The Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame elects five members, its biggest class in ten years. Kimiyasu Kudoh, a eight-time Japan Series champion and four-time ERA leader, goes in on his first ballot. The sportswriter committee also picks Masaaki Saito, a three-time Sawamura Award winner and one-time MVP. The Expert Division picks the late Kihachi Enomoto, a 12-time All-Star and two-time batting champion. The Special Selection Committee names Takizo Matsumoto, who helped revive Japanese baseball after World War II, and Masatake Yamanaka,who set the Tokyo Big Six University League record for wins and managed Japan in the 1992 Olympics.

ByTom

The Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame elects five members, its biggest class in ten years. Kimiyasu Kudoh, a eight-time Japan Series champion and four-time ERA leader, goes in on his first ballot. The sportswriter committee also picks Masaaki Saito, a three-time Sawamura Award winner and one-time MVP. The Expert Division picks the late Kihachi Enomoto, a 12-time All-Star and two-time batting champion. The Special Selection Committee names Takizo Matsumoto, who helped revive Japanese baseball after World War II, and Masatake Yamanaka,who set the Tokyo Big Six University League record for wins and managed Japan in the 1992 Olympics.

The 2015-2016 Venezuelan League awards are given out. Tiburones de La Guaira slugger Alex Cabrera becomes the league’s first three-time MVP when the 44-year-old leads in homers and ties for the RBI lead. Cabrera is tied for the league’s all-time home run lead at year’s end. Bravos de Margarita youngster Jose Osuna (.330/.395/.519) wins Rookie of the Year while Raul Rivero (7-4, 2.03 for the Cardenales de Lara) is Pitcher of the Year. Navegantes del Magallanes fireman Hassan Pena becomes the first player to win three straight Closer of the Year awards after setting a new save mark.

ByTom

The 2015-2016 Venezuelan League awards are given out. Tiburones de La Guaira slugger Alex Cabrera becomes the league’s first three-time MVP when the 44-year-old leads in homers and ties for the RBI lead. Cabrera is tied for the league’s all-time home run lead at year’s end. Bravos de Margarita youngster Jose Osuna (.330/.395/.519) wins Rookie of the Year while Raul Rivero (7-4, 2.03 for the Cardenales de Lara) is Pitcher of the Year. Navegantes del Magallanes fireman Hassan Pena becomes the first player to win three straight Closer of the Year awards after setting a new save mark.

Game 7 of the Mexican Pacific League semi-finals between the Águilas de Mexicali and Mayos de Navojoa ends in thrilling fashion, on a 16th-inning squeeze bunt dropped by C.J. Retherford on a full count, scoring Chris Roberson from third base. Mexicali wins the game and will face Mazatlan in the finals.

ByTom

Game 7 of the Mexican Pacific League semi-finals between the Águilas de Mexicali and Mayos de Navojoa ends in thrilling fashion, on a 16th-inning squeeze bunt dropped by C.J. Retherford on a full count, scoring Chris Roberson from third base. Mexicali wins the game and will face Mazatlan in the finals.

Chris Davis

The Orioles grant the largest contract in their history when they re-sign 1B Chris Davis for 7 years and $161 million

ByTom

The Orioles grant the largest contract in their history when they re-sign 1B Chris Davis for 7 years and $161 million. Meanwhile, the Royals ink P Ian Kennedy for 5 years and $70 million.

At the home of the Japanese consul general in Atlanta, Hank Aaron is presented with the Gold Rays with Rosette, the fourth class of Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japan’s highest honors. The 81 year-old American home run king is commended, along with Sadaharu Oh, for his efforts towards the World Children’s Baseball Fair, an organization which fosters an environment of world understanding and cultural exchange through the celebration of the sport.

ByTom

At the home of the Japanese consul general in Atlanta, Hank Aaron is presented with the Gold Rays with Rosette, the fourth class of Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japan’s highest honors. The 81 year-old American home run king is commended, along with Sadaharu Oh, for his efforts towards the World Children’s Baseball Fair, an organization which fosters an environment of world understanding and cultural exchange through the celebration of the sport.

“I think it is a plan that is in the best interest of the entire bay area and I have to give him [St. Pete’s mayor Rick Kriseman] an awful lot of credit for perseverance and for crafting a plan that has the best interests of the citizens of St. Petersburg, protects their investment in that stadium and at the same time recognizes the fiscal reality of the situation.” – BOB BUCKHORN, mayor of Tampa, Florida The St. Petersburg’s City Council votes 5-3, supporting a measure which allows the Rays to explore new stadium sites in Hillsborough County, which had, up to now, not been up for discussion due to the team’s agreement to stay at Tropicana Field until 2027. The heralded deal looks out for taxpayers while securing the franchise’s commitment to remain in the environs of the Tampa Bay area.

ByTom

“I think it is a plan that is in the best interest of the entire bay area and I have to give him [St. Pete’s mayor Rick Kriseman] an awful lot of credit for perseverance and for crafting a plan that has the best interests of the citizens of St. Petersburg, protects their investment in that stadium and at the same time recognizes the fiscal reality of the situation.” – BOB BUCKHORN, mayor of Tampa, Florida The St. Petersburg’s City Council votes 5-3, supporting a measure which allows the Rays to explore new stadium sites in Hillsborough County, which had, up to now, not been up for discussion due to the team’s agreement to stay at Tropicana Field until 2027. The heralded deal looks out for taxpayers while securing the franchise’s commitment to remain in the environs of the Tampa Bay area.

2016 – The St. Petersburg, FL city council votes to allow the Tampa Bay Rays to explore potential ballpark sites outside the city, including in Tampa, FL across the Bay. The team has played in St. Pete since its creation in the expansion of 1998, but has been unable to find an appropriate site for new digs there, while being held prisoner by a long-term lease in outdated Tropicana Field.

ByTom

2016 – The St. Petersburg, FL city council votes to allow the Tampa Bay Rays to explore potential ballpark sites outside the city, including in Tampa, FL across the Bay. The team has played in St. Pete since its creation in the expansion of 1998, but has been unable to find an appropriate site for new digs there, while being held prisoner by a long-term lease in outdated Tropicana Field.

The Cardinals sign Seung-Hwan Oh, the greatest relief pitcher in the history of the Korea Baseball Organization,

The Cardinals sign Seung-Hwan Oh, the greatest relief pitcher in the history of the Korea Baseball Organization,

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Cardinals sign Seung-Hwan Oh, the greatest relief pitcher in the history of the Korea Baseball Organization, to a one-year contract. He is expected to serve as a set-up man for closer Trevor Rosenthal.

Monte Irvin

Hall of Famer Monte Irvin dies at his home in Houston, TX at the age of 96

ByThis Day in Baseball

Hall of Famer Monte Irvin dies at his home in Houston, TX at the age of 96. He was a star in the Negro Leagues before joining the New York Giants shortly after integration in 1949. He later became the first black executive to work for Major League Baseball.