On January 18, 1947, the Detroit Tigers sell star first baseman Hank Greenberg to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1946, Greenberg led the American League with 44 home runs and 127 RBIs, but will slump to 25 home runs and 74 RBIs with the Pirates. Greenberg will retire after the 1947 season. Due to a…
On January 18, 1938 Curt Flood is born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Oakland, California, Flood played in the same outfield in West Oakland’s McClymonds High School as Vada Pinson and Frank Robinson. All three would eventually sign professional contracts with the Cincinnati Reds He is a seminal figure in MLB history for refusing…
1938 – Pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander is elected to the Hall of Fame, as the only player to get the required 75 percent of the Baseball Writers Association of America votes. In a 20-season major league career, Alexander posted a 373-208 record with 2198 strikeouts and a 2.56 ERA, including 30 or more wins in three seasons.
On January 18, 1934, future Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean predicts that he and his brother Paul will lead the St. Louis Cardinals to the National League pennant. Dean will prove to be a man of his word, as the brothers will combine for 49 victories in helping the Cards reach and win the World…
1922 – The Chicago Cubs obtain outfielder Jigger Statz and pitcher Vic Aldridge from the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League for eight players and cash considerations.
1896 – Long before Marvin Miller and Curt Flood attacked the reserve clause, John Montgomery Ward, who has not played or managed for the last two seasons, objects to being reserved by the New York Giants. At the National League meeting in February, his appeal is upheld, and Ward becomes a free agent.
1887 – A new Kansas City club is founded to play in the Western League. The team vows to compete with the National League team in town, but that franchise will not return this year.