This Day In Baseball January 22

January

On January 22 on this day in baseball history, there were over 100 notable events.  There were over 54 Birthdays and 39  Deaths on January 22 on this Day In Baseball history.

 

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1889 – Facing over $30,000 in debts, the Indianapolis Hoosiers go bankrupt and surrender their franchise to the National League.

1901 – Philadelphia Athletics manager-GM Connie Mack signs a 10-year lease on grounds at 29th and Columbia to be called Columbia Park. A contract is set for construction of single-deck stands to hold 7,500.

1904 – William H. Yawkey, the 28-year-old heir to a lumber and mining fortune, buys the Detroit Tigers from S.F. Angus for $50,000. New money and Frank Navin’s shrewd management will bring three straight pennants to the franchise within a few years.

1913 – The New York Giants give the Yankees permission to use the Polo Grounds for this season only, as the lease on the Hilltop grounds has expired. The team will no longer be known as the “Highlanders” as a result of the move and will remain as a tenant through 1922.

1918 – The Yankees trade catcher Les Nunamaker, third baseman Fritz Maisel, infielder Joe Gedeon, and pitchers Nick Cullop and Urban Shocker to the St. Louis Browns in exchange for pitcher Eddie Plank and second baseman Del Pratt. Plank, a 300-game winner, retires, but Pratt gives the Yankees three good years of services at second. Shocker is the gem, posting four straight seasons of 20 or more wins in St. Louis. Maisel, whom the Yankees refused to trade in early 1916 for either Boston Red Sox Tris Speaker (and cash) or Chicago White Sox Shoeless Joe Jackson, will hit just .232 in 90 games and be gone.

The New York Yankees announce they will put numbers on the backs of their uniforms

The New York Yankees announce they will put numbers on the backs of their uniforms

1935 – The Washington Senators receive pitcher Bump Hadley from the St. Louis Browns in a trade for catcher Luke Sewell, who is passed on to the Chicago White Sox.

Stan Musial

Stan Musial officially enlists in the U.S. Army

1946 – The Boston Red Sox sell veteran third baseman Jim Tabor to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Leon Roberts is born in Vicksburg, MI.

Under the McCarran-Walter Act, U.S. Immigration Commissioner Argyle R. Mackey warns alien players they will face deportation if found jumping U.S. pro contracts

Jackie Robinson

Look Magazine reveals the retirement of Jackie Robinson

Jackie Jensen

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Jensen announces his retirement

Houston Astros trade Rusty Staub to the Montreal Expos for Donn Clendenon and Jesus Alou

1976 – Pitchers Robin Roberts and Bob Lemon are voted into the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Roberts led the National League in starts and innings pitched for five straight seasons and was tops in victories for four consecutive years on his way to 286 career wins. Lemon earned 20 victories six times and won 207 career games.

Lindsey Nelson, selected by the expansion Mets as the team’s lead announcer in 1962, reveals he will not be returning to the Mets broadcast booth this season, ending a 17-year partnership with Ralph Kiner and Bob Murphy. The colorfully-clad Hall of Fame announcer, who will eventually do play-by-play for the Giants, is replaced by Steve Albert, the younger brother of the well-known NBA Knicks and NHL Rangers’ broadcaster, Marv Albert.

Reggie Jackson signs with Angels

free agent slugger Reggie Jackson signs a four-year, $4 million contract with the California Angels

1988 – As a result of the Players Association’s 1985 collusion suit against the owners, arbitrator Thomas Roberts declares seven players no-risk free agents until March 1st, giving them a chance to sign with other clubs despite already having contracts. The seven are Juan Beniquez, Tom Brookens, Kirk Gibson, Carlton Fisk, Donnie Moore, Joe Niekro and Butch Wynegar. Gibson will jump to the Dodgers and become the National League MVP and a World Series] hero to boot.

1992 – The New York Mets trade outfielder Mark Carreon and relief pitcher Tony Castillo to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for pitcher Paul Gibson and Randy Marshall.

The Oakland Athletics send outfielder Danny Tartabull to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for pitcher Andrew Lorraine and Charles Poe.

The St. Louis Cardinals send outfielder Bernard Gilkey to the New York Mets in exchange for pitchers Eric Ludwick, Erik Hiljus and Yudith Orozio.

1997 – All-Star first baseman Don Mattingly officially announces his retirement at a media conference in Yankee Stadium.

1998 – Free agent outfielder Rickey Henderson signs on for a fourth tour of duty with the Oakland Athletics.

Tommy Agee World Series catch

Tommie Agee dies from a heart attack at the age of 58

Red Sox sign free agent David Ortiz

Red Sox sign free agent David Ortiz

Free agent and former Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez signs a one-year deal worth $10 million to play in his hometown with the Florida Marlins. The Miami resident, who is a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner, will be replacing Charles Johnson who was traded to the Colorado Rockies during the off-season.

Pitcher Jorge Sosa agrees to a $2.2 million, one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves, and the Minnesota Twins and utility player Michael Cuddyer agrees to a $1.3 million, one-year contract that avoids arbitration.

The Baltimore Orioles add much-needed experience to their starting rotation, acquiring pitcher Kris Benson from the New York Mets for relief pitchers Jorge Julio and John Maine.

When the island’s best players meet for an exhibition game, Dayan Viciedo becomes the youngest player in Cuban baseball history to be named to an All-Star squad. The 16 year-old Villa Clara prospect has played shortstop and third base, as well as having pitched in international youth competitions for various national teams.

A’s prospect Grant Desme is retiring from baseball to pursue his calling to be a Catholic priest. In 2009, The 23 year-old minor league outfielder, who was recently named the Arizona Fall League’s Most Valuable Player, hit .288 along with 31 home runs and 89 RBIs, playing single A ball with the Kane County Cougars (MWL) and the Stockton Ports (CAL).

The Mets trade right-handed reliever Brian Stokes to the Angels for Gary Matthews Jr.

The Mets trade right-handed reliever Brian Stokes to the Angels for Gary Matthews Jr.

2011 – The 2010 Hoofdklasse awards are given out. Bryan Engelhardt is named MVP after leading the league in slugging, homers, RBI, steals, total bases and hits and Leon Boyd is the Pitcher of the Year. Australian Dushan Ruzic is honored as MVP of the 2010 Holland Series. Niels Harteveld wins the Roel de Mon Award and recent Rangers signee Nick Urbanus the Ron Fraser Award.

Escogido takes a two games to none lead in the Dominican League finals with a 4 – 1 win over Aguilas Cibaeñas. Nelson Figueroa is the winner and Mauro Gomez leads the offense with a homer off Manauris Baez. Julio Lugo helps out by going 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles.

In the Mexican Pacific League, Agustin Murillo hits a two-run homer in the bottom of the 8th to lead Ciudad Obregon to a 6 – 5 win over Guasave, for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven finals.

The Mariners sign veteran starting pitcher Kevin Millwood.

Free agent OF Delmon Young, MVP of the 2012 ALCS with the Tigers, signs a one-year contract with the Phillies for the surprisingly low salary of $750,000. Young’s market value has plummeted because of his defensive struggles, but he remains a dangerous hitter who could prove to be a tremendous bargain.

Mayagüez ties the Puerto Rican League finals at two games apiece with a 6 – 5 win over Caguas. SS Luis Mateo commits a critical error with two on and two outs in the bottom of the 11th, giving Mayagüez the win.

The Leones del Escogido repeat as Dominican League champions after a 3 – 0 win over the Aguilas Cibaeñas to complete a sweep of the finals. Fernando Tatis hits a two-run double in the 2nd and a solo homer in the 7th to account for all the runs, while Kris Johnson pitches six scoreless innings for the win. It is the Lions’ fifteenth title.

Masahiro Tanaka reaches a seven-year, $155 million deal with the New York Yankees. Tanaka is fresh off one of the best seasons in Pacific League history (24-0, 1.27).

The Rays and Padres make a seven-player trade, with Tampa Bay sending Ps Alex Torres and Jesse Hahn to San Diego for IF Logan Forsythe, Ps Brad Boxberger, Matt Lollis and Matt Andriese, and IF Maxx Tissenbaum.

Don Bryant passes away at age 73 in Gainesville, FL.

Greg Frady is named to the German Baseball Hall of Fame. He had managed the German national team to a Bronze Medal in the 2010 European Championship, their first European Championship medal in 35 years, and guided them to three Baseball World Cups after no Baseball World Cup appearances since the early 1970s.

The Mets make a couple of moves to defend their National League pennant, re-signing free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and adding reliever Antonio Bastardo. Cespedes, the star of the team’s late surge in 2015, returns after protracted negotiations, signing for three years and $75 million, while the price tag for Bastardo is $12 million over two years.

2017 – The Alazanes de Granma win the 2016-2017 Cuban title, winning their first pennant after 40 years of competition. They sweep the defending champion Ciego de Ávila in the finale. Guillermo Avilés drives in Alfredo Despaigne with the winning run in a 3 – 2 game while Miguel Lahera gets the win in relief.

2018 – The Giants sign veteran free agent OF Austin Jackson to a two-year deal worth $6 million. While second-tier free agents like Jackson have been able to find homes, an unusually large number of front-line ones remain unsigned at this late stage of the off-season.

2019 – Mariano Rivera becomes the first unanimous inductee in the Hall of Fame, being named on all 425 ballots cast by members of the BBWAA in the 2019 Hall of Fame Election. Joining him are fellow pitchers Roy Halladay, who becomes a posthumous first-ballot Hall of Famer, and Mike Mussina, and DH/3B Edgar Martinez, the latter in his 10th and final year of eligibility.

Major League Baseball Birthdays on January 22

Major League Baseball Deaths On January 22