On January 14, 1940, 91 players in the Detroit Tigers farm system are set free by commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who rules that the organization had improperly handled the players and makes them free agents. Among the notable players effected by the ruling who go on to major league careers are outfielders Roy Cullenbine, Benny McCoy, Dutch…
Ron Brand is born in Los Angeles, CA. The catcher plays for Houston for four seasons (1965-1968) and was the only Houston catcher to bat leadoff before Craig Biggio arrived twenty years later.
On July 26, 1939, the New York Yankees tie a major league record by scoring in every inning against the St. Louis Browns. Hall of Famer Bill Dickey hits three home runs as part of the 14-1 win.
On July 4, 1939, the New York Yankees retire the uniform #4 of future Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig in emotional ceremonies at Yankee Stadium. For over 40 minutes, current and former Yankee greats, including Hall of Famer Babe Ruth, parade onto the field to honor the “Iron Horse.” Other former Yankee greats, such as pitcher Waite Hoyt, second baseman Tony Lazzeri, and outfielder Bob Meusel, also attend. Yankee manager Joe McCarthy presents Gehrig with a special silver trophy. Gehrig, in one of the most memorable speeches in baseball history, tells the 61,808 in attendance at the Stadium, “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” Gehrig, who is stricken with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, will die from the muscular disease in 1941.
1939 – Tommy Davis is born in Brooklyn, NY. The former two-time N.L. batting champ hits .271 as an Astro during parts of the 1969 and 1970 seasons.
1939 – Jim Bouton is born in Newark, NJ. The righthander had a blazing fastball when he pitched in the World Series for the Yankees in 1964. By the time he gets to Houston in 1969, all he has left is a knuckleball and a manuscript.
On January 17, 1939, the New York Yankees elect Ed Barrow as president. Barrow replaces Jacob Ruppert, who died four days earlier. Barrow will remain Yankee president until 1945, when the team is bought by Dan Topping and Del Webb.
Hilario “Sandy” Valdespino is born in San Jose de las Lajas, Cuba. The reserve outfielder bats .244 for the Astros during the first five months of the 1969 season before being traded. He had been in the 1965 World Series during his rookie season with the Minnesota Twins.
On June 18, 1938, Babe Ruth accepts GM Larry MacPhail’s offer to coach first base with the Brooklyn Dodgers. “The Babe” dons a Dodger uniform the next day, entertains observers with a batting demonstration, and works the coaching box. The ‘Bambino’ will quit at the end of the season, ending his ties with major league…
Detroit Tigers set a major league record by scoring 36 runs in a doubleheader
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