PitcherĀ Pud GalvinĀ is chosen forĀ Hall of FameĀ induction by theĀ Special Veterans Committee. Galvin had 20 victories in 10 out of 14 seasons and won 46 games in bothĀ 1883Ā andĀ 1884Ā for theĀ Buffalo BisonsĀ of theĀ National League.
Masanori Murakami, the firstĀ JapaneseĀ player in the major leagues, says he will not play for theĀ San Francisco GiantsĀ this season, instead returning to theĀ Nankai Hawks. This ends a long dispute over the rights to Murakami and noĀ Nippon Pro BaseballĀ player will try to come to the US for almost 30 years due to the legal and cultural barriers on both sides.
1965Ā ā 18-year-old catcherĀ Bob WatsonĀ signs as a free agent. Watson would eventually play left field and first base, becoming one of the best hitters in franchise history.Ā
1965Ā ā Comedian Bill Dana is named the first official mascot of the Houston Astros by Judge Hofheinz. The comic, whose signature routine is portraying a dimwitted astronaut, comments about the new ballpark āif they would build a cemetery, youād never have to leave the place.ā
On January 20, 1965, the Cleveland Indians re-acquire popular slugger Rocky Colavito from the Chicago White Sox in a three-way deal involving the Kansas City Athletics. Ā In the deal, the White Sox send a player to be named later (pitcher Fred Talbot) and outfielders Jim Landis and Mike Hershberger to Kansas City in exchange forā¦
1965Ā āĀ Bob AspromonteĀ is the first recipient of theĀ Jim Umbricht Award, given to the teamās most valuable player for the previous season. The honor was renamed after Umbrichtās death from cancer the previous April.
Danny OāConnell and Hobie Landrith surprise the Senatorsā front office when they both resign to pursue different business opportunities. The pair of coaches will be replaced by Rube Walker and Joe Pignatano, former major league catchers who played for the Dodgers with the teamās manager, Gil Hodges.
1965Ā āĀ Wally Pipp, the predecessor ofĀ Lou GehrigĀ atĀ first baseĀ for theĀ New York Yankees, dies inĀ Grand Rapids, Michigan. Pipp, who, as legend has it, had asked out of the YankeesĀ lineupĀ with a headache inĀ 1925Ā (in fact he had beenĀ beanedĀ in a previous game), was 71 years old. After giving way to Gehrig, Pipp never again played a game at first base for New York.
1965Ā āĀ James M. JohnstonĀ andĀ James H. LemonĀ purchase the remaining 40 percent of theĀ Washington Senatorsā stock to acquire complete control of the club.
Harris County Commissioners vote to restrict visitors from the construction site of the new domed stadium, fearing the constant traffic of onlookers would delay completion of the ballpark. While Judge Hofheinz calls the stadium ā95-percent completeā, commissioners are concerned that the deadline for the April 9th opener will be approaching soon.
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