VINTAGE BASEBALL MEMORABILIA Vintage Baseball Memorabilia Bill Virdon Position: CenterfielderBats: Left • Throws: Right6-0, 175lb (183cm, 79kg)Born: June 9, 1931 in Hazel Park, MI usHigh School: West Plains HS (West Plains, MO)School: Drury University (Springfield, MO)Debut: April 12, 1955 (11,211th in major league history)vs. CHC 4 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SBLast Game: July 31, 1968vs. CIN 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SBFull Name: William Charles…
2001 – Larry Dierker resigns as manager, ending a five-year run that can be argued as the most successful in team history. His winning percentage (.553) is tops for the franchise. His 448 wins rank second to Bill Virdon. The good news was four division crowns in five years. The bad news was a 2-12 post-season record, failing to escape out of the first round of the playoffs each year. But the numbers don’t begin to capture Dierker’s story, one as unique as the Hawaiian-shirted lanky Californian that has spent practically his entire adulthood with the franchise.
Alan Wiggins of the San Diego Padres ties a National League record by stealing five bases in one game. Wiggins joins three others who have performed the feat: Dan McGann in 1904, Davey Lopes in 1974 and Lonnie Smith in 1982.
1984 – The San Francisco Giants send pitcher Fred Breining and outfielder Max Venable to the Montreal Expos in exchange for first baseman Al Oliver. Because Breining is found to be injured, the Giants will send pitcher Andy McGaffigan to Montreal on March 31st to complete the trade.
1982 – Bob Lillis replaces Bill Virdon as manager of the Houston Astros. Virdon was the senior manager in the National League, having managed the Astros since 1975.
1976 – Pitcher Larry Dierker and infielder Jerry DaVanon are traded to St.Louis for catcher Joe Ferguson. For Dierker, it’s the beginning of the end of a stellar career. For Ferguson, it means another chance to be a starting catcher instead of an oufielder. He argues with manager Bill Virdon about blocking the plate but hits .243 with 23 homers and 83 RBIs in 1-1/2 seasons before being traded again.
1975 – Bill Virdon replaces Preston Gomez as Houston manager. Bob Lillis fills out the lineup card while Virdon settles in. The Mets topple the Astros, 6-3, but not before Cliff Johnson and Cesar Cedeno go deep in the ninth inning to show the team still has some life.
New York Yankees name Billy Martin as manager
On January 3, 1974, the New York Yankees give up on their pursuit of former Oakland A’s manager Dick Williams and hire Bill Virdon. In December, the Yankees had announced the signing of Williams, only to learn that A’s owner Charlie Finley would not surrender him without compensation. Although the former Pirates skipper will manage…
1973 – Siding with the A’s, American League president Joe Cronin rules the Yankees cannot sign manager Dick Williams. The Yankees had announced a deal with the Oakland skipper two days earlier.