1969 – A Federal Court in New York City rules against the suit of umpires Bill Valentine and Al Salerno because baseball is exempt from antitrust laws.
1969 – Ramon Garcia is born in Guanare, Venezuela. Claimed off the Milwaukee roster on his 27th birthday, the righthander serves up a 9-8 record in 1997 with one save while splitting time between the bullpen and the starting rotation. Injuries prevent him from resuming his big league career.
On December 7, 1969, Francis “Lefty” O’Doul, one of the most popular figures in baseball history, dies at the age of 72 in San Francisco. O’Doul won two batting titles before embarking on a long career as a manager in the Pacific Coast League and proprietor of a popular restaurant in San Francisco. He was…
1969 – Chub Feeney succeeds Warren Giles as president of the National League. He is elected for a four-year term, beginning January 1, 1970.
1969 – First Baseman Curt Blefary is traded to the Yankees for first baseman Joe Pepitone. A year to the day since being acquired, Blefary is dealt and his career is never able to recapture the magic of his first three years in Baltimore. Pepitone turns out not to be the answer at first base either and spends less than a year in Houston.
The Cubs send OF Boots Day to the Cardinals for P Rich Nye.
The Yankees send veteran P Al Downing and C Frank Fernandez to Oakland for 1B Danny Cater and C Ossie Chavarria. They also trade 1B Joe Pepitone to the Astros for 1B Curt Blefary.
The Mets, in one of the worst trades in franchise history, deal outfielder Amos Otis to the Royals for third baseman Joe Foy. The 22 year-old flycatcher will go on to have an outstanding 14-year career with Kansas City and will become a member of the team’s hall of fame, while Foy will play just one season in New York, hitting a meager .236 in 99 games.
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