The Minnesota Twins announce that interim manager Tom Kelly will be the club’s skipper next season. Kelly, who replaced Ray Miller at the end of the 1986 season, will compile a losing record (1140-1244) but win two World Championships during his 16-year tenure as the Twins manager.
In yet another unwise trade of prospects for aging veterans, the Yankees deal pitchers Brian Fisher, Doug Drabek and Logan Easley to the Pirates for pitchers Rick Rhoden, Cecilio Guante and Pat Clements. Drabek will win the National League Cy Young Award in 1990.
On November 24, 1982, Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles wins the American League’s Rookie of the Year Award. Ripken hit .264 with 28 home runs and 93 RBI’s while splitting his time between shortstop and third base for the Orioles. His consecutive games played streak is in its infancy at 118 games. …
1977 – Former major league manager Mayo Smith dies at the age of 62. Smith skippered the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers during a nine-year managerial career, but gained most of his fame when he guided the Tigers to the 1968 World Championship. Smith later scouted for the Oakland Athletics.
On November 24, 1976, the California Angels sign free agent second baseman Bobby Grich. The slick-fielding Grich is the first of three free agents that owner Gene Autry will sign during the off-season. Don Baylor and Joe Rudi will eventually join Grich in California. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Play by Play, Box Scores, News Paper Reports…
Bob Kennedy is named head of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs. His first move is to inform Jim Marshall he is fired as manager and Salty Saltwell, after a year as general manager, is named secretary and director of park operations. Herman Franks, briefly a Cubs coach under Leo Durocher, will be named the new manager. Ironically, Durocher turned down an offer to manage the Cubs for the 1977 season.
Joe Morgan outpoints Cincinnati Reds teammate George Foster to win his second straight National League MVP Award. Morgan hit .320 with 27 home runs, 111 RBI, 113 runs, 60 stolen bases, and led the NL in slugging percentage (.576) and OPS (1.020). Foster finished with 29 home runs and led the league in RBI (121).
1975 – Gene Mauch signs a three-year contract to manage the Minnesota Twins, replacing Frank Quilici.
1974 – Johnny Weekly dies at age 37 in Walnut Creek, CA in an auto accident. The reserve outfielder batted .207 in parts of three seasons with the Colt .45s.
1973 – Pitcher Bob Gibson wins the last of his nine Gold Gloves, and Joe Morgan wins the first of his five at second base.