Due to heavy financial losses, Rheingold Beer announces it will close its Brooklyn-based plant. As as a result, the brewery will be forced to end its 13-year relationship with the Mets as the team’s primary radio-TV sponsor.
On January 3, 1974, the New York Yankees give up on their pursuit of former Oakland A’s manager Dick Williams and hire Bill Virdon. In December, the Yankees had announced the signing of Williams, only to learn that A’s owner Charlie Finley would not surrender him without compensation. Although the former Pirates skipper will manage…
On January 1, 1974, Joe Cronin steps down as president of the American League and is replaced by Lee MacPhail. MacPhail, a longtime executive in baseball, will lead the AL through 1984. He is inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.
December 29, 1973 – Philip G. Epstein, an American screenwriter best known, along with his identical twin, Julius, and Howard Koch, for writing the 1942 Academy Award-winning screenplay for Casablanca, welcomes his fraternal twin grandsons into the world… In twenty-eight years, the 60-second younger brother of Paul, Theo, will become the youngest GM in the…
New York Yankees announce the signing of Dick Williams as manager
Chicago Cubs trade third baseman Ron Santo to the Chicago White Sox
The Royals deal outfielder Lou Piniella and pitcher Ken Wright to the Yankees for veteran pitcher Lindy McDaniel. The controversial trade draws the Kansas City fans’ ire, and rightfully so, when the 38 year-old right-hander wins a total of only six games during his two years with the club, with the 29 year-old outfielder enjoying 11 solid seasons in the Bronx, batting .295 and playing a major role in New York’s four appearances in the World Series.
The Boston Red Sox make a pair of deals. The Sox purchase Juan Marichal from the San Francisco Giants for $100,000 and trade John Curtis, Lynn McGlothen, and Mike Garman to the St. Louis Cardinals for Reggie Cleveland and Diego Segui.
San Francisco Giants sell future Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal to the Boston Red Sox
1973 – Slugger Jim Wynn is traded to the Dodgers for pitchers Claude Osteen and Dave Culpepper. A holder of many team records, Wynn rebounds to help the Dodgers to the National League title in 1974 while Osteen would own a 9-9 mark before being traded in mid-season.
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