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1989 – Houston inks a pair of veterans, pitcher Dan Schatzeder and outfielder Greg Gross as free agents. Gross bats .200 in mostly pinch-hit roles during the final campaign of his 15-year career, one that began as an Astro. Schatzeder wins four games in relief.

ByTom

1989 – Houston inks a pair of veterans, pitcher Dan Schatzeder and outfielder Greg Gross as free agents. Gross bats .200 in mostly pinch-hit roles during the final campaign of his 15-year career, one that began as an Astro. Schatzeder wins four games in relief.

1989 – After nine years of use, the game-winning run batted in (GWRBI) is dropped as an official statistic. New York Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez will remain the all-time leader with 129.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1989 – After nine years of use, the game-winning run batted in (GWRBI) is dropped as an official statistic. New York Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez will remain the all-time leader with 129.

The Astros acquire veteran righthander Rick Rhoden from the Yankees for three minor leaguers
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The Astros acquire veteran righthander Rick Rhoden from the Yankees for three minor leaguers

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Astros acquire veteran righthander Rick Rhoden from the Yankees for three minor leaguers. Rhoden starts 20 games and wins just two during his final season in a 15-year career. 

Johnny Bench Carl Yaz
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Johnny Bench and Carl Yastrzemski are elected to the Hall of Fame

ByThis Day in Baseball

Johnny Bench and Carl Yastrzemski are elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA in their first year of eligibility. Bench and Yastrzemski, who faced each other in the classic 1975 World Series, each spent their entire careers (40 years combined) with one club (Cincinnati and Boston, respectively). Bench set new standards for catchers both offensively (348 home runs) and defensively (10 straight Gold Gloves). Yastrzemski hit 452 home runs, collected 3,308 hits, and won the 1967 Triple Crown. Bench is named on 96.4% of the ballots, making Ty Cobb and Hank Aaron the only players to ever receive a higher percentage of the vote.

Three weeks after signing a record four-year, $1.1 billion network television contract with CBS, Major League Baseball signs a $400 million contract with ESPN. The deal will put 175 games per year on cable television beginning in 1990.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1989 – Three weeks after signing a record four-year, $1.1 billion network television contract with CBS, Major League Baseball signs a $400 million contract with ESPN. The deal will put 175 games per year on cable television beginning in 1990.