The 1989 baseball season ended with disaster. At 5:04 p.m. on October 17 in San Francisco’s Candlestick Park — just a half-hour before game three of the 1989 World Series — fans and players felt a vibration. For a few seconds, they didn’t know what to make of the tremors, but then the reality…
Billy Martin, an All-Star infielder and former manager of the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics, dies in a car accident in Johnson City, NY, at the age of 61. Martin, a five-time Yankees manager under owner George Steinbrenner, was rumored to be a candidate to replace current Yankees skipper Lou Piniella. During an 18-year managerial career, Martin posted a record of 1253-1013, led his teams to five American League pennants and guided the Yankees to the 1977 World Championship. He will be buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Westchester, NY, in a plot near Babe Ruth. Steinbrenner, who fired Martin four times (he resigned the fifth time) purchases the plot.
1989 – The Dodgers sign free agent outfielder Hubie Brooks.
1989 – Six months after obtaining him from the Phillies, the Mets trade 2B-OF Juan Samuel to the Dodgers for 1B Mike Marshall and P Alejandro Pena.
1989 – The Yankees trade minor leaguers Hal Morris and Rodney Imes to the Reds for P Tim Leary and OF Van Snider.
1989 – The Royals sign free agent Mark Davis to a four-year contract. Davis and Bret Saberhagen will make the Royals the first team ever to have both defending Cy Young Award winners on their staff.
1989 – Storm Davis‚ 19-7 for the A’s last season‚ signs as a free agent with the Royals. Other free agent signees include Craig Lefferts (San Diego)‚ Pete O’Brien (Seattle)‚ Oil Can Boyd (Montreal)‚ and Keith Hernandez (Cleveland).
1989 – Astros ink pitcher Bill Gullickson and infielder Ken Oberkfell to contracts. Gullickson would spend one year in Houston. Oberkfell would spend two, batting .214 as a reserve.
The Mets trade reliever Randy Myers to the Reds for fellow closer John Franco. Also in the deal, the Mets get Don Brown and Cincinnati Kip Gross.
Joe Carter is sent by the Indians to San Diego for Chris James, Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga.