1983 – Cy Young Award winner Pete Vuckovich is found to have a torn rotator cuff in his pitching shoulder that will sideline him for almost the entire 1983 season.
On March 10, 1983, the Veterans Committee announces the election of Walter Alston and George Kell to the Hall of Fame. Alston managed the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers to four World Series championships, while always working under one-year contracts. Kell, a standout third baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, batted over .300 nine times, was a 10-time All-Star,…
On March 3, 1983, Thirty-eight-year-old Steve Carlton signs a four-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. The $4.15 million deal makes “Lefty” the highest-paid pitcher in major league history. Carlton led the National League with 23 wins in 1982. Vintage Baseball HOT ON EBAYCard Collections ENDING SOON ON EBAYMOST WANTED ROOKIE CARDSVINTAGE SPORTS TICKETSBaseball…
1983 – One day after taking a job as director of sports promotions for the Claridge Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, Mickey Mantle is ordered to sever his ties with Major League Baseball by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Mantle joins fellow Hall of Famer Willie Mays as players banned from baseball by Kuhn for involvement with legalized gambling.
1983 – The Seattle Mariners select Cincinnati Reds minor league infielder Danny Tartabull as compensation for the loss of free agent pitcher Floyd Bannister to the Chicago White Sox.
On February 19, 1983, Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers becomes the first player to earn a $1 million salary through arbitration. Valenzuela’s victory makes him the third highest-paid player in the game. The Dodgers had offered Valenzuela $750,000 for this season.
1983 – Veteran first baseman Tony Perez signs a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
1983 – The Chicago White Sox trade pitchers Steve Trout and Warren Brusstar to their cross-town rivals Cubs for pitchers Dick Tidrow and Randy Martz, and infielders Pat Tabler and Scott Fletcher.
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Ron Cey is sent to the Chicago Cubs for minor leaguers Vance Lovelace and Dan Cataline. Cey will play 518 games at third for the Cubs, the most since Ron Santo.
Ozzie Smith becomes the game’s first $1 million shortstop when the infielder inks a three-year pact with the World Champion Cardinals. The ‘Wizard of Ahs’, best known for his outstanding defense, won his third consecutive Gold Glove in the offseason.
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