasons in Japan, retires.
1978
» The 3rd annual reentry free-agent draft is held at the Plaza Hotel, New York City. Pete Rose, Tommy John, and Darrell Evans are the biggest names among the eligible players.
1977
» The 2nd reentry free-agent draft is held at New York's Plaza Hotel. Big names include Lyman Bostock, Goose Gossage, Larry Hisle, Mike Torrez, and Oscar Gamble.
1976
» The first mass-market free-agent reentry draft is held at New York's Plaza Hotel. Among those available are Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi, Don Gullett, Gene Tenace, Rollie Fingers, Don Baylor, Bobby Grich, and Willie McCovey. McCovey and Nate Colbert are the only two players not selected, but McCovey will catch on with the Giants in spring training and have a banner year at his old position.
1975
» The Orioles Jim Palmer wins his 2nd Cy Young Award, after pacing the American League in wins (23), shutouts (10), and ERA (2.09).
1966
» Maury Wills leaves the Los Angeles club touring Japan, complaining that his injured right knee needs immediate treatment in the U.S. On December 1, the Dodgers will send Maury to Pittsburgh.
1965
» Al Lopez resigns as manager of the White Sox.
1963
» The Cards acquire P Roger Craig from the Mets for OF George Altman and P Bill Wakefield. Craig was the National League's top loser the past two seasons with the lowly Mets, dropping 24 and 22 games.
1959
» "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks wins his 2nd MVP award in a row on the strength of his 45 home runs and 143 RBI. Eddie Mathews finishes 2nd.
1953
» Eddie Joost succeeds Jimmy Dykes as the manager of the Philadelphia Athletics.
1948
» Former OF Jake Powell shoots and kills himself in
a Washington, D.C., police station.
1935
» Cal Hubbard, pro football tackle with the Green Bay Packers, 1929-35, joins the American League umpiring staff.
1912
» Miller Huggins is named manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, beginning his 17-year career as a skipper.
1899
» Representatives of seven cities meet in New York regarding the proposed new American Association. Attention focuses on what other city might become the 8th franchise.
1891
» Charlie Comiskey, having had enough of Browns owner Chris Von der Ahe, signs to manage and captain the National League Cincinnati Reds.
1889
» After a formal meeting of reps from all National League chapters, the Brotherhood issues a "Manifesto" in which it claims that "players have been bought, sold and exchanged as though they were sheep instead of American citizens." This bold statement constitutes a declaration of war between the Brotherhood and ML officials which will soon explode.
1888
» Al Spalding's Australia-bound baseball tour stages its first tour game in California, the All-Americans beating the Chicagos 14–4 before a crowd of 10,500 in San Francisco.
1887
» Washington sells veteran Paul Hines to Indianapolis for $5,000.
1884
» Tony Mullane violates an oral agreement to sign with St. Louis (AA) by signing a Cincinnati (AA) contract for $5,000. The AA suspends Mullane for the 1885 season and fines him $1,000, but allows him to remain with Cincinnati. Over the next eight years Mullane will win 163 games with the Reds on his way to a career total of 285 victories.