Joe Cronin, the AL president, gives in to A’s owner Charlie Finley’s request to allow three balls, rather than four, to constitute a base on balls during an exhibition game against the Brewers. The experiment, designed to add offense and speed up the game, proves to be tedious for both teams when 19 walks are issued as well as six homers being drilled during the 13-9 spring training victory for Oakland.

Joe Cronin, the AL president, gives in to A’s owner Charlie Finley’s request to allow three balls, rather than four, to constitute a base on balls during an exhibition game against the Brewers. The experiment, designed to add offense and speed up the game, proves to be tedious for both teams when 19 walks are issued as well as six homers being drilled during the 13-9 spring training victory for Oakland.

Umpires Al Salerno

Umpires Al Salerno and Bill Valentine file a grievance over their dismissal last year

1969 – Umpires Al Salerno and Bill Valentine file a grievance against the American League and its president, Joe Cronin, over their dismissal last year. The grievance is filed by the new umpires union with the National Labor Relations Board.

Charles Finley Biography flamboyant, innovative, and controversial

American League owners approve the transfer of the Kansas City A’s to Oakland

On October 18, 1967, The American League owners grant Charlie Finley permission to move the Kansas City Athletics to Oakland, California, in time for the start of the 1968 season. Kansas City is promised a new team by 1971, but when Senator Stuart Symington and Kansas City Mayor Ilus Davis threaten action against the move, AL President Joe Cronin reopens talks. The expansion deadline is moved forward to 1969, and will award new franchises to Kansas City and Seattle, the Pilots, will play in Seattle, an ill-advised decision given the fact that new owners will prove to be under-financed.

jimmy piersall restrained by vic power

In an effort to distract Ted Williams during his at-bats in the 6th and 8th innings, Indians CF Jimmy Piersall goes into a war dance in Centerfield

In an effort to distract Ted Williams during his at-bats in the 6th and 8th innings, Indians CF Jimmy Piersall goes into a war dance. Piersall gets tossed for his efforts and manager Joe Gordon is also ejected for arguing Jimmy’s case. It is Piersall’s 6th ejection of the season. Gordon had previously announced that any more ejections would cost Piersall $500 each, but he thinks today’s thumbing is unwarranted and waives the fine. American League president Joe Cronin is less forgiving and fines Piersall $100. The Indians win, 4 – 2, behind Jim Perry’s pitching and the first major league home run of Mike de la Hoz.

joe cronin AL President
|

Joe Cronin succeeds Will Harridge as president of the American League

On January 31, 1959, former major league star Joe Cronin succeeds Will Harridge as president of the American League. A Hall of Fame shortstop who played for Pittsburgh, Washington, and Boston, Cronin batted .301 over a 20-year playing career. Cronin will remain in office until his retirement in 1973.

Ted Williams, after striking out looking with two aboard to end the 3rd inning flings his bat aside in a fit of anger

Ted Williams, after striking out looking with two aboard to end the 3rd inning flings his bat aside in a fit of anger

At Fenway Park, the Red Sox complete a three-game sweep of the Senators, all by 2 – 0 shutouts pitched, respectively, by Tom Brewer, Frank Sullivan and Ike Delock. Today’s win, however, is marred when Ted Williams, after striking out looking with two aboard to end the 3rd inning (and less than 2 months after having incurred his second spitting-related fine in less than 2 years), flings his bat aside in a fit of anger. Unfortunately, the intended flip along the ground gains some unwanted elevation, flying into the stands and striking, of all people, Boston GM Joe Cronin’s 69-year-old housekeeper, Gladys Heffernan, in the head. “I didn’t mean to throw the bat that way,” explains the distraught Williams. “I started to flip it along the ground but the sticky stuff on my hands stuck to it and it left my hands on the fly instead. I was sick.” Mercifully Heffernan is not badly hurt, but Williams is greeted with a thunderous chorus of catcalls when he takes the field in the 4th. Cronin, for his part, hastily announces a 1-year contract extension for manager Mike Higgins in what is widely regarded as an attempt to distract attention from Ted’s near-tragic tantrum. Nonetheless, American League President Will Harridge will impose a modest $50-dollar fine for the incident.

Hank Greenberg

Cleveland Indians reject the Boston Red Sox’ offer of $1 million for star pitcher Herb Score

On March 19, 1957, In what is believed to be the largest offer for a player to date, Cleveland Indians general manager Hank Greenberg rejected a million-dollar offer for left-handed pitcher Herb Score from Boston Red Sox GM Joe Cronin. Greenberg refuses, saying that Cleveland is interested in building for the future, not in selling…

Joe Cronin and Hank Greenberg are inducted into the Hall of Fame

Joe Cronin and Hank Greenberg are inducted into the Hall of Fame

On July 23, 1956, Joe Cronin and Hank Greenberg are inducted into the Hall of Fame during the annual ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. Joe Cronin was the American League’s All-Star shortstop seven times and its MVP in 1930 when he hit .346 with 126 RBIs. The jovial, square-jawed Irishman possessed the determination and toughness…

Walker Cooper

St. Louis Cardinals sell star catcher Walker Cooper to the New York Giants for a record $175,000

  On January 5, 1946, the St. Louis Cardinals sell star catcher Walker Cooper to the New York Giants for a record $175,000. The Joe Cronin transaction in 1934 and the Dizzy Dean sale in 1938 were larger deals but also involved other players. Cooper was considered the best catcher in the game before his…