Ozzie Smith agrees to go to the Cardinals to complete the December deal that finally sends Gary Templeton to the Padres. An outside arbitrator, Tom Roberts, will determine ‘the Wizard of Oz’s’ Cardinal salary before the season starts, awarding the light-hitting Gold Glove shortstop $450,000, rather than the $750,000 he requested.
1981 – Catcher Bruce Bochy is dealt to the Mets for two minor leaguers. Bochy spent parts of three seasons with the Astros and is best remembered for the forearm he took from Pete Rose in Game 4 of the 1980 N.L.C.S. Later he becomes the manager for the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants.
1977 – The Chicago Cubs trade two-time National League batting champion Bill Madlock and infielder Rob Sperring to the San Francisco Giants for outfielder Bobby Murcer, third baseman Steve Ontiveros, and a minor league pitcher. In 1976, Madlock led the NL with a .339 mark, while Murcer hit 23 home runs and 90 RBI. Madlock leaves Chicago having hit .336 for them, which ties him with Riggs Stephenson for the top career average in team history.
The first arbitration ruling in baseball history is decided in favor of Twins’ hurler Dick Woodson. The right-hander, the first player to invoke the new free agency clause, is awarded the $29,000 he asked for, rather than having to take Minnesota’s offer, which was six thousand dollars less.
1965 – Braves officials, who already intend to move to Atlanta, GA for 1966, propose to pay five cents from each ticket sold to a fund for the purpose of bringing a new major league team to Milwaukee, WI. Teams, Inc., a civic group, accepts the offer, buys out the park for Opening Day, and stages “Stand Up for Milwaukee Day”.
Before the start of spring training, Don Zimmer and right-hander Bob Miller, both who reside in the St. Pete area, become the first players to don a Mets jersey when they model the club’s away uniform tops for a photo shoot at Huggins Field. The expansion team’s inaugural third baseman, who will be traded to the Reds in May for southpaw Bob Miller, poses with his nine year-old son Tommy on his shoulders.
Feb. 11, 1961 – The 39 homers and 124 RBIs driven in last year by Eddie Mathews (pictured between Hank Aaron and Joe Adcock) paid off today for the hard-hitting third baseman of the Milwaukee Braves. Mathews signed his 1961 contract for $60,000. The 29-year-old slugger was the runner-up to teammate Hank Aaron for National…
On February 11, 1950, Hall of Fame outfielder Hazen (Kiki) Cuyler dies in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the age of 50. Considered an outstanding defensive player and baserunner, Cuyler was a .321 hitter with 2,299 hits and 328 stolen bases during an 18-year career. At the time of his death, Cuyler was serving as a coach for the Boston Red Sox.
1937 – Philadelphia Athletics owner Connie Mack is interviewed by Boake Carter, one of the most famous journalists of the period, in a television demonstration by the Philco company to display its new technology. It is the first-ever baseball interview on television, although the audience consists only of selected guests at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, a few miles away from Philco’s studio.
1928 – The New York Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates swap pitchers: Burleigh Grimes for Vic Aldridge. Grimes, 19-8 with the Giants last season, will lead the National League in wins this year with 25 after his return to Pittsburgh. Aldridge holds out till May 3, and then will win just four games for New York.
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