On March 19, 1974, In a five-player, three-team deal involving the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, and New York Yankees, unites Gaylord Perry with his brother, Jim. As part of the deal, the Cleveland Indians surrender outfielder Walt “No Neck” Williams and pitcher Rick Sawyer in exchange for Jim Perry, who will win 17 games for the Tribe. The…
On March 14, 1974, Alex Pompez, one of the most important figures in the history of the Negro leagues, dies in New York City. Pompez owned the Cuban Stars of the Eastern Colored League, and later the New York Cubans of the Negro National League. Following the demise of the Negro leagues, Pompez was hired…
On March 11, 1974, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn orders the Atlanta Braves to play Hank Aaron in at least two of the team’s season-opening three games on the road. The Braves had planned to bench Aaron on the road in order to increase his chances of hitting his record-breaking 715th home run at home.
1974 – The California Angels send veteran Vada Pinson to Kansas City for minor leaguer Barry Raziano and cash. Pinson will call it quits at the end of the 1975 season, having rung up 2,757 hits, the most ever for an eligible player not in the Hall of Fame.
On February 21, 1974, New York Mets ace Tom Seaver becomes the highest-paid player in major league history. Known as “The Franchise,” Seaver signs a one-year contract worth $172,500. In 1973, Seaver won 19 games while leading the National League in ERA. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other Resources & Links [et_pb_signup provider=”getresponse” getresponse_list=”Thomas Hannon|zs45L”…
1974 – Houston trades pitcher Pat Darcy and cash to Cincinnati for infielder Denis Menke. For former All-Star Menke, he closes his career hitting .103 in a bench role. For the Ohio-born Darcy, it’s great timing as two of his three big-league seasons are on World Championship teams.
1974 – James (Cool Papa) Bell is elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues. Known for his legendary footspeed, Bell joins Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard and Monte Irvin, as Negro Leagues greats selected to the Hall.
The first arbitration ruling in baseball history is decided in favor of Twins’ hurler Dick Woodson. The right-hander, the first player to invoke the new free agency clause, is awarded the $29,000 he asked for, rather than having to take Minnesota’s offer, which was six thousand dollars less.
On January 28, 1974, the Veterans Committee elects Sam Thompson, Jim Bottomley and umpire Jocko Conlan to the Hall of Fame. Thompson batted .336 lifetime, while Bottomley drove in 100 or more runs six consecutive seasons. Bottomley also set a record by driving in 12 runs in one game.
1974 – Ray Kroc, fast-food entrepreneur (McDonald’s), buys the San Diego Padres for $12 million, ending talk of a possible move to Washington, DC.
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