This Day In Baseball February 16

Alex Rodriguez

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 16.

 

This Day In Baseball February 16 highlights . . .

  • On February 16 1950 — Former Giants Mel Ott and Bill Terry are the top vote-getters, but fail to be elected into the Hall of Fame.
  • On February 16, 1952, Hall of Famer Honus Wagner announces his retirement after a lifetime in baseball. The 77-year-old Wagner had served for 50+ years as a player and coach. He receives a pension from the Pittsburgh Pirates, with whom he spent most of those years. Wagner, a career .327 hitter, was one of the first five players elected to the Hall of Fame in 1936, along with Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Christy Mathewson.
  • On February 16, 1961, Hall of Famer Clarence “Dazzy” Vance dies at the age of 69. Vance went 197-140 over a 16-year career. Vance led the National League in wins in 1924 and ’25 with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
  • On February 16, 1967 — Red Ruffing, the former Yankee pitcher who authored 273 major league wins over 22 seasons, is selected to be in the Hall of Fame by getting the most votes on the second ballot made necessary as a result of the BBWAA failing to choose a player in January. Former Cardinal outfielder Joe Medwick also received 75% of the writer’s votes that is usually enough to be selected, but under the rules of this special run-off election, only the top vote-getter gets the nod. Medwick will win election into the Hall of Fame in 1968.
  • On February 16, 2004, the New York Yankees acquire the highest-paid player in baseball. The Yankees send Alfonso Soriano to the Rangers for reigning Al Most Valuable Player Alex Rodriguez and cash. The deal comes on the heels of the Red Sox’s inability to land the American League MVP in a swap with Texas for Manny Ramirez due to the players’ association’s objection because of the need to restructure A-Rod’s existing contract as a result of the tentative transaction.
  • On February 16 2012 – Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter dies of brain cancer in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. After becoming a perennial All-Star with the Montreal Expos, Carter led the New York Mets to a World Series title in 1986.

Notable Events and Chronology for This Day In Baseball February 16

Warrants are issued in Sacramento, CA for the arrests of Joe Quest, Billy Alvord and Harry Dooms for allegedly jumping their California League contracts

Warrants are issued in Sacramento, CA for the arrests of Joe Quest, Billy Alvord and Harry Dooms for allegedly jumping their California League contracts

New York City Parks Commissioner Samuel McMillan announces a plan to cut a street through the Polo Grounds 

New York City Parks Commissioner Samuel McMillan announces a plan to cut a street through the Polo Grounds 

Buck Freeman

Washington sells eight players, including home run king Buck Freeman and P Bill Dinneen going to Boston, then disbands. 

"I'd sure loved to have swung against today's lively ball. Yes, with my 52-ounce bat. . . . Many hitters are swinging for the fences instead of choking up. Of course, homers are nice. But I'll take a good .300 hitter who can get on base often. You can't drive in many runs batting .225 no matter how many homers you hit." — Frank "Home Run" Baker

Home Run Baker, 28, announces his retirement following a contract dispute with Connie Mack

1916 – Energetic recruiting by Ban Johnson produces a pair of Chicago contractors to take over the Cleveland franchise from Charles W. Somers, a lavish spender at the American League’s creation but now in financial difficulties. J.C. Dunn and P.S. McCarthy pay $500,000 – $60,000 less than the asking price. E.S. Barnard will stay on as vice president and Lee Fohl, as manager.

SimLeague Baseball

Boston Braves third baseman Tony Boeckel becomes the first major leaguer to be killed in an automobile accident when he dies from injuries received as a passenger yesterday in San Diego, CA. Yankee outfielder Bob Meusel, also a passenger of the car driven by Los Angeles theater man Bob Albright, escapes without any serious injuries.

1930 – Judge Landis rules that the Cards cannot farm out C Gus Mancuso to the Rochester Red Wings. Forced to keep him by the commissioner’s edict, the Cardinals finds it pays off when regular C Jimmie Wilson is injured and Mancuso bats .366 in 76 games.

Pitcher Eppa Rixey of the Cincinnati Reds announces his retirement after 21 seasons and a career 266-251 mark

1950 – Former Giants Mel Ott and Bill Terry are the top vote-getters, but fail to be elected into the Hall of Fame.

honus wagner

Honus Wagner announces his retirement after a lifetime in baseball

Unusual four-way trade is made among the Braves, Dodgers, Phillies, and Reds

Unusual four-way trade is made among the Braves, Dodgers, Phillies, and Reds

1952 Ted Williams

Ted Williams crash lands in his first Korean War combat mission

Major League owners announce that the players’ pension fund will receive 60 percent of World Series and All-Star Game radio and TV revenues.

The courts award Dr. Samuel Shenkman $5,000 in his suit against Dodger C Roy Campanella for surgery on Campy's injured hand on October 20, 1954. Campanella says the doctor never informed him that the charge would be $9,500, a price the catcher considered excessive.

The courts award Dr. Samuel Shenkman $5,000 in his suit against Dodger C Roy Campanella for surgery on Campy’s injured hand on October 20, 1954. Campanella says the doctor never informed him that the charge would be $9,500, a price the catcher considered excessive.

Charlie Finley purchases the outstanding 48 percent of the Athletics stock to become their sole owner.

Charlie Finley purchases the outstanding 48 percent of the Athletics stock to become their sole owner.

dazzy vance

Hall of Famer Clarence “Dazzy” Vance dies at the age of 69

The first Houston training camp begins in Apache Junction, AZ. The fledgling Colt .45s would finish with a 14-7 spring record, best in the majors – a testament to what 40 guys can accomplish when none of them are assured of employment.

red ruffing

New York Yankees pitching great Red Ruffing is elected to the Hall of Fame

Milwaukee Brewers coach Harvey Kuenn has his right leg amputated below the knee after four operations to remove a blood clot.

Milwaukee Brewers coach Harvey Kuenn has his right leg amputated below the knee after four operations to remove a blood clot.

1982 – Bake McBride becomes the third starter from the 1980 Phillies’ World Championship squad to be traded or sold since Bill Giles bought the club last October. The Cleveland Indians get him in exchange for pitcher Sid Monge.

Orel Hershiser becomes the first player in major league history to sign a contract that calls for a $3 million salary

Orel Hershiser becomes the first player in major league history to sign a contract that calls for a $3 million salary

1996 – General Mills announces a special edition Wheaties cereal box honoring Negro League superstars Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and Cool Papa Bell.

Yankee premier reliever Mariano Rivera (7-4, 2.85, 36 saves) signs a four-year approximately $40 million contract with the Bronx Bombers. The 31 year-old Panama native surpassed Dennis Eckersley’s major league record with 16 saves in postseason games.

2002 – The sale of the Florida Marlins to a group headed by Jeffrey Loria becomes official.

2003 – Although banned by Major League Baseball for a Cooperstown induction, Pete Rose becomes a member of the “Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame”. Charlie Hustle joins 1998 inductee Shoeless Joe Jackson, who is also banned from becoming a member of the Hall of Fame.

Alex Rodriguez

New York Yankees acquire the highest-paid player in baseball – Alex Rodriguez

Baseball’s Playing Rules Committee approves several changes, making it the first time since 1996 the rules of the game has been altered. The new regulations include a ten-game suspension scuffing a baseball, elimination of tie games halted after the fifth inning due to weather by resuming the contest before the next scheduled start at the same ballpark, prohibiting players going into a dugout to make a catch, and allowing pitchers to wear multicolored gloves.

2009 – Routine physicals at the beginning of spring training sometimes reveal the unexpected. Returning pitcher Mike Hampton is told he has an irregular heartbeat and is sent back to Houston for tests and a minor procedure. Doctors then determine no procedure was necessary and fly him back to Florida the next day. 

The Indians bring back 1B Russell Branyan, whom they originally drafted in 1994 and who played for the team until 2002. Coming off his best year in the majors, in which he slugged 31 homers for Seattle, Branyan missed the last month of the season with an ailing back and his health remains a concern.

The Nationals sign former Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year contract. Wang saw his 2008 season end early with a foot injury, and struggled to a 1-6 record while being bothered with various ailments in 2009. He won’t return to a major league mound until 2011.

Rickie Weeks and the Brewers come to terms on a $38.5 million, four-year deal that includes a 2015 option based on plate appearances which could increase the total value of the contract to $50 million. The 28 year-old second baseman broke a franchise record last season with 754 trips to the plate, mostly as the team’s leadoff hitter.

Speaking to reporters at the Phillies’ spring training complex, a tearful Dallas Green, former big league manager and senior adviser to general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., thanks everyone for their support after the shooting death of his granddaughter. Nine year-old Christina Taylor Green was one of six victims killed five weeks ago in a shooting rampage during U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords’ ‘Congress on Your Corner’ gathering outside of a Tucson supermarket.

Albert Pujols’ self-imposed deadline for reaching agreement on a long-term contract extension with the St. Louis Cardinals expires without a deal. Pujols, who is seeking $300 million over 10 years, states that there will be no more negotiations during the season in order to avoid a potential distraction. The three-time National League MVP is slated to become a free agent next fall.

Late tonight, Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera is arrested in Fort Pierce, FL and charged with driving under the influence and refusing to cooperate with police officers. In October 2009, Cabrera was arrested for threatening his wife while intoxicated as the Tigers were playing a crucial series to determine the AL Central champion.

Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter dies of brain cancer

After an appearance at a local winter festival, Guido’s costume, worn by one of the Brewers’ racing sausages, goes missing. A seven-foot Italian sausage impersonator will be seen later in the night frequenting bars in Milwaukee, signing autographs.

2013 – It looks like there will be no salary arbitration hearings this year, as two of the remaining unsigned players who had filed for arbitration sign deals with their teams. P Homer Bailey agrees to a $5.35 million deal with the Reds, while P Clayton Richard signs on the dotted line for $5.2 million with the Padres. The only unsigned player remaining is P Darren O’Day, but he has agreed to a contract with the Orioles, with only a physical examination required to make it final. Since arbitration was implemented in 1974, there had never been a year with fewer than three hearings being held.

2014 – One of the remaining prize free agents still on the market, P A.J. Burnett, signs a two-year deal with the Phillies worth up to $33.5 million with performance bonuses. Burnett is coming off two very good seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates that have re-energized his career. He says he chose the Phils over the Bucs because they are located a mere hour and a half from his hometown in Maryland.

Miami-Dade County and the city of Miami, FL sue former Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria for failure to execute a clause in the contract through which the governments provided funding for the construction of Marlins Park, which called for Loria to pay a 5% equity on any profit from the sale of the team. Through what the city and county call “fuzzy math”, Loria claims to have made a loss on the sale, even though he received $1.2 billion for the team, having bought it for $158 million in 2002.

The Mets agree to a deal with free agent SP Jason Vargas, who is coming off the best season of his career at 35. Vargas will be paid $16 million over two seasons, as long as he passes a physical exam.

Major League Baseball Birthdays on This Day In Baseball February 16

Major League Baseball Deaths On This Day In Baseball February 16

Daily Rewind - Baseball History delivered daily

* indicates required

Baseball is the only game you can watch on the radio. Join the community today and listen to hundreds of broadcasts from baseball’s golden age.

Lets go! Start listening!

Start Listening today!
Share the Post:

Related Posts

Load More
Start Listieng to Classic Baseball Broadcasts (1934 - 1973)

Start Listieng to Classic Baseball Broadcasts (1934 - 1973)

Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!

$9.99/month
$99/year
class="wp-singular post-template-default single single-post postid-1515 single-format-standard wp-custom-logo wp-embed-responsive wp-theme-kadence wp-child-theme-kadence-child logged-out footer-on-bottom hide-focus-outline link-style-standard content-title-style-normal content-width-normal content-style-unboxed content-vertical-padding-show non-transparent-header mobile-non-transparent-header kadence-elementor-colors elementor-default elementor-kit-193430 elementor-page-193959"