1959 – San Francisco Giants slugger Willie McCovey is selected as the National League Rookie of the Year, after hitting .354 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI in just 52 games. McCovey gets all 24 votes to make him the second Giants player in a row to win the award unanimously. Teammate Orlando Cepeda ran away with the award in 1958.
1953 – The St. Louis Browns officially become the Baltimore Baseball Club Inc. The Baltimore franchise board officially changes its name to the Orioles, the traditional name for baseball teams from the city.
In the first of two deals between the clubs on consecutive days, the Browns trade right-hander Jack Kramer along with All-Star shortstop Vern Stephens to the Red Sox for Pete Layden, Joe Ostrowski, Roy Partee, Eddie Pellagrini, Al Widmar, Jim Wilson, and $310,000. Boston plans to bat their new slugging middle infielder, known as Junior to his teammates, behind Ted Williams.
On November 17, 1944, future Hall of Famer George Thomas Seaver was born in Fresno, California. Better known as Tom Seaver will make the major leagues in 1967 as a member of the New York Mets. The right-hander will lead the Mets to the 1969 World Series, win 3 Cy Young Awards, be named to…
1940 – Jimmie Wilson is named as the new Chicago Cubs manager. He gets his reward for managing the woeful Philadelphia Phillies in the 1930s and for his late-season role filling in at catcher with the Cincinnati Reds.
1933 – The Pittsburgh Pirates send Adam Comorosky and Tony Piet to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Red Lucas and Wally Roettger. As a pitcher, Lucas will feast on the Reds over the rest of his career, going 14-0 against them. Piet hit .323 for the season, but will be in the doghouse over a contract dispute and will never start a game after July.
1927 – A group led by Alva Bradley and John Sherwin buys the Cleveland Indians.
Wilbert Robinson is named the Dodgers’ new manager, replacing Bill Dahlen. ‘Uncle Robbie’ will compile a 1375-1341 (.506) record during his 18-year Hall of Fame tenure as the Brooklyn skipper, capturing the National League pennant in 1916 and 1920.
1903 – Chicago Cubs shortstop Joe Tinker tells an interviewer that it is “impossible to fix” a major league baseball game.
1892 – National League magnates conclude a four-day meeting in Chicago where they agree to shorten the 1893 schedule to 132 games and drop the double championship concept. They also pledge to continue to reduce player salaries and other team expenses.
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