1991 – Steve Finley drives home Jeff Bagwell with two away in the bottom of the ninth to trip Philadelphia, 3-2. Joe Boever is the victim. Al Osuna wins his second game in as many nights.
Read More1991 – After giving up three runs in the top of the ninth, the Astros storm back with four in the bottom half of the frame to stun Montreal, 9-8. Doubles by Luis Gonzalez and Ken Caminiti key the rally.
Read More1991 – Jeff Bagwell’s first major league homer is a two-run shot off Kent Mercker in the ninth inning to stun the Braves, 3-1. Back then, nobody thought Bagwell would develop into the franchise’s premier power hitter.
Read More1991 – Ken Caminiti starts an around-the-horn triple play during a 10-4 loss to the Braves. In the second-inning, Mike Heath’s grounder goes from Caminiti to Casey Candaele at second to Jeff Bagwell at first for the feat.
Read More1991 – State Senators pass a bill to rename a part of State Highway 288 the “Nolan Ryan Expressway”. The highway passes near the Astrodome on its way through Ryan’s boyhood hometown of Alvin.
Read More1991 – It’s March Madness time and the most popular guy at the Astros camp is rookie Kenny Lofton. During his years at the University of Arizona, Lofton was known more as a guard for the highly-ranked Wildcat basketball team than as a speedy center fielder. Lofton becomes the resident expert in tournament betting pools.
Read More1991 – Former major leaguers, Bob and Ken Aspromonte, now local beer distributors, announce they are seeking to buy the Astros from Dr. John McMullen but still need additional partners. Bob Aspromonte played for the team from 1962 to 1968.
Read More1991 – Astros owner John McMullen announces he has cleared the way for Houston to host the 1992 Republican National Convention at the Astrodome. The GOP has already selected Houston but there are details to resolve. National League President Bill Giles and Players Union chief Donald Fehr both voice their disapproval of the proposed 30-day road trip that the Astros will take in order to free up the Dome for the convention.
Read More1991 – Potential buyers of the Astros, Ben Love and six others, approach Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers to own a share of the team. The group includes Drayton McLane. Ryan declines, citing that an active player cannot also be a team owner.
Read More1991 – Outfielder Kenny Lofton is traded to the Cleveland Indians for catcher Ed Taubensee. While Taubensee becomes an adequate receiver, Lofton becomes one of the top players of the decade. In a separate deal, Houston also sends infielder Dave Rhode to Cleveland for righthander Willie Blair.
Read More1991 – Houston has a tentative deal in place with the Chicago White Sox. The Sox want pitcher Mark Portugal and are expected to trade a disappointing outfielder who hit just .203 after being acquired from the Texas Rangers. Eventually, the White Sox find a better offer for Sammy Sosa and the deal never happens.
Read More1991 – Jeff Bagwell is named N.L. Rookie of the Year, capturing 23 of 24 first place votes. His .294 average, 15 homers and 82 RBIs are just the first sign of things to come. The other vote goes to Pittsburgh’s Orlando Merced.
Read More1991 – George Brunet dies of a heart attack in Poza Rica, Mexico at age 56. The lefthander made 22 appearances for the Colt .45s in their first two seasons as part of a 15-year major league career. After that, he continued to pitch in the minors and then in Mexico until he was 54.
Read More1991 – Pete Harnisch becomes the second Astro to strike out the side on nine pitches. It happens in the seventh inning of a 3-1 triumph over the Phillies. Harnisch scatters four hits while Jeff Bagwell and Andujar Cedeno go deep for all of Houston’s runs.
Read More1991 – Ken Caminiti and Charlie Hayes trade five-RBI nights from the third base spot and Al Osuna is handed a two-run lead in the bottom of the tenth, 10-8. But he can’t hold it as the Phillies score three to win it, 11-10. Rafael Ramirez has four hits in a losing effort.
Read More1991 – Rebounding from a 9-2 deficit, Houston gets off the mat for a 12-9 triumph in San Diego to snap a five-game losing streak. Luis Gonzalez launches a three-run bomb and drives in four. Andujar Cedeno also homers.The Astro bullpen fires five innings of one-hit ball. Ryan Bowen claims the victory and Al Osuna gets the save.
Read More1991 – Craig Biggio singles home Gerald Young in the tenth for a 2-1 triumph over Los Angeles, sweeping the series and winning their seventh straight. The last-place Astros also turn their second triple play of the season when Mike Simms snares a fly to right by Alfredo Griffin and guns down Mike Sharperson who tried to advance to third. Ken Caminiti fires to Andujar Cedeno to get Stan Javier who was trailing the play.
Read More1991 – Ken Oberkfell cracks a two-run double off Dave Smith in the 11th inning for a 6-4 triumph over the Cubs. A three-run shot by Luis Gonzalez off Greg Maddux stakes Houston to an early lead but George Bell tags Jim Clancy with a homer in the ninth to send it to extra innings.
Read MoreMajor League Season Recap 1991 World Series – Minnesota Twins AL over Atlanta Braves NL 4 games to 3 World Series MVP – Jack Morris Babe Ruth Award – Jack Morris ALCS Minnesota Twins over Toronto Blue Jays 4...
Read MoreYankees P Steve Howe is arrested in Montana on a charge of possession of cocaine. Howe has been suspended from baseball five times for drug and alcohol problems.
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The Orioles sign P Rick Sutcliffe as a free agent. The former 1984 Cy Young Award winner was 6-5 with a 4.10 era with the Cubs last season.
Read MoreFormer minor league umpire Pam Postema files a sex discrimination suit against the National and American leagues, the Triple-A Alliance, and the Baseball Office for Umpire Development.
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Toronto Blue Jays sign free agent outfielder-designated hitter Dave Winfield
Read More1991 – The Blue Jays sign free agent P Jack Morris to a two-year, $10.85 million contract.
Read MoreClemente Nunez, signed by Florida scout Edmundo Borrome, becomes the first player in Marlins history. The 16 year-old Dominican right-hander will compile a 29-26 record and an ERA of 3.51 during his five seasons in the team’s farm system, but will never appear in a major league game.
Read MoreOn December 12, 1991, former third baseman Ken Keltner, whose brilliant defensive plays stopped Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak in 1941, dies at the age of 75 in Wisconsin.
Read More1991 – In a blockbuster trade, the Mets obtain two-time Cy Young Award winner Bret Saberhagen along with SS Bill Pecota from the Royals in exchange for Kevin McReynolds, Gregg Jefferies and Keith Miller.
Read MoreThe Giants trade OF Kevin Mitchell and P Mike Remlinger to the Mariners in exchange for P Bill Swift, Mike Jackson, and Dave Burba.
Read MoreAdmitted gambler Howard Spira is sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for attempting to extort $110,000 from Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.
Read MoreThe Royals sign free agent 1B Wally Joyner to a one-year, $4.2 million contract.
Read MoreThe Expos trade P Barry Jones to the Phillies in exchange for C Darrin Fletcher and cash.
Read MoreThe Reds trade P Randy Myers to the Padres in exchange for IF-OF Bip Roberts and a player to be named.
Read MoreThe Angels acquire 1B-OF Von Hayes from the Phillies in exchange for P Kurt Abbott and OF Ruben Amaro Jr.
Read MoreBrewer reliever Julio Machado is arrested for murder in Venezuela. Machado is accused of shooting a woman following an auto accident between his car and a car in which the woman was a passenger. Machado will be convicted and, following appeals, be sentenced to 12 years in prison in 1996. He will never again play in the major leagues.
Read More1991 – The Brewers obtain P Jesse Orosco from the Indians in exchange for a player to be named later.
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1991 – The Los Angeles Dodgers sign free agent knuckleballer Tom Candiotti to a four-year contract.
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1991 – The New York Mets sign free agent outfielder Bobby Bonilla to a five-year, $29 million contract.
Read MoreThe Dodgers acquire outfielder Eric Davis and pitcher Kip Gross from Cincinnati in exchange for pitchers Tim Belcher and John Wetteland. The Dodgers have high expectations of the brittle Davis, but he’ll play in just 76 games next season.
Read MoreThe New York Mets sign slugging first baseman Eddie Murray as a free agent. Murray will hit 16 home runs with 93 RBI in his first season with the Mets, but will clash with local media covering the team.
Read MoreOn November 27, 1991, the New York Mets sign slugging first baseman Eddie Murray as a free agent. Murray will hit 16 home runs and drive in 93 runs in his first season with the Mets, but will clash with local media covering the...
Read More1991 – The Montreal Expos trade first baseman Andres Galarraga to the St. Louis Cardinals for starting pitcher Ken Hill. Galarraga will struggle for St. Louis before enjoying a career renaissance with the Colorado Rockies in Rockies, while Hill will emerge as one of the the league’s best starting pitchers with his new team.
Read MoreOn November 25, 1991, the Montreal Expos trade first baseman Andres “The Big Cat” Galarraga to the St. Louis Cardinals for 11-game winner Ken Hill. Galarraga will struggle for the Cards before enjoying a career renaissance with...
Read More1991 – Former Astro Phil Garner has something extra to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The then-Milwaukee manager and his family are saved from a fire in their Kingwood, TX home. Two constables force open the front door after spotting smoke coming from the house. Over $100,000 worth of damage is done.
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Atlanta Braves third baseman Terry Pendleton, who hit .319 with 22 home runs and 86 RBI, wins the National League MVP Award. Pendleton surprisingly out-distances runner-up Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Barry Bonds (.292, 25, 116).
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1991 – Mike Scott announces his retirement after 13 major league seasons. The righthander made just two starts in his final season before being sidelined by injuries but could look back on a no-hitter, a Cy Young Award, and a 20-win season among his accomplishments.
Read MorePresident George H. W. Bush presents Red Sox legend Ted Williams, along with former First Lady Betty Ford and former House Speaker Thomas ”Tip” O’Neill, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Yankee Clipper Joe DiMaggio (1977) and Dodger great Jackie Robinson (1984, posthumously) also honored with the highest civilian award in the United States.
Read More1991 – Cal Ripken, Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles is named the American League MVP, beating out Cecil Fielder of Detroit. The Gold Glove shortstop hit .323 with 34 home runs and 114 RBI.
Read More1991 – Minnesota Twins second baseman Chuck Knoblauch is named the American League Rookie of the Year. Knoblauch hit .281 and stole 25 bases in 30 tries. His fifteen post-season hits is a major league record for first-year players.
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Terry Pendleton of the Atlanta Braves wins the National League Most Valuable Player Award. The third baseman led the National League in batting average (.319) and hits (187), tied for first in total bases (303) and was third in slugging average (517). Pendleton will also be named NL Comeback Player of the Year, becoming the first major player to raise his average 80 points and add 16 home runs (from 6 to 22). He also wins his third Gold Glove Award. Barry Bonds is runner-up, as the two will switch places next year.
Read MoreThe Cleveland Indians trade pitcher Greg Swindell to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Ps Jack Armstrong, Scott Scudder and Joe Turek.
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