On January 17, 1934, the New York Giants come to contract terms with National League Most Valuable Player Carl Hubbell. “The King,” who won league honors unanimously in 1933, will earn $18,000 for the upcoming season. The Giants will be well rewarded as Hubbell will lead the league in ERA, CG and SV’s and finish…
1934 – Jim “Bear” Owens is born in Gifford, PA. Owens would compile an 18-20 record in four seasons of relief in Houston (1964-1967) with 16 saves and later became the Astros’ pitching coach.
The late Bill Veeck Sr., a former sports writer who won three pennants (1918, 1929, and 1932) during his reign in Chicago’s front office, is replaced by William Walker as president of the Cubs. The 56 year-old baseball executive, whose son will become a Hall of Fame major league owner, died of leukemia during the World Series last season.
Gene Freese is born in Wheeling, WV. A former all-star third baseman, Freese bats .091 in 21 games for the Astros in 1966, the final stop in his big league career.
An early afternoon five-hour blaze destroys much of Fenway Park’s newly-constructed concrete and steel left-field grandstand and center-field bleachers, that were built to replace the wooden structures in the 22 year-old ballpark. Tom Yawkey, the Red Sox’s new owner, will have construction crews work overtime to rebuild the team’s home in time for the season opener against Washington on April 17.
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