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This Day in Baseball History
December 18th

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24 Fact(s) Found
1907 John Taylor, noticing the National League's Doves had stopped wearing their customary red stockings, announces his Boston Americans would don the ruby-colored hose and will be known as the Red Sox. The club's new moniker pays homage to the original Red Stockings of Cincinnati, which relocated to the Massachusetts capital in 1871, giving the city four consecutive National Association championships from 1872 to 1875.

(Ed. Note: The spelling "Sox" mostly likely occurred when newspapers shortened "Stockings" to refer to the team in headlines. - LP)

1918 The Red Sox trade Ernie Shore, the day after he becomes the only big-leaguer to earn a Navy commission serving WW I, along with Dutch Leonard and outfielder Duffy Lewis to the Yankees for Frank Gilhooley, Slim Love, Ray Caldwell, Roxy Walters, and $15,000. The once-promising right-hander, who missed last year's season due to military service, will retire after two seasons with Bronx Bombers, compiling a meager 7-10 record.
1952 Ellis W. Ryan resigns after failing to secure a vote of confidence at a shareholders' meeting. After losing the showdown with general manager Hank Greenberg, the president of the Indians resigns and sells his stock for a nifty profit of more than a quarter of a million dollars for the 551 shares he purchased three years ago.
1975 Chuck Tanner signs a three-year deal to manage the A's. After compiling an 87-74 (.540) record to finish in second place, Oakland will release the New Castle, PA native from his contract, allowing him to manage the Pirates in exchange for catcher Manny Sanguillen and $100,000 from Pittsburgh.
1981 The Reds swap third baseman Ray Knight to the Astros for outfielder Cesar Cedeno. The trade will help both clubs, with each player spending at least 2+ years in a productive role with their new team.
1985 The Giants trade Rob Deer to the Brewers for farmhands Eric Pilkington and Dean Freehand. During his five seasons with the Brew Crew, the swift outfielder averages 27 homers a year, leading the league in strikeouts in 1987 and 1998.
1990 The National League announces the six finalist cities for the two 1993 expansion teams. The locations include Buffalo, Denver, Miami, Orlando, Tampa-St. Petersburg, and Washington, DC.
1993 Yankee farmhand Brien Taylor, the #1 overall selection in the MLB June Amateur Draft who signed a record $1.55 million contract with the team, severely tears the glenoid labrum in his left shoulder after attempting to throw a punch that misses its mark. The Barlow's (NC) altercation will cause the 21-year-old prized prospect to miss all of next season and effectively end the southpaw's ability to pitch in the major leagues.
2000 Charles Johnson, the catcher when the team won the 1997 World Series, agrees to return to the Marlins when he signs a five-year contract worth $35 million. The 29-year-old backstop batted .304 with 31 home runs and 91 RBIs for the Orioles and White Sox last season.
2000 Free agent Sandy Alomar Jr. agrees to a $5.4 million, two-year deal with the White Sox. The former Indians catcher will replace Charles Johnson, who signed a $35 million, five-year contract with the Marlins earlier today.
2001 The Giants sign free agent Jason Schmidt to a $31-million four-year deal, keeping the right-hander in the City by the Bay. After being traded by the Pirates, with John Vander Wal, to San Francisco for Armando Rios and Ryan Vogelsong, the 28-year-old free agent was 7-1 for San Francisco last season.
2001 Filling the void created by Mark McGwire's unexpected retirement, the Cardinals sign first baseman Tino Martinez to a $21 million, three-year contract. After Jason Giambi replaced him in the Yankees lineup, the former Bronx Bomber said the Cardinals were his first choice as a free agent.
2001 John Rocker is traded to the Rangers from the Indians for minor league pitcher David Elder. The reliever, not known for his clubhouse diplomacy, will join recently acquired Carl Everett, also known for his difficulties with management and teammates.
2002 The Rangers sign free agent Doug Glanville to a reported one-year, $1 million deal. Texas will trade the former Philadelphia outfielder in July to Chicago, where he will be the hero of the Cubs' 5-4 victory over Florida when he triples home the winning run in the top of the 11th inning in Game 3 of the NLCS.
2002 After spending the previous six seasons with the Giants, the 2000 National League MVP Jeff Kent (.313, 37, 108) signs a $18.2 million, two-year contract with the Astros. The 34-year-old Texas resident's presence on the team moves four-time second base Gold Glove winner Craig Biggio to the outfield.
2003 Adam Kennedy (.269, 13, 49) agrees to an $8.85 million, three-year deal with the Angels. The 28-year-old second baseman batted .277, hit 36 homers, and collected 229 RBIs during his four years with Anaheim.
2004 Two days after trading pitching ace Tim Hudson (17-8, 4.43) to the Braves, the A's deal Mark Mulder to the Cardinals for starting pitcher Dan Haren, reliever Kiko Calero, and minor league catching prospect Daric Barton. Oakland expects five of the six players obtained by giving up two-thirds of the team's 'Big Three' to be part of the opening day roster.
2005 At the Lelands Winter Auction, GoldenPalace.com acquires the bat Pete Rose used to hit his 159th career home run in 1985 with a bid of $103,631.91. Infamous for placing winning bids for the Dallas Grassy Knoll fence and the Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich, the online casino plans to raise money for charity by sawing the bat in half to determine if the bat is corked as is widely believed.
2008 Two 16-year-olds, backstop Bill Pena and southpaw Gregory Baez, agree to contracts with the Nationals. The team scouted the Dominican youngsters at the Loma del Sueno complex in San Cristobal.
2008 The Astros sign free agent Aaron Boone (.241, 6, 28) to a $750,000, one-year contract deal. The former National infielder, who will share third base with Geoff Blum and Chris Johnson, fills the void created when the team didn't tender Ty Wigginton a contract, making the infielder a free agent.
2009 The Cubs trade outcast Milton Bradley to the Mariners for pitcher Carlos Silva (1-3, 8.60), Seattle's costly and underachieving right-hander. Chicago suspended the outspoken and unpopular outfielder for his criticism of the team's atmosphere as the reason the club hasn't won a World Series since 1908.
2009 The Orioles finalize their $12 million, two-year deal with Mike Gonzalez, hoping the veteran southpaw reliever can become a dependable closer for the team not having one since trading George Sherrill to LA at the end of July. The 31-year-old Texan posted a 5-4 record with ten saves for Atlanta last season and compiled a career-high 24 saves in 2006 for the Pirates before undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery the following season.
2009 Ricky Nolasco and the Marlins avoid arbitration and agree to a $3.8 million, one-year deal, increasing $1.4 million from last season. The team's Opening Day starter posted a 13-9 record, compiling an ERA of 5.06 for the Fish last season.
2014 A thief breaks into a baseball museum in Safeco Field, stealing historical Mariner memorabilia and various items on display from other teams, including a 1947 Vancouver Capilanos championship silver cigarette case and a baseball used at a Vancouver Beavers championship game in 1908. The police will eventually recover all stolen goods after arresting the perpetrator tomorrow.
24 Fact(s) Found