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This Day In Baseball History: November 18th
By Administrator | November 18, 2009
In 1886, the Pittsburgh Alleghenys left the American Association to join the National League
In 1914, the Cubs named future Hall-of-Famer Roger Bresnahan to manage the team… the former Cards skipper would be in the dugout for just one year as Chicago finished fourth with a 73-80 record.
In 1947, the Browns traded All-Star shortstop Vern Stephens and pitcher Jack Kramer to the Red Sox for six players and $310,000… the dealing between the two teams would continue the next day as Ellis Kinder and Billy Hitchcock were also sent to Boston in exchange for three more players and another $65,000. Over the two days, thirteen players (4 Browns, 9 Red Sox) and $375,000 changed hands.
In 1949, Jackie Robinson (.342, 16, 124) became the first black player to win the MVP Award… Stan Musial, Ralph Kiner, and teammate Pee Wee Reese were the runners-up.
In 1966, Sandy Koufax shocked the baseball world by announcing his retirement at the tender age of 30… the southpaw was coming off a Cy Young season with a 27-9 record and a league-leading 1.73 ERA. Koufax, who had set the single season strikeout record the previous year with 382, cited his arthritic arm and the fear of permanent damage as the reason for calling it quits.
In 1980, after batting nearly .400 all season, Royals third baseman George Brett (.390, 24, 118) was named the American League’s MVP.
In 1985, pitching phenoms Dwight Gooden (Mets, NL, 20 years old) and Bret Saberhagen (Royals, AL, 21 years old) won the Cy Young Award… both became the youngest players in their respective leagues to win the coveted pitching honor.
In 1986, Red Sox righty Roger Clemens was named the American League’s MVP, becoming the first pitcher to accomplish the feat since Vida Blue won the honor in 1971. The ‘Rocket’ received nineteen of the twenty-eight first place votes.
In 1987, Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson (.287, 49, 137) became the first player to win the MVP award as a member of a last place club.
In 1997, the Devil Rays selected Tony Saunders from the Marlins as the first player taken in the expansion draft… Tampa Bay also drafted Bobby Abreu, but quickly traded the future star to the Phillies for Kevin Stocker, who will struggle with the new franchise.
In 2000, the Seattle Mariners signed Orix Blue Wave’s Ichiro Suzuki to a three-year deal making him the first Japanese position player in major league history.
In 2008, Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia became just the third player in major league history to win the MVP Award a season after being selected as the league’s Rookie of the Year, joining Cal Ripken Jr. (BAL, 1983) and Ryan Howard (PHI, 2006). The Gold Glove second baseman was the 10th Red Sox player to earn the award… he received 16 of 28 first-place votes to outdistance Minnesota Twins 1B Justin Morneau.
Born Today: Jamie Moyer (1962), Gary Sheffield (1968), David Ortiz (1975)
Topics: MLB History |
