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In one of his final acts as General Manager, Dick Wagner decides to exercise a contract option on Nolan Ryan.

ByTom

1987 – In one of his final acts as General Manager, Dick Wagner decides to exercise a contract option on Nolan Ryan. It was a strange year for the Express, leading the league in strikeouts and ERA but suffering an 8-16 record. The Astros could have either paid the 40-year-old righthander an estimated $1.3 million or released him to free agency. 

Billy Martin is fired for the fifth time as manager of the New York Yankees

New York Yankees hire controversial manager Billy Martin for a fifth time

ByThis Day in Baseball

On October 19, 1987 — The Yankees name Billy Martin as their manager for the fifth and final time, replacing Lou Piniella, who replaced Martin and is moved to general manager. Piniella led the Yankees to an 89-73 record in 1987, fourth in the AL East.The fiery skipper will stay at the helm until June 23 of next year,…