1962 – Colt .45s sign 19-year-old infielder Joe Morgan as a free agent. Morgan relates in later years how few ballclubs were willing to give the 5-7 player a chance, deeming him too small to be a big-leaguer.
December 27, 1954 – Former Duke University outfielder Al Spangler, who was optimistically compared to Richie Ashburn, signed his minor league contract with the Braves and was assigned to Jacksonville in the Sally League. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Play by Play, Box Scores, News Paper Reports and other links Other Resources & Links
1954 – The Pittsburgh Pirates draft outfielder Roberto Clemente from the AAA roster of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Although Clemente hit only .257 for the Montreal Royals last season, he will become a Hall of Fame member with the Pirates.
June 19, 1954, the Washington Senators sign a 17-year-old Idaho kid named Harmon Killebrew.
The Pittsburgh Pirates draft relief pitcher Elroy Face from the Montreal Royals, the top minor league affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers. During a 15-year career with the Pirates, Face will lead the National League in saves three times. In 1959, he will win an incredible 18 of 19 decisions in relief.
1951 – Former Chicago Cubs first baseman and future star of the TV series The Rifleman Chuck Connors becomes the first player to refuse to participate in the major league draft. Currently the 1B for the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League, Connors wants to stay in California, instead of going to whatever team might draft him for the major leagues. The PCL views his refusal in a positive manner, allowing them to ask for higher prices for minor league players than what the major leagues usually offers.
On June 8, 1950, the Kansas City A’s sign pitcher Lew Krausse to a $125,000 bonus, the largest in major league history. The 18-year-old right-hander pitched 18 no-hitters in high school and once struck out 24 batters in a game.
On June 4, 1940, the Braves sign Warren Spahn, this South Park High School (Buffalo, NY) standout and he’ll make his major league debut in 1942 when he appears in two games as a 20 year-old for Boston before serving three years in the Army during World War II. He’ll become a Bronze Star and…
The Red Sox acquire the contract of 19-year-old Ted Williams from San Diego (Pacific Coast League)‚ but he will not report to Boston until 1939.
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