1982 – Center fielder Dale Murphy wins the National League MVP Award, becoming the first Braves player to be so honored since Hank Aaron in 1957, when the team played in Milwaukee. Murphy hit .281 with 36 home runs, 109 RBI, 113 runs, and 23 stolen bases.
The Orioles get their first new manager since 1968 when Joe Altobelli succeeds the retiring Baltimore skipper, Earl Weaver. The former San Francisco manager will compile a 212-167 (.559) record during his 2+ seasons with the team and will lead the club to a World Championship his first year in Baltimore.
1982 – Robin Yount, who hit .331 for the Milwaukee Brewers and led the American League in hits (210), doubles (46), and slugging percentage (.578), is a unanimous choice as AL Most Valuable Player. The future Hall of Famer captures all 27 first-place votes easily beating runner-ups Eddie Murray and Doug DeCinces.
1982 – New York Yankees coach Mike Ferraro lands his first major league managing job, signing a two-year contract to lead the Cleveland Indians. He will be fired before the end of the season.
1982 – Pitcher Pete Vuckovich becomes the Milwaukee Brewers’ second consecutive Cy Young Award winner in the American League, edging Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Orioles. Vuckovich (18-6 with 105 strikeouts and a 3.34 ERA) posted a .750 winning percentage, the highest in the majors over the past two seasons.
Doug Rader becomes the twelfth manager in the Rangers’ twelve-year history when he replaces interim Darrell Johnson. The 38 year-old skipper, who managed the Padres’ Triple A club for the past three years, will compile a 155-200 (.437) record during his 2+ season with Texas.
The National League owners block the re-election of Bowie Kuhn, thus ending his fourteen-year reign as baseball’s boss. Next year, the commissioner’s supporters will make a failed last-ditch effort to retain him, but he will be allowed to stay in his position to the end of the 1984 regular season, before being replaced by Peter Ueberroth.
1982 – Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies becomes the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards, taking National League honors. The 37-year-old lefthander, who led the National League in wins (23), innings pitched (295.2), strikeouts (286) and shutouts (6), was a previous winner in 1972, 1977 and 1980.
1982 – Despite having led his club to the American League West title, hard-luck Gene Mauch resigns as manager of the California Angels after blowing a two-games-to-none lead in the ALCS. Mauch will be replaced in November by John McNamara, who was fired in July as manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
An estimated 150,000 people line Wisconsin Avenue on a chilly day in Milwaukee to cheer for their Brewers, who suffered a crushing defeat in Game 7 of the World Series last night. Following the parade, the fans continue to show their support for the team at County Stadium by chanting “M-V-P! M-V-P!” when shortstop Robin Yount appears in the left field corner of the ballpark on his motorcycle and rides around the warning track, acknowledging the admiration.