Philadelphia Phillies announcer Harry Kalas is chosen as recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award.
2002 – Philadelphia Phillies announcer Harry Kalas is chosen as recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award.
Wall Street Journal quotes players Monte Irvin, Sal Yvars and Al Gettel, three former members of the 1951 New York Giants, as admitting that they stole catchers’ signs at the Polo Grounds to help the club overtake the 13 1/2-game lead of the Brooklyn Dodgers and win the National League pennant
2001 – A story in The Wall Street Journal quotes players Monte Irvin, Sal Yvars and Al Gettel, three former members of the 1951 New York Giants, as admitting that they stole catchers’ signs at the Polo Grounds to help the club overtake the 13 1/2-game lead of the Brooklyn Dodgers and win the National League pennant. Except for Yvars, all the participants will deny using the system during the three-game playoff with the Dodgers. According to the report, Bobby Thomson, whose three-run, ninth-inning home run in Game Three of the playoff won the pennant for the Giants, did not, however, steal a sign before hitting his historic home run.
Commissioner Bud Selig suspends John Rocker until May 1, a span of 73 days, due to the Braves closer’s racial and ethnic insensitive remarks
“I would retire first. It’s the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the [Number] 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you’re [riding through] Beirut next to some kid with purple hair next to some queer with AIDS right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It’s depressing.” – JOHN ROCKER, commenting in a Sports Illustrated article on his feelings about playing for a New York team. Commissioner Bud Selig suspends John Rocker until May 1, a span of 73 days, due to the Braves closer’s racial and ethnic insensitive remarks reported in a Sports Illustrated article written by Jeff Pearlman. The 25 year-old reliever from Georgia, who is also fined $20,000 and ordered to attend sensitivity training, becomes the first player to be disciplined for comments made publicly.
Ken Griffey, Jr. becomes the highest-paid major league player by signing a four-year, $34 million contract with Seattle.
1996 – Ken Griffey, Jr. becomes the highest-paid major league player by signing a four-year, $34 million contract with Seattle.
The California Angels sign free agent outfielder Bo Jackson to a one-year contract worth $1 million.
1994 – The California Angels sign free agent outfielder Bo Jackson to a one-year contract worth $1 million.
The Pittsburgh Pirates sign outfielder Barry Bonds to the largest one-year contract worth $4.7 million
1992 – The Pittsburgh Pirates sign outfielder Barry Bonds to a one-year contract worth $4.7 million, the largest-ever one-year deal.
Veteran first baseman Tony Perez signs a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
1983 – Veteran first baseman Tony Perez signs a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Houston Astros sign free agent second baseman Joe Morgan
1980 – The Houston Astros sign free agent second baseman Joe Morgan. Houston was the first major league team the two-time National League MVP played with before he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds and became a force in the Big Red Machine.
Joe Sewell, Amos Rusie, and Al Lopez are elected to the Hall of Fame
1977 – Joe Sewell, Amos Rusie, and Al Lopez are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee. Sewell batted .312 over 14 seasons with the Indians and Yankees. Rusie won 246 games over nine seasons from 1889 to 1898. Lopez won four fielding titles in 19 years as a catcher, but it is his .584 winning percentage in 17 seasons as a manager that got him into Cooperstown.
Special Veterans Committee selects seven men for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame: former players Jake Beckley, Joe Kelley, Harry Hooper, Rube Marquard, Chick Hafey, and Dave Bancroft, as well as executive George Weiss.
1971 – The Special Veterans Committee selects seven men for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame: former players Jake Beckley, Joe Kelley, Harry Hooper, Rube Marquard, Chick Hafey, and Dave Bancroft, as well as executive George Weiss. A number of this year’s choices will later be derided as some of the worst ever made by the Veterans Committee.
