1988 – Leaving the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, free agent second baseman Steve Sax signs a three-year deal with the New York Yankees.
On November 16, 1988, Jose Canseco of the Oakland A’s becomes the first unanimous winner of the American League’s MVP Award since Reggie Jackson in 1973. In winning the award, Canseco became the first player in major league history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season. He…
On November 15, 1988, Los Angeles Dodgers Kirk Gibson is named the National League Most Valuable Player with Mets outfielders Darryl Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds also receiving first-place votes for the award. The Dodger World Series hero, who is the first MVP not to be named an All-Star in the same season, batted…
The Angels announce Doug Rader will replace Cookie Rojas, their fired rookie manager who stunned when the improved fourth-place team (75-79) released him with eight games left in the regular season. The Halos’ new skipper compiled a 155-200 (.437) record while piloting the Rangers from 1982 to 1985.
1988 – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser, who posted a 23-8 record with 178 strikeouts and a 2.31 ERA, is a unanimous choice as Cy Young Award winner. Hershiser becomes the ninth pitcher in National League history to win the award unanimously. He receives all twenty-four first place votes from the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Art Howe, who played for the Houston Astros from 1976 through 1983, is named Houston manager.
The Seattle Mariners hire Jim Lefebvre as their manager.
1988 – Veteran pitcher Bert Blyleven changes clubs for the fifth time, going from the Twins to the California Angels for a package of minor leaguers, including Paul Sorrento.
The White Sox name Jeff Torborg to replace Jim Fregosi as the team’s manager. Chicago’s new skipper, who will be named the American League Manager of the Year in 1990, will see his club finish second twice during his three-year tenure in the Windy City, before leaving the team for a short-lived position managing the Mets.
On November 2, 1988, for the third straight season a member of the Oakland A’s is named American League Rookie of the Year, as shortstop Walt Weiss wins the award. The previous two season, sluggers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire had won the award. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@