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 27 in baseball history.
- On November 27, 1941 — Joe DiMaggio is named American League Most Valuable Player for the second time (DiMaggio, who the honor in 1939). His 56-game hitting streak edges out Ted Williams and his .406 batting average for the award (291 points for DiMaggio and 254 for Williams), when a writer leaves the Red Sox right-fielder off the ballot.
- On November 27, 1947 — Triple Crown winner Ted Williams (.343, 32 HR,162 RBI) is edged out by Joe DiMaggio (.315, 20, 97) for the American League MVP Award by one point. One BBWAA writer, Boston scribe Mel Webb, fails to include Williams anywhere on his ballot. His reasoning was he didn’t get along very well with the slugger. DiMaggio capture his third American League MVP Award.
- On November 27, 1953 — Indian third baseman Al Rosen (.336, 43, 145) is selected the American League’s MVP by an unprecedented unanimous vote (336 votes a new record) when he is named first on all 24 ballots cast by the writers. The 28 year-old infielder, completing his fourth full season as a major leaguer, barely misses garnering the triple crown when Mickey Vernon tops him by one point for the best batting average in the circuit.
- On November 27, 1962 — The Milwaukee Braves trade slugger Joe Adcock and pitcher Jack Curtis to the Cleveland Indians for pitcher Frank Funk and outfielders Don Dillard and Ty Cline. With the addition of Adcock, first base prospect Walt Bond will spend another year in the minors. Bond hit .380 with six home runs in 50 at-bats for Cleveland in September.
- On November 27, 1972 — The New York Yankees make one of their best trades ever, acquiring third baseman Graig Nettles from the Cleveland Indians for catcher John Ellis, infielder Jerry Kenney, and outfielders Charlie Spikes and Rusty Torres. Nettles will help the Yankees win the World Series in 1977 and ‘78, Nettles In 11 years with the Yankees (1973-1983), Nettles will have 250 HR and 834 RBI. He will also be a 5X All-Star, lead the AL in HR in 1976, win 2 Gold Glove Awards, win the 1981 ALCS MVP Award, and will be a key player on 2 World Series champions (1977-78 Yankees).
- On November 27, 1967 — The New York Mets complete the deal that brings Senator skipper Gil Hodges (321-444, .420), who still had a year left on his contract with Washington, to New York to become the team’s fourth manager in the brief history of the five year-old franchise. The Amazins’ obtain the beloved former Dodger and original Met by sending 21 year-old right-hander Bill Denehy and $100,000 in reparations to nation’s capital. Jim Lemon is named manager of the Senators. two years later Hodges will lead the Mets to their first Championship.
- On November 27, 1974 — Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for two years as a result of Steinbrenner’s conviction for illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon and others. In a 12‐page ruling that was probably the sternest of his six‐year term as commissioner, Kuhn declared the Yankees’ owner “ineligible and incompetent” to have “any association whatsoever with any major league club or its personnel.”
- On November 27, 1974 — St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Bake McBride wins the National League Rookie of the Year Award. McBride beat runner-up, Houston Astros OF Greg Gross who rallied (185 hits, 8 triples, 78 runs, 76 BB, .314 BA, .393 OBP, .770 OPS), 16-7 points. In ’74, McBride had 173 hits, 30 SB, 81 runs, .309 BA, .369 OBP, & .763 OPS).
- On November 27, 1991 — The New York Mets sign slugging first baseman Eddie Murray as a free agent to a two year $7.5 Million dollar deal. Murray played in 301 games and batted .274 with 43 HR and 193 RBI. but will clash with local media covering the team.
