On January 14, 1981, Frank Robinson is named manager of the San Francisco Giants, replacing the fired Dave Bristol. In 1975, Robinson became the first black manager in major league history when he was hired by the Cleveland Indians. Robinson will manage 541 games into the 1984 season going 264 – 277, he will be…
WTCG-TV owner Ted Turner obtains 100% of the Atlanta Braves for $12 million. ‘Captain Ted’ purchases the club to provide sports programming for his local channel 17, but when the FCC permits the station to use a satellite in December to broadcast shows on cable networks, the franchise, now available to be viewed by millions of subscribers, will become known as America’s Team.
On January 14, 1970, New York Mets general manager, Johnny Murphy, age 61 dies of a heart attack 3 months after seeing the Miracle Mets rise from the National League cellar to win the 1969 World Series Championship. Murphy starred as a relief pitcher for the New York Yankees in the 1930s and early ’40s,…
Tom Brown becomes the first major leaguer to play in the Super Bowl. The Green Bay defensive back, an outfielder and first baseman for the Senators in 1963, is best remembered for his last-minute interception of Cowboy quarterback Don Meredith’s Hail Mary pass in the NFL Championship game, making Green Bay a participant in the first-ever Super Bowl.
1966 – The Cleveland Indians trade outfielder Lou Clinton to the New York Yankees for catcher Doc Edwards, who won’t play again in the majors until 1970, with the Philadelphia Phillies.
On January 14, 1963, the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox exchange future Hall of Famers in a blockbuster seven-player trade. The Orioles send pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm and three other players to the White Sox for shortstop Luis Aparicio and third baseman-outfielder Al Smith. Wilhelm will save 21 games for the Sox in ’63, while…
1960 – Charles Comiskey, Jr., says Bill Veeck has turned down his offer to buy the Chicago White Sox.
On January 14, 1954, Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees marries famed movie actress Marilyn Monroe. It was the ultimate All-American romance: the tall, handsome hero of the country’s national pastime captures the heart of the beautiful, glamorous Hollywood star. But the brief, volatile marriage of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio–the couple wed on…
On January 14, 1940, 91 players in the Detroit Tigers farm system are set free by commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who rules that the organization had improperly handled the players and makes them free agents. Among the notable players effected by the ruling who go on to major league careers are outfielders Roy Cullenbine, Benny McCoy, Dutch…
Hilario “Sandy” Valdespino is born in San Jose de las Lajas, Cuba. The reserve outfielder bats .244 for the Astros during the first five months of the 1969 season before being traded. He had been in the 1965 World Series during his rookie season with the Minnesota Twins.
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