Martin Aarjan Jole, a Dutch player, gets a tryout with a Cincinnati Reds farm club, the Columbia Reds. The 22-year-old, reputed to be a power hitter, wrote to Rogers Hornsby, the new Reds manager, asking for a tryout.
The Brooklyn Dodgers send Andy Pafko to the Milwaukee Braves for Roy Hartsfield and $50,000.
On January 17, 1952, Walter O. Briggs, owner of the Detroit Tigers, dies of heart failure at the age of 74. His son, Spike Briggs, will assume control of the team.
On January 17, 1939, the New York Yankees elect Ed Barrow as president. Barrow replaces Jacob Ruppert, who died four days earlier. Barrow will remain Yankee president until 1945, when the team is bought by Dan Topping and Del Webb.
1937 – The Cleveland Indians receive Moose Solters, Ivy Andrews and Lyn Lary from the St. Louis Browns, for Joe Vosmik, Bill Knickerbocker and Oral Hildebrand. The three departing Brownies are termed “real playboys” by manager Rogers Hornsby. Solters and Andrews were also the RBI and ERA leaders for St. Louis.
1936 – The New York Yankees trade Jimmie DeShong and Jesse Hill to the Washington Senators for Bump Hadley and Roy Johnson.
On January 17, 1934, the New York Giants come to contract terms with National League Most Valuable Player Carl Hubbell. “The King,” who won league honors unanimously in 1933, will earn $18,000 for the upcoming season. The Giants will be well rewarded as Hubbell will lead the league in ERA, CG and SV’s and finish…
1922 – Benny Kauff’s suit for an injunction to restrain the decision to keep him out of baseball is rejected by the appellate court. Kauff was acquitted of auto theft in 1921, but Commissioner Landis still barred him from baseball, stating, “That acquittal was one of the worst miscarriages of justice that ever came under my observation.”
On January 17, 1916, the New York Giants purchase three stars from the Federal League: pitcher Fred Anderson, outfielder Benny Kauff, and catcher Bill Rariden, from the Brooklyn Tip Tops for $35,000. Kauff, the 26-year-old center fielder was the Federal League’s best player. His first three seasons with New York are solid, but the trash-talking…
1916 – The New York Giants purchase three stars from the defunct Federal League: pitcher Fred Anderson, outfielder Benny Kauff, and catcher Bill Rariden.
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