1952 – The St. Louis Browns pick up 1B Dick Kryhoski and Ps Gene Bearden and Bob Cain from the Detroit Tigers. Detroit receives C Matt Batts, OF Cliff Mapes, P Dick Littlefield, and 1B Ben Taylor.
A U.S. Federal Jury awards Mexican League owner Jorge Pasquel $35,000 for breach of contract by former Brooklyn Dodgers star catcher Mickey Owen.
The Hall of Fame elects two new members: Harry Heilmann, with 203 votes, and Paul Waner with 195. Waner, a .333 career hitter, rapped out 3,152 hits and struck out just 376 times in 9,459 career at-bats. Heilmann was similarly skilled with the bat, winning four batting titles with the Detroit Tigers and finishing his career with a .342 average.
The Little League office is moved to Williamsport, PA, with Peter J. McGovern becoming the circuit’s first full-time president. In November of 1955, Carl Stotz, who started the youth baseball program 28 years earlier, will have strong differences with the increasing commercialization of the organization, causing the L.L.B. Inc. Board to remove him from his position as commissioner.
1952 – Because of poor attendance, the Canadian-American League suspends operations for this season. This is one of seven minor leagues that will not operate this year, dropping the total from 50 to 43. The Korean War military obligation is the primary reason stated.
1952 – The Chicago White Sox accept the resignation of general manager Charlie A. Comiskey, Jr. after his request for more money is refused.
The White Sox board of directors accept the resignation of Charlie A. Comiskey, Jr., the team’s vice president and secretary, after turning down his request for a promotion and more money. The 25 year-old’s dissatisfaction with the club came as a complete surprise to his mother, Grace Comiskey, the president of Chicago ball club.
On January 17, 1952, Walter O. Briggs, owner of the Detroit Tigers, dies of heart failure at the age of 74. His son, Spike Briggs, will assume control of the team.
1952 – The U.S. Standardization Board clears the way for Stan Musial to get a salary increase to $85,000. Prior to this relaxation of the rules, there was a wage freeze in effect due to the Korean War. Under the new rules, a team is free to raise individual salaries, as long as they do not exceed a complicated formula, based on total team salaries for any one year, from 1946 to 1950, plus 10 percent.
1952 – The U.S. Marines announce they will recall Boston Red Sox star Ted Williams into active duty to serve in the Korean War. Williams will play briefly during the 1952 season but will not return to the Red Sox lineup on a full-time basis until late in 1953. As a pilot in Korea, Williams will fly 39 missions and will survive a crash-landing brought about by enemy fire.
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