Ralph Branca, most famous for giving up the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” to Bobby Thomson while pitching for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1951 three-game playoff, passes away in Rye, NY at the age of 90. Branca was an All-Star in his own right, and a twenty-game winner, but observers usually reduced his career to one unfortunate moment.

ByTom

Ralph Branca, most famous for giving up the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” to Bobby Thomson while pitching for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1951 three-game playoff, passes away in Rye, NY at the age of 90. Branca was an All-Star in his own right, and a twenty-game winner, but observers usually reduced his career to one unfortunate moment.

The Diamondbacks and Mariners pull off a five-player trade, with P Taijuan Walker and IF Ketel Marte headed to Arizona in return for 2B Jean Segura, OF Mitch Haniger and P Zac Curtis.

ByTom

The Diamondbacks and Mariners pull off a five-player trade, with P Taijuan Walker and IF Ketel Marte headed to Arizona in return for 2B Jean Segura, OF Mitch Haniger and P Zac Curtis.

2015 – The Dodgers hire Dave Roberts as their new manager, to replace Don Mattingly. With the highest salary mass in the major leagues, the Dodgers take a chance on the first minority manager in team history, whose experience as a skipper consists of one game in an interim capacity with the Padres last season.

ByTom

2015 – The Dodgers hire Dave Roberts as their new manager, to replace Don Mattingly. With the highest salary mass in the major leagues, the Dodgers take a chance on the first minority manager in team history, whose experience as a skipper consists of one game in an interim capacity with the Padres last season.

2013 – After making do with makeshift solutions at catcher all of last year, the Yankees decide to sign seven-time All-Star Brian McCann to a five-year, $85 million contract.

ByTom

2013 – After making do with makeshift solutions at catcher all of last year, the Yankees decide to sign seven-time All-Star Brian McCann to a five-year, $85 million contract.

The A’s deal right-handed starter Gio Gonzalez along with pitching prospect Robert Gilliam to the Nationals for southpaw Tommy Milone, catcher Derek Norris, right-hander Brad Peacock, and minor-league hurler A.J. Cole. Washington’s newest member of the rotation, after agreeing to a five-year, $42 million extension following the trade, will enjoy a spectacular first season in the nation’s capital, going 21-8 with an ERA of 2.89.

ByTom

The A’s deal right-handed starter Gio Gonzalez along with pitching prospect Robert Gilliam to the Nationals for southpaw Tommy Milone, catcher Derek Norris, right-hander Brad Peacock, and minor-league hurler A.J. Cole. Washington’s newest member of the rotation, after agreeing to a five-year, $42 million extension following the trade, will enjoy a spectacular first season in the nation’s capital, going 21-8 with an ERA of 2.89.

Josh Hamilton becomes the fifth Ranger player to win the American League’s Most Valuable Player award

Josh Hamilton becomes the fifth Ranger player to win the American League’s Most Valuable Player award

ByTom

Josh Hamilton joins Jeff Burroughs (1974), Juan Gonzalez (1996, 1998), Ivan Rodriguez (1999), and Alex Rodriguez (2003) as the fifth Ranger player to win the American League’s Most Valuable Player award. The Texas slugging outfielder, who received 22 of the 28 first-place votes cast by the writers, led the major leagues in batting with a .359 average, hitting 32 homers and driving in 100 runs despite missing 29 games in September after suffering two broken ribs.

The Giants re-sign 1B Aubrey Huff, one of the keys to their World Series conquest last month, to a two-year deal worth $22 million. Huff led the team with 26 homers and 86 RBI while batting .290 last season.

ByTom

The Giants re-sign 1B Aubrey Huff, one of the keys to their World Series conquest last month, to a two-year deal worth $22 million. Huff led the team with 26 homers and 86 RBI while batting .290 last season.

The Tigers sign C Victor Martinez to a four-year, $50 million contract, leaving the Red Sox scrambling to find a replacement backstop in a thin market.

ByTom

The Tigers sign C Victor Martinez to a four-year, $50 million contract, leaving the Red Sox scrambling to find a replacement backstop in a thin market.

Joe Mauer becomes the fifth Twin to be named the American League’s Most Valuable Player

ByTom

Joe Mauer (.365, 28, 96) becomes the fifth Twin to be named the American League’s Most Valuable Player, joining Zoilo Versalles (1965), Harmon Killebrew (1969), Rod Carew (1977), and Justin Morneau (2006). The slugging Gold Glove catcher, who missed the first month of the season with a back injury, receives 27 of 28 first-place votes cast by the BBWAA, and the St. Paul native easily outpoints Yankee teammates Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter.

While visiting his wife’s family and scheduled to be the best man at a wedding later in the day, Joe Kennedy awakes and collapses in the bedroom at 1:00 am and dies unexpectedly. The 6’4″, 250-pound Blue Jays southpaw reliever, who signed with the club in September after being released by the Diamondbacks, also played for the A’s, Rockies, and Devil Rays during his seven-year career.

ByTom

While visiting his wife’s family and scheduled to be the best man at a wedding later in the day, Joe Kennedy awakes and collapses in the bedroom at 1:00 am and dies unexpectedly. The 6’4″, 250-pound Blue Jays southpaw reliever, who signed with the club in September after being released by the Diamondbacks, also played for the A’s, Rockies, and Devil Rays during his seven-year career.