Terry Collins is hired as Astros manager
1993 – Terry Collins is hired as Astros manager. Coming from the Pirates organization, Collins projects an aggressive no-nonsense attitude that eventually wears thin on the veteran players.
National League holds the first expansion draft since 1969
1992 – Major League Baseball holds the expansion draft to stock the rosters of the National League’s two new teams, the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies. A total of 72 players are chosen. Pitcher David Nied is the first pick of the Rockies, while outfielder Nigel Wilson is selected first by the Marlins. Florida take prospect Jose Martinez second, while Colorado picks veteran 3B Charlie Hayes next. The best picks for Florida are Trevor Hoffman (4th), eventually packaged for Gary Sheffield; Jeff Conine (11th), who will hit 81 home runs in four years; and Cris Carpenter (18th), later dealt to Texas for Robb Nen. For Colorado, they will find gold with Eric Young (6th), Joe Girardi (10th), Vinny Castilla (16) and Armando Reynoso (18th).
The Colorado Rockies make their first trade a good one, sending OF Kevin Reimer to the Milwaukee Brewers for OF Dante Bichette. Bichette hit .287 for Milwaukee, but just .246 in the second half of the year, and will blossom into a hitting star in Colorado.
The Colorado Rockies make their first trade a good one, sending OF Kevin Reimer to the Milwaukee Brewers for OF Dante Bichette. Bichette hit .287 for Milwaukee, but just .246 in the second half of the year, and will blossom into a hitting star in Colorado.
In other deals, the Cincinnati Reds trade relief pitcher Norm Charlton to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for outfielder Kevin Mitchell; the Chicago Cubs trade shortstop Alex Arias and third baseman Gary Scott to the Florida Marlins for pitcher Greg Hibbard; Oakland Athletics shortstop Walt Weiss is traded to the Marlins for two prospects; the Los Angeles Dodgers trade pitcher Rudy Seanez to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for second baseman Jody Reed; and the Atlanta Braves trade first baseman Brian R. Hunter to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a minor league player.
In other deals, the Cincinnati Reds trade relief pitcher Norm Charlton to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for outfielder Kevin Mitchell; the Chicago Cubs trade shortstop Alex Arias and third baseman Gary Scott to the Florida Marlins for pitcher Greg Hibbard; Oakland Athletics shortstop Walt Weiss is traded to the Marlins for two prospects; the Los Angeles Dodgers trade pitcher Rudy Seanez to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for second baseman Jody Reed; and the Atlanta Braves trade first baseman Brian R. Hunter to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a minor league player.
Nick Esasky, who became one of the most coveted free agents signs a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves
1989 – Nick Esasky, who became one of the most coveted free agents after hitting .277 with 30 home runs and 108 RBI for the Boston Red Sox, signs a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves. Esasky lives in Marietta, Georgia. However, he will be forced into early retirement because of an inner-ear infection that gives him chronic vertigo.
Twenty-five year-old right-hander Bret Saberhagen (23-6, 2.16) signs a three-year extension with the Royals for $8.9 million. The Cy Young Award recipient barely misses being baseball’s first $3 million-a-year player; a mark Kirby Puckett will reach five days later when he comes to terms with the Twins for $9 million over three years.
Twenty-five year-old right-hander Bret Saberhagen (23-6, 2.16) signs a three-year extension with the Royals for $8.9 million. The Cy Young Award recipient barely misses being baseball’s first $3 million-a-year player; a mark Kirby Puckett will reach five days later when he comes to terms with the Twins for $9 million over three years.
George Bell First Blue Jay to Win AL MVP Award
1987 – George Bell becomes the first Toronto Blue Jays player ever to win the American League MVP Award, edging Alan Trammell of the Detroit Tigers, 332-311. Bell hit .308 with 47 home runs and a league-leading 134 RBI.
Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens, and Jerry Martin become the first active players sent to prison for drug violations. The judge hands down three-month sentences to the three members of the Royals for attempting to purchase cocaine.
Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens, and Jerry Martin become the first active players sent to prison for drug violations. The judge hands down three-month sentences to the three members of the Royals for attempting to purchase cocaine.
Center fielder Dale Murphy wins the National League MVP Award,
1982 – Center fielder Dale Murphy wins the National League MVP Award, becoming the first Braves player to be so honored since Hank Aaron in 1957, when the team played in Milwaukee. Murphy hit .281 with 36 home runs, 109 RBI, 113 runs, and 23 stolen bases.
Daniel Okrent sketches out the first draft of rules for what will become Rotisserie League Baseball
1979 – On a flight to Austin, Texas, Daniel Okrent sketches out the first draft of rules for what will become Rotisserie League Baseball. Had the friends he was seeing not ignored these rules, the Rotisserie League would have been called Pit League, after the Austin barbecue joint where Okrent first unveiled them. Two weeks later in New York, he pitches the idea to a more receptive group with whom Okrent lunches monthly at La Rôtisserie Française.
