On December 14, 1980, Elston Howard, the first black player to play for the New York Yankees, dies of heart failure at the age of 51. Howard won the 1963 Most Valuable Player Award for the Yankees.
Texas Rangers re-acquire future Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins from the Boston Red Sox
San Diego Padres sign veteran free agents Rollie Fingers and Gene Tenace
1970 – St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Herman Hill drowns in the Caribbean Sea, near Valencia, Venezuela, at age 25. Hill had been traded from the Twins on October 20th.
1966 – The St. Louis Cardinals send OF Walt Williams and P Don Dennis to the Chicago White Sox for C John Romano and P Lee White.
1965 – Eddie Stanky is named manager of the Chicago White Sox.
This Day in Ballpark History: Final Sporting Event at Polo Grounds December 14, 1963 New York’s Polo Grounds hosted its final sporting event 56 years ago today, a 19-10 Buffalo Bills win over the Jets. The Jets move with MLB’s Mets to Shea Stadium in 1964. Hall of Famer Don Maynard’s 73-yard touchdown reception put…
1963 – The Pittsburgh Pirates send pitcher Harvey Haddix to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for infielder Dick Yencha and cash.
1961 – Roger Maris’s request for a $75,000 contract is denied by New York Yankees general manager Roy Hamey.
1960 – The two new American League franchises, the first expansion teams in over a half of a century, select their rosters in the first ever expansion draft. The Los Angeles Angels make New York Yankees pitcher Eli Grba the first selection of the draft, and the “new” Washington Senators follow by tabbing another Yankee pitcher, Bobby Shantz. Among the Angels selections also are Jim Fregosi (SS), Ted Kluszewski (1B) and Albie Pearson (OF). Washington selections include Chuck Hinton (OF), Gene Woodling (OF) and Hal Woodeshick (P).
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