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This Day In Baseball History: December 15th (Pedro Becomes A Met)
By Administrator | December 15, 2009
In 1896, the first pitching machine, created by Princeton University professor Charles E. Hinton, was demonstrated in the school’s gymnasium… the device resembled a rifle which shoots the ball toward the batter.
In 1900, the Giants traded Amos Rusie, a veteran pitcher who hadn’t played since 1898, to the Reds for Chisty Mathewson. “Matty”, a future HOFer, would go on to post a 372-188 record during his 17-year tenure in New York.
In 1920, Brooklyn’s Rube Marquard was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Dutch Ruether after Marquard was fined for scalping World Series tickets in Cleveland.
In 1974, arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled in favor of Cy Young winner Jim Hunter in a dispute with A’s owner Charlie O. Finley making “Catfish” an unrestricted free agent.
In 1980, outfielder Dave Winfield (.276, 20, 87) became the highest-paid player in the history of sports after he signed a ten-year, $16 million deal with the NY Yankees.
In 1995, the Ted Williams Tunnel was opened as the Splendid Splinter led the way.
In 2004, the Mets officially announced they had come to terms with Pedro Martinez (16-9, 3.90 ERA) on a four-year, $53 million deal. The former Red Sox ace, who posted 117-37 record in seven seasons with Boston, criticizes his former team for not being more aggressive in retaining his services.
Born Today: Haywood Sullivan (1930), Art Howe (1946), Mo Vaughn (1967)
Topics: MLB History |
