This Day In Baseball December 31

roberto clemente day

The history of sports is both vast and rich, thanks to the existence of so many different events and the longevity associated with them. With so much history to cull through, We offer the opportunity to look back and see what memorable things happened or milestones were reached on December 31 in baseball history.

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Notable Events and Chronology for December 31

Major League Baseball Recap 1871

A reported eight million bats have been sold in the United States this year.

Charles Ebbets

Charles Ebbets gains a controlling 80 percent interest of the Brooklyn Dodgers

Ban Johnson's arranges the purchase of the Yankees by Colonel Jacob Ruppert and Captain Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston for $500,000 from Bill Devery and Frank Farrell

Ban Johnson’s arranges the purchase of the Yankees by Colonel Jacob Ruppert and Captain Tillinghast L’Hommedieu Huston for $500,000 from Bill Devery and Frank Farrell

kid Gleason

Chicago White Sox hire Kid Gleason as their manager

Milt Gaston

Two pitchers changes the color of their socks, when Boston sends forkballer Milt Gaston to Chicago in exchange hard-thrower Bob Weiland.

The New York Yankees send Bump Hadley to the New York Giants for the waiver price and trade infielder Bill Knickerbocker to the Chicago White Sox for catcher Ken Silvestri. The military will claim Silvestri for the next four years.

The New York Yankees send Bump Hadley to the New York Giants for the waiver price and trade infielder Bill Knickerbocker to the Chicago White Sox for catcher Ken Silvestri. The military will claim Silvestri for the next four years.

1The 1940s is the only decade in Major League Baseball history in which no new stadiums are built

1The 1940s is the only decade in Major League Baseball history in which no new stadiums are built

The state of Ohio withdraws a suit against the Cincinnati Reds against team owner Bill DeWitt 

Houston Astros acquire Eddie Mathews from the Atlanta Braves in 5 player trade

Houston Astros acquire Eddie Mathews from the Atlanta Braves in 5 player trade

Pittsburgh Pirates superstar Roberto Clemente dies in the crash of a four-engine plane over the Atlantic Ocean

Pittsburgh Pirates superstar Roberto Clemente dies in the crash of a four-engine plane over the Atlantic Ocean

Catfish hunter signs with yankees

New York Yankees announce the signing of free agent pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter

1979 – The Basic Agreement between players and owners expires, precipitating more than 19 months of bitter negotiations, that will culminate in the 1981 player strike.

1984 – Despite six weeks of negotiations, the Basic Agreement between the players and owners that was reached after the 1981 strike expires. The players are now seeking increased contributions to their pension plan from the clubs’ additional television revenues, while the owners are hoping to slow the rapid growth of player salaries.

Carney Lansford Oakland As

Oakland Athletics third baseman Carney Lansford is severely hurt in a snowmobile accident

1993 – Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement runs out with no new agreement yet signed.

After the Devil Rays decline his 2005 $8 million contract option, Tino Martinez (.262, 23, 76) signs a one-year, $3 million contract to rejoin the Yankees. The popular 37 year-old first baseman, acquired as insurance in the event Jason Giambi’s (the player who replaced him) health continues to fail, played in the Bronx from 1996-2001.

2005 – Today, Roberto Clemente Jr. will head to Nicaragua to distribute humanitarian aid, mirroring a trip that claimed the life of his father 33 years ago. He had planned a similar effort last year, but the December 26th tsunami convinced him to direct the relief supplies collected to affected areas of the Pacific Rim.

The Cubs agree to a $15 million, three-year deal with Texas free-agent Marlon Byrd (.283, 20, 89) to fill the void in the outfield created when an agitated Milton Bradley was traded to Seattle. Chicago’s new outfielder will patrol centerfield, replacing Kosuke Fukudome, who will move over to right field.

The Red Sox, a team which has tried seven regular shortstops since trading Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs in 2004, sign Marco Scutaro to a deal that guarantees the 34 year-old infielder to a $12.5 million, two-year deal to fill the void. The former utility player with the Mets and A’s had a career year last season for the Blue Jays after becoming their everyday shortstop with Toronto in 2008.

The Orioles sign veteran 1B Derrek Lee to a one-year contract.

During year-end celebrations, a shooting takes place in Luperon, a town on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, leaving a 25-year-old man dead and his 17-year-old brother wounded. Three days later, police announce that the main suspect is Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon, who claims his innocence but goes in hiding in his hometown of Santiago. He will surrender to police on January 3rd.

2011 – The Padres acquire OF Carlos Quentin from the White Sox, in return for two minor leaguers, Ps Simon Castro and Pedro Hernandez. Quentin returns home to the city where he was a star athlete in high school a decade earlier.

2012 – Veteran infielder Miguel Tejada signs a deal with the Royals, after only playing in AAA last year.

2013 – The Astros sign veteran relief pitcher Jesse Crain as a free agent.

The Reds acquire OF Marlon Byrd in a trade with the Phillies in exchange for P Ben Lively.

2018 – The Mariners come to an agreement on a four-year contract with Japanese pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, who had been made available through the posting system.

 

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Todays Major League Birthdays On December 31 

Todays Major League Debuts On  

Major League Baseball Debuts – To see all the Famous Debuts in baseball history check out the famous debut page

 

 

Todays Major League Final Games 

 

Major League Baseball – Famous LASTS! Check them all out here!

Major League Baseball Deaths On December 31 

Major League Baseball Birthdays, Debuts, Final Games and Deaths, on **DATE** 

Todays Birthdays  – – – Check out all the famous Birthdays HERE

 

Major League Baseball Debuts – To see all the Famous Debuts in baseball history check out the famous debut page

 

Major League Baseball – Famous LASTS! Check them all out here!

 

Todays Passings  – – – Check out all the passing here!

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