Don Blasingame becomes the first American to manage a team in the Japanese leagues

On December 20, 1978, former major league infielder Don Blasingame becomes the first American to manage a team in the Japanese leagues. Blasingame, who played for 12 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Senators, and Kansas City A’s, is named the skipper of the Hanshin Tigers… On December 20, 1990, the Chicago White Sox sign free agent pitcher Charlie Hough, who spent the past 11 seasons with the Texas Rangers. The veteran knuckleballer won 12 games for the Rangers in 1990.