White Sox Sign Albert Belle: Reinsdorf’s Bold Move
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White Sox Sign Albert Belle: Reinsdorf’s Bold Move

ByThis Day in Baseball

1996 – One of Major League Baseball’s most controversial owners, Jerry Reinsdorf, and its most controversial player, Albert Belle, join forces with the Chicago White Sox. Belle signs a record five-year, $55 million deal that makes him the first player to surpass the $10 million per year mark. Reinsdorf, seen as the instigator in the owners’ vote against the collective bargaining agreement, draws the ire of owners in both leagues who feel he sold them out.

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Houston signs first baseman Sid Bream. As a backup to Jeff Bagwell, he contributes mostly as a pinch-hitter

ByThis Day in Baseball

1994 – Houston signs first baseman Sid Bream. As a backup to Jeff Bagwell, he contributes mostly as a pinch-hitter, delivering a .344 average in the strike-shortened season. Of course, Bagwell hit .368 in an MVP year so Bream got scant attention for his superb play. After the strike, he never appears again in the majors. 

rickey henderson

Rickey Henderson resigns with Oakland after being traded to Blue Jays at Deadline

ByThis Day in Baseball

After being traded back to Oakland by the Yankees in July, Rickey Henderson decides to stay with the A’s, signing a two-year $8.6 million contract. In 1998, the team traded the speedy outfielder to the Bronx Bombers along with Bert Bradley for Tim Birtsas, Jay Howell, Stan Javier, Eric Plunk, and Jose Rijo.

Howard Johnson becomes the first free agent to sign with another team during 1993 off season

Howard Johnson becomes the first free agent to sign with another team during 1993 off season

ByBaseball

Howard Johnson, who will turn 33 at the end of the month, becomes the first free agent to sign with another team this off-season when he agrees to a one-year deal worth $2,100,000 to play for the Rockies. The switch-hitting slugger, who led the National League in homers and RBIs two years ago, has seen his production drop in recent seasons, primarily due to injuries.

The Braves sign free agent Cy Young Award and Gold Glove winner Greg Maddux to a five-year contract

The Braves sign free agent Cy Young Award and Gold Glove winner Greg Maddux to a five-year contract

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Braves sign free agent Cy Young Award and Gold Glove winner Greg Maddux to a five-year contract, and then trade pitchers Charlie Leibrandt and Pat Gomez to the Rangers in exchange for 3B Jose Oliva. Leibrandt (15-7) saw his star fall in Atlanta when he gave up 11th-inning extra base hits in the 1991 World Series and 1992 World Series. Maddux, who turned down a $28.5 million contract extension in mid-season with the Cubs, signs for $28 million, $6 million less than the Yankees offered.