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 This Day In Baseball February 14.
This Day In Baseball February 14 highlights . . .
- On February 14, 1934, the Cleveland Indians sign former Washington Senators star Sam Rice to a contract for the upcoming season. The future Hall of Fame outfielder will bat .293 in 335 at-bats for the Indians, but will fall 13 hits shy of the 3,000 mark before retiring. Rice will win election to the Hall of Fame in 1963.
- On February 14, 1948, Hall of Fame pitcher Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown dies at the age of 71.
Brown’s nickname “three fingers” came from him losing his index finger in a childhood farm accident.
According to his biography, he suffered two separate injuries to his right hand. The first and most famous trauma came when he was feeding material into the farm’s feed chopper. He slipped and his hand was mangled by the knives, severing much of his index finger and damaging the others. A doctor repaired the rest of his hand as best he could. While it was still healing, the injury was further aggravated by a fall he took, which broke several finger bones. They were not reset properly, especially the middle finger. Brown won 239 games over a 14-year career. He went 127-44 from 1906 – 1910, with an astonishing 1.42 ERA. He pitched in 4 world series for the cubs, we has 4-0 and didn’t give up a run in the two series the Cubs won, and he went 2-4 with an era over 4 and a half.
- On February 14 1976 — The Atlanta Braves send Valentine’s Day cards to their season-ticket holders and the media. The Braves finished in fifth place in 1975, 40 1/2 games behind the Cincinnati Reds. Atlanta will finish this season in last place, 32 games behind Cincinnati, but they are first in rhyming. Their card reads: “Rose is a Red Morgan’s one, too. They finished first, Like we wanted to. But last year’s behind us; We’re happy to say. Now we’re tied for first, Happy Valentine’s Day.”
- On February 14 2001 — The Ford C. Frick Award, named in memory of the former commissioner who also was a broadcaster, will be given to Florida Marlins radio announcer Felo Ramirez during Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this summer. Ramirez, who began his 56-year career broadcasting games in Cuba, has been in the Miami broadcast booth since the team’s inaugural season in 1993.
- On February 14 1957 — Some 10 years after Jackie Robinson broke the major league color a bill was put forth by Senator Leon Butts barring Nego players to play baseball with White players. At the time, Georgia does not have a major league team, but does have several minor league teams.
- On February 14 1917 — Dave Fultz, president of the Players Fraternity, calls off a strike set to begin within the week. One of demands of the union is to abolish the ten-day clause, in which a team ceases to pay an injured player after he has been out of action for ten days. Organized Baseball officially severs relations with the union, leaving the players without representation.
