<< Yesterday

This Day in Baseball History
December 17th

Tomorrow>>
23 Fact(s) Found
1891 The American Association, known for offering cheaper ticket prices, playing Sunday games, and selling alcoholic beverages to its patrons, disbands with the Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Browns, Louisville Colonels, and Washington Statesmen, becoming part of the 12-team National League. During its ten-year existence, the Beer and Whiskey League experienced its clubs defecting to the rival NL, including the Pittsburgh Pirates (1887), the Cincinnati Reds (1889), and the Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1890).

1898 The Giants name John Day as their manager. New York's new skipper will be replaced by Fred Hoey after just 66 games next season when the team gets off to a 29-35 start.
1924 The Yankees trade three pitchers to the Browns to get back Urban Shocker, a pitcher they traded to St. Louis in 1918. Shocker had been a 20-game winner for four consecutive seasons.
1932 The Cardinals trade former National League Most Valuable Player Jim Bottomley to the Reds. In exchange, the Redbirds get Estel Crabtree, who will play in only 23 games, and Ownie Carroll, who will be shipped to Brooklyn before the start of the season, in a deal that appears to be a steal for a nine-time .300 hitter and future Hall of Famer with productive years left.
1964 The Yankees dismiss long-time television and radio voice Mel Allen. This well-known broadcaster popularized the 'going, going, gone' home run call and often said 'how about that' to describe happenings on the ball field.
1975 Bill Veeck, the new White Sox owner, fires manager Chuck Tanner and selects old friend Paul Richards to pilot the team. The team's former skipper, who will sign a three-year deal to manage the A's tomorrow, compiled a 401-414 (.492) during his six seasons with the South Side team.
1992 The Twins sign free-agent DH/outfielder Dave Winfield. Last season for the World Champion Blue Jays, the St. Paul native hit .290 and had 108 RBIs and 26 home runs.
1993 After being traded back to Oakland by the Yankees in July, Rickey Henderson decides to stay with the A's, signing a two-year $8.6 million contract. In 1998, the team traded the speedy outfielder to the Bronx Bombers along with Bert Bradley for Tim Birtsas, Jay Howell, Stan Javier, Eric Plunk, and Jose Rijo.
2000 City and club officials announce financing and construction plans for a new, downtown Miami retractable-roof ballpark for the Marlins. The state-of-the-art $385-million stadium, a 40,000-seat facility with 60 luxury suites, includes a 40-year lease and an agreement to rename the team the Miami Marlins.

2002 The Giants trade Russ Ortiz (14-10, 3.78), after he brought the team to the brink of a world championship, to the Braves for sophomore southpaw Damian Moss (12-6, 4.11) and right-hander Merkin Valdez. The 27-year-old right-hander left Game 6 with a 5-0 margin, but the San Francisco bullpen could not hold the lead and lost the series to the Angels in seven games.
2003 After agreeing to the basics weeks ago, the Yankees and 35-year-old Gary Sheffield (.330, 39, 132) finalize a three-year deal worth a reported $39 million, including $13.5 million in deferred money and a $13 million team option for 2007. The seven-time All-Star outfielder played with the Braves last year and had spent time with the Padres, Marlins, and Dodgers after breaking in with the Brewers in 1988.
2004 Although the terms of the deal are not made public, Edgar Renteria (.287, 10, 72) inks a four-year contract believed to be worth $40 million with the World Champion Red Sox. The former Cardinal shortstop, who made the last out in the World Series, ending Boston's 86-year drought, replaces fellow Colombian Orlando Cabrera, the player obtained in July in the Nomar Garciaparra trade.
2004 The last-place Mariners continue to sign impact-free agents to improve last season's poor performance (63-99) when the team signs 25-year-old Adrian Beltre (.334, 48, 121) to a $64 million, five-year deal. The former Dodger third baseman joins Richie Sexson, a free agent signed by Seattle to a four-year, $50 million contract two days ago.
2004 A three-team deal that included Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson and pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii going to the Yankees, Los Angeles outfielder Shawn Green and pitcher Brad Penny to the Diamondbacks, with Jose Vazquez and prospects to the Dodgers, falls apart at the eleventh hour. The blockbuster transaction stops when LA backs out.
2007 The Yankees continue to sign their own free agents as the team finalizes a $45 million, three-year contract with their 38-year-old closer, Mariano Rivera (3-4, 3.15). Earlier in the off-season, the Bronx Bombers also signed Jorge Posada ($52.4 million/ 4 years), Alex Rodriguez ($275/ 10 years), and Andy Pettitte ($16 million/1 year).
2010 After losing the right-hander to free agency two seasons ago, the Cubs sign Kerry Wood, one of the franchise's most popular players of the recent past, to a $1.5 million, one-year deal that includes bonuses for appearances and games finished. After attending Ron Santo's funeral last week, the 33-year-old free agent contacted Tom Ricketts, letting the club owner know he would accept a fair offer to return to the North Side of Chicago.
2010 The Tigers announce coming to terms with Magglio Ordonez when the outfielder agrees to a one-year, $10 million deal. Two months ago, the team declined a $15 million option on their starting right fielder, who appeared in only 84 games due to suffering a broken ankle in July.
2010 The Padres and Orlando Hudson have agreed to a two-year deal valued at $11.5 million. Minnesota expects the former second baseman to fill the void created by the departure of David Eckstein to free agency.
2010 The Padres acquire their former shortstop Jason Bartlett and a player to be named later by trading relievers Adam Russell and Cesar Ramos, along with minor league right-hander Brandon Gomes and infielder prospect Cole Figueroa to the Rays. Also, the Friars will finalize their deal with second baseman Orlando Hudson today, completing the team's new double-play combination for next season.
2011 The Reds obtain right-hander Mat Latos from the Padres for four players, including two former first-round picks, infielder Yonder Alonso and catcher Yasmani Grandal, along with starting pitcher Edinson Volquez and minor leaguer Brad Boxberger. The deal fills a crucial need by bolstering Cincinnati's rotation, but many observers believe the team gave up too much to acquire the quality starter.
2012 Anibal Sanchez and the Tigers agree to an $80 million deal, keeping the right-hander with the team for another five years. Detroit obtained 28-year-old the Venezuelan hurler in July along with Omar Infante from the Marlins for Rob Brantly, Brian Flynn, and Jacob Turner.
2012 In a seven-player swap, the Mets acquire highly-regarded minor leaguers Travis d'Arnaud, a catcher, and right-hander Noah Syndergaard, in addition to backstop John Buck and outfielder Wuilmer Becerra from the Blue Jays in exchange for right-handed pitcher R.A. Dickey and catchers Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas. New York decided to deal their 38-year-old knuckleballer, last season's NL Cy Young award winner with a year remaining on his contract, to procure two of Toronto's top prospects.
2019 The Tigers announce the retirement of uniform #1 as a tribute to Lou Whitaker, making the five-time All-Star second baseman the tenth person to have his name and number inscribed on the brick wall at Comerica Park. 'Sweet Lou' becomes the fourth member of the 1984 World Series champion team to be honored, joining double-play partner Alan Trammell, right-hander Jack Morris, and manager Sparky Anderson.
23 Fact(s) Found