Although he loses his arbitration case, Boston third baseman Wade Boggs receives the richest amount ($1.35 million) ever awarded by this process. Last season’s AL batting champ had sought $1.85 million, but arbitrator Thomas Roberts rules in favor of the Red Sox, resulting in a drop of a half-million dollars for the infielder.
On February 21, 1986, Rollie Fingers passes up an opportunity to return to the majors. Fingers is invited to spring training by the Cincinnati Reds, who ask him to shave off his handlebar mustache to comply with team rules. Fingers refuse to do so and decides to retire. The future Hall of Fame reliever, who…
On February 17, 1986, Hall of Famer Red Ruffing dies at the age of 81. The former New York Yankee great won 273 games over a 22-year career, including four straight seasons of 20 or more wins. Ruffing won election to the Hall of Fame in 1967. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@
1986 – Astros extend a spring training invitation to reliever Aurelio Lopez. The righthander rewards them with three wins and seven saves during their division-title season.
The Yankees sign free-agent Al Holland, a well-traveled reliever who saved five games for three different teams last season. The one-year contract has a clause that requires the 33 year-old southpaw, one of the players granted immunity in exchange for their testimony in the last year’s Pittsburgh cocaine trials, to submit to drug tests.
1986 – The Texas Rangers sign free agent catcher Darrell Porter to a one-year contract.
The Braves and Chief Noc-A-Homa, the team mascot who has become a huge fan favorite in Atlanta with his spirited dances when a homer is hit by the home team, agree to end their 17-year association. Levi Walker, the third person to play the role for the franchise, is reportedly dissatisfied with his pay of $60 a game, and club officials were unhappy with the Georgia native’s failure to attend seven scheduled appearances last year.
On January 16, 1986, the New York Mets acquire second baseman Tim Teufel and a minor leaguer from the Minnesota Twins for three minor leaguers: outfielder Billy Beane and pitchers Joe Klink and Bill Latham. Teufel will platoon with Wally Backman during the Mets’ 1986 championship run. Baseball HOT ON EBAY Card Collections ENDING…
1986 – Picking first in the January draft, Cleveland selects pitcher Jeff Shaw. The Pirates, selecting second, take outfielder Moises Alou. It will be the last time the January draft is held: from now on all draft-eligible players will be part of a single pool for selection in the June Amateur Draft.
On January 8, 1986, former San Francisco Giants great Willie McCovey is elected to the Hall of Fame. McCovey, who receives 346 votes, becomes the 16th player to gain election in his first year of eligibility. The slugging first baseman played 22 years for the Giants, Padres and A’s, hitting 521 home runs to put…
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