1986 – Oakland Athletics outfielder Jose Canseco wins the American League Rookie of the Year Award, becoming the first Athletics player to do so since pitcher Harry Byrd in 1952.
The Minnesota Twins announce that interim manager Tom Kelly will be the club’s skipper next season. Kelly, who replaced Ray Miller at the end of the 1986 season, will compile a losing record (1140-1244) but win two World Championships during his 16-year tenure as the Twins manager.
St. Louis Cardinals reliever Todd Worrell, who led the National League with 36 saves, is named Rookie of the Year. Worrell had helped St. Louis to the 1985 World Series as a late-season call-up but was still a rookie this season as defined by the BBWAA.
In yet another unwise trade of prospects for aging veterans, the Yankees deal pitchers Brian Fisher, Doug Drabek and Logan Easley to the Pirates for pitchers Rick Rhoden, Cecilio Guante and Pat Clements. Drabek will win the National League Cy Young Award in 1990.
A groundbreaking ceremony is held to build what will eventually be known as Tropicana Field, a venue for hosting baseball fans from Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg, before securing a major league franchise. The Florida Suncoast Dome, the ballpark’s original name, will be completed in 1990, but will not field a MLB team until eight years later when the expansion Devil Rays play their first game, although, at various times during the interim, it’s rumored the White Sox, Mariners, and Giants are making plans to be tenants in the Pinellas County facility.
1986 – Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt wins the National League Most Valuable Player Award, joining Stan Musial and Roy Campanella as the only three-time NL award winners. Schmidt led the NL with 37 home runs and 119 RBI.
Roger Clemens is selected as the American League’s MVP, becoming the first pitcher to accomplish the feat since Vida Blue won the honor in 1971. The Red Sox right-hander, who also won this season’s AL Cy Young Award, received 19 of the 28 first-place votes, with Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly and teammate Jim Rice listed on the top of the remaining nine ballots.
Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon buy the World Champion Mets from the Doubleday Publishing Company for $80.75 million. In 1980, the book company had bought the franchise for a then-record $21.1 million.
1986 – The Doubleday Publishing Company agrees to sell the World Champion New York Mets to Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon for $80.75 million. The company had purchased the Mets for a then-record $21.1 million in 1980.
1986 – Pitcher Dave Stewart, who went 9-5 for the Oakland Athletics after being released by the Phillies in May, signs a two-year contract with Oakland.
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