1953 – The Augusta Tigers club (South Atlantic League) announces that it is changing its nickname from the Tigers to the Ikes. Because of fans nixing the presidential name, it will changed again on February 9th to the Augusta Rams.
January 19, 1949 – Stan Musial announced he had purchased half interest in the former 66 Café operated by Julius “Biggie” Garagnani. The restaurant, at 6435 Chippewa would be known as Stan Musial and Biggies, Stan said. The National League batting champion and MVP was in the midst of a two-year contract paying him $50,000…
On January 19, 1945, media reports say that Stan “The Man” Musial will enlist in the U.S. military for duty in World War II. Musial will miss the entire 1945 season before returning to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1946.
1943 – The Boston Braves release veteran outfielders Paul Waner and Johnny Cooney.
After resigning as the Reds’ general manager at the end of the 1936 season, Larry MacPhail is coaxed back into baseball by the Dodgers. The Brooklyn Board of Directors, anxious to improve the club’s poor performance on the field and to reverse its financial woes, sign the fiery innovator to a contract that gives him complete control of the franchise.
On January 19, 1937, in their second annual Hall of Fame election, the Baseball Writers Association of America elects second baseman Napoleon Lajoie, outfielder Tris Speaker and pitcher Cy Young to the Cooperstown shrine. The trio will be honored at the Hall’s first induction ceremony in 1939 joining, last year’s inaugural selection of…
On January 19, 1934, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis turns down “Shoeless” Joe Jackson’s bid for reinstatement. Jackson was one of eight Chicago White Sox players banned for life for his alleged involvement in fixing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. Jackson, will continue to proclaim his innocence for the remainder of his life….
1931 – Acting under a new draft agreement with the Pacific Coast League, the Brooklyn Robins purchase the contract of catcher Ernie Lombardi from the Oakland Oaks.
Under the terms of the peace agreement, a list of 123 Federal League free agents is released by the National Association. Next month, the upstart league’s year-old suit charging organized baseball of antitrust violations will be dismissed by mutual consent in the U.S. District Court by Judge Kenesaw M. Landis, who will become the game’s first commissioner in 1920.
1900 – Boston Beaneaters catcher Marty Bergen kills his wife and two children with an axe, then takes his own life. He was reportedly depressed by his son’s death the previous April, and had suffered symptoms of mental illness for several years. Billy Hamilton is the only Boston player to attend the backstop’s funeral.
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