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This Day In Baseball History: November 11th
By Administrator | November 11, 2008
In 1891, the National League ruled the pennant still belongs to the Boston Beaneaters in spite of Chicago’s protest that the Eastern teams had helped them capture the flag… Boston had won 23 of their last 30, including 18 in a row.
In 1948, The Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio, underwent surgery to remove bone spurs on his right heel at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
In 1975, as the first host of Saturday Night Live, George Carlin compared baseball to football in the opening monologue… the comedian joked that the national pastime is a gentler game portraying the sport as one which is pastoral and played in a park opposed to football in which the objective is to march downfield and penetrate enemy territory in a stadium.
In 1981, LA Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela became the first rookie ever to win the Cy Young Award, edging the Reds’ Tom Seaver in the BBWAA voting, 70-67.
In 1982, the Baltimore Orioles got their first new manager since 1968 as Joe Altobelli succeeded Earl Weaver, who retired.
In 1992, the Pirates and Barry Bonds agreed on a deal which will keep the outfielder in Pittsburgh for another season, a $4.7 million deal (the richest one-year contract in baseball history).
In 1996, John Smoltz (24-8, 2.94 ) was named fwinner of the National League Cy Young Award.. he was the fourth consecutive Atlanta pitcher to win the award.
In 2001, St. Louis first baseman Mark McGwire announced his retirement to ESPN, ending his 16-year career… the prolific home run hitter, who ranks fifth all-time with 583 career homers, had decided not to sign the two-year, $30 million extension the team had offered.
In 2002, Barry Bonds became the first player in major league history to win the Most Valuable Player Award five times. The 38-year old Giant left fielder, batted .370 with 46 homers and drove in 110 runs to earn the award.
In 2004, MinnesotaTwins southpaw Johan Santana (20-6, 265, 2.61) became the 18th unanimous Cy Young Award winner… the 25-year old Venezuelan joined Jim Perry (1970) and Frank Viola (1988) as the only Twin hurlers to earn the award.
Born Today: Rabbit Maranville (1891), Pie Traynor (1899), Ike Delock (1929)
Topics: MLB History |
