New York Yankees sell pitcher Vic Raschi to the St. Louis Cardinals for $85,000
New York Yankees sell pitcher Vic Raschi
19-year-old Roberto Clemente signs with the Brooklyn Dodgers
1954 – 19-year-old Roberto Clemente signs with the Brooklyn Dodgers for one year at $5,000 with a $10,000 signing bonus. The Dodgers thus beat out a number of other clubs in the Clemente sweepstakes. They’ve outspent the prior two entrants, their cross-river rivals in Manhattan and the Bronx, and simply beaten the Milwaukee Braves to the punch. By far the biggest spenders of the bunch (by all accounts exceeding Brooklyn’s offer by at least 150%), the Braves were just a tad tardy, Clemente having already accepted the Dodgers’ terms. The Dodgers may have won the first battle, but they will lose Clemente’s services in one year when they fail to protect him in the 1954 Rule V Draft.
In their first significant trade since moving from St. Louis, the Orioles exchange outfielders with the Senators, sending Roy Sievers to Washington for Gil Conan
In their first significant trade since moving from St. Louis, the Orioles, formerly known as the Browns, exchange outfielders with the Senators, sending Roy Sievers to Washington for Gil Conan. Sievers will spend five solid seasons in the nation’s capital, making the All-Star squad twice, and Conan, playing less than two seasons in Baltimore, compiles a .266 batting average with three home runs, appearing in 155 games.
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, 34th President of the U.S congratulating Honus Wagner on his birthday
“Realization that you now count your years at the four score mark reminds me, with something of a shock, that it was fifty years ago that I used to follow your batting average with the keenest of interest.” – DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, 34th President of the U.S congratulating Honus Wagner on his birthday.Dwight Eisenhower sends a letter labeled “personal and confidential” to Honus Wagner, wishing the former Pirates’ shortstop a happy 80th birthday. The Hall of Fame infielder was the president’s boyhood hero when he was growing up in Abilene, Kansas.
Donnie Moore is born in Lubbock Texas
February 13, 1954 Relief pitcher Donnie Moore was born on this day in 1954 in Lubbock, Texas, and was the cousin of MLB player Hubie Brooks. Moore attended Paris Junior College and Ranger College before he was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the January secondary phase of the 1973 Major…
Roberto Clemente’s smash to straight-away center provides the margin of victory in Puerto Rico’s 1 – 0
1954 – Roberto Clemente’s smash to straight-away center provides the margin of victory in Puerto Rico’s 1 – 0 victory over the Virgin Islands in game one of a three-game exhibition inter-island tourney. Clemente’s clout combines with Tellito Lopez’s 5-hit shutout to relegate Walter “Mahoo” James to the ranks of runner-up, although the latter does record 12 strikeouts en route to his hard-luck loss.
Jim Wilson signs with Braves
February 6, 1954 – Jim Wilson, right-handed pitcher whose 1953 record was an unspectacular 4-9, signed his 1954 contract, the 20th Brave to do so. Four months later on June 12, 1954 Wilson became the first Milwaukee Brave to hurl a no-hitter.
In a six-player trade the Braves trade for playoff hero Bobby Thomson
In a six-player trade, the Braves deal a pair of southpaws, Johnny Antonelli and Don Liddle, catcher Ebba St. Claire as well as shortstop Billy Klaus to the Giants in exchange for playoff hero Bobby Thomson and backstop Sammy Calderone. Milwaukee’s new outfielder will break his ankle in an exhibition game and will appear in only 43 games, while Johnny Antonelli posts a 21-7 record, leading the league with an ERA of 2.30 for his new team in New York.
1954 – The Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators trade catchers with Joe Tipton going to Washington for Mickey Grasso.
1954 – The Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators trade catchers with Joe Tipton going to Washington for Mickey Grasso.
Eddie Mathews claims he may hold out
January 18, 1954 – Eddie Mathews expressed dissatisfaction with the Braves’ contract offer for 1954. “I may even hold out,” he said, but he said it with a laugh. The 22-year-old slugger, who led the majors in home runs in 1953, had reportedly earned $12,000 last year. He also said he might give…
