<< Yesterday

This Day in Baseball History
October 30th

Tomorrow>>
25 Fact(s) Found
1929 The Cardinals name coach Gabby Street as the team's field boss, replacing Bill McKechnie, who left to manage the Boston Braves. The new Redbirds' manager will lead the club to two National League pennants and a World Series championship in his first two seasons.
1956 The sale of the historical but out-of-date Ebbets Field to real estate developer Marvin Kratter becomes one of the first indications the ballpark is nearing its end and, perhaps, a harbinger of the Dodgers' departure from Brooklyn. As part of the deal, club owner Walter O'Malley is given a three-year lease, with an additional two years to be added in January, to stay and play at the Flatbush facility, which means the 'Bums' have a potential home in the borough until 1961.
1963 Sandy Koufax, who unanimously won the Cy Young Award six days ago, is also named the National League's MVP. The Dodger southpaw, who compiled a 25-5 record along with a 1.88 ERA, outpoints Cardinals' infielder Dick Groat, 237-190, collecting 14 of the 20 first-place votes cast by the BBWAA writers.

(Ed. Note: The left-hander becomes the second hurler to capture the prestigious awards in the same season. In 1956, Don Newcombe became the first player to accomplish the feat, finishing ahead of Brooklyn teammate Sal Maggie in both selections of the writers. - LP)

1964 Pitching for the Nankai Hawks, American hurler Joe Stanka wins the league's MVP award. The 33-year-old right-hander's three straight victories over the Yomiuri Giants help his team capture the Japan Series, also known as the Nippon Series.
1967 The White Sox announce the club will play nine regular-season games in Milwaukee during the 1968 season. The change in venue marks the first time an American League team will be the home team outside its city since 1905 when the Tigers hosted the Boston Americans at Neil Park in Columbus (OH).
1973 Mets' pitcher Tom Seaver (19-10, 2.08) wins the NL's Cy Young Award, outpointing runners-up Mike Marshall (Expos, 31 saves) and Ron Bryant (Giants, 24-12). The 27-year-old New York right-hander is the first recipient of the prestigious pitching prize not to post twenty victories.
1974 The writers select A's hurler Catfish Hunter as the American League's Cy Young Award recipient. The 25-game winner, due to a contract dispute with owner Charlie Finley, will be declared one of baseball's first free agents, becoming the game's highest-paid pitcher at the end of December when he signs a five-year contract with the Yankees for $3.75 million.
1975 Giants pitcher John Montefusco (15-9, 2.88, 215), known as 'The Count,' wins the National League Rookie of the Year Award. The Expos' freshman catcher Gary Carter (.270, 18, 68), a 2003 inductee into the Hall of Fame, receives nine first-place votes out of the 24 cast by the writers to finish second in the balloting.
1986 The Orioles exchange Storm Davis for Padres' catcher Terry Kennedy and minor leaguer Mark Williamson. After getting off to a 2-7 start with an ERA of 6.18 with San Diego, the right-hander will be dealt to Oakland in August for players to be named later.
2000 Diamondback broadcaster Bob Brenly, signing a three-year, $2 million contract, is named the team manager. The former major league catcher replaces Buck Showalter, the club's only manager, who Arizona dismissed at the end of the season after compiling a 250-236 record for the three-year-old franchise.
2001 George W. Bush becomes the eighth president to attend a World Series game and the first since Dwight D. Eisenhower to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Wearing a New York Fire Department windbreaker in honor of the heroes of the September 11th attacks, the Commander-in-Chief walks to the mound by himself, gives a thumbs-up, and throws a perfect strike caught by Todd Greene, the Yankees' backup catcher, much to the delight of the stadium faithful.

2007 The Yankees sign Joe Girardi to a three-year deal worth a reported $7.5 million to replace popular manager Joe Torre, who left earlier in the month, rejecting a 29% pay cut after guiding his club to their 12th postseason appearance in 12 years. The 43-year-old former catcher and broadcaster, the 2006 NL manager of the Year with the Marlins, beat out Bronx Bombers' coaches Don Mattingly and Tony Pena to become the team's 32nd skipper.
2007 Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, calling it a mutual decision, announces Grady Little (170-154, .525) has decided to leave the organization with a year left on his three-year contract. The resignation fuels speculation that the club will hire former Yankee manager Joe Torre as the team's new skipper.
2007 The Astros re-sign Brad Ausmus to a one-year, $2 million incentive-laden deal, citing the veteran catcher's ability to mentor younger players. Next season, the 38-year-old Gold Glove backstop expects a reduced role when rookie sensation J.R. Towles takes over behind the plate for Houston.
2007 Ria Cortesio, professional baseball's only active female umpire and sixth overall, is released after nine years of making calls in the minors. The 31-year-old crew chief, whose mask is in the Hall of Fame, worked the Futures Game and Home Run Derby at the 2006 All-Star Game played in Pittsburgh, and she was on the bases for an exhibition game between the Diamondbacks and Cubs during spring training.
2008 The Brewers hire Ken Macha to manage the team. The former A's skipper, fired by Oakland after Detroit swept the club in the 2006 ALCS, replaces interim manager Dale Sveum, who finished with a dozen games left in the regular season for the fired Ned Yost.
2008 Adding another first baseman to an already crowded field at that position, the Royals obtain Mike Jacobs (.247, 32, 93) from the Marlins in exchange for reliever Leo Nunez (4-1, 2.98). The 28-year-old infielder from Florida gives Kansas City a much-needed left-handed slugger in the middle of the lineup.
2009 The Cubs' chairman, Tom Ricketts, makes it clear that the new ownership intends to win a World Championship. At his introductory press conference, the investment banker tells the media he believes a thoughtful, long-range approach is needed for the team to overcome its 101-year absence from the Fall Classic.
2009 Freddy Sanchez signs a $12-million, two-year contract extension to stay with the Giants, the team the Pirates traded him to in midseason in exchange for a minor league pitching prospect. Due to an ailing shoulder, the two-time All-Star second baseman and former batting champ played only 25 games with San Francisco.
2010 The Rangers win their first World Series game in franchise history, defeating the Giants at the Ballpark in Arlington, 4-2. The Game 3 victory becomes the first by any Texas team in the Fall Classic, snapping a Lone Star State losing streak of six games, which started in 2005 when the White Sox swept the Astros.

2012 The Tigers announce Jim Leyland's contract extension through 2013 after he managed the team to an American League pennant on a one-year deal this season. The 67-year-old skipper has been a major league manager for 21 years, including the last seven with Detroit, where he led the club to the postseason three times.
2013 The Red Sox capture the World Championship at Fenway Park for the first time since 1918 when the team beats the Cardinals, 6-1, in Game 6 of the Fall Classic. After an 86-year drought between World Series titles, Boston has won three crowns in the past ten years.

2015 In Game 3, Adalbert Mondesi becomes the first player to make his major league debut in a World Series game. Leading off in the top of the fifth inning, the 20-year-old Royals’ infielder strikes out looking as a pinch-hitter in the team’s 9-3 loss to the Mets at Citi Field.
2019 After beginning the season with the worst record through 50 games of any champion, the Nationals win the World Series, beating the Astros 6-2 in Game 7. The Minute Maid Park victory marks the first time in the history of the Fall Classic that the road teams were a perfect 7-0 in the series.
2024 In Game 5, the Dodgers overcome the Yankees' five-run lead, coming back from the largest deficit in a clinching game in the history of the Fall Classic, capturing the franchise's eighth World Series title and their first full-season championship since 1988.  A total defensive meltdown in the frightful fifth inning in the Bronx led to five unearned runs in Los Angeles' eventual 7-6 victory.
25 Fact(s) Found