This Day In Baseball January 14

January

On January 14 on this day in baseball history, there were over 52 notable events.  There were over 59 Birthdays, 30 Deaths all on January 14 on this day In baseball history.

 

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1882 – Philadelphia officials, justifiably proud of their new multi-purpose baseball park, declare that it “will be placed in first-class condition for base ball, football, lacrosse and lawn-tennis; also bicycle and pedestrian performances.”

1891 – The National League votes to allow the American Association to place a team in Boston, despite the vehement opposition of the owners of the Boston Beaneaters NL club.

1892 – Former Chicago White Stockings star catcher Frank (Silver) Flint dies of consumption at age 36.

1893 – The Cuban Giants, perhaps the nation’s best black baseball team, announce their desire to join the proposed Middle States League. Their application is rejected.

1896 – A Chicago jury acquits Colts outfielder Walt Wilmot of charges of violating the Sabbath law by playing Sunday baseball last year. Charges against other players are subsequently dropped, and the way is cleared for future Sunday ball in Chicago.

New York Giants owner John T. Brush, who refused to play the American League pennant winners Boston Americans in 1904, proposes rules governing future World Series.

New York Giants owner John T. Brush, who refused to play the American League pennant winners Boston Americans in 1904, proposes rules governing future World Series.

St. Louis Browns name star shortstop Bobby Wallace their new player-manager

Bobby wallace

The St. Louis Browns name star shortstop Bobby Wallace as their new manager. The future Hall of Famer will perform dual duties until 1912, when he will surrender his managerial position but continue as an active player.

1914 – Former major league outfielder Walt Goldsby commits suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

 Lee Magee, formerly the player-manager of the Brooklyn Tip-Tops of the Federal League, is sold to the Yankees for about $25,000.

 Lee Magee, formerly the player-manager of the Brooklyn Tip-Tops of the Federal League, is sold to the Yankees for about $25,000.

Wall Street tycoon Charles A. Stoneham, buys the New York Giants

John McGraw, Charles A. Stoneham, and Tammany Hall politician Judge Francis X. McQuade buy controlling interest in the New York Giants from the John Brush estate. Having drawn just 265,000 fans in 1918, the club is sold at a bargain price. The three will spend many days in courtrooms fighting among themselves, and fending off government charges about Stoneham's business practices.

John McGraw, Charles A. Stoneham, and Tammany Hall politician Judge Francis X. McQuade buy controlling interest in the New York Giants from the John Brush estate. Having drawn just 265,000 fans in 1918, the club is sold at a bargain price. The three will spend many days in courtrooms fighting among themselves, and fending off government charges about Stoneham’s business practices.

Ben Shibe, half-owner and president of the Philadelphia Athletics since 1906, dies at 84. A partner in the Al Reach Sporting Goods company, Shibe invented the machinery that made possible the manufacture of standard baseballs.

Outfielder Clyde Milan is named the new manager of the Washington Senators. Milan took over for George McBride at the end of last season after McBride was hit in the face with a ball during batting practice. McBride began suffering vertigo and fainting spells and relinquished the manager’s job.

The Senators name Clyde Milan to replace George McBride, who guided Washington to a fourth-place finish with an 80-73 record in his only season as a big league skipper. The team’s new player-manager, an outfielder with the club since 1907, will see his sixth-place club finish 16 games under .500 during his final year in baseball.

1928 – Alfred J. Reach, founder of the A.J. Reach sporting goods firm, dies at 87. Before 1860, Reach became the first ballplayer to receive a regular salary when he signed as a catcher with the Philadelphia Athletics for $25 a week.

1932 – Babe Ruth rejects a Yankees offer of $70,000, as the major leagues vow to cut salaries by $1 million.

Outfielder Bing Miller is purchased by the Boston Red Sox from the Philadelphia Athletics.

Outfielder Bing Miller is purchased by the Boston Red Sox from the Philadelphia Athletics.

Hilario “Sandy” Valdespino is born in San Jose de las Lajas, Cuba. The reserve outfielder bats .244 for the Astros during the first five months of the 1969 season before being traded. He had been in the 1965 World Series during his rookie season with the Minnesota Twins.

91 players in the Detroit farm system are set free by commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis

91 players in the Detroit farm system are set free by commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis

Joe DiMaggio marries Marilyn Monroe

Joe DiMaggio marries Marilyn Monroe

1960 – Charles Comiskey, Jr., says Bill Veeck has turned down his offer to buy the Chicago White Sox.

Hoyt Wilhelm and Luis Aparicio headline 7 player trade between Orioles and White Sox

Hoyt Wilhelm and Luis Aparicio headline 7 player trade between Orioles and White Sox

1966 – The Cleveland Indians trade outfielder Lou Clinton to the New York Yankees for catcher Doc Edwards, who won’t play again in the majors until 1970, with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Tom Brown becomes the first major leaguer to play in the Super Bowl. The Green Bay defensive back, an outfielder and first baseman for the Senators in 1963, is best remembered for his last-minute interception of Cowboy quarterback Don Meredith’s Hail Mary pass in the NFL Championship game, making Green Bay a participant in the first-ever Super Bowl.

Johnny Murphy Miracle Mets GM dies 3 months after the World Series

Ted turner

WTCG-TV owner Ted Turner obtains 100% of the Atlanta Braves for $12 million

Frank Robinson Autographed Postcard #83386548 - PSA/DNA Certified

Frank Robinson is named manager of the San Francisco Giants

1986 – Picking first in the January draft, Cleveland selects pitcher Jeff Shaw. The Pirates, selecting second, take outfielder Moises Alou. It will be the last time the January draft is held: from now on all draft-eligible players will be part of a single pool for selection in the June Amateur Draft.

Baseball writers elect Catfish Hunter and Billy Williams to the Hall of Fame

Baseball writers elect Catfish Hunter and Billy Williams to the Hall of Fame

Bob Horner makes a return to the major leagues signing with St Louis

Bob Horner makes a return to the major leagues signing with St Louis

1993 – The Oakland Athletics trade outfielder Harold Baines to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for two minor league pitchers.

1994 – The Orioles sign free agent third baseman Chris Sabo, and the Mariners sign pitcher Greg Hibbard.

1997 – Free agent pitcher Doug Drabek is signed by the Chicago White Sox.

James Mouton autographed Baseball Card (Houston Astros) 1995 Score #125 Rookie

Houston deals outfielder James Mouton to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Sean Bergman. Bergman contributes a 16-15 record on two division-winning Astros clubs. 

The Astros swap catcher Brad Ausmus and pitcher C.J. Nitkowski to Detroit for five players including catcher Paul Bako and pitcher Brian Powell. Ironically, both players Houston traded away would return to the Astros organization. 

1999 – The Cincinnati Reds sign free agent first baseman Hal Morris, and the Detroit Tigers obtain catcher Brad Ausmus and pitcher C.J. Nitkowski from the Houston Astros in exchange for catcher Paul Bako and four prospects.

2000 – The Milwaukee Brewers trade outfielder Alex Ochoa to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Mark Sweeney and a minor league player, and the Kansas City Royals sign free agent pitcher Ricky Bottalico.

2001 – The Chicago White Sox obtain pitchers David Wells and Matt DeWitt from the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher Mike Sirotka, Kevin Beirne and Mike Williams, and outfielder Brian Simmons. Sirotka, the key player obtained by the Jays, will turn out to be injured and will never pitch in the majors again.

barry bonds contract

Slugger Barry Bonds avoids arbitration by agreeing to a five-year, $90 million deal with the San Francisco Giants

The Chicago Cubs sign free agent outfielder Darren Lewis to a one-year contract.

Davey Lopes joins the Washington Nationals as their new first base coach.

Dontrelle Willis, Mark Teixeira and Alfonso Soriano are among the 100 players who file for salary arbitration, the often acrimonious negotiating process that rankles baseball management every winter. Mark Prior, Josh Beckett, Brad Lidge, Adam Dunn, Morgan Ensberg, Brian Roberts, Travis Lee and Scot Shields are some of the other players who file before the deadline. Last year, players in arbitration averaged a 123 percent salary increase.

Relief pitcher Luis Vizcaino and the Arizona Diamondbacks avoid arbitration by agreeing to a $1,775,000, one-year contract.

The Dodgers, in an attempt to buy time as closer Eric Gagne recovers from elbow surgery, trade right-hander Edwin Jackson and prospect lefty Chuck Tiffany to the Devil Rays to obtain All-Star penmen Danys Baez and Lance Carter, as well as a minor league player to be named. Baez, who saved 41 games for Tampa Bay last season, will be the team’s closer until Gagne is ready to return.

The Atlanta Braves pick up OF Mark Kotsay from the Oakland Athletics for Joey Devine and Jamie Richmond. Kotsay requires medical clearance from Braves doctors after only playing 56 games in 2007.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays exchange former All-Star third basemen who have battled injuries in recent years. St. Louis gets Troy Glaus and Toronto Scott Rolen.

In an effort to replace Andruw Jones, their former Glove Glover in centerfield, the Braves acquire Mark Kotsay from the rebuilding A’s in exchange for reliever Joey Devine and a minor league pitching prospect. Additionally, Atlanta will pick up approximately $5 million of their new outfielder’s $7.35 million salary.

The Angels avoid arbitration when the team agrees to a $5,775,000, one-year deal with Chone Figgins, the club’s versatile switch-hitter. The 30 year-old, who led the team with 34 stolen bases last season, has employed mostly third base, but he has also played second, shortstop, and in the outfield by Halos’ skipper Mike Scioscia.

The Arizona Diamondbacks sign free agent 1B Andy LaRoche to a one-year contract. He split the 2009 season between the Pirates, Red Sox and Braves, but still managed to have one his most productive years, hitting 25 homers with 83 RBI.

The Marlins sign a four-year deal worth $39 million with young pitching star Josh Johnson. He joins shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who signed a six-year deal with the Fish in 2008, as the future cornerstones of the franchise.

The Padres also ink a star player eligible for salary arbitration, closer Heath Bell, who signs a one-year $4 million deal.

The Tigers agree to terms with free agent reliever Jose Valverde, who played for the Houston Astros last season. As a result of the signing, the Tigers will give up their first pick in the 2010 amateur draft, the first time the team has surrendered its top pick since signing Rob Deer as a free agent in 1991.

The Blue Jays trade starting shortstop Alex Gonzalez along with minor leaguers Tim Collins and Tyler Pastornicky to the Braves in exchange for infielder Yunel Escobar and southpaw Jo-Jo Reyes. The Braves’ new infielder is probably best known for his role in Florida’s improbable World Series victory over New York, that includes a walk-off home run in the 12th inning of Game Four, giving the Marlins a 4-3 victory and a 2-2 tie in the Fall Classic.

Hiromitsu Ochiai and Mutsuo Minagawa are elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. Ochiai was the only three-time Triple Crown winner in Nippon Pro Baseball and later guided the Chunichi Dragons to the 2007 Japan Series title. Minagawa was a six-time All-Star who had a career record of 221-139.

The Oakland A’s sign reliever Grant Balfour and the Kansas City Royals add starter Jeff Francis.

2012 – Mayaguez wins the first game of the finals of the Puerto Rican League with an emphatic 10 – 1 win over Caguas. Mayaguez bangs out 19 hits; Bobby Livingston is the winner over Matt DeSalvo.

2014 – Four pitchers combine on a no-hitter as Escogido clinches a spot in the finals of the Dominican League championship tournament with a 6 – 0 win over Licey. Jon Leicester pitches the first five innings, and three relievers follow suit, with Fernando Ramsey completing the no-no by striking out Lonnie Chisenhall for the final out; Ramon Garcia and Armando Rodriguez are the other two pitchers involved.

Houston acquires slugger Evan Gattis, along with reliever James Hoyt, from Atlanta for pitcher Mike Foltynewicz and two minor leaguers. Gattis would go on to lead the Astros in home runs (27) and RBIs (88) that season. 

Media reports, which will be confirmed quickly, indicate that the Braves have traded C Evan Gattis to Houston for three prospects, Ps Mike Foltynewicz and Andrew Thurman and IF Rio Ruiz. P James Hoyt accompanies Gattis to Houston.

2016 – The St. Petersburg, FL city council votes to allow the Tampa Bay Rays to explore potential ballpark sites outside the city, including in Tampa, FL across the Bay. The team has played in St. Pete since its creation in the expansion of 1998, but has been unable to find an appropriate site for new digs there, while being held prisoner by a long-term lease in outdated Tropicana Field.

At the home of the Japanese consul general in Atlanta, Hank Aaron is presented with the Gold Rays with Rosette, the fourth class of Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japan’s highest honors. The 81 year-old American home run king is commended, along with Sadaharu Oh, for his efforts towards the World Children’s Baseball Fair, an organization which fosters an environment of world understanding and cultural exchange through the celebration of the sport.

“I think it is a plan that is in the best interest of the entire bay area and I have to give him [St. Pete’s mayor Rick Kriseman] an awful lot of credit for perseverance and for crafting a plan that has the best interests of the citizens of St. Petersburg, protects their investment in that stadium and at the same time recognizes the fiscal reality of the situation.” – BOB BUCKHORN, mayor of Tampa, Florida The St. Petersburg’s City Council votes 5-3, supporting a measure which allows the Rays to explore new stadium sites in Hillsborough County, which had, up to now, not been up for discussion due to the team’s agreement to stay at Tropicana Field until 2027. The heralded deal looks out for taxpayers while securing the franchise’s commitment to remain in the environs of the Tampa Bay area.

2018 – For anyone who likes high-scoring games, the Sydney Blue Sox and Perth Heat of the Australian Baseball League lock up in a 22- 19 slugfest that features 12 homers. As a point of comparison, the highest scoring game of the most recent major league season featured just 32 runs, and the most homers hit in a game was 10.

Mel Stottlemyre Sr., the Astros’ pitching coach from 1994-95, passes away from cancer at age 77. In an 11-year career with the Yankees, the righthander won 164 games and was a five-time All-Star. He owned another footnote in Houston history as the opposing starting pitcher for the first game in the Astrodome. 

2019 – Kyler Murray, Oakland’s top pick in the 2018 amateur draft and winner of the Heisman Trophy as a star quarterback for the University of Oklahoma, announces that he has declared for the upcoming NFL draft hours before the midnight ET limit for doing so. He is expected to be selected early in the first round, but the A’s could still convince him to forgo a football career by sweetening the contract they reached with him last summer.

Tim Flannery on sign stealing in baseball

Tim Flannery on Sign Stealing In Baseball

Major League Baseball Birthdays on January 14

Major League Baseball Deaths On January 14