2005 – Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Hampton and his wife offer a $25,000 reward for the safe return of Jessica Marie Lunsford. The nine-year old, who disappeared from her Florida bedroom four days ago, is in the same grade as one of the Hamptons’ two sons at Homosassa Elementary School.

2005 – Kerry Konrad, a New York Yankees fan whose $2,325 bid won an eBay auction giving him the one-day naming rights to the Fleet Center Arena in Boston, wants to call it the “Derek Jeter Center,” after the Yankees’ shortstop and team captain. But instead, the Manhattan lawyer agrees to call it the “Jimmy Fund Center,” after a Boston friend and Red Sox fan donated an additional $6,275 for the children charitable effort, bringing the total amount to $8,600, symbolizing the 86 years between Red Sox World Championships.

Tom Umberg, a California state assemblyman, introduces legislation which would require pro franchises to use disclaimers if they do not play the majority of home games in the location used in their name. With his “Truth in Sports Advertising Act”, the Anaheim Democrat is trying prevent the local team from changing its name to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Jerry Coleman is the recipient of the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award. The 80 year-old San Diego play-by-play broadcaster, who was the MVP of the 1950 World Series, has spent 41 years in the booth calling games for the Yankees, Angels, and Padres.

2005 – After five months of captivity in a Venezuelan jungle surrounded by explosives to keep her from escaping, Ugueth Urbina’s mother, Maura Villarreal, is rescued during a daring eight-hour police raid. The kidnappers had demanded a $6 million ransom from the Tigers relief pitcher for his mom’s freedom.

After five months of captivity in a Venezuelan jungle surrounded by explosives to keep her from escaping, Ugueth Urbina’s mother, Maura Villarreal, is rescued during a daring eight-hour police raid. The kidnappers had demanded $6 million ransom from the Tigers’ relief pitcher for his mom’s freedom.