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This Day in Baseball History
December 13th

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25 Fact(s) Found
1906 The A's sell Andy Coakley, a twenty-game winner in 1905, to the Reds. The right-hander, who pitched as a rookie under the alias Jack McAllister in 1902, will spend thirty-seven years coaching Columbia University's baseball team.
1911 New York politician James E. Gaffney and former player Montgomery Ward purchase the National League franchise Boston Doves. The new owners change the team’s name to the Braves due to Gaffney's tie to Tammany Hall, which uses an Indian chief as its symbol.

1954 The Dodgers trade third baseman Billy Cox and southpaw Preacher Roe, who will retire before the season begins, to the Orioles for two minor league prospects (Harry Schwegeman and Johnny Jancse) and $50,000. Brooklyn will use the cash as a bonus to sign a southpaw from Lafayette High School with control problems named Sandy Koufax.
1956 The Dodgers trade Jackie Robinson to the crosstown rivals, the Giants, for pitcher Dick Littlefield and $35,000. According to some accounts, Jackie had already decided privately to leave the game to work for Chock Full of Nuts, publicly retiring from baseball rather than accepting the trade.
1966 The Giants trade pitcher Bob Priddy and outfielder Cap Peterson to the Senators to reacquire Mike McCormick. In his second stint with the team, the left-hander will win the Cy Young Award next season, compiling a 22-10 record with an ERA of 2.85.
1969 Curt Flood attends the Players' Association executive board meeting to seek financial assistance in his attempt to sue major league baseball because the reserve clause violates Federal antitrust laws. Although skeptical about the suit's outcome, the player reps vote 25-0 to support the recently traded outfielder, who refuses to report to the Phillies after being dealt by the Cardinals.
1973 Despite an impending legal showdown with Charlie Finley, the Yankees announce the signing of manager Dick Williams. American League president Joe Cronin will void the deal a week later.
1975 The Tigers trade pitcher Mickey Lolich and outfielder Billy Baldwin to the Mets for outfielder Rusty Staub and pitcher Bill Laxton. New York's new southpaw will post an 8-13 record, spending only one year in the Big Apple, while Detroit will enjoy a steady performance from their recently acquired flycatcher and DH, who will bat .275 during his three-plus seasons in the Motor City.
1994 Lee Smith, who led the majors in saves for the Orioles last season with 33, signs as a free agent with the Angels. The 37-year-old right-handed reliever is the all-time saves leader with 434, a position he will hold until his final total is surpassed in 1996 by Trevor Hoffman with 479 saves.
1996 Roger Clemens leaves the Red Sox after thirteen seasons of service, signing as a free agent with the Blue Jays. The 'Rocket' leaves Boston tied with Cy Young for the franchise record for wins (192) and shutouts (38) and as the career leader in losses with 112 (Cy lost 111).
1999 The Marlins obtain Johan Santana from the Astros in the Rule 5 draft, and later in the day, Florida trades the 20-year-old southpaw to the Twins for Jared Camp. The Venezuela native compiles a 93-44 record, winning the Cy Young Award twice (2004, 2006) during his eight-year tenure in Minnesota.
2000 The Red Sox, outbidding the Indians, sign free-agent Manny Ramirez to a reported eight-year, $160 million contract. The very lucrative deal pales compared to Alex Rodriguez's $252 million ten-year agreement with the Rangers, also announced today.
2001 The Yankees sign free agent Jason Giambi to a seven-year deal worth $120 million. The 2000 MVP and this year's runner-up drove in 120 runs, hit 38 home runs, and had a .342 batting average for the wild-card Oakland A's this season.
2001 The Red Sox trade frustrated flychaser Carl Everett (.257, 14, 58) to the Rangers for left-hander Darren Oliver (11-11, 6.02). The former All-Star outfielder, who had problems with players and managers in Boston, says he is looking forward to joining the veteran players in Texas.
2003 The Cardinals trade outfielder J.D. Drew and catcher Eli Marrero to the Braves for three hurlers, Ray King, Jason Marquis, and Adam Wainwright. Atlanta's new outfielder will have a solid season but will play only one year with the team.
2003 The Red Sox sign free-agent closer Keith Foulke, who had led the AL in saves, posting 43 last season while compiling a 9-1 record for the A's. The 31-year-old right-handed reliever plays a key role in Boston's World Championship next year, appearing on the mound to finish all four Fall Classic victories.
2007 To replace LaTroy Hawkins' role in the bullpen, the Rockies sign free agent Luis Vizcaino (8-2, 4.30) to a $7.5 million, two-year deal. The 33-year-old right-hander, who pitched for the Yankees last season, will be used as a middle-inning reliever by the National League champs.
2007 Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees finalize a 10-year, $275 million contract, making the deal the richest in baseball history. A-Rod, who surpassed the all-time salary record he signed with the Rangers ($252 million in 2000), chastised his agent, Scott Boras, and blamed himself for the poor handling of his opt-out clause with the team.
2007

"We can jump to this conclusion: that steroids have sullied the game. My hope is that this report is a part of putting the steroid era of baseball behind us." - GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. president and former owner of the Rangers.

The Mitchell Report, is released, a 409-page document and a paper trail of 115,000 copies of receipts, canceled checks, telephone records, and e-mail messages. The much-anticipated findings, authored by former Senator George Mitchell, call the steroid era a collective failure, naming 89 former and present players who allegedly used illegal, performance-enhancing drugs, including stars Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Gary Sheffield.

2007 A collection of rare written documents, including personal letters and canceled checks concerning the Chicago Black Sox scandal, is procured by the Chicago History Museum with a winning auction bid of approximately $100,000. The historical papers offer new details about the White Sox allegedly fixing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.
2007 Avoiding salary arbitration, Brandon Duckworth agrees to a one-year $600,000 contract to pitch for the Royals next season, including $155,000 in performance incentives. The 31-year-old right-hander, who spent time on the disabled list with a torn left oblique, posted a 3-5 record with a 4.63 ERA in 26 games as a starter and reliever.
2007

"Roger Clemens adamantly, vehemently or whatever adjective can be used, denies he has ever used steroids or whatever the word is for improper substance. There has never been one shred of tangible evidence that he ever used these substances and yet he is being slandered today." - RANDY HENDRICKS, Roger Clemen's lawyer denying claims made in the Mitchell Report.

In a statement released by his attorney, Randy Hendricks, Roger Clemens vehemently denies the allegations put forth by the Mitchell Report concerning his use of performance-enhancing drugs. Brian McNamee, the former trainer of the seven-time Cy Young Award winner, states that he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone at least 16 times while Clemens was a member of the 1998 Blue Jays and the 2000-01 Yankees.

2008 The Indians sign free-agent Kerry Wood (5-4, 3.26) to a two-year deal with a one-year option reportedly worth $20 million after the oft-injured right-hander passes a physical taken earlier in the week. The former Cubs fireballing phenom saved 34 games in 2008, his first season as a closer for Chicago.
2008 The Royals signed free-agent right-handed reliever Kyle Farnsworth to a $9.25 million, two-year contract with a club option for 2011. The Yankees dealt the 32-year-old fireballer to Detroit for veteran catcher Ivan Rodriguez at the trade deadline last season.
2009 The Blue Jays announced coming to terms with Jose Bautista on a one-year deal worth $2.4 million. The utility player will establish a new franchise mark of home runs in a season when he goes deep 54 times, six more than George Bell's total in 1987.
25 Fact(s) Found