1996 – The Cubs sign shortstop Shawon Dunston, bringing him back to Wrigley Field, and free agent pitcher Sid Fernandez signs with Houston.
1996 – Schedules with interleague play are introduced for the first time. Houston will host three teams from the American League Central, including the Milwaukee Brewers who would switch to the National League Central Division in 1998.
1996 – Less than three weeks after major league owners voted 18-12 against ratification of baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement, owners vote again and this time approve it by a vote of 26-4. The landmark agreement brings interleague play to the regular season for the first time, as well as revenue sharing among owners and a payroll tax on players.
1996 – One of Major League Baseball’s most controversial owners, Jerry Reinsdorf, and its most controversial player, Albert Belle, join forces with the Chicago White Sox. Belle signs a record five-year, $55 million deal that makes him the first player to surpass the $10 million per year mark. Reinsdorf, seen as the instigator in the owners’ vote against the collective bargaining agreement, draws the ire of owners in both leagues who feel he sold them out.
Texas Rangers outfielder Juan Gonzalez edges Alex Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners by three votes to win the American League MVP Award. It is the tightest race for the award in the AL since 1960. Gonzalez batted .314 with 47 home runs and 144 RBI despite missing 28 games with an injury.
The Toronto Blue Jays and the Pittsburgh Pirates complete a nine-player swap with the Jays acquiring the second baseman they are looking for in 29-year-old Carlos Garcia. In addition, Toronto picks up outfielder Orlando Merced and reliever Dan Plesac. The Pirates receive six prospects, including C Craig Wilson, infielder Abraham Núñez and pitcher Jose Silva.
The Cleveland Indians trade pitcher Julian Tavarez and infielders Jose Vizcaino and Jeff Kent to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for slugging third baseman Matt Williams.
Padres third baseman Ken Caminiti is selected as the fourth unanimous winner of the National League’s Most Valuable Player award, joining Orlando Cepeda (1967 Cardinals), Mike Schmidt (1980 Phillies), and Jeff Bagwell (1994 Astros). The oft-injured San Diego infielder admitted 2002 in a Sports Illustrated cover story that he had used steroids during his 1996 MVP season, and for several seasons afterward.
1996 – Pat Hentgen of the Toronto Blue Jays edges Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees for the Cy Young Award in the closest American League voting since 1972 when Gaylord Perry topped Wilbur Wood by six points. Hentgen (with a 20-10 mark), the major league leader in complete games, outpoints Pettitte (21-8) by the narrow margin of 110-104. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera finishes third in the ballot and receives one first-place vote.
On November 2, 1996 – Toni Stone, the first female to play professional baseball at a big-league level, dies at age 75. Stone played second base for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues in 1953. Game ticket & learn more about the players, teams, stadiums and dates in history @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the…
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