Free agent pitcher Kevin Millwood signs a one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians. The 30-year-old starter missed nearly all of the last two months this past season with the Philadelphia Phillies due to acute tendonitis in his right elbow.
2003 – Eddie Murray, the only switch-hitter in major league history with 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, is elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility by being chosen on 85 percent of the ballots cast by the BBWAA. Former All-Star C Gary Carter also is elected on his sixth try after falling 11 votes short last year.
Ozzie Smith, a 15-time All-Star shortstop, is elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA in his first year of eligibility. Smith is named on 91.7 percent of the ballots. Dubbed the “Wizard of Oz” due to his remarkable defensive abilities, Smith won 13 Gold Glove Awards during his 19-year career with the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.
Turning down a deal offered by the New York Mets worth a million dollars more with no deferred money, Juan Gonzalez agrees to a $24 million, two-year deal with the Texas Rangers that includes $10.5 million in deferred payments. The outfielder, who preferred to stay in the American League, established franchise records for home runs, RBI, total bases and extra base hits while playing for the Rangers from 1989 to 1999.
Needing only 145 hits to reach 3,000, Harold Baines agrees to a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. The 21-season veteran, who will turn 42 during spring training, played with the Baltimore Orioles and White Sox last season. He will only get into 32 games with the club and add 11 hits before retiring.
In a three-way deal, the Kansas City Royals obtain catcher A.J. Hinch, infielder Angel Berroa and cash from the Oakland Athletics, and pitcher Roberto Hernández from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays; Oakland receives P Cory Lidle from Tampa Bay, and outfielder Johnny Damon and infielder Mark Ellis from Kansas City, and Tampa Bay receives OF Ben Grieve from Oakland.
On January 8, 1996, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America fails to elect a single player to the Hall of Fame. Phil Niekro and Don Sutton, who receive the highest number of votes, will win election to the Hall in 1997 and 1998, respectively.
On January 8, 1995, former Philadelphia Phillies standout Mike Schmidt is elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. Schmidt hit 548 home runs and won three National League MVP awards during his major league career and spent his entire 18 year career with the Philadelphia Phillies. Schmidt is considered to be the best…
1994 – The Colorado Silver Bullets, professional baseball’s first women’s team, holds its first public tryouts in Orlando. An invitation-only tryout was held in Orlando on December 18th.
On January 8, 1991, Rod Carew, Fergie Jenkins, and Gaylord Perry are elected to the Hall of Fame. It’s the first time in seven years that the baseball writers elected as many as three players. Carew is a member of the 3,000-hit club, Perry won more than 300 games and struck out, and Jenkins notched…
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