In one of the best trades ever made in franchise history, the White Sox send center fielder Mike Cameron to the Reds for Paul Konerko, a top prospect Cincinnati had acquired from the Dodgers. The first baseman/DH, who will become a mainstay in Chicago’s offense for well over a decade, hits for a .294 batting average, belts 24 home runs, and drives in 81 runs during his first season in the Windy City.

ByTom

In one of the best trades ever made in franchise history, the White Sox send center fielder Mike Cameron to the Reds for Paul Konerko, a top prospect Cincinnati had acquired from the Dodgers. The first baseman/DH, who will become a mainstay in Chicago’s offense for well over a decade, hits for a .294 batting average, belts 24 home runs, and drives in 81 runs during his first season in the Windy City.

In a swap of high-priced unwanteds, the Mets send pitcher Mel Rojas to the Dodgers for outfielder Bobby Bonilla. Neither will help, but the little-used, outspoken Bonilla, with a two-year contract, will be a heavier burden than Rojas.

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In a swap of high-priced unwanteds, the Mets send pitcher Mel Rojas to the Dodgers for outfielder Bobby Bonilla. Neither will help, but the little-used, outspoken Bonilla, with a two-year contract, will be a heavier burden than Rojas.

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Outfielder Moises Alou is acquired for pitchers Oscar Henriquez, Manny Barrios and Mark Johnson. Alou’s four seasons in Houston are marked with superb play and controversy. In three of those years, he averages 31 homers, 115 RBIs and a .331 batting average. In the other year, he misses the entire season with a knee injury that leaves others questioning his commitment to the team. 

ByTom

1997 – Outfielder Moises Alou is acquired for pitchers Oscar Henriquez, Manny Barrios and Mark Johnson. Alou’s four seasons in Houston are marked with superb play and controversy. In three of those years, he averages 31 homers, 115 RBIs and a .331 batting average. In the other year, he misses the entire season with a knee injury that leaves others questioning his commitment to the team. 

Pedro Martinez wins the 1997 NL cy young award

Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos wins his first Cy Young

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1997 – Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos breaks the stranglehold the veteran Greg Maddux and the Atlanta Braves have on the National League Cy Young Award. Since 1991, either Maddux or a Braves pitcher has captured the award. Martinez posted a 17-8 record with 305 strikeouts, a 1.90 ERA, and 13 complete games, giving Canada a clean sweep of the Cy Young this year. Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays won the American League award a day earlier. It’s a bittersweet moment for Montreal, as Martinez will be traded away a week later.

Mike Kelly becomes the first major leaguer obtained in a trade by the Rays when Reds deal the 27 year-old outfielder for a player to be named later. Next week, Tampa Bay will send Dmitri Young to the Reds to complete the trade.

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Mike Kelly becomes the first major leaguer obtained in a trade by the Rays when Reds deal the 27 year-old outfielder for a player to be named later. Next week, Tampa Bay will send Dmitri Young to the Reds to complete the trade.

Beginning to dismantle their World Champion team, the Marlins trade Moises Alou to the Astros for two pitchers, Oscar Henriquez and Manuel Barrios, and a player to be named later. The outfielder had helped lead Florida to the postseason, batting .292 with 23 home runs and 115 RBIs.

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Beginning to dismantle their World Champion team, the Marlins trade Moises Alou to the Astros for two pitchers, Oscar Henriquez and Manuel Barrios, and a player to be named later. The outfielder had helped lead Florida to the postseason, batting .292 with 23 home runs and 115 RBIs.

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Luman Harris dies in Pell City, AL at age 81. Harris coached the Colt .45s until he became manager late in the 1964 campaign. He lasts through the 1965 season with a 70-105 record. His best days are with Atlanta (1968-1973) where he skippers the first Western Division winners in 1969. 

ByTom

1996 – Luman Harris dies in Pell City, AL at age 81. Harris coached the Colt .45s until he became manager late in the 1964 campaign. He lasts through the 1965 season with a 70-105 record. His best days are with Atlanta (1968-1973) where he skippers the first Western Division winners in 1969. 

John smoltz

John Smoltz, who won a major league-high 24 games for the Atlanta Braves, wins the 1996 National League Cy Young Award 

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1996 – John Smoltz, who won a major league-high 24 games for the Atlanta Braves, wins the 1996 National League Cy Young Award in a runaway. Smoltz, the NL leader in strikeouts (276), innings pitched (253.2), and winning percentage (.750), receives 26 of 28 first-place votes. Kevin Brown of the Florida Marlins, the major-league ERA leader (1.89), receives the other two first-place votes. Since 1991, five of the six Cy Young winners have been Braves.

Milwaukee Brewers owner Bud Selig meets with Don Fehr, the players’ labor leader, in a futile attempt to convince Fehr to accept the owners’ demands. With the deadline for an agreement at midnight on the 14th, there is virtually no hope that the two sides will agree. If the two sides reach the deadline without an agreement, the interleague schedule for next year will be wiped out, and a traditional schedule follow.

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Milwaukee Brewers owner Bud Selig meets with Don Fehr, the players’ labor leader, in a futile attempt to convince Fehr to accept the owners’ demands. With the deadline for an agreement at midnight on the 14th, there is virtually no hope that the two sides will agree. If the two sides reach the deadline without an agreement, the interleague schedule for next year will be wiped out, and a traditional schedule follow.