2002 – The Phillies, in an effort to fill a void created when Scott Rolen was traded to the Cardinals in July, sign third baseman David Bell to a four-year, $17-million free agent deal. Bell, whose father (Buddy) and grandfather (Gus) were also major leaguers, played for the National League champion Giants the previous season after being traded by the Seattle Mariners during the spring.

ByTom

2002 – The Phillies, in an effort to fill a void created when Scott Rolen was traded to the Cardinals in July, sign third baseman David Bell to a four-year, $17-million free agent deal. Bell, whose father (Buddy) and grandfather (Gus) were also major leaguers, played for the National League champion Giants the previous season after being traded by the Seattle Mariners during the spring.

Staying with his hometown New York Mets, John Franco signs a nearly $11 million three-year pact as a set-up man

ByTom

2000 – Staying with his hometown New York Mets, John Franco signs a nearly $11 million three-year pact as a set-up man, foregoing an opportunity with the Philadelphia Phillies to pick up the 59 saves he needs to break Lee Smith’s career saves record of 478.

San Diego Padres 1B Wally Joyner undergoes corrective eye surgery to bring his eyesight up to 20/20. His eye sight had deteriorated to 20/3000.

ByTom

San Diego Padres 1B Wally Joyner undergoes corrective eye surgery to bring his eyesight up to 20/20. His eye sight had deteriorated to 20/3000.

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land for a new downtown ballpark near the old Union Station terminal are acquired by the H.S.A

ByTom

1997 – The last parcels of land for a new downtown ballpark near the old Union Station terminal are acquired by the H.S.A. The largest sale is from a man named Billy Marlin. Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (HOK) are already on board with a stadium design and Brown and Root will serve as project managers for stadium construction. In other news, the Astros sign outfielder Dave Clark to a free agent contract. Clark bats .206 in 93 games during one disappointing season in Houston. 

1997 – Tim Johnson is hired as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays. He succeeds Cito Gaston, who was fired in September after having led the Blue Jays to World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. Johnson, a former bench coach with the Expos and Red Sox, managed the Triple-A Iowa Cubs in 1997, and beat out three others for the job: Buck Martinez, Larry Bowa, and American League Manager of the Year Davey Johnson, who interviewed in Toronto after leaving the Orioles.

ByTom

1997 – Tim Johnson is hired as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays. He succeeds Cito Gaston, who was fired in September after having led the Blue Jays to World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. Johnson, a former bench coach with the Expos and Red Sox, managed the Triple-A Iowa Cubs in 1997, and beat out three others for the job: Buck Martinez, Larry Bowa, and American League Manager of the Year Davey Johnson, who interviewed in Toronto after leaving the Orioles.

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Phil Garner and his family are saved from a fire in their Kingwood, TX home

ByTom

1991 – Former Astro Phil Garner has something extra to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The then-Milwaukee manager and his family are saved from a fire in their Kingwood, TX home. Two constables force open the front door after spotting smoke coming from the house. Over $100,000 worth of damage is done. 

St. Louis Cardinals reliever Todd Worrell, who led the National League with 36 saves, is named Rookie of the Year. Worrell had helped St. Louis to the 1985 World Series as a late-season call-up but was still a rookie this season as defined by the BBWAA.

ByTom

St. Louis Cardinals reliever Todd Worrell, who led the National League with 36 saves, is named Rookie of the Year. Worrell had helped St. Louis to the 1985 World Series as a late-season call-up but was still a rookie this season as defined by the BBWAA.