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Today in Red Sox History
December 15th

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6 Fact(s) Found
1896 Princeton University professor Charles E. Hinton demonstrates his invention of the first pitching machine, before the baseball team and a large crowd of undergraduates in the school's gymnasium. The mathematics instructor's creation, which resembles a rifle shooting the ball at varying speeds toward the batter, leads to his dismissal after the gunpowder-powered device injures several baseball players.


The Baltimore Sun, December 16, 1896
1960 The Phillies, after negotiations with Gene Conley failed to convince the right-hander to quit the NBA, will trade the Celtics forward to the Red Sox. The 6-foot-8-inch hurler called the move the "biggest trade in baseball" when exchanged for Frank Sullivan, known as the Boston Skyscraper due to his 6-foot-6-inch stature. 
2000 The Red Sox, in their third free-agent signing in the last eight days, agree to terms with pitcher Hideo Nomo. The 32-year-old right-hander, who will lead the league in strikeouts (220) and walks (96) in his only season with Boston, agrees to a one-year deal worth 4.5 million dollars.
2004 The Mets come to terms with Pedro Martinez (16-9, 3.90 ERA), after offering a four-year deal worth approximately $53 million to the 33-year-old right-hander. The former Red Sox ace, who posted a 117-37 record in seven seasons with Boston, criticizes his former team for not being more aggressive in retaining his services.
2014 The Cubs and Jon Lester have terms on a $155 million contract to keep the 30-year-old southpaw in Chicago for six years. The deal, which includes a record $30 million signing bonus, makes the former Red Sox and A's ace the second-highest-paid pitcher in baseball history, behind only Clayton Kershaw, who inked a $30.7 million pact with the Dodgers.
2019 At FunCity Turf in Burlington (IA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) takes batting practice after meeting with representatives from three Iowa-based teams: the Quad City River Bandits, the Clinton LumberKings, and the town's local club, the Bees. The 78-year-old Democratic presidential candidate vehemently opposes Major League Baseball's plan to eliminate 42 minor league teams nationwide after 2020, including the Vermont Lake Monsters, the Single-A affiliate of the A's in his hometown of Burlington (VT).
6 Fact(s) Found