This Day In Baseball January 21

January

On January 21 on this day in baseball history, there were over 60 notable events.  There were over 61 Birthdays and 31 Deaths all on January 21 on this Day In Baseball history.

 

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1916 – The New York Yankees buy pitcher Nick Cullop from the Kansas City Packers (Federal League), infielder Joe Gedeon from the Salt Lake Bees (Pacific Coast League), and infielder Germany Schaefer from the Newark Peppers (FL). Schaefer will announce that he is changing his nickname to “Liberty” because of the war. He noticed that “sauerkraut” had been renamed “liberty cabbage”.

New York Yankees acquire future Hall of Famer Eddie Plank from the St. Louis Browns in a seven-player deal

Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis

Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis officially is signed as baseball commissioner, to a seven-year, $350,000 contract.

Pittsburgh Pirates sign future Hall of Fame pitcher Waite Hoyt

Pittsburgh Pirates sign future Hall of Fame pitcher Waite Hoyt

Pirates acquire Waite Hoyt

Pirates acquire Waite Hoyt

1936 – The Hollywood Stars, last place finishers in the Pacific Coast League in 1935, move to San Diego, where they will become the Padres. The Stars were unable to pay the annual rent of $8,000 for Wrigley Field.

Joe DiMaggio

Joe DiMaggio begins a contract holdout that will last for nearly three months

Pitcher Bob Feller signs with the Cleveland Indians for a reported $30,000.

Pitcher Bob Feller signs with the Cleveland Indians for a reported $30,000.

four new Hall of Fame members: catcher Mickey Cochrane, second baseman Frankie Frisch, and pitchers Lefty Grove and Carl Hubbell, all former Most Valuable Players and World Series winners

four new Hall of Fame members: catcher Mickey Cochrane, second baseman Frankie Frisch, and pitchers Lefty Grove and Carl Hubbell, all former Most Valuable Players and World Series winners

Bucketfoot Al Simmons one of baseballs greatest players dies at age 54

DiMaggio bypassed as Dean and Simmons get the Hall of Fame call

Reliever Dave Smith is born in Richmond, CA.

In an effort to fill the void of National League baseball in New York City, the Phillies agree to televise 78 games in the metropolitan area, which is without a Senior Circuit team for the first time since the league’s inception in 1876. The Pirates and Cardinals will also beam games into the Big Apple, but their contests will only feature the departed Dodgers and Giants as opponents.

Stan Musial makes an unusual request – asking for a pay cut

Stan Musial makes an unusual request – asking for a pay cut

Roy Campanella and Stan Musial are elected by the BBWAA to join the elite group of players enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Roy Campanella and Stan Musial are elected by the BBWAA to join the elite group of players enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

1971 - No player receives three-fourths of the necessary votes to be elected into the Hall of Fame

1971 – No player receives three-fourths of the necessary votes to be elected into the Hall of Fame

Four-time Gold Glove Award winner Cesar Gerónimo is traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Kansas City Royals

Four-time Gold Glove Award winner Cesar Gerónimo is traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Kansas City Royals

The Commissioner’s office announces lifetime passes to any major or minor league regular season game will be given to the returning 52 Iranian hostages and the 14 others who were released earlier during the ordeal. In 1973, MLB made a similar gesture to the hundreds of prisoners of war who were returning from Vietnam.

Free agent outfielder Gary Roenicke, who spent last season with the Yankees after eight years with Baltimore, is signed by the Atlanta Braves.

vida blue

Free agent pitcher Vida Blue comes to terms with the Oakland Athletics, but will surprise the team next month by announcing his retirement.

Hall of Fame second baseman Charlie Gehringer dies at the age of 89

Hall of Fame second baseman Charlie Gehringer dies at the age of 89

1999 – Houston signs four players to minor league deals but all will see action with the Astros. Pitchers Brian Williams and Jeff McCurry come to terms along with outfielders Alex Diaz and Ryan Thompson. Williams, in his second tour as an Astro, plays the biggest role going 2-1 in 50 games out of the bullpen. For McCurry, it was a nice 29th birthday present, having been born in Tokyo, Japan on this day in 1970. 

The National Labor Relations Board refuses to overturn the election which removed Richie Phillips and the Major League Umpires Association from power. A new union will represent the arbiters.

The Detroit Tigers sign free agent pitcher Hideo Nomo to a one-year contract. Nomo’s agent had declined a multi-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, expecting more on the open market.

The Mets sign free agent pitcher Rich Rodriguez to a two-year contract and reacquire pitcher Bill Pulsipher from the Brewers in exchange for infielder Luis Lopez.

In an effort to conserve electricity during California’s energy crisis, the Angels turn off Edison International Field’s Big A and the Little A signs. The landmark beacons, that had been usually illuminated 24 hours a day, now will be turned on only for stadium events.

2002 – In a complicated three-team, eleven-player trade, the New York Mets send Benny Agbayani and Todd Zeile to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Alex Ochoa, Ross Gload, Craig House and cash considerations. The third team in the deal, the Milwaukee Brewers, send Jeromy Burnitz, Jeff D’Amico, Lou Collier, Mike Sweeney, and cash to the Mets, in exchange for Lenny Harris, Glendon Rusch and Ochoa. The Mets have now replaced half of their 2001 roster.

2005 – Roger Clemens and the Houston Astros agree to an $18 million, one-year contract. Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, agrees to a deal that makes him the highest-paid pitcher for the fifth time, following deals with the Boston Red Sox in 1989 ($2.5 million) and 1991 ($5.38 million); with the Toronto Blue Jays before the 1997 season, and with the New York Yankees in 2000 ($15.45 million).

2009 – Jeff Kent retires. He hit 351 home runs as a second baseman in the majors, claiming the record for the position by 74 over his nearest competitor, Ryne Sandberg. A five-time All-Star and the 2000 National League MVP, he clubbed 377 homers overall and batted .290 in a 17-year career.

The Orioles and Nick Markakis finalize a significant $66.1 million six-year deal, which covers the span the right fielder would have been eligible for arbitration and the first three after he would be eligible to file for free agency. The 25 year-old fly chaser, who had his best offensive season with the team and led the American League in outfield assists last season, was named the team’s most valuable player by the local media last season.

In an effort to increase attendance, Washington reduces individual ticket prices on 14,000 seats and does not raise prices on any of the 41,888 seats at Nationals Park. The club ranked a disappointing 13th place in attendance in the 16-team National League circuit despite the debut of a brand new stadium in the nation’s capital.

“​Nine years ago you welcomed me into your community. You greeted me as a name and embraced me as a person, and I leave you now as a friend.” – ROCCO BALDELLI, thanking Tampa Bay fans in an open letter for their support during his time with the Rays. Rocco Baldelli, traded to the Red Sox in the offseason, takes out an ad in the St. Petersburg Times to show his appreciation of the support given to him by the Rays fans during his five years with the franchise. In an open letter, the outfielder writes,”I will always think of the Tampa Bay area as my second home, and I would like to thank everyone for accepting me and for making my time here as enjoyable as it was”.

Erik Bedard, avoiding salary arbitration, signs a $7.75 million, one-year contract with the Mariners. The deal gives the left-hander, the team’s Opening Day starter who was obtained last season from Baltimore, a raise of $750,000 from last season.

Free agent pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel signs a one-year deal with Kansas City, while the Pirates sign reliever Octavio Dotel for a year with an option for a second season. Dotel will replace Matt Capps as the Bucs’ closer.

The Phillies sign three-year contract extensions with centerfielder Shane Victorino and starting pitcher Joe Blanton. The two deals combined are worth $46 million.

Joe Blanton (2-8, 4.05) and the Phillies, avoiding an arbitration hearing, come to terms on a $24 million, three-year deal. The 29 year-old right-hander is expected to be the National League champion’s number three starter in a rotation which includes Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and J.A. Happ

The Blue Jays trade veteran OF Vernon Wells to the Angels in return for OF Juan Rivera and C-1B Mike Napoli. Wells was considered untradeable because of his huge contract, but the Angels bite after Wells showed a return to form in 2010, topping 30 homers in his best season since 2006.

The Rays sign two potentially useful players who had until now elicited little interest on the free agent market to one-year deals, OFs Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon. The two former teammates with the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox will share the LF and DH jobs in Tampa. The Cardinals also sign a player, veteran utility infielder Nick Punto.

In a surprise move, the Red Sox trade their starting shortstop for the past two years, Marco Scutaro, to the Colorado Rockies in return for P Clayton Mortensen.

The Indians sign IF Julio Lugo to a minor league contract.

2013 – SS Miguel Tejada, trying to return to the big leagues after a year away from the diamond, commits a costly error in the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 4 of the Dominican League Finals, allowing Jesus Feliciano to score the winning run and give Escogido a 3 – 2 win over the Aguilas Cibaeñas. With the bases loaded, Tejada fields Mauro Gomez’s grounder cleanly, but throws the ball away to give Escogido a 3 games to 1 lead; Tejada had been his team’s best player until then, going 3 for 4 with a double.

The Nationals introduce Max Scherzer, the newest member of the team’s very solid pitching staff. The 29 year-old right-hander, who inked a seven-year, $210 million contract to hurl for Washington, joins Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister, and Gio Gonzalez, a fivesome many consider to be the best starting rotation in baseball history.

2019 – The Yankees get rid of an unwanted member of their pitching staff by sending veteran starter Sonny Gray to the Reds in return for minor league infielder Shed Long and a Compensation Round A pick in the 2019 amateur draft. They then turn around and trade Long to the Mariners for OF Josh Stowers. For their part, the Reds immediately sign Gray to a three-year contract extension worth $30.5 million.

Major League Baseball Birthdays on January 21 

Major League Baseball Deaths On January 21