On July 31, 1996, the New York Yankees acquire slugging DH/first baseman Cecil “Big Daddy” Fielder from the Detroit Tigers for outfielder Ruben Sierra and minor league pitcher Matt Drews. Fielder will hit 13 home runs for the Yankees, helping them to the World Championship.
The Dodgers obtain OF Chad Curtis from the Tigers in exchange for pitchers Joey Eischen and John Cummings. Curtis will lead off in place of the cancer-stricken Brett Butler.
The Phillies trade P Terry Mulholland, 33, to the Mariners in exchange for struggling blue-chipper Desi Relaford.
The Padres acquire OF Greg Vaughn, with 31 homers in Milwaukee, and a player to be named in exchange for P Bryce Florie, P Ron Villone and OF Marc Newfield.
The Mariners club the Brewers, 9 – 3, hitting seven homers in the game. Jay Buhner, Ken Griffey and Alex Rodriguez each have a pair, with Brian Hunter adding one. Sterling Hitchcock (11-4) is the winner.
The Mets trade former two-time Cy Young Award winner right-handed pitcher Bret Saberhagen and left-handed pitcher farmhand Dave Swanson (the player to be named later) to the Rockies for righties Juan Acevedo and Arnold Gooch.
Steve Carlton, Leo Durocher and Phil Rizzuto are inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame.
The Phillies trade OF Milt Thompson to the Astros in exchange for P Tom Edens.
The Giants beat the Rockies, 9 – 4, as 3B Matt Williams hits his 39th and 40th home runs of the year. This gives him a new National League mark for homers through July. The previous standard was 36. The all-time record of 41 was set by Babe Ruth in 1928, and tied by Jimmie Foxx four years later.
Jeff Bagwell’s 36th homer is the only Astro score in their 7 – 1 loss, but he ties a club record with 29 RBIs for the month. His 105 ribbies through July is the 4th-best in National League history.
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