This Day In Baseball February 2

You Wish You Where Here Events for February 2

1876 – The National League is formed in New York City at the instigation of William Hulbert, owner of the Chicago White Stockings, in reaction to the lack of central direction in the fledgling National Association. The new circuit will field eight teams in its inaugural season and will become the blueprint for professional team sports in North America.

1923 – Red Schoendienst is born in Germantown, Illinois. Playing mostly as a second baseman, Schoendienst will bat .289 during a 19-year career mainly with the St. Louis Cardinals, who he will later manage to a World Championship. He will win election to the Hall of Fame in 1989.

future Hall of Fame infielder Red Schoendienst is born in Germantown, Illinois

Future Hall of Fame infielder Red Schoendienst is born in Germantown, Illinois

Leo Durocher Reds

New York Yankees waive shortstop Leo Durocher

1930 – The New York Yankees waive shortstop Leo Durocher, who batted only .246 in 1929. The future Hall of Fame manager will eventually sign with the Cincinnati Reds.

first hall of fame

Baseball Writers’ Association announces the results of the first Hall of Fame vote

1936 – The Baseball Writers Association of America announces the results of the first Hall of Fame vote. Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and Honus Wagner comprise the inaugural class of Hall of Fame members. Several other stars like Cy Young fail to make the grade, but will enter the Hall in later elections.

Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, and Christy Mathewson are the first five men elected into baseball’s new Hall Fame, which is scheduled to be open in 1939 as part of the game’s celebration of its centennial. A claim made by the former 1905 Mills Commission, which proves to be erroneous, suggests that the national pastime was invented by Civil War hero Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, making the small village in upstate New York the perfect place for the induction of the legendary ballplayers.

At a Boston sports writers dinner, infielder Bobby Doerr receives the Fred Hoey Award, given by the scribes in memory of the first full-time broadcaster for both the Red Sox and the Braves. The scrappy second baseman’s friend and Boston teammate, Ted Williams, surprises the gathering by attending the event wearing a tie.

fred lindstrom

Roger Connor and Fred Lindstrom and umpire Cal Hubbard as the newest class of Hall of Famers

With his election into Cooperstown, umpire Cal Hubbard becomes the only person to be elected to both the baseball and football Halls of Fame. The big man from Keytesville, Missouri, who was named the all-time NFL’s offensive tackle, played with the Giants, Packers, and Pirates (Steelers) during his ten-year career in the National Football League, and was inducted into pro gridiron Hall of Fame in 1966.

Along with veteran umpire Cal Hubbard and Fred Lindstrom, one-time career home run champion Roger Connor is elected to the Hall of Fame. The Waterbury Republican-American, the slugger’s hometown newspaper, had heavily lobbied for their native son after Hank Aaron passed Babe Ruth’s record in 1974.

Birthdays February 2

Coming Soon

Death February 2

Coming Soon