1989 – After nine years of use, the game-winning run batted in (GWRBI) is dropped as an official statistic. New York Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez will remain the all-time leader with 129.
1989 – The tougher balk rules initiated last season are rescinded and are replaced by the pre-1988 rules.
1989 – Free agent Claudell Washington leaves the Yankees to sign a three-year contract with the Angels.
The Astros acquire veteran righthander Rick Rhoden from the Yankees for three minor leaguers. Rhoden starts 20 games and wins just two during his final season in a 15-year career.
On January 9, 1989, Hall of Famer Bill Terry dies at the age of 92. Terry batted .341 over a 14-year tenure with the New York Giants, including a career-high .401 in 1930. Terry also served as the Giants’ manager for 10 seasons, leading the team to three consecutive pennants. Terry gained election to the…
Johnny Bench and Carl Yastrzemski are elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA in their first year of eligibility. Bench and Yastrzemski, who faced each other in the classic 1975 World Series, each spent their entire careers (40 years combined) with one club (Cincinnati and Boston, respectively). Bench set new standards for catchers both offensively (348 home runs) and defensively (10 straight Gold Gloves). Yastrzemski hit 452 home runs, collected 3,308 hits, and won the 1967 Triple Crown. Bench is named on 96.4% of the ballots, making Ty Cobb and Hank Aaron the only players to ever receive a higher percentage of the vote.
1989 – Three weeks after signing a record four-year, $1.1 billion network television contract with CBS, Major League Baseball signs a $400 million contract with ESPN. The deal will put 175 games per year on cable television beginning in 1990.
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