1977 – The White Sox trade C Brian Downing and pitchers Chris Knapp and Dave Frost to the Angels for outfielders Bobby Bonds and Thad Bosley, and minor league P Rich Dotson.
On November 28, 1977, former major league star Bob Meusel dies at the age of 81. Meusel batted over .300 seven times, including a career-high mark of .337 in 1927. He also participated in six World Series with the New York Yankees. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Play by Play, Box Scores, News Paper Reports and…
1977 – Outfielder Jesus Alou is signed as a free agent. It is his second stint as an Astro. Out of the majors the past two years, the 36-year-old Dominican bats .308 over the next two seasons, primarily in pinch-hit duties.
1977 – Former major league manager Mayo Smith dies at the age of 62. Smith skippered the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers during a nine-year managerial career, but gained most of his fame when he guided the Tigers to the 1968 World Championship. Smith later scouted for the Oakland Athletics.
Free agent pitchers Mike Torrez and Dick Drago come to terms to play for the Boston Red Sox.
The New York Yankees sign free agent relief pitcher Rich Gossage to a six-year $2.75 million contract. Gossage had 26 saves and a 1.26 ERA for the Pirates last season. He will join Cy Young Award winner Sparky Lyle in the Yankees bullpen.
1977 – Andre Dawson of the Montreal Expos wins the National League Rookie of the Year Award by one vote over Steve Henderson of the New York Mets. Dawson hit .282 with 19 home runs and 65 RBI, while Henderson had a batting line of .297, 12, 65.
Terry Forster, the American League saves leader in 1974 with the White Sox, signs a big contract with the Dodgers, becoming the team’s first free agent. Last season, the southpaw compiled a 6-4 record with a 4.43 ERA pitching for the Pirates and will post an 11-13 record during his five years in Los Angeles.
1977 – Ron Willis dies in Memphis, TN at age 34 in an auto accident. A midseason purchase from St. Louis, the righthander sees action in three games with the Astros in 1969. He is returned to the Cardinals at the end of the season.
Nov 21, 1975: Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Garry Maddox wins his first Gold Glove Award. He wins 8 straight Gold Gloves (1975-1982) and is arguably the premier defensive center fielder of his era (early 1970s – early 1980s).