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 29 in baseball history.
- On November 29, 1926, Tris Speaker resigns as manager of the Cleveland Indians. Speaker led the Indians to a respectable second-place finish in 1926.
- On November 29, 1962 — Major league officials and player representatives agree to return to a single All-Star Game in 1963. The players’ pension fund will receive 95 percent of the one game’s proceeds (rather than 60 percent of two games).
- On November 29, 1966 — A circuit court jury in Chicago, IL awards Jim Brewer $25,000 in damages stemming from his 1960 on-field fight with Billy Martin. The case went to a jury trial, which did not buy Martin’s argument that when a pitcher walks off the mound toward a batter it means that he wants to fight. Brewer was awarded $25,000 but the amount was later cut in half. Martin got the money from an acquaintance in Minneapolis and spent several years paying it off.
- On November 29, 1976, in perhaps the most celebrated free agent signing ever, the New York Yankees ink outfielder Reggie Jackson. The slugger signs a five-year deal worth $3.5 million. Jackson had listened to offers from the Expos and Orioles, Jackson had played for the Orioles in 1976 after he was traded to them by the Oakland A’s, when the A’s refused to pay Jackson the salary he had won in arbitration.
- On November 29, 1975 — Two Orioles standouts, with a combined total of 24 Gold Glove Awards, are each honored for the last time. Brooks Robinson and Paul Blair are the two making swan songs on The Sporting News fielding team, while outfielders Garry Maddox and Fred Lynn both win the award for the first time.
- On November 29, 1979 — Commissioner Bowie Kuhn lets Billy Martin off with a warning, following the October 23rd barroom altercation with a marshmallow salesman.
- Born on this day . . . .Probably the most popular player in White Sox history, Havana-native Minnie Minoso came to the team in a huge three-team deal early in the 1951 season. After belting a home run in his first at-bat, Minoso had the fans on his side. A talented hitter with great speed, Minoso led the American League in stolen bases and triples three times, but also had enough pop to lead the loop in total bases and finish among leaders in slugging several times. Having played his first pro ball in the Negro leagues in the 1940s, he parlayed his popularity into two brief appearances at the ages of 53 and 57, several years after his retirement.
Notable Events and Chronology for November 29
