This Day In Baseball November 17

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The history of sports is both vast and rich, thanks to the existence of so many different events and the longevity associated with them. With so much history to cull through, We offer the opportunity to look back and see what memorable things happened or milestones were reached on November 17 in baseball history.

Key moments from November 17

  • On November 17, 1959 — San Francisco Giants slugger Willie McCovey is selected as the National League Rookie of the Year, after hitting .354 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI in just 52 games. McCovey gets all 24 votes to make him the second Giants player in a row to win the award unanimously. Teammate Orlando Cepeda ran away with the award in 1958.
  • On November 17, 1971 — Vida Blue becomes the youngest player ever to win the MVP award. The 22 year-old A’s southpaw is only the fifth hurler to capture both the Cy Young Award and the MVP in the same season, joining Don Newcombe (1956 Dodgers), Sandy Koufax (1963 Dodgers), Bob Gibson (1968 Cardinals), and Denny McLain (1968 Tigers).
  • On November 17, 1975 — The Braves trade 27 year-old Dusty Baker (.261, 19, 72) along with utility player Ed Goodson to the Dodgers for veteran slugger Jim Wynn, Lee Lacy, Tom Paciorek, and Jerry Royster. The hard-hitting outfielder will play a key role for his new team, helping Los Angeles win pennants in 1977 and 1978 and the World Series in 1981.
  • On November 17, 1987 – George Bell becomes the first Toronto Blue Jays player ever to win the American League MVP Award, edging Alan Trammell of the Detroit Tigers, 332-311. Trammell, who received 12 of the 28 first-place votes cast by the writers. Bell hit .308 with 47 home runs and a league-leading 134 RBI and he is the San Pedro de Macoris native the first Dominican to win the prestigious award.
  • On November 17, 1947 — In the first of two deals between The Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Browns on consecutive days they engineer a blockbuster eight-player deal the Browns trade right-hander Jack Kramer along with All-Star shortstop Vern Stephens to the Red Sox for Pete Layden, Joe Ostrowski, Roy Partee, Eddie Pellagrini, Al Widmar, Jim Wilson, and $310,000.The key player is shortstop Vern Stephens, who comes to Boston after hitting .279 with 15 home runs and 83 RBI. Boston plans to bat their new slugging middle infielder, known as Junior to his teammates, behind Ted Williams. Stephens will lead the American League in RBI in two of the next three seasons while averaging 33 home runs each year.

 

Notable Events and Chronology for November 17

Dan Brouthers Brooklyn Dodgers

The National League meets and officially recognizes the Brotherhood 

National League agree to shorten the 1893 schedule to 132 games

Chicago Cubs shortstop Joe Tinker rounds third base at the Polo Grounds, New York, 1906.

Joe Tinker tells an interviewer that it is “impossible to fix” a game

Wilbert Robinson is named the Dodgers' new manager

Wilbert Robinson is named the Dodgers’ new manager

A group led by Alva Bradley and John Sherwin buys the Cleveland Indians.

A group led by Alva Bradley and John Sherwin buys the Cleveland Indians.

Pittsburgh Pirates send Adam Comorosky and Tony Piet to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Red Lucas and Wally Roettger, Lucas will feast on the Reds over the rest of his career, going 14-0 against them

jimmy wilson

Jimmie Wilson is named as the new Chicago Cubs manager

George Thomas Seaver is born in Fresno, California

George Thomas Seaver is born in Fresno, California

vern-stephens

All-Star shortstop Vern Stephens traded to the Red Sox in 8 player deal

The St. Louis Browns officially become the Baltimore Baseball Club Inc

Willie McCovey wins 1959 National League Rookie of the Year

Willie McCovey wins 1959 National League Rookie of the Year

grace comiskey Hank Greenberg

Hank Greenberg drops out of the bidding to run the new American League franchise in Los Angeles.

Dick Groat of the Pittsburgh Pirates is named the 1960 National League’s Most Valuable Player

Dick Groat of the Pittsburgh Pirates is named the 1960 National League’s Most Valuable Player

The new Washington Senators franchise is awarded to Elwood Quesada

The new Washington Senators franchise is awarded to Elwood Quesada

Yogi Berra New York mets

Yogi Berra signs a two-year contract with the Mets as a player-coach

Retired Air Force Lieutenant General William Eckert becomes the fourth Commissioner of Major League Baseball

Retired Air Force Lieutenant General William Eckert becomes the fourth Commissioner of Major League Baseball

Vida Blue 1971 MVP and Cy Young Award

Vida Blue becomes the youngest player to win the MVP

The Texas Rangers trade future Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins to the Boston Red Sox

The Texas Rangers trade future Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins to the Boston Red Sox

Dusty Baker Atlanta

The Dodgers trade for Dusty Baker

Thurman Munson 1976 AL MVP

Yankee catcher Thurman Munson wins 1976 AL Most Valuable Player

Bill veeck chicago white sox

White Sox owner Bill Veeck gives Yankee free-agent Ron Blomberg, who has played in only one game during the last two seasons, a generous four-year contract worth $500,000 that includes an additional $80,000 signing bonus. The questionable deal will turn out to be a complete bust when ‘Boomer’ hits only .231 in 169 plate appearances in his one year with Chicago.

Daniel Okrent sketches out the first draft of rules for what will become Rotisserie League Baseball

Center fielder Dale Murphy wins the National League MVP Award,

Center fielder Dale Murphy wins the National League MVP Award,

Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens, and Jerry Martin become the first active players sent to prison for drug violations. The judge hands down three-month sentences to the three members of the Royals for attempting to purchase cocaine.

George Bell First Blue Jay to Win AL MVP Award

George Bell First Blue Jay to Win AL MVP Award

Nick Esasky, who became one of the most coveted free agents signs a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves

Nick Esasky, who became one of the most coveted free agents signs a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves

Bret saberhagen

Twenty-five year-old right-hander Bret Saberhagen (23-6, 2.16) signs a three-year extension with the Royals for $8.9 million. The Cy Young Award recipient barely misses being baseball’s first $3 million-a-year player; a mark Kirby Puckett will reach five days later when he comes to terms with the Twins for $9 million over three years.

National League holds the first expansion draft since 1969

The Colorado Rockies make their first trade a good one, sending OF Kevin Reimer to the Milwaukee Brewers for OF Dante Bichette. Bichette hit .287 for Milwaukee, but just .246 in the second half of the year, and will blossom into a hitting star in Colorado.

In other deals, the Cincinnati Reds trade relief pitcher Norm Charlton to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for outfielder Kevin Mitchell; the Chicago Cubs trade shortstop Alex Arias and third baseman Gary Scott to the Florida Marlins for pitcher Greg Hibbard; Oakland Athletics shortstop Walt Weiss is traded to the Marlins for two prospects; the Los Angeles Dodgers trade pitcher Rudy Seanez to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for second baseman Jody Reed; and the Atlanta Braves trade first baseman Brian R. Hunter to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a minor league player.

Terry Collins is hired as Astros manager

The Arizona Diamondbacks sign free agent shortstop Jay Bell to a five-year contract.

The Atlanta Braves sign free agent shortstop Walt Weiss to a three-year contract.

The Pittsburgh Pirates sign free agent infielder Mike Benjamin to a two-year contract.

Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves edges San Diego Padres closer Trevor Hoffman for the National League Cy Young Award. It is the sixth time in the past eight seasons that a Braves pitcher has won the award.

1999 – Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, who hit .319 with 45 home runs and 110 RBI, wins the National League MVP Award. Jones becomes the fifth Braves player to be so honored, joining Johnny Evers (1914), Bob Elliott (1947), Hank Aaron (1957) Dale Murphy (1982 and 1983) and Terry Pendleton (1991).

The Anaheim Angels hire Mike Scioscia as their new manager.

In a trade of relievers, Colorado sends Curt Leskanic to Milwaukee for Mike Myers.

The Baltimore Orioles sign free agent pitcher Mike Trombley to a three-year contract.

Jeff Bagwell finishes second in the voting for N.L. Most Valuable Player but Atlanta’s Chipper Jones is the runaway winner. Bagwell receives one first-place vote. 

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall signs the richest contract in team history. The $60 million, six-year contract extension, which includes a $4 million signing bonus, starts with a base salary of $6 million in 2002 and peaks at $13 million in 2007.

The Rangers swap pitchers Ryan Cullen and Aaron Harang to Oakland for second baseman Randy Velarde.

The Phillies sign free agent closer Jose Mesa to a two-year contract worth $3.4 million.

Pittsburgh catcher Jason Kendall signs the richest deal in Pirates’ history. The $60 million, six-year contract extension, which includes a $4 million signing bonus, starts with a base salary of $6 million in 2002 and peaks at $13 million in 2007.

Troy Percival signs a two-year, $12 million deal, surprising everyone, including his agent, by announcing he wants to play in Detroit next season

Jason Bay, coming off two of the best career-starting seasons in Pittsburgh Pirates history, agrees to an $18.25 million, four-year contract that covers his arbitration-eligible seasons. In 2004, Bay hit .282 with 26 home runs and 82 RBI in 120 games played while becoming the first Rookie of the Year in club history. He won the award despite missing the first five weeks of the season after shoulder surgery. Bay followed by hitting .306 with 32 homers, 101 RBI, 110 runs scored, 21 stolen bases and a .402 on-base percentage in 2005 despite playing on a team that lost 95 games. He finished 12th in the National League MVP voting after playing in all 162 games.

Major League Baseball owners vote unanimously to approve the toughened steroids policy agreed to with the players’ association earlier this week. Owners also approve transferring control of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to Stuart Sternberg from founding owner Vince Naimoli.

Dodgers’ third baseman Bill Mueller retires after 11 seasons

Oakland A's announce Bob Geren as their manager

Oakland A’s announce Bob Geren as their manager

Frank Thomas agrees to an $18.12 million, two-year deal to join the Blue Jays. After spending 16 years with the White Sox, the 38 year-old designated hitter had a comeback season with the A’s last season, leading the club into the playoffs, batting .270 with 39 homers and driving in 114 runs.

Albert Pujols wins his second Most Valuable Player award of his eight-year major league career

A new Hall of Fame Classic contest, replacing the discontinued annual exhibition game between major league teams, will be played in Cooperstown featuring the game’s legends and old-timers. The event will be played on Father’s Day and will be part of a weekend of planned activities and programs, which will include a skills clinic, a hitting contest, and autograph sessions.

Zack Greinke (16-8, 2.16), with 25 of the 28 first-place votes cast by the writers, easily outdistances Seattle’s Felix Hernandez to win the American League Cy Young Award to join Steve Carlton (1972 Phillies) as the only hurlers to win the prestigious pitching prize while toiling for a last-place club. The Royals’ right-hander will have another big day this Saturday when he marries his high school sweetheart Emily Kuchar, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

The Blue Jays acquire OF Rajai Davis from Oakland in return for P Trystan Magnuson and Danny Farquhar.

The Tigers sign free agent reliever Joaquin Benoit, coming off a sensational year with Tampa Bay, to a three-year deal worth $16.5 million.

After being the runner-up five times, Ron Gardenhire is finally named the American League’s Manager of the Year. The Twins skipper, the only AL field boss listed on all 28 ballots, led his team to its sixth Central Division title in nine seasons.

Bud Black edges Cincinnati skipper Dusty Baker by one point for the National League Manager of the Year honors.

In the second trade of the general managers’ meetings, the A’s trade Rajai Davis to the Blue Jays for a pair of right-handed minor leaguers, Trystan Magnuson and Daniel Farquhar. Last week, Oakland acquired outfielder David DeJesus from the Royals, making their former fleet outfielder expendable.

The Chicago Cubs announce they have hired Dale Sveum as their new manager, replacing Mike Quade. Sveum managed the Milwaukee Brewers at the tail end of the 2008 season, ending a swoon and leading them through their first playoff appearance since the 1982 World Series, but has not managed since.

Major League Baseball announces major structural changes for 2013 as a result of its approval of the sale of the Houston Astros to a group headed by Jim Crane. The Astros will move from the NL Central to the AL West, giving both leagues 15 teams split into three five-team divisions. As a result, teams will play a more balanced schedule and there will be interleague play during the entire season to accommodate the odd number of teams in each circuit. There will also be two additional playoff teams, but the new postseason format will be announced at a later date as it is tied to current negotiations with the Players Association regarding the new collective bargaining agreement.

Clayton Kershaw is named by the BBWAA as the National League’s Cy Young Award recipient

The baseball owners unanimously approve the long-delayed sale of the Astros from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane. The deal was dependent on the new owner’s acceptance of the franchise being switched from the NL Central to the AL West in 2013, a move that reportedly lowered the sale price from $680 million to $615 million.

After cleaning house earlier this week, the Marlins add a rare veteran by signing free agent OF Juan Pierre to a one-year contract.

2013 – Cubs prospect Kris Bryant is named MVP of the Arizona Fall League after batting .364 and leading the circuit in most hitting categories.

The Cardinals and Braves pull off a big trade, with Ps Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins headed to Atlanta in return for OF Jason Heyward and P Jordan Walden. Both Miller and Heyward are former top prospects who have been successful major leaguers as well.

Marlins Lock In: Giancarlo Stanton Signs Record $325 Million Deal, Marking a New Era

While not in the same ballpark, free agent C Russell Martin also signs a lucrative contract, returning to his birth city as he inks a five-year deal worth $85 million with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Braves trade Gold Glove outfielder Jayson Heyward and setup man Jordan Walden to the Cardinals for right-handers Shelby Miller and 22 year-old minor leaguer Tyrell Jenkins. The move appears to be the start of a rebuilding period for Atlanta under the team’s new general manager John Hart.

2015 – Jeff Banister, rookie skipper of the Rangers, is named the American League Manager of the Year, while Joe Maddon of the Cubs is honored in the National League after having won the honor twice in the junior circuit.

OF Mike Trout of the Angels wins his second AL MVP Award, finishing ahead of Boston’s Mookie Betts. In the National League, second-year 3B Kris Bryant of the Cubs is a runaway winner one year after being named the league’s Rookie of the Year.

Oakland Athletics managing partner Lew Wolff steps down after 11 years on the job, giving the position to his closest ally, John Fisher, who has also been one of the team’s co-owner since its purchase in 2005.

 

Todays Major League Birthdays On November 17 

Major League Baseball Deaths On November 17

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