rudy may

New York Yankees sign two veteran free agents to long-term contracts: first baseman Bob “The Bull” Watson and pitcher Rudy May

ByThis Day in Baseball

    On November 8, 1979, the New York Yankees sign two veteran free agents to long-term contracts: first baseman Bob “The Bull” Watson and pitcher Rudy May. The two veterans will help the Yankees to an American League-leading 103 wins in 1980.   @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Play by Play, Box Scores, News Paper Reports and other…

bill madlock

Pittsburgh acquires third baseman Bill Madlock, infielder Lenny Randle, and pitcher Dave Roberts

ByThis Day in Baseball

On June 28, 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates make a trade that will help them win the World Series. Pittsburgh acquires third baseman Bill Madlock, infielder Lenny Randle, and pitcher Dave Roberts from the San Francisco Giants for pitchers Fred Breining, Al Holland, and Ed Whitson. Madlock will hit .328 in 85 games for the Pirates…

bobby murcer

New York Yankees re-acquire outfielder Bobby Murcer

ByThis Day in Baseball

On June 26, 1979, the New York Yankees re-acquire outfielder Bobby Murcer from the Chicago Cubs for minor league pitcher Paul Semall. The 33-year-old outfielder batted .258 in a part-time role for Chicago. The Yankees had traded the former All-Star and fan favorite to the San Francisco Giants after the 1974 season. Murcer will once…

The Mets trade Tim Foli, along with minor league prospect Greg Field, to the Pirates in exchange for second baseman Frank Taveras

The Mets trade Tim Foli, along with minor league prospect Greg Field, to the Pirates in exchange for second baseman Frank Taveras

ByTom

The Mets trade Tim Foli, along with minor league prospect Greg Field, to the Pirates in exchange for second baseman Frank Taveras. Foli, appearing in 133 games, will play a major role in the club’s world championship this season, batting .291 and providing solid defense at shortstop for the Bucs.

The Minnesota Twins trade star first baseman Rod Carew to the California Angels 

The Minnesota Twins trade star first baseman Rod Carew to the California Angels 

ByTom

1979 – The Minnesota Twins trade star first baseman Rod Carew to the California Angels for outfielder Ken Landreaux and three lesser players (Dave Engle, Paul Hartzell and Brad Havens). Carew, who hit .333 for the Twins in 1978 but had vowed never to play again for owner Calvin Griffith after he made disparaging remarks against black players a few months earlier, will hit .318 for the Angels this season. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.

Lefthander Floyd Bannister is traded to Seattle for shortstop Craig Reynolds. An All-Star in Seattle, Reynolds would become an All-Star again the next year before settling into a long career in his hometown.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1978 – Lefthander Floyd Bannister is traded to Seattle for shortstop Craig Reynolds. An All-Star in Seattle, Reynolds would become an All-Star again the next year before settling into a long career in his hometown.

Boston Red Sox ace Luis Tiant signs a free agent contract with the rival New York Yankees

Boston Red Sox ace Luis Tiant signs a free agent contract with the rival New York Yankees

ByThis Day in Baseball

On November 13, 1978, Boston Red Sox ace Luis Tiant signs a free agent contract with the rival New York Yankees. Tiant the first free agent to sign, signs a two-year $875,000 contract. The 38 year-old El Tiante will post 21-17 (.553) record during his tenure in New York, but will not appear in the…

The Yankees trade southpaws Sparky Lyle, the 1977 Cy Young Award recipient in a 10 player deal

The Yankees trade southpaws Sparky Lyle, the 1977 Cy Young Award recipient in a 10 player deal

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Yankees trade southpaws Sparky Lyle, the 1977 Cy Young Award recipient, and Dave Rajsich along with righty Larry McCall, infielder Domingo Ramos, catcher Mike Heath, and $400,000 to the Rangers for lefties Dave Righetti and Paul Mirabella, right-hander Mike Griffin, and outfielder Juan Beniquez. The deal makes Yankee teammate Graig Nettles’s in-season quip that the closer had gone “from Cy Young to sayonara” a reality.