This Day In Baseball January 25

January

On January 25 on this day in baseball history, there were over 50 notable events.  There were over 53 Birthdays, 33 Deaths, all on January 25 on this Day In Baseball history.

 

1942 – Ernie Fazio is born in Oakland, CA. One of the first Houston bonus babies, he fails to hit over .200 with the Colt .45s in 1962 and 1963. His big league career peaks at age 21.

gomez lefty

Yankees sell future Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez to the Boston Braves

 Larry MacPhail, Dan Topping and Del Webb purchase the New York Yankees for $2.8 million from the heirs of previous owner Jacob Ruppert. The new owners announce that Ed Barrow will remain in place as general manager, but a month later they will install MacPhail as GM.

 Larry MacPhail, Dan Topping and Del Webb purchase the New York Yankees for $2.8 million from the heirs of previous owner Jacob Ruppert. The new owners announce that Ed Barrow will remain in place as general manager, but a month later they will install MacPhail as GM.

Houma (LA) Indians Bill Thomas, who pitched in all four games that his team won in the final round, is among the five persons, including two of his teammates and his manager, who are put on baseball’s ineligible list for allegedly betting on the 1946 Class D Evangeline League playoffs. The 41 year-old right-hander, the all-time minor league winningest pitcher with 383 wins, will be reinstated in 1949.

Lou_Boudreau

Cleveland Indians reward player-manager Lou Boudreau with a two-year contract

1951 – Vern Ruhle is born in Midland, MI. Ruhle spends seven seasons as an Astro pitcher, best known for taking over a spot in the starting rotation in 1980 when J.R. Richard suffered a stroke and helping Houston win their first division crown. Later, he is a successful pitching coach in Houston under manager Larry Dierker. 

Aaron and Mathews sign new contracts

Aaron and Mathews sign new contracts

Tony Kubek

New York Yankees shortstop Tony Kubek announces his retirement due to a serious back problem

Phil Niekro

Phil Niekro is taken to a hospital to undergo an emergency appendectomy

ray kroc

Ray Kroc, fast-food entrepreneur (McDonald’s), buys the San Diego Padres for $12 million

San Diego Padres acquire well-traveled pitcher Gaylord Perry from the Texas Rangers

San Diego Padres acquire well-traveled pitcher Gaylord Perry from the Texas Rangers

1979 – Philip Barzilla is born in Houston, TX. The lefthander tosses 1/3rd of an inning for the hometown team in 2006, much to the joy of his family, including one proud uncle. 

The Mets’ new owners are formally introduced to the local media at Shea Stadium’s Diamond Club. Nelson Doubleday will be the new chairman of the board, replacing the outgoing Lorinda de Roulet, who will play no role in the future of the franchise, and Fred Wilpon is named the president and CEO of the club.

The Devil Rays sign Gregg Blosser, the organization’s first player with major league experience. The former Boston Red Sox outfielder, a Florida native, will never appear in a game for Tampa Bay.

Tim Raines Oakland

Free agent outfielder Tim Raines is signed by the Oakland Athletics 

New York Mets games this season will be broadcast by WPIX, Channel 11, after being aired on WOR, Channel 9, since the club's inception in 1962.

New York Mets games this season will be broadcast by WPIX, Channel 11, after being aired on WOR, Channel 9, since the club’s inception in 1962.

2003 – Slugger Daryle Ward is traded to Los Angeles for minor league pitcher Ruddy Lugo, younger brother of infielder Julio Lugo. Ward teases fans with his home run potential but management loses patience after a five-year run where he swats 49 homers and bats .269 in 418 games. 

Carlos Delgado joins the Florida Marlins

Carlos Delgado joins the Florida Marlins

The A’s sign 37 year-old free-agent Frank Thomas to a $500,000, one-year deal. The two-time American League aging MVP gives Oakland the right-handed bat the team needs in the middle of their lineup.

Willie Randolph, who brought New York within one game of a World Series appearance, agrees to a $5.65 million, three-year deal to continue as the manager of the Mets through 2008. The skipper’s new deal doubles his present salary from $700,000 to $1.4 million.

The Águilas Cibaeñas win their 20th Dominican League title, breaking a tie with rival Licey Tigers. They top the Tigers, 5 – 3, in the finals. Ramon Ortiz tosses six shutout innings but the Licey bullpen fails to hold on as Mendy Lopez homers against Guillermo Mota in the 7th and Rafael Furcal also goes deep versus Damaso Marte an inning later to win it. Nelson Figueroa is the winning pitcher, to improve to 4-0 this postseason.

The Minnesota Twins give Justin Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP, the highest contract in franchise history by signing him for $80 million over six years. They also announce the signing of Michael Cuddyer for 3 years and $24 million.

The Leones de Ponce take their 11th Puerto Rican League title, winning the first crown after the league resumed play following a shutdown in 2008. They win the finale, 8 – 0, behind the bats of 2B Andy Gonzalez (3 for 5 with a homer) and DH Gabriel Martinez (who hits 2 doubles and a triple) and the arm of Hector Mercado, who does not give up a run in 6 2/3 innings of work.

The Tigres del Licey tie for the most Dominican League titles by taking their 20th in a 5-game sweep of the Gigantes del Cibao. The finale goes 12 innings, before 2B Anderson Hernandez singles in 3B Ronnie Belliard with the winner. Felix Rodriguez gets the win and Felix Nunez the loss.

The Venados de Mazatlan win the Mexican Pacific League title in a four-game sweep of the Cañeros de los Mochis, with a 3 – 2 win in the last game. 20-year-old Alfonso Sanchez and 24-year-old Sergio Valenzuela combine for 8 shutout frames before closer Hector Navarro almost blows it for the Venados.

The Nationals sign P Tyler Walker to a one-year contract, joining a revamped bullpen that includes newcomers Eddie Guardado, Matt Capps and Brian Bruney. The Nats also sign OF Chris Duncan and P Chuck James to minor league contracts.

Veteran infielder Mark Loretta announces his retirement after 15 years in the majors and is immediately hired by the San Diego Padres, one of his former teams, to a front office job; he will be a special assistant to the baseball operations staff.

2011 – The Blue Jays continue to be active on the trade market, sending newly-acquired C-1B Mike Napoli, who has been with the team less than a week since being acquired from the Angels for OF Vernon Wells, to Texas in return for P Frank Francisco.

The Indios de Mayagüez win their 17th Puerto Rican League title, topping the Criollos de Caguas, 5 – 2, to take the finals, 5 games to 3. Bobby Livingston gets the win and Matt DeSalvo the loss. Indios catcher Martin Maldonado homers and drives in 3 to lead the offense.

The Reds make a couple of deals, acquiring IF Wilson Valdez from Philadelphia in return for P Jeremy Horst, and signing free agent P Jeff Francis to a minor league deal.

The Yaquis de Obregón repeat as Mexican Pacific League champs. In the finale, they dominate the Algodoneros de Guasave, 19 – 0, with 25 hits to 6. Marco Carrillo and two relievers combine on the whitewash while 10 hurlers try vainly to stop the Yaquis’ bats. C Iker Franco (3 R, 3 RBI) falls a triple shy of the cycle while 1B Sergio Contreras goes 4 for 6 with 3 runs and 5 RBI.

Lara defeats Magallanes, 4 – 2, to take a two-game-to-one lead in the finals of the Venezuelan League. Raul Rivera pitches 5 2/3 scoreless innings for the winners. Luis Valbuena hits a pair of doubles and drives in and scores a run to lead the offense.

Obregón takes a three games to none lead in the Mexican Pacific League finals with a 6 – 5 win over Mexicali. Reliever Oscar Villarreal plunks Jesse Gutierrez with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th to end the game.

A brawl breaks out in Game 3 of the Venezuelan League finals. Robinson Chirinos of the Navegantes del Magallanes cracks a solo homer (his second of the day) off Mayckol Guaipe. Chirinos stands for a few seconds to admire the shot, which makes it 6 – 1 in the 6th. The next batter, Ezequiel Carrera, shows a bunt but is hit by Guaipe. The benches clear. Carlos Zambrano of Magallanes leads the charge from the Navegantes bench and takes swings at anyone in his way, though no one is injured.

Dodger Stadium becomes the latest ballpark to host an outdoor National Hockey League game. The Anaheim Ducks shut out the Los Angeles Kings, 3-0, in a local derby.

Rob Manfred takes over for Bud Selig as Commissioner of baseball.

The Gigantes del Cibao win their first Dominican League title. They beat the Estrellas Orientales, 5 games to 3, in the finale. In Game 8 today, the Gigantes win, 12 – 5, hammering away at eight Estrellas hurlers. Maikel Franco belts two homers, driving in 7, Leury Garcia and Alexi Casilla each score 3 and Carlos Peguero has 3 hits (including a home run). Mario Santiago gets the win.

2016 – The Leones del Escogido win the Dominican League championship for the 16th time, 5 games to 1. In Game 6, they top the Tigres del Licey 8 – 4, as Shawn Hill gets the win over Yunesky Maya. Eury Pérez goes 3 for 5 with 2 runs while Leury García comes up big in the finale for a second straight year (2 R, 2 RBI). Lew Ford is named finals MVP after hitting .368.

The Águilas del Zulia‎ win their first Venezuelan League title in 17 years, beating the Cardenales de Lara 4 games to 1 in the finals. In Game 5, they win 5 – 2. José Pirela’s two-run homer off Raul Rivero gets things going, while Mitch Lively allows one run and two hits in seven innings for the win.

The Criollos de Caguas take the Puerto Rican League pennant, topping the Santurce Crabbers 5 games to 3 in the finals. They win Game 8, 6 – 5, in 12 innings when Henry Ramos singles in David Vidal with the winner; it is Ramos’s third hit of the day. Joel Piñeiro gets the victory.

2018 – The Brewers swing two big deals in one day, first signing free agent CF Lorenzo Cain for five years and $80 million, and then acquiring RF Christian Yelich from the Marlins for four prospects: OFs Lewis Brinson and Monte Harrison, IF Isan Diaz and P Jordan Yamamoto.

2019 – The Cangrejeros de Santurce win the Puerto Rican League championship, sweeping the Indios de Mayagüez in four games despite a sub-.500 regular season record compared to Mayagüez’s .600 record. The finale is a pitching duel as Santurce wins, 1-0. Adalberto Flores allows only 3 hits, one walk and no runs in six then Lendy Castillo, James Pugliese and Fernando Cruz pitch hitless, scoreless ball for the final three innings. Zack Segovia gives up the game’s lone run in the first, when Rey Fuentes singles home Johneshwy Fargas.

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Major League Baseball Birthdays on January 25

Major League Baseball Deaths On January 25