On March 24, 1984 –The Detroit Tigers acquire relief pitcher Willie Hernandez and first baseman Dave Bergman from the Philadelphia Phillies for catcher John Wockenfuss and outfielder Glenn Wilson. Hernandez will win the American League MVP and Cy Young awards after saving 32 games with an 1.92 ERA and 140.1 innings in 80 pitching appearances….
On March 20, 1984, Hall of Fame pitcher Stan Coveleski dies in South Bend, Indiana, at the age of 94. Coveleski pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators and New York Yankees over a 14-season career, winning 215 games, which included five 20-win seasons. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other Resources & Links [et_pb_signup provider=”getresponse” getresponse_list=”Thomas Hannon|zs45L” success_action=”redirect” success_redirect_url=”https://thisdayinbaseball.com/join-the-community/” success_redirect_query=”on|off|off|off|off” title=”Baseball history from Doubleday to…
[adrotate banner=”50″] On March 18, 1984, famed batting coach Charley Lau dies from cancer at the age of 50. Lau, whose major league career batting average was .255, earned his fame as the Kansas City Royals batting coach from 1971 to 1978, where his star pupil was George Brett. Lau had also served as a coach for the Baltimore Orioles, Oakland A’s, New York Yankees,…
[adrotate banner=”32″] On March 17, 1984, – Ferguson Jenkins announces his retirement. In 1983, Jenkins struggled to a record of 6-9 with an ERA of 4.30. The 1971 National League Cy Young Award winner, Jenkins posted a record of 284-226 with 3192 strikeouts and a 3.34 ERA in 4500 innings pitched in a 19-season major career….
1984 – Two outstanding defensive players, shortstop Pee Wee Reese and catcher Rick Ferrell, are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee. Reese hit .269 in 16 seasons with the Dodgers while Ferrell batted .281 with just 28 home runs in 18 seasons for the Browns, Red Sox, and Senators.
On March 3, 1984, Peter Ueberroth is elected commissioner of baseball, succeeding Bowie Kuhn starting on October 1, 1984. Ueberroth, the president of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, will become the game’s sixth commissioner. Ueberroth will serve a five-year term before giving way to A. Bartlett Giamatti. Peter Ueberroth will receive compensation of $450,000,…
1984 – The San Francisco Giants send pitcher Fred Breining and outfielder Max Venable to the Montreal Expos in exchange for first baseman Al Oliver. Because Breining is found to be injured, the Giants will send pitcher Andy McGaffigan to Montreal on March 31st to complete the trade.
1984 – Pedro Guerrero becomes the highest-paid player in Dodgers history when he signs a five-year, seven-million dollar contract to play in Los Angeles.
After five months of discussion, the Mets and Keith Hernandez, who was eligible for free-agency at the end of the season, come to terms on an $8 million, five-year contract. The deal makes the first baseman the second-highest paid player in franchise history, earning slightly less than George Foster’s $10 million, five-year pact signed precisely two years ago.
1984 – After failing to trade him, the New York Mets give veteran slugger Dave Kingman his release. Kingman hit .198 with 13 home runs last year, but will find a new home as designated hitter with the Oakland Athletics, hitting 35 home runs this year, ranking second behind American League leader Tony Armas, who will finish with 43.
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