1934 – Pitcher Eppa Rixey of the Cincinnati Reds announces his retirement after 21 seasons and a career 266-251 mark. Tomorrow, Urban “Red” Faber will also retire, leaving a 20-year career mark of 254-212, all with the Chicago White Sox. Both hurlers will gain eventual election to the Hall of Fame.
Cleveland Indians sign former Washington Senators star Sam Rice
1934 – The National League loans the Cincinnati Reds $50,000 at 4.5% interest. Powel Crosley, who bought the team 10 days ago, will repay Cincinnati’s debt in full by 1938.
1934 – Cincinnati Reds players and officials set sail from New York City to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for a month of spring training. They will finish the grapefruit season in Tampa, Florida.
The Cincinnati Reds purchase 43-year-old pitcher Dazzy Vance from the St. Louis Cardinals for $7,500. The future Hall of Famer will pitch for two more seasons, although he will only make two starts for the Reds and he will be waived back to St. Louis in midseason.
On February 5, 1934, a day before Babe Ruth’s 39th birthday, future all-time home run leader Hammerin’ Hank Aaron is born in Mobile, Alabama. After a one-year stint with the Negro Leagues’ Indianapolis Clowns, Aaron will make his major league debut with the Milwaukee Braves on April 13, 1954. The slugger, who will finish his…
1934 – The National Recovery Administration says athletes advertising athletic goods must actually use them or advertisers will lose the NRA Blue Eagle and be fined.
St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Browns decide to cease broadcasting home games
On January 19, 1934, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis turns down “Shoeless” Joe Jackson’s bid for reinstatement. Jackson was one of eight Chicago White Sox players banned for life for his alleged involvement in fixing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. Jackson, will continue to proclaim his innocence for the remainder of his life….
On January 18, 1934, future Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean predicts that he and his brother Paul will lead the St. Louis Cardinals to the National League pennant. Dean will prove to be a man of his word, as the brothers will combine for 49 victories in helping the Cards reach and win the…
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