Portal:Baseball/Anniversaries/December 6

Events

• 1877 - William Hulbert is reelected president of the National League. The Hartford Dark Blues are dropped from the league.
• 1879 - The American College Baseball Association is founded in Springfield, Massachusetts. The six schools forming the group are Harvard‚ Yale‚ Princeton‚ Amherst‚ Dartmouth‚ and Brown‚ and they vote to exclude professional players from their teams. Yale‚ with the best team‚ will withdraw from the Association and only five teams will compete for the pennant in 1880. Princeton will win the 1880 season with a 6-2 record‚ though Yale will go 7-1. Yale will rejoin in 1881 and go 7-3‚ tops of the 6.
• 1882 - Abraham Mills is elected president of the National League. The league replaces the Troy Trojans and Worcester Ruby Legs with the Philadelphia Quakers and New York Gothams.
• 1888 - The American Association votes against adopting the National League's salary classification system‚ to the surprise of the press and the delight of the Brotherhood.
• 1898 - Baltimore manager Ned Hanlon‚ not unexpectedly‚ speaks out against the Brush resolution to curb rowdyism‚ cited by some as resulting in less interest and smaller crowds. "This past season I saw none that ought to scare anyone."
• 1913 - Exhibition teams made up of members of the Chicago White Sox and New York Giants play at Keio University Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. The next day, they play against the University's team.
• 1914 - In a vision of things to come, an indoor baseball game is played in Chicago to raise money for the family of recently deceased Chicago Cubs third basemen Jim Doyle.
• 1920 - A lawsuit that awarded $264,000 in damages to the Baltimore Federal League club on April 12, 1919, is reversed by a court of appeals, which upholds the reserve clause and holds that baseball is not interstate commerce nor subject to antitrust laws. The original suit was initiated because the Baltimore Feds were not included in the settlement of the Federal League war. They wanted a major league team in Baltimore and did not receive satisfaction. The ruling will be upheld in 1922 by the U.S. Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice William Howard Taft.
• 1921 - The Cincinnati Reds trade Heinie Groh to the New York Giants for George Burns, Mike González and cash.
• 1923 - While in Paris‚ John McGraw announces plans for a tour of Europe by the Giants and White Sox in 1924‚ as world interest in baseball grows. In Romania‚ Queen Marie will throw out the first ball to mark the game's debut in July.
• 1937 - It is announced that Ford Frick has been reelected President of the National League for 3 years.
• 1938:
  • In a trade of major names‚ the Giants send Dick Bartell‚ Hank Leiber‚ and Gus Mancuso to the Cubs for Billy Jurges‚ Frank Demaree‚ and Ken O'Dea. The trade works best for the Giants as the New York-born Jurges will anchor the infield for 7 years; Chicago-born Bartell lasts just a season at Wrigley.
  • Larry MacPhail ends an agreement with the Yankees and Giants to ban broadcasts in the New York area and sells the radio rights of the Dodgers games to Wheaties.
• 1939:
  • In a trade of veteran shortstops - or "worn-out shortstops", as one newspaper describes it - the Cubs acquire Billy Rogell from the Detroit Tigers for Dick Bartell. Rogell‚ who injured his arm playing handball the previous year‚ will hit just .136 before hanging up his spikes. The Tigers will release "Rowdy Richard" 5 games into the 1941 season‚ but he will stick with the Giants until 1946.
  • The Bees are busy clearing their pitching staff. Jim Turner goes to the Reds for 1B Les Scarsella and cash‚ while Johnny Lanning is sent to Pittsburgh for P Jim Tobin and cash.
• 1946 - The major leagues finally accept the contention that invasion of minor league territory will result in compensation for the entire league. The major league clubs also agree to return the selection of the All-Star teams, except for pitchers, to a fan ballot.
• 1952:
  • The American League approves a 2-league waiver rule curbing inter-league trading after June 15.
  • At the Winter Meetings a new bonus rule is approved‚ replacing the one that was instituted in 1946 and repealed in 1950. This new rule sets the bonus limit at $4‚000 or the player could be lost though the draft. This second bonus rule lasts until abolished in 1957.
• 1954 - The Tigers trade 1B Walt Dropo with P Ted Gray and OF Bob Nieman to the White Sox for 1B Ferris Fain and Jack Phillips.
  • The Orioles conclude their second large trade in three weeks sending C Clint Courtney‚ SS Jim Brideweser‚ and P Bob Chakales to the White Sox for C Matt Batts‚ IF Fred Marsh‚ and P Don Johnson and Don Ferrarese. Courtney batted .270 in 397 at bats‚ and struck out an American League-low 7 times‚ the league's lowest since Joe Sewell hung up his spikes in 1933.
• 1955 - Brooklyn trades 3B Don Hoak and OF Walt Moryn to the Cubs for 3B Randy Jackson.
• 1958 - The Senators give walking papers to 3B Eddie Yost‚ sending him to Detroit along with Rocky Bridges and OF Neil Chrisley. The Nats receive infielders Reno Bertoia and Ron Samford and OF Jim Delsing in exchange.
• 1959:
  • The White Sox reacquire Minnie Miñoso‚ along with C Dick Brown and pitchers Jake Striker and Don Ferrarese from the Indians. The give up young 1B Norm Cash‚ OF Bubba Phillips‚ and C Johnny Romano.
  • The Cubs trade OF Lee Walls and Lou Jackson‚ and P Bill Henry to the Reds for slugger Frank Thomas.
• 1960 - A group headed by movie star Gene Autry and former football star Bob Reynolds is awarded the new Los Angeles Angels American League franchise.
• 1965 - Baltimore sends OF Jackie Brandt and P Darold Knowles to the Phillies for P Jack Baldschun.
• 1968 - William Eckert resigns as commissioner.
• 1971 - The Reds trade P Milt Wilcox to the Indians for OF Ted Uhlaender. Uhlaender had 13 homers the past 2 seasons‚ and all but one came in Cleveland. He'll hit none in Cincinnati.
• 1973 - The Astros trade OF Jimmy Wynn to the Dodgers for P Claude Osteen and a minor leaguer.
• 1976 - The Boston Red Sox trade 1B Cecil Cooper to the Brewers for 1B George Scott and OF Bernie Carbo. This ranks as one of the Brew Crew's best trades.
• 1979 - In one of their better trades‚ the Kansas City Royals acquire 1B Willie Aikens‚ and IF Rance Mulliniks from the Angels for OF Al Cowens‚ SS Todd Cruz‚ and P Craig Eaton. Aikens will have four solid years in KC‚ including two 2-homer games in the 1980 World Series.
• 1982:
  • The Red Sox trade 3B Carney Lansford‚ OF Garry Hancock‚ and a minor leaguer to Oakland for OF Tony Armas and C Jeff Newman. Lansford‚ who led the American League in hitting in 1981‚ is expendable with the emergence of Wade Boggs at 3B.
  • Kenneth Moffett‚ who helped mediate the 1981 strike settlement‚ is named to succeed Marvin Miller as executive director of the ML Baseball Players' Association.
• 1983 - The Pittsburgh Pirates trade OF Mike Easler to the Red Sox for lefthanded starter John Tudor.
• 1984 - The Chicago White Sox trade 1983 AL Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt and two minor leaguers to the Padres for pitcher Tim Lollar, utility man Luis Salazar, and minor leaguers Ozzie Guillén and Bill Long. Guillen will win the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1985.
• 1988:
  • The Texas Rangers complete their second major trade in as many days‚ sending 1B Pete O'Brien‚ OF Oddibe McDowell‚ and 2B Jerry Browne to Cleveland for 2B Julio Franco.
  • The Montreal Expos and Phillies also complete a trade‚ P Kevin Gross to Montreal for pitchers Jeff Parrett and Floyd Youmans.
  • The Oakland A's sign free agent pitcher Mike Moore from the Mariners. Seattle receives the A's first round pick in the 1989 amateur draft as compensation‚ and will use it to select P Scott Burrell.
• 1989:
  • The Mets trade reliever Randy Myers to the Reds for fellow closer John Franco.
  • Joe Carter is sent by the Indians to San Diego for Chris James, Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga.
  • Free agent closer Jeff Reardon signs with the Red Sox.
• 1990:
  • Free agent George Bell signs with the Cubs.
  • Fifteen more players become "free look" free agents as part of the settlement of the most recent collusion case against the owners. It will also cost the clubs a whopping $280 million in damages.
  • At Leland's auction house in New York City‚ Shoeless Joe Jackson's signature is sold for $23‚100‚ the most money ever paid for a 19th or 20th century signature. Jackson‚ who could not read or write‚ copied the signature from one written out by his wife. The signature‚ which was resold within hours‚ was cut from an unknown document.
• 1991 - The Brewers obtain P Jesse Orosco from the Indians in exchange for a player to be named later.
• 1992 - The Yankees trade 1B J. T. Snow and P Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen to the Angels in exchange for P Jim Abbott.
• 1996 - The Seattle Mariners acquire righty Scott Sanders‚ (9-5‚ 3.38 ERA) from the Padres for lefty Sterling Hitchcock. Hitchcock was the ace of the Mariner staff after Randy Johnson went down with back surgery. He finished with a 13-9 record‚ but had a 5.35 ERA.
• 2000 - The Dodgers sign free agent P Andy Ashby to a 3-year contract.
• 2001 - Major League Baseball reportedly gives John Henry permission to sell the Florida Marlins to Montreal Expos owner‚ Jeffrey Loria. The Expos are expected to be either contracted or taken over by Major League Baseball‚ which would buy the team from Loria in case contraction is aborted‚ leaving him an opportunity to own the Marlins.
• 2002:
  • The New York Yankees offer the same two-year $4.6 million contract to three lefty relievers - Mike Stanton‚ Mark Guthrie and Chris Hammond - and give each 15 minutes to decide. Hammond‚ 37‚ signs for $4.8 million over 2 years. Hammond‚ out of baseball for 2 years‚ had a remarkable season in 2002‚ posting a 0.95 ERA in 63 games and did not allow an earned run after June 28. He is the 3rd pitcher since 1900 to post a sub-one ERA while pitching 70+ innings. The veteran Stanton doesn't bother to respond to the step-child treatment and‚ preferring to remain in the New York area‚ will sign a 3-year contract with the Mets in a week.
  • The Indians send C Einar Díaz and P Ryan Drese to the Rangers in exchange for P Aaron Myette and 1B Travis Hafner. Indians GM Mark Shapiro denies that the trade is "Jim Thome-motivated." In his last 4 minor league seasons‚ Hafner has averaged .316‚ 23 homers‚ and 93 RBIs. He will put up similar numbers in his first few years with the Indians.
  • The MLB Players Association agrees to allow the Montreal Expos to play 22 home games in Puerto Rico next summer.
• 2004 - Baseball officials report that they are closer to an agreement on a drug-testing program that will incorporate more tests‚ and stiffer penalties. Donald Fehr says he expects the plan to be in place by spring training.
• 2005 - The Toronto Blue Jays award a 5-year, $55 million contract to highly-coveted starting pitcher A. J. Burnett, formerly of the Florida Marlins. The contract includes an opt-out clause after the 2008 season, which Burnett will exercise to reap even more riches from the New York Yankees.
• 2006:
  • The Mets send P Brian Bannister to the Royals in exchange for P Ambiorix Burgos.
  • The Phillies obtain P Freddy García from the White Sox in exchange for P Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez.
  • A number of free agents sign with new teams today: the Dodgers agree to a 1-year contract with C Mike Lieberthal; the Giants sign C Bengie Molina to a 3-year deal; the Indians sign P Joe Borowski; and the Athletics agree to a 2-year deal with P Alan Embree.
• 2007:
  • The Rule 5 draft is held. Tim Lahey goes first to the Tampa Bay Rays, followed by Evan Meek to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Brian Barton, expected to go first, slips to #10. Former major leaguers taken include R. A. Dickey, Travis Blackley and José Capellán.
  • The Los Angeles Dodgers sign free agent outfielder Andruw Jones for $36 million over two years. Jones had led the 2005 NL with 51 home runs but is coming off a disappointing 88 OPS+ in 2007. Jones will hit just 3 home runs and bat .158 for the 2008 Dodgers and be released after the season.
  • José Guillén and Jay Gibbons are suspended by Major League Baseball for steroid use, following the results of George Mitchell's investigation. No penalty is given to Troy Glaus, Scott Schoeneweis, Rick Ankiel and Gary Matthews, Jr., who have also been found to be users by the Mitchell investigation.
• 2008 - Seibu Lions hitting coach Hiromoto Okubo resigns after being accused of striking a female friend last month. Okubo was credited with helping Seibu's offense lead the Pacific League in homers in 2008; they went on to win the 2008 Japan Series and 2008 Asia Series.

Births

• 1852 - Trick McSorley, infielder (d. 1936)
• 1865 - Pat Whitaker, pitcher (d. 1902)
• 1867 - Tun Berger, infielder (d. 1907)
• 1873 - Harry Wolverton, infielder, manager (d. 1937)
• 1882 - Dave Rowan, infielder (d. 1955)
• 1885 - Jack Stansbury, infielder (d. 1970)
• 1886 - Hap Morse, infielder (d. 1974)
• 1893 - Hack Eibel, outfielder (d. 1945)
• 1894 - Bruno Betzel, infielder (d. 1965)
• 1894 - Walter Mueller, outfielder (d. 1971)
• 1896 - Bob Larmore, infielder (d. 1964)
• 1896 - Frank Luce, outfielder (d. 1942)
• 1899 - Jocko Conlan, outfielder; Hall of Famer (d. 1989)
• 1903 - Tony Lazzeri, infielder; All-Star, Hall of Famer (d. 1946)
• 1909 - Stan Hack, infielder, manager; All-Star (d. 1979)
• 1913 - Bill Kerksieck, pitcher (d. 1970)
• 1914 - Turkey Tyson, pinch hitter (d. 2000)
• 1920 - Gus Niarhos, catcher (d. 2004)
• 1925 - Rance Pless, infielder
• 1927 - Tommy Brown, infielder
• 1934 - Dan Dobbek, outfielder
• 1937 - Freddie Velázquez, catcher
• 1938 - Amado Samuel, infielder
• 1942 - Arnold Umbach, pitcher
• 1944 - Tony Horton, infielder
• 1945 - Larry Bowa, infielder, manager; All-Star
• 1945 - Jay Dahl, pitcher (d. 1965)
• 1952 - Chuck Baker, infielder
• 1952 - Jeff Schneider, pitcher
• 1953 - Gary Ward, outfielder; All-Star
• 1954 - Mike Parrott, pitcher
• 1955 - Luis Rosado, infielder
• 1957 - Steve Bedrosian, pitcher; All-Star
• 1959 - Larry Sheets, designated hitter
• 1963 - Lance Blankenship, infielder
• 1964 - Kevin Campbell, pitcher
• 1966 - Terry McDaniel, outfielder
• 1967 - Kevin Appier, pitcher; All-Star
• 1971 - José Contreras, pitcher; All-Star
• 1971 - Adam Hyzdu, outfielder
• 1972 - Rick Short, infielder
• 1972 - Neil Weber, pitcher
• 1977 - Kevin Cash, catcher
• 1978 - Jason Bulger, pitcher
• 1978 - Chris Başak, infielder
• 1980 - Ehren Wassermann, pitcher
• 1986 - Ryan Tucker, pitcher

Deaths

• 1905 - Jack Leary, infielder (b. 1857)
• 1911 - Ed Glenn, infielder (b. 1875)
• 1911 - John Hamill, pitcher (b. 1860)
• 1942 - Amos Rusie, pitcher; Hall of Famer (b. 1871)
• 1943 - Charley Hall, pitcher (b. 1885)
• 1943 - George Magoon, infielder (b. 1875)
• 1948 - Bill Dammann, pitcher (b. 1872)
• 1950 - Jing Johnson, pitcher (b. 1894)
• 1952 - Don Hurst, infielder (b. 1905)
• 1955 - Honus Wagner, infielder, manager; Hall of Famer (b. 1874)
• 1959 - Wid Conroy, infielder (b. 1877)
• 1962 - Dutch Hoffman, outfielder (b. 1904)
• 1965 - Frank Crossin, catcher (b. 1891)
• 1975 - Jim Stroner, infielder (b. 1901)
• 1976 - Mandy Brooks, outfielder (b. 1897)
• 1977 - John Pomorski, pitcher (b. 1905)
• 1985 - Burleigh Grimes, pitcher, manager; Hall of Famer (b. 1893)
• 1987 - Jim Johnson, pitcher (b. 1945)
• 1989 - Art Parks, outfielder (b. 1911)
• 1993 - Ray Thomas, catcher (b. 1910)
• 1997 - Lou Clinton, outfielder (b. 1937)
• 1999 - Roy Talcott, pitcher (b. 1920)
• 2002 - Clarence Beers, pitcher (b. 1918)

Some or all content from this article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the BR Bullpen article "December 6".