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 26 in baseball history.
- On November 26, 1866, future Hall of Fame outfielder Hugh Duffy is born in Cranston, Rhode Island. Along with fellow outfielder Tommy McCarthy, Duffy will be part of Boston’s famous “Heavenly Twins” in the 1890s. “Sir Hugh” was elected to the HOF in 1945.
- On November 26, 1948 — National League president Ford Frick steps in and pays $350 for funeral services, including the cost of a coffin, for the unclaimed body of Hack Wilson. The former slugger, who had died probably of alcohol abuse a few days earlier in a Baltimore hospital, is identified only as a white male.
- On November 26, 1958 — The American League MVP is Boston Red Sox slugger Jackie Jensen, winning over Yankees pitcher Bob Turley and Indians outfielder Rocky Colavito.
- On November 26, 1963 — Second baseman Pete Rose is a landslide winner of National League Rookie of the Year honors, taking 17 of 20 votes. Rose becomes the second Cincinnati Reds player to win the award, after Frank Robinson.
Rose, still shares a room with his brother in their childhood home located seven miles from Crosley Field.
- On November 26, 1975 — Boston Red Sox center fielder Fred Lynn becomes the first rookie ever to be named American League Most Valuable Player. Lunn received 22 of the 24 writers’ first-place votes, easily outdistances Royals’ first baseman/DH John Mayberry for the American League’s Most Valuable Player award. The 22-year-old Red Sox flycatcher becomes the first player in baseball history to win the MVP after being named Rookie of the Year in the same season.
Lynn, who batted .331 with 21 home runs, 105 RBI, and league-leading figures in runs (103), doubles (47), and slugging percentage (.566), helped Boston to the American League East title. He also won Rookie of the Year honors.
- On November 26, 1974 — Catfish Hunter, who claims his contract has been violated by the A’s for failing to pay $50,000 into a long term annuity fund, meets with an arbitrator and team owner Charlie Finley in New York. Peter Seitz of the American Arbitration Association will eventually rule in favor of the right-hander, making the Oakland hurler the first big-name star in modern times to become a free agent.
- On November 26, 2004 — Receiving 21 of the 28 first-place votes, Vladimir Guerrero (.337, 39 HR, 126 RBI) wins the American League MVP Award. The 28-year old former Expos outfielder signed as a free agent with the Angels, after the Mets refused to guarantee his salary based on advice from their medical staff.
- On November 26, 2009 — New York Yankees Public Address announcer Bob Sheppard stating lack of stamina officially retires at the age of 99. Known as the “Voice of God,” Sheppard had been the Yankees PA announcer from 1951 to 2007 before his deteriorating health forced him to step down. He briefly returned in 2008 to announce the Yankees lineup for the final game at the old Yankee Stadium. During his 50 plus seasons behind the microphone introducing lineups which have included Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Derek Jeter.
- Born on this day . . . Lefty GomezYears before Joe DiMaggio was signed by the Yankees out of San Francisco, the Bay Area produced Vernon Louis Gomez, a talented and colorful left-handed hurler. “Lefty” starred for the Yankees during the 1930s and early 1940s, teaming with Red Ruffing to form one of the best pitching duos in baseball history. Gomez posted a 6-0 record in the Fall Classic, winning five rings with the Yankees. Originally a hard thrower, Gomez suffered arm injuries in 1933, 1936 and 1939, eventually re-tooling himself as a finesse pitcher. He enjoyed a 165-89 record for the Yankees for the decade of the 1930s, finishing in the top ten in MVP voting three times.
“No one hit home runs the way Babe did. They were something special. They were like homing pigeons. The ball would leave the bat, pause briefly, suddenly gain its bearings, then take off for the stands.” – Lefty Gomez
Notable Events and Chronology for November 26
