The Ford C. Frick Award, named in memory of the former commissioner who also was a broadcaster, will be given to Florida Marlins radio announcer Felo Ramirez during Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this summer. Ramirez, who began his 56-year career broadcasting games in Cuba, has been in the Miami broadcast booth since the team’s inaugural season in 1993.
2001 – As thousands cheer, Three Rivers Stadium, 30-year-old home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is imploded. Roberto Clemente’s 3,000th hit as well as Mike Schmidt’s 500th career home run are part of the historic park’s legacy.
2001 – After 13 months of negotiations, Derek Jeter and the Yankees finalize a $189 million, 10-year contract. The deal makes the All-Star shortstop second only to Alex Rodriguez ($252 million/10 years) as highest-paid player in the history of the sport.
2001 – Craig Cullinan, the last surviving member of the four men who brought Major League Baseball to Houston, is honored at the annual Houston Baseball Dinner. Jeff Bagwell is also there to pick up his 2000 Astros Most Valuable Player Award.
2001 – Anaheim Angels first baseman Mo Vaughn undergoes surgery to repair a ruptured biceps tendon in his left arm. Vaughn will miss the entire season.
2001 – Postseason hero Jim Leyritz signs a $500,000, one-year minor league contract with the New York Mets. The former New York Yankees utility player has hit one home run per every 7.6 postseason at-bat, the third best performance for players with five or more postseason homers.
2001 – A story in The Wall Street Journal quotes players Monte Irvin, Sal Yvars and Al Gettel, three former members of the 1951 New York Giants, as admitting that they stole catchers’ signs at the Polo Grounds to help the club overtake the 13 1/2-game lead of the Brooklyn Dodgers and win the National League pennant. Except for Yvars, all the participants will deny using the system during the three-game playoff with the Dodgers. According to the report, Bobby Thomson, whose three-run, ninth-inning home run in Game Three of the playoff won the pennant for the Giants, did not, however, steal a sign before hitting his historic home run.
On January 28, 2001, former major leaguer Curt Blefary dies from pancreatitis at the age of 57. Nicknamed “Clank” for his defensive limitations, Blefary hit 112 home runs over an eight-year career with the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Oakland A’s, and San Diego Padres. In 1965, Blefary was named the AL’s Rookie…
Free agent infielder Luis Alicea is signed by the Kansas City Royals.
The June 8-10 (Arlington) and June 15-17 (Houston) interleague games between the Astros and Rangers will be known as the Lone Star Series. It will be first time the two Texan teams have ever played one another during the regular season.
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