1928 – Pete Runnels is born in Lufkin, TX. The two-time American League batting champion is dealt to Houston for Roman Mejias but is a disappointment in two seasons with the Colts, losing his first base job to Rusty Staub then Walt Bond.
1928 – Alfonso (Chico) Carrasquel is born in Caracas, Venezuela. Carrasquel, the first in a great line of Venezuelan shortstops that includes Luis Aparicio, Dave Concepción, Ozzie Guillen and Omar Vizquel, will become the first Hispanic to appear in an All-Star Game, in 1951, at Briggs Stadium.
1928 – Alfred J. Reach, founder of the A.J. Reach sporting goods firm, dies at 87. Before 1860, Reach became the first ballplayer to receive a regular salary when he signed as a catcher with the Philadelphia Athletics for $25 a week.
On January 10, 1928, New York Giants owner Charles Stoneham, displeased with Rogers Hornsby’s abrasive style and gambling habits, trades his second baseman to the Boston Braves for backstop prospect Shanty Hogan and journeyman fly chaser Jimmy Welsh. During Hornsby’s one-year stay in Boston, his third team in three seasons, the future Hall of Fame…
1928 – The Giants sign Chinese-Hawaiian infielder William “Buck” Lai, to a major league contract. Lai had been signed by the Phillies in 1918 but never appeared in a game, and since then has played in the minors and for the semipro Brooklyn Bushwicks. Alas, he’ll be on the Giants for a month but never appear in a game.
1928 – The New York Yankees buy shortstop Lyn Lary and infielder Jimmie Reese from the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League for a reported $150,000.
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