This Day In Baseball December 15

Baseball history on December 15 includes Major League baseball players born that day of the year, Major League baseball players who died on that date, baseball players who made their Major League debut on that date, and Major League baseball players who appeared in their final game that date.

1883 – In Louisville a “first-class colored team” is formed. The team, later known as the Falls Cities, becomes one of the nation’s best black teams. It will join the National Colored Base Ball League (NCBBL) in 1887, but will apparently disband shortly after the collapse of the NCBBL in the first week of its season.

1886 – The American Association meets and ratifies the new rules. It also approves the new clause that allows a club to reserve a player for as long as it wants, not just for next year’s contract.

1887 – The Texas League is organized at a meeting in Austin, thanks largely to the efforts of John J. McCloskey.

1888 – The Tourists, the world-traveling team of major leaguers put together by Al Spalding, play their first game in Australia, drawing a crowd of 5,500 in Sydney.

1894 – Veteran manager Jack Chapman expresses his support of a proposed rule change forbidding all but catchers and first basemen from wearing gloves. Citing Cincinnati’s Bid McPhee as an example of one of the few remaining outstanding gloveless fielders, Chapman remarks that “as it is now, inferior players with big gloves can get into the game and force good men out.”

The first pitching machine

The first pitching machine, created by Princeton professor Charles E Hinton.

1899 – The National League rules Brooklyn’s purchase of Zeke Wrigley in September is illegal and nullifies the 16 games he played for Brooklyn. But Brooklyn still wins the pennant.

Christy Mathewson

New York Giants and Cincinnati Reds swap future Hall of Famers Rusie and Mathewson

Boston continues trading, sending C Pat Moran to the Cubs for C Jack O’Neill and P Big Jeff Pfeffer.

After losing a record 29 games this year, veteran righthander Vic Willis is traded by 7th-place Boston to Pittsburgh for three players: Del Howard, infielder Dave Brain, and Vive Lindaman. Willis will rebound with four straight 20-win seasons.

After losing a record 29 games this year, veteran righthander Vic Willis is traded by 7th-place Boston to Pittsburgh for three players: Del Howard, infielder Dave Brain, and Vive Lindaman. Willis will rebound with four straight 20-win seasons.

1909 – Kid Elberfeld, who helped make the Highlanders a winner, is sold to Washington for $5,000.

The National League reveals a most telling statistic, pointing out the changes in the game: the use of 27,924 baseballs during the season, an increase of 10,248 over 1919.

The Giants hand a release to 2B Larry Doyle so that he can manage the Toronto team.

– The Yankees’ Ed Barrow pries future Hall of Fame P Waite Hoyt, C Wally Schang, lefty Harry Harper, and IF Mike McNally from his former Boston team in exchange for 2B Del Pratt, C Muddy Ruel, P Hank Thormahlen, OF Sammy Vick, and cash.

Rube Marquard

Brooklyn trades Rube Marquard to the Reds for Dutch Ruether. The Robin’s southpaw fell in displeasure with the team after being arrested in a Cleveland hotel lobby before Game 4 for scalping World Series tickets worth $52.80 for $400 to a city police detective.

Al Szymanski, 21, who will later be known as Al Simmons is stolen by Connie Mack for 3 players

Al Szymanski, 21, who will later be known as Al Simmons is stolen by Connie Mack for 3 players

The Browns sell home run-hitting Ken Williams to the Red Sox. At 38, Williams is still a .300 hitter, but his home run production will drop to 8.

In a joint meeting, the major leagues turn over $5,000 to the Association of Professional Ball Players to aid ill or disabled former players.

1928 – The Red Sox trade Buddy Myer back to Washington for P Hod Lisenbee, P Milt Gaston, IF Bobby Reeves, IF Grant Gillis, and OF Elliot Bigelow. Myer will become a top player in the 1930s.

1930 – Chief Bender is signed by the New York Giants as a pitching coach. He coached baseball at the Naval Academy this year.

The Red Sox swap P Ed Durham and infielder Hal Rhyne to the White Sox for outfielders Fats Fothergill, Bob Seeds, and infielders Urban Hodapp and Greg Mulleavy.

The Phils send Ray Benge and $15,000 to the Dodgers for Cy Moore, Mickey Finn, and Jack Warner. Finn will have a great spring and Brooklyn’s Max Carey will admit in April that Burt Shotton outguessed him on the deal.

A joint meeting of American League and National League owners approves the concept of “chain store” baseball, developed as the St. Louis Cardinals farm system, despite strenuous objections by Judge Landis.

1933 – The major leagues agree on a uniform ball to be livelier than the National League ball of recent seasons, to match the American League balls. Owners also agree to ban Sunday doubleheaders until after June 15th.

The Red Sox send Pinky Higgins and P Archie McKain to the Tigers for pitchers Elden Auker and Jake Wade, and OF Chet Morgan. The Sox also ship OF Ben Chapman to the Indians in exchange for P Denny Galehouse and SS Tom Irwin.

The Red Sox send Pinky Higgins and P Archie McKain to the Tigers for pitchers Elden Auker and Jake Wade, and OF Chet Morgan. The Sox also ship OF Ben Chapman to the Indians in exchange for P Denny Galehouse and SS Tom Irwin.

Hall of Fame outfielder “Sliding Billy” Hamilton dies at the age of 74

The Dodgers trade the much-heralded, but injury-prone Pete Reiser to the Braves for outfielder Myron McCormick. The marvelously talented but reckless Reiser crashed into too many outfield walls and, according to Red Smith, was carried off on a stretcher 11 times.

The Dodgers trade the much-heralded, but injury-prone Pete Reiser to the Braves for outfielder Myron McCormick. The marvelously talented but reckless Reiser crashed into too many outfield walls and, according to Red Smith, was carried off on a stretcher 11 times.

Hall of Fame executive Ed Barrow dies at the age of 85

1955 – The Cards sign C Walker Cooper who started his career with St. Louis in 1940.

Johnny Temple

The Reds send 2B Johnny Temple to the Indians for 2B Billy Martin, P Cal McLish, and 1B Gordy Coleman.

Frank Lane replaces Hank Greenberg as the Indians’ general manager. ‘Trader Lane,’ who has made 60 separate deals since December 2, 1957, lives up to his well-deserved nickname when, just prior to Opening Day, he sends the Tribe’s very popular Rocky Colavito to Detroit for batting AL champ Harvey Kuenn.

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Joey Jay and Detroit Tigers pitcher Jim Bunning pose on the field prior to the 1961 All-Star Game at Fenway Park.

The Reds acquire pitchers Joey Jay  and 3B Gene Freese both players will help propel Cincy to the 1961 World Series

The biggest trade in history? The Phils lose more than 1 1/2 inches when they acquire P Frank Sullivan from the Red Sox for 6’9″ Gene Conley. In the next two years, Conley will win 26 games for the Sox, the third Boston team he will play for: Conley started with the Boston Braves in their last year before moving to Milwaukee, and played several seasons with the Celtics as Bill Russell’s backup.

Comiskey family sells its interest in the Chicago White Sox

The Reds reacquire P Johnny Klippstein, along with OF Marty Keough, from the Senators. Washington gets C Bob Schmidt and P Dave Stenhouse.

The Mets continue spending, sending Lee Walls and $100,000 to the Dodgers for Charlie Neal. Neal, the 5th ex-Dodger on the roster, was downed by the measles in the spring and a knee spur later on.

The Braves send veteran minor league 3B Ed Charles, C Joe Azcue and OF Manny Jimenez to the Athletics for Bob Shaw and Lou Klimchock. With Eddie Mathews at 3B, Charles was expendable. He will hit .288 with 17 home runs in 1962, his rookie year.

Charles Comiskey, Jr., sells his 46 percent interest in the White Sox to a group of 11 investors.

the game’s most well-known deaf player, William “Dummy” Hoy, dies at the age of 99

1962 – The San Francisco Giants trade pitchers Stu Miller and Mike McCormick, along with C Johnny Orsino, to Baltimore for pitchers Jack Fisher and Billy Hoeft, and C Jim Coker.

Tigers owner John Fetzer announces a two-year television pact between Major League Baseball and ABC-TV. The network pays $12.2 million to telecast games on 25 Saturdays, Independence Day, and Labor Day.

The Cards purchase OF Tito Francona from the Indians.

1965 – Detroit trades P Phil Regan to the Dodgers for IF Dick Tracewski. Regan will lead the National League in saves in 1966 while winning 14 of 15 decisions.

jim bunning

Pittsburgh Pirates acquire future Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning from the Philadelphia Phillies

The Red Sox trade C Mike Ryan and cash to the Phillies for P Dick Ellsworth and C/1B Gene Oliver.

The Mets trade OF Tommy Davis, P Jack Fisher, P Billy Wynne, and C Dick Booker to the White Sox for OF Tommie Agee and IF Al Weis.

Pittsburgh acquires P Jim Bunning from the Phillies for pitchers Woody Fryman, Bill Laxton, and Harold Clem, and IF Don Money.

The Mets obtain Tommy Agee, the 1966 Rookie of the Year, and utility infielder Al Weis from the White Sox in exchange for Buddy Booker, Tommy Davis, Jack Fisher, and Billy Wynne. New York’s newest additions will both play a pivotal role in the team’s 1969 World Championship season.

Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Al Campanis makes an unusual trade

1968 – The Dodgers send C Jim Campanis, son of Dodger executive Al Campanis, to the Royals for two minor leaguers.

1969 – The National Labor Relations Board accepts the case of fired umpires Bill Valentine and Al Salerno, thereby issuing a challenge to baseball’s antitrust status.

1970 – The Reds trade former ace Jim Maloney to the Angels for Greg Garrett. Maloney was just 0-1 this year and will do no better in California.

Arbitrator Peter Seitz rules in favors of Cy Young winner Catfish Hunter in a dispute with A's owner Charlie Finley. The decision, which will make the right-hander a desirable unrestricted free agent, will usher in a new era in the owners' relationship with their players.

Arbitrator Peter Seitz rules in favors of Cy Young winner Catfish Hunter in a dispute with A’s owner Charlie Finley. The decision, which will make the right-hander a desirable unrestricted free agent, will usher in a new era in the owners’ relationship with their players.

1976 – Pirate free agent Richie Hebner signs with the Phillies.

Dave Winfield becomes the highest-paid player in the history of sports, when he agrees to a ten-year free-agent deal with the Yankees worth a record $16 million.

Dave Winfield becomes the highest-paid player in the history of sports, when he agrees to a ten-year free-agent deal with the Yankees worth a record $16 million.

1981 – Free agent Ron Guidry re-signs with the Yankees to a four-year $3.6 million pact.

1983 – Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends convicted Kansas City Royals Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens, and Jerry Martin, and Dodgers pitcher Steve Howe for one season without pay for their use of illegal drugs. The suspensions will be shortened by an arbitrator and lifted on May 15th. Former Royal Vida Blue, who was released during the season and is currently out of a job, is also suspended.

The Mets send veteran lefty Bob Ojeda and minor leaguer Greg Hansell to the Dodgers for OF Hubie Brooks.

American League Cy Young Award winner and free agent Bob Welch re-signs with Oakland, while “free look” free agents Jack Clark and Brett Butler sign with the Red Sox and Dodgers, respectively.

The Yankees sign free agent 3B Wade Boggs to a three-year contract.

The Rangers sign free agent reliever Tom Henke to a two-year $8 million contract. Henke, who started his career with Texas, had 34 saves in 37 tries with Toronto.

1993 – The White Sox sign free agent DH Julio Franco.

The Yankees sign free agent SS Tony Fernandez.

The owners approve a salary cap plan by a vote of 25-3, but agree to delay implementing it so that another round of talks with the players can be held as the strike remains unresolved.

The Ted Williams Tunnel in Boston is opened as the "Splendid Splinter" leads the way.

The Ted Williams Tunnel in Boston is opened as the “Splendid Splinter” leads the way.

The Marlins trade ace Kevin Brown to the Padres for 1B Derrek Lee and pitchers Rafael Medina and Steve Hoff dismantling their championship team

The Marlins trade ace Kevin Brown to the Padres for 1B Derrek Lee and pitchers Rafael Medina and Steve Hoff dismantling their championship team

The Red Sox sign free agent P Hideo Nomo to a contract.

2001 – The Mariners acquire 32-year-old two-time All-Star third baseman Jeff Cirillo (.312, 17, 83) from the Rockies in exchange for reliever Jose Paniagua and minor leaguers Dennis Stark and Brian Fuentes.

The Red Sox acquire Jeremy Giambi from the Phillies for P Josh Hancock, 24

The Red Sox acquire Jeremy Giambi from the Phillies for P Josh Hancock, 24

The Pirates agree to terms with free agent OF Matt Stairs.

The Padres trade P Brett Tomko to the Cardinals for P Luther Hackman and a player to be named later.

The Mets trade slick-fielding SS Rey Ordonez to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for two minor leaguers to be named. The Mets also throw in $4.25 million to help offset Ordonez’s $6.25 million salary. Ordonez, who had called the Mets fans “stupid”, departs as 3B Edgardo Alfonzo signs a four-year deal with the Giants, opening up the left side of the Mets infield. Nineteen-year-old Jose Reyes, the Mets’ top prospect, is expected to have first shot at the shortstop’s job.

A four-way trade is announced at the winter meetings in Nashville. The A’s get 1B Erubiel Durazo from the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks get P Elmer Dessens, who sported the 5th best ERA (3.03) in the National League, from the Reds. The Reds get SS Felipe Lopez from the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays get Jason Arnold from Oakland.

Coming off an injury-shortened season with the Diamondbacks, Richie Sexson (.233, 9, 23) agrees to a $50 million, four-year deal with the Mariners. The 29-year-old free agent first baseman will be reunited with Seattle’s new manager Mike Hargrove, his former skipper in Cleveland from 1997 to 2000.

After the District of Columbia Council votes to require private financing for at least half of the construction costs of a Nationals’ new ballpark, Major League Baseball suspends all sales of the team’s merchandise and tickets. The decision may make anything with the National League’s newest logo quite a collector’s item.

After offering a four-year deal worth approximately $53 million, the Mets announce officially the club has come to terms with Pedro Martinez (16-9, 3.90 ERA). The former Red Sox ace, who posted a 117-37 record in seven seasons with Boston, criticizes his former team for not being more aggressive in retaining his services.

Jeff Bagwell

Astros slugger Jeff Bagwell announces his retirement

Buck O’Neil, who passed away in October, is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously by President George W. Bush for his “excellence and determination both on and off the baseball field.” Accepting the country’s highest civilian honor on behalf of the Negro league baseball legend is his 91 year-old brother, Warren.

The St. Louis Cardinals trade long-time center fielder Jim Edmonds to the San Diego Padres for about $1 million and David Freese.

The Los Angeles Dodgers sign Hiroki Kuroda for 3 years and between $36 million and $40 million. Kuroda had been the top pitcher in the Central League in 2006 before fading in 2007. He was deemed to be the second-best Japanese free agent seeking to come to the US this winter, after Kosuke Fukudome. Hitoki Iwase, another top free agent, decided to stay in Japan.

The 2007 Hoofdklasse awards are given out. Fausto Álvarez, a 47-year-old Cuban slugger for the Amsterdam Pirates, wins MVP honors. He set a new league home run record in the wooden bat era with 12, easily breaking Ivanon Coffie’s record. David Bergman of Corendon Kinheim, the league leader in wins, is named Pitcher of the Year.

Andy Pettitte, with a career record of 211-113 in the majors through this past season, admits to using Human Growth Hormone in 2002 to recover from an elbow injury. Pettitte had been named in the Mitchell Report released earlier in the week.

The White Sox acquire OF Juan Pierre from the Dodgers for two minor leaguers. Pierre, signed to a five-year contract worth $44 million before the 2007 season, has become the odd man out in the Dodgers’ outfield with the development of youngsters Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp and the acquisition of superstar slugger Manny Ramirez in 2008.

Commissioner Bud Selig announces that he will chair a 14-person committee to analyze ways to improve baseball’s on-field product. The group will look at issues such as the pace of the game, umpiring, instant replay and possible rule changes.

P Rich Harden signs a one-year deal with Oakland, returning to the team for which he first pitched in the major leagues.

Hall of Famer Bob Feller, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, dies at age 92. “Rapid Robert” made his major league debut at 17 and had the best fastball of his generation. He lost a good part of his prime years while serving with great distinction in the US Navy during World War II and spent his entire career with the Cleveland Indians, for whom he posted six 20-win seasons and pitched three no-hitters. He led the Indians to their last World Championship in 1948.

2011 – The Twins sign OF Josh Willingham to a three-year contract and the Cardinals sign reliever J.C. Romero for one year.

2012 – The Phillies sign Ps Mike Adams and John Lannan as free agents. In Adams’s case, his two-year, $12 million deal bypasses options to become a closer, so he can set up for Jonathan Papelbon.

2014 – The Yankees re-sign 3B Chase Headley, acquired in a mid-season trade, to a four-year contract worth $52 million. The deal means that Alex Rodriguez, who is scheduled to be back with the team in 2015 after a one-year suspension due to his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal, is being looked at strictly as a designated hitter.

The Cubs and Jon Lester have terms on $155 million contract that will keep the 30 year-old southpaw in Chicago for the next six years. The deal, which includes a record $30 million dollar signing bonus, makes the former Red Sox and A’s ace the second highest-paid by pitcher in baseball history, behind only Clayton Kershaw, who inked a $30.7 million pact with the Dodgers.

Major League Baseball’s goodwill tour to Cuba, the first official MLB visit to the country since 1999, opens with a news conference at Havana’s Hotel Nacional. Players participating in the four days of children’s clinics and charitable events include White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu and Dodger outfielder Yasiel Puig, who both defected from the island nation to play baseball in the United States.

The Giants make the final payment on AT&T Park, 17 years after playing their first game in the new ballpark located in the China Basin. The team’s home, originally known as Pacific Bell Park when the gates opened in 2000, was built by HOK Sport at the cost of $357 million.

The Phillies make a splash by signing free agent 1B Carlos Santana to a three-year contract worth $60 million, the biggest granted so far this off-season. The signing comes on the heel of trading SS Freddy Galvis to the Padres in return for P Enyel De Los Santos.

In other moves, the Angels continue to be aggressive on the market, signing free agent SS Zack Cozart to a three-year contract. With defensive wizard Andrelton Simmons already on board, Cozart will likely move to 3B. The Rangers obtain P Matt Moore from the Giants for a pair of minor leaguers and the Rockies sign free agent reliever Bryan Shaw.

2018 – The amounts due for luxury tax payments this year are announced, and the World Series champions Red Sox lead the pack, being assessed a penalty of almost $12 million for exceeding payroll limits. The only other team over the threshold are the Nationals, who owe $2.3 million. In addition to the amount of the fine, the Red Sox will see their top pick in the 2019 amateur draft drop by 10 places as a result of the assessment, under a newly-adopted clause.

2016 – Astros sign 40-year-old outfielder Carlos Beltran to a one-year deal for $16 million. Beltran becomes the Designated Hitter, batting .231 with 14 homers, and providing veteran leadership to the team’s many Latin players. His reward is to close out his career with the Worlds Championship he had previously lacked. 

2014 – Houston inks infielder Jed Lowrie to a three-year free agent deal. It’s his second time with the ballclub but it doesn’t last long. Injuries cause the Astros to rush top prospect Carlos Correa to the majors so Lowrie was traded back to Oakland the following winter. 

2006 – Jeff Bagwell officially retires after a brilliant 15-year career that leaves him as the franchise leader in home runs (449), RBIs (1,529) and extra-base hits (969). He had a lifetime batting average of .297. Bagwell will continue to work with the Astros under a personal services contract. 

1965 – Astros acquire pitcher Barry Latman from the California Angels for infielder Ed Pacheco and cash. The righthander compiles a 5-13 record with one save over two seasons in Houston. 

1946 – Art Howe is born in Pittsburgh, PA. The gutty infielder parlays a successful playing career into a successful managing career, using the same qualities of calmness, smarts and professionalism that marked his playing days.

Todays Major League Birthdays On December 15 

Major League Baseball Deaths On December 15 

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