The American League Rookie of the Year Award balloting ends in a tie with Twins third baseman John Castino and Blue Jays shortstop Alfredo Griffin each receiving seven of the 28 votes cast by the writers. The deadlock will prompt a change in the method used for next season’s selection.
1979 – Chicago Cubs closer Bruce Sutter, who had a 6-6 record with a 2.23 ERA and saved 37 of his team’s 80 victories, wins the National League Cy Young Award by a 72-66 margin over Houston Astros starter Joe Niekro.
1978 – In a controversial selection, Boston Red Sox outfielder Jim Rice is named American League Most Valuable Player over New York Yankees pitcher Ron Guidry. Rice led the AL in home runs (46), RBI (139), hits (213), triples and slugging percentage (.600), and became the first AL player to accumulate 400 total bases in a season since Joe DiMaggio in 1937, while Guidry posted a 25-3 record with 248 strikeouts and a 1.74 ERA for the pennant-winning Yankees.
The Cubs trade second baseman Glenn Beckert and minor league prospect Bobby Fenwick to the Padres for outfielder Jerry Morales. The deal will prove to be beneficial to Chicago when their new fly chaser spends four productive years in his first tenure with the club, including an All-Star selection in 1977, and their former infielder playing in only 73 games before being released by San Diego during the first month of the 1975 season.
“The institution of Little League is as American as the hot dog and apple pie. There is no reason why that part of Americana should be withheld from girls” – Sylvia Pressler, explaining her ruling in favor of girls being allowed to play Little League.
1972 – Cincinnati Reds catcher Johnny Bench, who posted a .270 average with 40 home runs and 125 RBI, wins the National League MVP Award for the second time in three years.
1967 – St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Orlando Cepeda becomes only the second National League player to unanimously win the MVP Award. Cepeda batted .325 with 25 home runs and 111 RBI in leading the Cardinals to the pennant. New York Giants pitcher Carl Hubbell swept the National League MVP voting in 1936.
The Braves, for the second time in eleven years, receive permission to shift their franchise to another city. Hank Aaron and company will move from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season.
1963 – New York Yankees catcher Elston Howard becomes the first black player to win the American League MVP Award. Howard beats out Al Kaline of the Detroit Tigers by 248 votes to 148 in the balloting.
1957 – Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jack Sanford, who posted a 19-8 record with 188 strikeouts and a 3.08 ERA, is named National League Rookie of the Year. Sanford beats out his teammate, first baseman Ed Bouchee.
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