This Day In Baseball January 4

You Wish You Where Here Events for January 4

Pitcher Larry Corcoran, who had signed with the Chicago team of the outlaw Union Association, breaks his contract to re-sign with his old club, the Chicago White Stockings of the National League.

The newly-organized Union League changes its name to the Eastern League to avoid confusion with the new Union Association. The EL continues into the 21st century as the AAA International League.

St. Louis Browns owner Chris Von der Ahe takes $1,000 from the Pittsburgh Alleghenys for the rights to Sam Barkley

St. Louis Browns owner Chris Von der Ahe takes $1,000 from the Pittsburgh Alleghenys for the rights to Sam Barkley

1889 – The Spalding Baseball Tourists play their final game in Australia, with the Chicagos winning, 5 – 0.

A portion of the fence surrounding the Polo Grounds blows down in a fierce storm.

A portion of the fence surrounding the Polo Grounds blows down in a fierce storm.

Charles Ebbets

After the death of Charles H. Byrne Charles Ebbets replaces the one-third owner as president of the Bridegrooms (Dodgers)

The Baltimore Orioles of the American League club incorporates, with John McGraw as manager and part owner.

The Baltimore Orioles of the American League club incorporates, with John McGraw as manager and part owner.

BillDinneen

Bill Dineen switchs from Beaneaters (Braves) to crosstown (Red Sox)

1904 – The New York Highlanders announce plans to play on Sundays at Ridgewood Park in Queens, NY, but the Brooklyn Superbas object. Sunday games are legal in Detroit, St. Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati.

The Highlanders (Yankees) announce plans to play their Sunday home games this season at Long Island’s Ridgewood Park. In March, the National Commission’s chairman August Herrman will announce he will not allow the club to play there due to the proximity of the ballpark to Brooklyn, the home of the National League’s Superbas.

January 4, 1915 - Infielder Hans Lobert (photo), well known as the "fastest man" in the National League, is traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the New York Giants for pitcher Al Demaree, infielder Milt Stock, and catcher Bert Adams. The speedster will injure his knee in a preseason game at West Point.

Infielder Hans Lobert, well known as the “fastest man” in the National League, is traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the New York Giants for pitcher Al Demaree, infielder Milt Stock, and catcher Bert Adams. The speedster will injure his knee in a preseason game at West Point.

1916 – The St. Louis Browns are the first of two major league franchises awarded to former Federal League owners. Philip de Catesby Ball, ice-manufacturing tycoon and principal stockholder of the Feds’ St. Louis Terriers, pays a reported $525,000 for the Browns and replaces manager Branch Rickey with his own Fielder Jones.

1918 – The Chicago Cubs acquire Boston Braves pitcher Lefty Tyler in exchange for Larry Doyle, Art Wilson and $15,000. Tyler will win 19 games for the Cubs this year.

1928 – The New York Yankees buy shortstop Lyn Lary and infielder Jimmie Reese from the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League for a reported $150,000.

Casey Stengel returns from exile in the minor leagues to become coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The Great Depression deepens, and American League costs are cut by dropping an umpire from the AL staff of 11.

1936 – As the second part of the December 10 deal for Jimmie Foxx, the Boston Red Sox get Doc Cramer and Eric McNair from the Philadelphia Athletics for Hank Johnson, Al Niemiec, and $75,000. Even with the free spending, and the presence of 20-game winners Wes Ferrell and Lefty Grove, Boston will finish 6th in 1936. However, in six-plus seasons with the Sox, Foxx will hit 222 home runs, bats .300 five times, and be an All-Star six times.

The Red Sox get center fielder Doc Cramer and utility infielder Eric McNair from the A’s for right-hander Henry Johnson, middle infielder Al Niemiec, and $75,000. The deal completes the December 10th trade for Jimmie Foxx, who will hit .320 during his seven seasons with Boston.

1940 – In a trade of pitchers, the Cincinnati Reds send Lee Grissom to the New York Yankees for Joe Beggs, who had to clear waivers from all seven American League teams. This is due to the new rule voted last month barring the AL pennant winner from any trades within the league. Beggs will go 12-3 for the Reds, while Grissom will be sold to the Brooklyn Dodgers on May 15th.

Rogers Hornsby becomes the 14th player selected to the Hall of Fame

Rogers Hornsby becomes the 14th player selected to the Hall of Fame

1943 – A wartime tone for the season is set when Red Ruffing, just months short of his 38th birthday, and minus four toes, is drafted into the Army Air Corp.

Los Angeles Dodgers airplane 1957

Los Angeles Dodgers become first team with their own plane

1957 – The Brooklyn Dodgers buy a 44-passenger twin-engine airplane for $775,000, which they will use to transport the club during the season. The Dodgers are the first major league team to own their own plane.

Harris County Commissioners vote to restrict visitors from the construction site of the new domed stadium, fearing the constant traffic of onlookers would delay completion of the ballpark. While Judge Hofheinz calls the stadium “95-percent complete”, commissioners are concerned that the deadline for the April 9th opener will be approaching soon.

Houston trades outfielder Lee Maye and a minor leaguer to the Cleveland Indians for outfielder Jim Landis, catcher Doc Edwards and a minor leaguer. Landis hits .252 with one homer in part-time duty before being shipped to Detroit in mid-season. 

1969 – Attorney Jack Reynolds, administrator of the new umpires union, says an economic agreement has been worked out between the American League and umpires that will avert a strike this year.

1976 – Executives of the International Amateur Baseball Association meet in Mexico City to end a long-standing feud between delegations, creating in the process a new organization named the “Asociación Internacional de Beisbol Amateur”. With the United States returning to the IABA fold, after an absence of many years, the first AINBA World Championships are scheduled for Cartagena, Colombia. Manuel Gonzalez Guerra of Cuba is named the first AINBA president.

Mary Shane is hired by the Chicago White Sox as the first woman TV play-by-play announcer.

Mary Shane is hired by the Chicago White Sox as the first woman TV play-by-play announcer.

Jason Bourgeois is born in Houston, TX. The fleet outfielder bats .269 with 40 steals with the Astros in 2010 and 2011. 

Dave Dravecky San Diego

Dave Dravecky undergoes another operation to remove a cancerous tumor

1993 – Free agent outfielder Lonnie Smith is signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1994 – The Chicago White Sox sign free agent outfielder Ellis Burks and the Atlanta Braves sign free agent infielder Bill Pecota.

strike 1994

Congress introduces five bills directed at settling the lingering 1994 baseball strike

1995 – Five bills aimed at ending the Major League Baseball strike are introduced in the United States Congress.

1997 – The Texas Rangers sign free agent outfielder Mike Devereaux.

Steve Hinton sets the Australian Baseball League record with four home runs in a game. The Brisbane Bandits combine to hit 9, also a record, against the Perth Heat.

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Benito Santiago is injured when he loses control of the car he is driving and crashes into a tree in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Toronto also loses first baseman Carlos Delgado to a shoulder injury which he sustains while diving for a ball in a game in Puerto Rico. He will be out until late April.

2000 – San Diego Padres pitcher Carlton Loewer suffers a broken leg after falling from a tree while hunting. At the very least, he will miss spring training. While pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies last year, Loewer missed almost four months due to a stress fracture in his arm, an injury that doctors say could easily have resulted in a situation in which the arm broke while he was throwing a pitch.

John Milner dies from lung cancer at the age of 50

John Milner dies from lung cancer at the age of 50

2001 – Free agent pitcher Ismael Valdez is signed by the Angels.

In spite of the franchise’s uncertain future due to possible contraction, Ron Gardenhire is named to replace Tom Kelly as the Minnesota Twins manager. The Twins’ third base coach is given a two-year pact to pilot the team.

The Cleveland Indians sign pitcher Matthew Haynes, a participant in major league’s first-ever Australian Baseball Academy, which included the best 60 players from Australia. The 6’3″, 185 lb. 18-year-old, is a right-hander who the Indians predict will be a starter in the major leagues.

The Colorado Rockies agree to terms with free agent catcher Tony Eusebio on a one-year contract.

The St. Louis Cardinals announce the team has agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal with starting pitcher Matt Morris. The 27-year-old right-hander, who missed all of the 1999 season due to elbow surgery, finished third in the Cy Young Award balloting this year after going 22-8 with a 3.16 ERA.

Tony Tavares resigns as president of the Anaheim Angels. The 52-year-old executive, who until today also was the chairman of the Mighty Ducks, became Anaheim’s president after Disney bought the team from Jackie Autry in 1996. He will be appointed by Major League Baseball as President of the owner-less Montreal Expos in a few weeks, while the Angels will go on to win their first World Series title in October.

In the midst of the franchise’s uncertain future due to its possible contraction as a major league team, Ron Gardenhire is named to replace Tom Kelly as the Minnesota manager. The 44 year-old Twins coach, who will remain as the team’s skipper for 13 seasons, is given a two-year pact to pilot the team.

The Indians sign 18 year-old Matthew Haynes, a participant in the major league’s first-ever Australian Baseball Academy. The Tribe believes the 6′-3″, 185-pound right-hander, considered one of the best sixty players from Down Under, will become a starting pitcher in the major leagues.

Tony Tavares, citing he is tired of losing, resigns as the president of the Angels. The 52 year-old executive, who until today also was the chairman of the NHL’s Mighty Ducks, assumed the baseball post after Disney bought the team from Jackie Autry in 1996.

Wade Boggs, a five-time batting champion, and Ryne Sandberg, a nine-time Gold Glove Award winner at second base, are elected to the Hall of Fame

Wade Boggs, a five-time batting champion, and Ryne Sandberg, a nine-time Gold Glove Award winner at second base, are elected to the Hall of Fame

Free agent outfielder Preston Wilson signs a one-year $4 million contract by the Houston Astros including a three-year club option that could extend the deal through the 2009 season.

The minimum salary for players in the major leagues rises $9,000 this year to $327,000.

2007 – Infielder Mark Loretta is signed to a one-year contract. He bats .296 with the Astros during two stints (2002, 2007-2008), including ten homers. 

Catcher Miguel Olivo, who hit 23 home runs for the Kansas City Royals last season, moves to the friendly confines of Coors Field after signing a one-year deal with the Colorado Rockies. He will replace Yorvit Torrealba, who could not come to terms with the Rockies on a new contract.

The Boston Red Sox sign free agent 3B Adrian Beltre to a one-year deal worth $9 million, with an option for a second year. The deal is motivated by the uncertain state of Mike Lowell's health.

The Boston Red Sox sign free agent 3B Adrian Beltre to a one-year deal worth $9 million, with an option for a second year. The deal is motivated by the uncertain state of Mike Lowell’s health.

“Just another Halo victory!” – RORY MARKAS, Angels announcer’s signature line.Rory Markas, recently named by the Angels as the team’s lead play-by-play television announcer, dies unexpectedly at home. The popular 54 year-old broadcaster, who also spent parts of 11 seasons in the Brewers booth before starting his eight-year tenure with Los Angeles, was well-known for his signature line, “Just another Halo victory!”.

The Braves and 2B Dan Uggla, acquired from Florida earlier this offseason, come to terms on a five-year contract extension worth $62 million. The Marlins had earlier balked at giving the 31-year-old such a long deal, prompting his trade to Atlanta.

The Orioles sign reliever Kevin Gregg, coming off a career-best 37 saves with Toronto, to a two-year contract.

David Price is selected this season’s recipient of the Warren Spahn Award, a recognition given annually to the best left-handed major league pitcher in Major League Baseball by the Oklahoma Sports Museum. The Rays’ 25 year-old All-Star southpaw compiled a 19-6 record along with an ERA of 2.72 for the AL East champs.

Joe Torre resigns as MLB’s executive vice president for baseball operations, a position he has held since last February, to become part of a group interested in purchasing the Dodgers from Frank McCourt. The former L.A. skipper, who managed the team from 2008-2010, is partnering with real estate developer Rick Caruso, who is heading up the ownership bid.

2013 – The Cincinnati Reds sign Jakub Ižold, the first Slovakian to sign with a MLB club. Ižold had been pitching for Draci Brno in the Czech Republic’s Extraliga and had been with the Slovakian national team. He will go 0-1 with a 8.04 ERA this summer with the AZL Reds.

2018 – In a three-team trade, the Dodgers send two prospects, P Trevor Oaks and IF Erick Mejia, to the Royals in return for relievers Scott Alexander and Joakim Soria. They then turn around and flip Soria, along with fellow reliever Luis Avilan, to the White Sox for minor league IF Jake Peter.

Birthdays

Death 

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