1990 – The Chicago White Sox sign veteran knuckler Charlie Hough, a free agent. Hough spent every year of the 1970s with the Dodgers and every year of the 1980s with Texas.
1989 – Six months after obtaining him from the Phillies, the Mets trade 2B-OF Juan Samuel to the Dodgers for 1B Mike Marshall and P Alejandro Pena.
1980 – Unless contracts are tendered to certain veterans by today’s deadline, the Basic Agreement requires they be allowed to become free agents. In a major blunder, the Red Sox will miss the deadline, permitting All-Stars Fred Lynn and Carlton Fisk to be eligible for free agency.
famed baseball cartoonist Willard Mullin dies at the age of 76
Don Blasingame becomes the first American to manage a team in the Japanese leagues
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.
On December 20, 1972, Hall of Fame catcher Gabby Hartnett dies on his 72nd birthday. Hartnett batted .297 over a 20-year career with the Chicago Cubs and New York Giants. Hartnett gained election to the Hall of Fame in 1955…
1966 – The Yankees acquire SS Dick Howser from Cleveland for minor leaguer Gil Downs and cash.
Charlie Finley buys the 52 per cent of the Kansas City A’s contained in the estate of the late Arnold Johnson
Jackie Jensen (.286, 35, 122), breaking New York’s four-year stronghold on the award, is selected as the American League Most Valuable Player. The outcome is unexpected as the Red Sox fleet outfielder played on a non-contender, unlike runner-up Bob Turley, who pitched for the World Champion Yankees.
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