On June 13 1999, Houston Astros manager Larry Dierker is taken to the hospital after suffering a grand mal seizure during the 8th inning of a game against the San Diego Padres. The contest is suspended with the Astros leading, 4 – 1. Dierker will undergo surgery on the 15th to remove two masses of tangled blood vessels in his brain that caused the seizure. Coach Matt Galante will take over as interim manager in Dierker’s absence. Dierker later tells general manager Gerry Hunsicker he doesn’t remember anything after the 2nd inning. After four weeks of recovery, the skipper will return, leading the team to a third consecutive National League Central Division title.
Major League Baseball sets up a vetting committee chaired by Bill Bartholomew, chairman emeritus of the Atlanta Braves and including six other major league owners, to evaluate the merits of the various bids to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers. 11 groups have cleared the initial round of qualification. The final choice is to be made by current owner Frank McCourt, who will first select five bidders to be submitted to the newly-formed committee for approval; the final sale also requires the approval of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross. The complex process must be completed by April 30th, when McCourt is required to pay a $131 million divorce settlement to his ex-wife Jamie.
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February 15, 2012
