Former Chicago Cubs first baseman “The Rifleman” Chuck Connors becomes the first player to refuse to participate in the major league draft

Former Chicago Cubs first baseman “The Rifleman” Chuck Connors becomes the first player to refuse to participate in the major league draft

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1951 – Former Chicago Cubs first baseman and future star of the TV series The Rifleman Chuck Connors becomes the first player to refuse to participate in the major league draft. Currently the 1B for the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League, Connors wants to stay in California, instead of going to whatever team might draft him for the major leagues. The PCL views his refusal in a positive manner, allowing them to ask for higher prices for minor league players than what the major leagues usually offers.

Gil McDougald and Willie Mays win 1951 Rookie of the year
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Gil McDougald and Willie Mays win 1951 Rookie of the year

ByThis Day in Baseball

1951 – The Baseball Writers Association of America name Gil McDougald of the New York Yankees as American league Rookie of the Year. The Chicago White Sox object to McDougald’s accolade, offering the statistical accomplishments of their superlative rookie, Minnie Miñoso.

Lefty O’Doul’s All-Stars lose 3 – 1 to a Pacific League All-Star team for the second time in history

Lefty O’Doul’s All-Stars lose 3 – 1 to a Pacific League All-Star team for the second time in history

ByThis Day in Baseball

1951 – Lefty O’Doul’s All-Stars, including Joe DiMaggio, Ferris Fain and Billy Martin, lose 3 – 1 to a Pacific League All-Star team. This is only the second time since 1922 that an American professional team has lost to Japan, and the first time to professional players.

1951 – In Tokyo, 50,000 fans are on hand as an American All-Star team battles a Central League All-Star team. Joe DiMaggio hits a 400-foot home run in the 8th inning to tie the game at 1 – 1, then his brother Dom laces an RBI triple in the 9th and later scores to give the Americans a 3 – 2 victory. The Americans have won 12 games and tied one.

ByBaseball

1951 – In Tokyo, 50,000 fans are on hand as an American All-Star team battles a Central League All-Star team. Joe DiMaggio hits a 400-foot home run in the 8th inning to tie the game at 1 – 1, then his brother Dom laces an RBI triple in the 9th and later scores to give the Americans a 3 – 2 victory. The Americans have won 12 games and tied one.

Yogi Berra wins the 1951 American League MVP

Yogi Berra wins the 1951 American League MVP

ByBaseball

In one of the closest votes in the history of the award, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America names Yankees catcher Yogi Berra (.294, 27, 88) as the American League’s Most Valuable Player. The Yankees catcher, who will also cop the honor in 1954 and 1955, edges out the Browns’ 20-game winner Ned Garver, who was told he had won the award by a representative from the BBWAA before a recount gave the Bronx Bomber backstop a slight edge.

Representative Emanuel Celler’s committee finds multi million dollar difference from Walter O’Malley’s numbers

Representative Emanuel Celler’s committee finds multi million dollar difference from Walter O’Malley’s numbers

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1951 – Representative Emanuel Celler’s committee issues financial data from 1945-1949 that differs with Walter O’Malley’s numbers. According to Celler, the Brooklyn Dodgers made a profit of 2.364 million dollars in the five-year period. The Dodgers’ “loss” of $129,318 in 1950 included a $167,000 loss due to the promotion of the Brooklyn Dodgers professional football team. In his continuing investigation into antitrust violations, Celler says that evidence in his committee suggests altering the reserve clause in that it does limit players.

1951 – Brooklyn Dodgers president Walter O’Malley denies that his minor league team system constitutes a monopoly. He cites the Dodgers’ deficit in 1950.

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1951 – Brooklyn Dodgers president Walter O’Malley denies that his minor league team system constitutes a monopoly. He cites the Dodgers’ deficit in 1950.

National Labor Relations Board files unfair labor practices charges against the Cleveland Indians

ByThis Day in Baseball

November 2, 1951 – The National Labor Relations Board files unfair labor practices charges against the Cleveland Indians on a claim the club fired a ticket seller at the union’s request. This is the first case against baseball under the Taft-Hartley Act. Game ticket & learn more about the players, teams, stadiums and dates in…

The Red Sox trade catcher Les Moss and Tom Wright for Gus Niarhos and outfielder Ken Wood

The Red Sox trade catcher Les Moss and Tom Wright for Gus Niarhos and outfielder Ken Wood

ByBaseball

The Red Sox trade catcher Les Moss and flychaser Tom Wright to the Browns for backstop Gus Niarhos and outfielder Ken Wood. The deal will have little impact in Boston (6th place) and in St. Louis (7th place) as both teams will finish in the second division.