1995
» Major league owners lock out the 64 American League and National League umpires.

1977
» Brewers P Danny Frisella, 30, is killed in a dune buggy accident near Phoenix, Arizona.

1974
» Lee MacPhail takes over as AL president, succeeding Joe Cronin, who retires.

1970
» Chub Feeney takes over as NL president, succeeding Warren Giles, who is retiring.

1961
» Briggs Stadium is renamed Tiger Stadium.

1952
» Former major leaguer Hi Bithorn, 35, dies in mysterious circumstances in northern Mexico when he is shot by a policeman. The police say he was trying to sell his car, but Bithorn had $2,000 on him. A stadium in Puerto Rico will be named after Bithorn, who last pitched in the majors in 1947.

1946
» George Trautman, head of the American Association, becomes general manager of Detroit, succeeding Jack Zeller, who retires after 25 years with the Tigers.

1943
» Negro League star Josh Gibson suffers a nervous breakdown and is admitted to St. Francis hospital for rest and treatment. He will be released in time to go to Hot Springs, Arkansas, to get in shape for the baseball season.

1929
» OF Jim Bell of Cienfuegos becomes the first to connect for three home runs in one game during professional league play in Cuba. Bell's feat occurs at Alda Park in a 15–11 victory over Club Havana.

1927
» Charles Ebbets announces the purchase of ground for a new 30,000-seat stadium in Brooklyn. He also announces the release of OF Zack Wheat, a future Hall of Famer.

1889
» The Around-the-World touring squads play a New Year's game in Melbourne, Australia. The Chicagos beat the All-Americas 9–8.

1887
» Brooklyn owner-manager Charles Byrne gives a New Year's bonus of $50 to each of his club's reserve players.