Major League Season Recap 1975 World Series – Cincinnati Reds NL over Boston Red Sox AL 4 games to 3 World Series MVP – Pete Rose Babe Ruth Award – Luis Tiant ALCS Boston Red Sox over Oakland A’s 3 games to 0 ALCS MVP – NLCS Cincinnati Reds over Pittsburgh Pirates 3 games to 0 NLCS MVP – Awards…
December 23, 1975 George Brett wore #25 his first two seasons in the majors. In 1975 he changed his jersey number from #25 to #5 to pay homage to one of his favorite players (who also played third base), Brooks Robinson.
arbitrator Peter Seitz declares Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally free agents
Chuck Tanner signs a three-year deal to manage the A’s. After compiling an 87-74 (.540) record to finish in second place, Oakland will release the New Castle, PA native from his contract, allowing him to manage the Pirates in exchange for catcher Manny Sanguillen and $100,000 from Pittsburgh.
Bill Veeck, the new owner of the White Sox, fires manager Chuck Tanner and selects old friend Paul Richards to pilot the team. The team’s former skipper, who tomorrow will sign a three-year deal to manage the A’s, compiled a 401-414 (.492) during his six seasons with the South Side team.
With little encouragement from the other American League owners, Bill Vleck, who will see his new team win their first pennant in 40 years, reacquires the White Sox when he purchases 80% of the team as part of an investment group that is intent on keeping the franchise in Chicago. Former owner John Allyn had been pressured by the league to sell his club to a Seattle interest to help quell a lawsuit that was a result of the AL’s approval in 1970 to move the one year-old expansion Pilots from the ‘Emerald City’ to Milwaukee.
After being a member of the White Sox for two days, Dick Ruthven goes to Atlanta, along with Ken Henderson and Ozzie Osborn. Chicago receives Ralph Garr and Larvell Blanks. Blanks is then dealt to Cleveland for 2B Jack Brohamer. The Sox then trade P Rich Hinton and C Jeff Sovern to the Reds for P Clay Carroll, and finish the day by shipping IF Lee Richard to the Cards for OF Buddy Bradford and P Greg Terlecky.
The Tigers trade pitcher Mickey Lolich and outfielder Billy Baldwin to the Mets in exchange for outfielder Rusty Staub and pitcher Bill Laxton. New York’s new southpaw will post a 8-13 record, spending just one year in the Big Apple, while Detroit will enjoy a solid performance from their recently acquired flycatcher and DH, who will bat .275 during his three-plus seasons in the Motor City.
1975 – Houston trades third baseman Doug Rader to San Diego for pitchers Larry Hardy and Joe McIntosh. The Gold Glover completes nine seasons in Houston with a .250 average, 160 homers and 600 RBIs.
Yankees trade for Willie Randolph