1978 – Pirates outfielder Dave Parker wins the National League Most Valuable Player Award, 320-194, over Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey. Parker had 30 home runs with 117 RBI and league-leading figures in batting average (.334), slugging percentage (.585), and total bases (340).
1972 – Dick Allen of the Chicago White Sox wins the American League MVP Award by an overwhelming margin over Joe Rudi of the Oakland Athletics. Allen led the AL in home runs (37), runs batted in (113), walks (99) and slugging average (.603).
Jim Bouton agrees to a one-year deal worth $22,000 to play for the expansion Pilots, who had purchased the right-hander from New York last month for $20,000 with his previous team agreeing to pick up $12,000 of the salary. The knuckleballer will use his tenure with the club, and the Astros after he is traded to Houston, to chronicle the 1969 season, along with stories from his Yankee years, in his groundbreaking book, Ball Four, a publication which will not endear him to the baseball community, especially with his former Bronx Bomber teammates.
Triple Crown winner Carl Yastrzemski (.326, 44, 121), receiving 19 of 20 first-place votes, is selected by the BBWAA as the American League Most Valuable Player. A writer puts the light-hitting Twins infielder Cesar Tovar (.267, 6, 47) on the top of his ballot, denying the 28 year-old Red Sox outfielder of being the unanimous choice for the award.
The White Sox release 299-game winner Early Wynn, enabling the veteran right-hander to make a deal with other clubs so he will have the opportunity to win his 300th game. Next July, at the age of 43, the future Hall of Famer will pitch the first five innings of a game for Cleveland, reaching the milestone when the Indians down the Kansas City A’s, 7-4.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale wins the 1962 Cy Young Award, outpolling Jack Sanford of the San Francisco Giants with 14 of 18 votes.
1961 – For the second consecutive year, New York Yankees outfielder Roger Maris is named American League Most Valuable Player. The new single-season home run record holder with 61 edges his teammate Mickey Mantle by four points, 202-198. Jim Gentile of the Baltimore Orioles finishes third with 157 points.
1960 – A $3.5 million offer for the Kansas City Athletics is accepted from a St. Louis group and the sale of the 52% stock by the widow of the late Arnold Johnson is expected tomorrow. A sale of the remaining minority stock is also expected.
1955 – Randy Niemann is born in Scotia, CA. The lefty wins three, loses three and saves two during parts of the 1979 and 1980 seasons for the Astros. He resumes his career with the Pirates, White Sox, Mets and Twins.
1951 – The Baseball Writers Association of America name Gil McDougald of the New York Yankees as American league Rookie of the Year. The Chicago White Sox object to McDougald’s accolade, offering the statistical accomplishments of their superlative rookie, Minnie Miñoso.
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