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This Day in Baseball History
January 5th

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26 Fact(s) Found
1920

"I think the Yankees are taking a gamble. While Ruth is undoubtedly the greatest hitter the game has ever seen, he is likewise one of the most selfish and inconsiderate men ever to put on a baseball uniform." - RED SOX OWNER HARRY FRAZEE, defending his trade of Babe Ruth to New York.

Harry Frazee defends his selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees for cash by calling his former player "one of the most selfish and inconsiderate men ever to put on a baseball uniform." The Red Sox owner laments the popular player had become impossible to deal with, and the team could no longer contend with the Bambino's eccentricities.

1925 The French Baseball Federation honors John McGraw, Charlie Comiskey, and Hugh Jennings for promoting America's national pastime in France. The trio is given their medals during a tour of Europe by the Giants and White Sox.
1927 Commissioner Judge Landis begins a three-day public hearing to investigate the allegation that the Tigers threw a four-game series to the 1917 White Sox. After summoning and listening to the oral testimony from thirty-five players and ex-players from the two teams, the game's first commissioner, acting as the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, and jury, will decide to clear all charges a week later.
1934 An early afternoon five-hour blaze destroys much of Fenway Park's newly-constructed concrete and steel left-field grandstand and center-field bleachers built to replace the wooden structures in the 22-year-old ballpark. Tom Yawkey, the Red Sox's new owner, will have construction crews work overtime to rebuild the team's home in time for the season opener against Washington on April 17.
1946 The Giants pay the most substantial amount ever spent for a single player when the team obtains the Cardinals' All-Star catcher Walker Cooper for $175,000 in a straight cash transaction. The 30-year-old six-foot-three, 195-pound Atherton (MO) native, who played a key role in the Redbirds' three consecutive pennants from 1942 to 1944, will hit .276 during his 3+ seasons with New York.
1974 Due to heavy financial losses, Rheingold Beer reveals plans to close the Brooklyn-based plant. As a result, the brewery will end its 13-year relationship with the Mets as the team's primary radio-TV sponsor.

1982 The BBWAA selects Vin Scully as the sixth recipient of the Ford Frick Award, an honor for excellence in broadcasting the national pastime. The Dodger veteran announcer follows mentors Red Barber, Mel Allen, Bob Elson, Russ Hodges, and Ernie Harwell into the Hall of Fame.
1993 Reggie Jackson appears 93.6% (396/423) of the writers' ballots, becoming the only player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame this year. Mr. October, a 14-time All-Star who played on five championship teams, hit 563 homers and batted .262 in 21 seasons, playing for the Angels, A's, Orioles, and Yankees.
1994 The Mets trade Vince Coleman to the Royals to reacquire Kevin McReynolds, who played in New York for five seasons beginning in 1987, along with $500,000 to make up the difference between the salaries of the two outfielders. Co-owner Fred Wilpon indicated that Coleman would never wear his team's uniform again due to the 32-year-old's role in the firecracker incident at Dodger Stadium, reported to have injured three fans in the Chavez Ravine parking lot.
1999 After receiving an apology from Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for his 1985 dismissal as the team's manager 16 games into the season, Yogi Berra ends his self-exile from Yankee Stadium and the organization. The Bronx Bomber legend will continue participating in Opening Day and Old Timers' ceremonies again.
1999 The BBWAA elects the largest class of first-time Hall of Fame candidates since the writers chose five in the 1936 inaugural election. Nolan Ryan (98.8), George Brett (98.2), and Robin Yount (77.5) each receive more than the mandatory 75% of the votes needed for induction.
2001 The Cardinals, needing help due to the departures of Shawon Dunston and Eric Davis, sign their first free agents of the off-season. The four new Redbirds include outfielders Bobby Bonilla and Bernard Gilkey and infielders John Mabry and Shane Andrews.
2001 The Mariners ink Ichiro Suzuki to a three-year deal worth $14,088,000. The signing rights to the Japanese outfielder, winner of seven batting titles in Japan, were awarded to Seattle for approximately $13 million.
2001 The plan to name a new ballpark in downtown Montreal Labatt Park dims as the Canadian brewery announces ending their 15-year sponsorship of the Expos. The company cites the lack of a local television contract and stalled stadium plans as factors in the decision.

2007 Felipe Alou is named special assistant to Brian Sabean, general manager of the Giants. The team's 72-year-old former manager (2003-06), handling both major league and minor league scouting assignments, will provide insights on personnel for the GM.
2009 Carl Pohlad, believed by many to be the savior of major league baseball in Minnesota after buying the club in 1984, dies at 93. Although the owner of the Twins' net worth was $3.6 billion, the franchise often had some of the lowest payrolls in baseball, including the World Champion teams of 1987 and 1991.
2009 Pat Burrell agrees to a two-year deal reportedly worth $16 million with the Rays, his World Series foes last season. The 32-year-old outfielder, who spent his first nine seasons in the majors with the Phillies, will be granted free agency by Tampa Bay during the 2010 season after hitting only .218 in 146 games for his new team.
2009 According to reports, the Cubs and free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley have reached a preliminary agreement on a $30 million, three-year deal. The switch-hitting All-Star, who batted .321 and led the American League with a .436 on-base percentage, will fill the team's need for a left-handed presence in the middle of the lineup.
2010 Troy Glaus and the Braves agree on a $1.75 million, one-year incentive-laden deal, with the four-time All-Star third baseman shifting to first base. After arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder a year ago, the 33-year-old infielder appeared in only 14 games with the Cardinals at the end of the season.
2010 After 22 big league seasons, playing for the Expos (3-4), Mariners (130-74), Astros (10-1), Diamondbacks (118-62), Yankees (34-19), and the Giants (8-6), five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson announces his retirement. The 6-foot-10 'Big Unit' finishes his no-miss Hall of Fame career, which includes a World Series Most Valuable Player award, a perfect game, and two no-hitters, with a record of 303-166 and as the all-time left-handed strikeout leader with 4,875.
2010 Kelly Shoppach (.214, 12, 40) and the Rays agree on a $5.5 million, two-year contract with a club option for a third season at $3.2 million or a $300,000 buyout. The Rays obtained the 29-year-old backup catcher from the Indians last month for a player to be named, which turns out to be right-hander Mitch Talbot.
2010 In a deal intended to strengthen Philadelphia's bullpen, right-handed reliever Danys Baez (4-6, 4.02) and the Phillies agree on a $5.25 million, two-year contract. The 32-year-old former Baltimore closer will be used with Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero as a setup man, possibly becoming an option to replace an unreliable Brad Lidge, who led the majors last season with 11 blown saves while compiling an 0-8 record along with a 7.21 ERA.
2010 The Mets and R.A. Dickey agree to a one-year minor league deal reportedly worth $600,000 if the journeyman makes the major league roster, along with the opportunity to earn $150,000 more in performance bonuses. The 35-year-old knuckleballer will become the first player in franchise history to win six of his first seven starts (6-0, 2.33 ERA).
2011 After narrowly missing induction last year, second baseman Roberto Alomar and hurler Bert Blyleven are elected to the Hall of Fame by a wide margin. The right-hander, who waited 14 years before getting the nod, and the second baseman, considered a sure first-ballot inductee last season, join executive Pat Gillick, broadcaster Dave Van Horne, and writer Bill Conlin in Cooperstown next July.

2011 Adrian Beltre agrees to a $96 million, six-year deal with the Rangers, the reigning American League champs. The acquisition of the All-Star third baseman will make incumbent Michael Young the team's designated hitter, giving Texas a potent lineup and a much-improved defense.
2012 The Cubs trade Carlos Zambrano to the Marlins for right-hander Chris Volstad and cash. The 30-year-old right-hander will join fellow Venezuelan Ozzie Guillen, Miami's new manager, who has publicly supported the combative hurler's controversial moments, including firing a ball into the outfield and physically fighting with teammates.
26 Fact(s) Found