California signs free agent Don Baylor to a six-year, $1.6 million deal. The Austin, Texas native, who played with the A’s last season after being dealt by the Orioles in the Reggie Jackson trade, will become the first Angel to win the MVP Award (1979) until Vladimir Guerrero cops the honor in 2004.
On November 9, 1976, the Oakland A’s give future Hall of Famer Billy Williams his unconditional release, ending his major league career. Williams, who spent all but two seasons with the Chicago Cubs, retires with 426 home runs, 2,711 hits, and a lifetime batting average of .290
On November 6, 1976, relief pitcher Bill Campbell becomes the first free agent to sign a contract with a new team. Campbell leaves the Minnesota Twins to sign a four-year deal worth an estimated $1.05 million with the Boston Red Sox. Campbell, who won 17 games and saved 20 in 1976, will win 13 games…
The Mariners and Blue Jays each select thirty players in the expansion draft. Seattle picks Royals’ outfielder Ruppert Jones, and Toronto selects Orioles’ shortstop Bob Bailor as their team’s respective first picks.
For the second consecutive season, Jim Palmer (22-13, 2.51) is the recipient of the American League Cy Young Award. The Orioles’ right-hander garners first-place votes on 19 of 24 ballots cast by the BBWAA, with the remaining five top spots going to rookie sensation Mark Fidrych of the Tigers.
The Oakland Athletics make an unusual trade by sending manager Chuck Tanner to the Pittsburgh Pirates for catcher Manny Sanguillen and $100,000. Sanguillen will play only one season in Oakland before returning to Pittsburgh. Tanner will lead the Pirates to the World Championship in 1979.
1976 – The first mass-market free agent re-entry draft is held at the New York Plaza Hotel. Among those available are Reggie Jackson, Willie McCovey, Joe Rudi, Don Gullett, Gene Tenace, Nate Colbert, Rollie Fingers, Don Baylor and Bobby Grich. McCovey and Colbert are the only two players not selected, but McCovey will catch on with the Giants in spring training and have a banner year at his old first base position.
1976 – Amazingly, it takes 15 years for Houston to garner a vote in the Cy Young Award balloting. The vote goes to J.R. Richard, who has a 20-win season, but he is well behind San Diego’s Randy Jones in the returns.
San Diego left-hander Randy Jones (22-14, 2.74) captures the National League’s Cy Young Award, capturing 15 of the 24 first-place votes cast by the writers. Two seasons ago, the 26 year-old southpaw had lost 22 games for the last-place Padres.
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