« Lester Named Sox Pitcher Of The Year | Home | This Day In Red Sox History: December 19, 2001 »
This Day In Baseball History: December 19th
By Administrator | December 19, 2009
In 1928, Washington Senators player-manager Bucky Harris was traded to the Detroit Tigers for IF Jack Warner… the future Hall of Famer replaced George Moriarity as the Tigers skipper.
In 1954, Wally Moon became the first Cardinal player to be selected as the National League’s Rookie of the Year by the BBWAA . The 24-year-old centerfielder, who replaced Enos Slaughter in the St. Louis outfield, received 17 of the 24 votes to outdistance such notables as future Hall of Famers Ernie Banks (4) and Hank Aaron (1).
In 1976, a single-engine plane crashed into the upper deck of Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium’ injuring the pilot and three others… minutes earlier, the plane had buzzed the stadium during the final moments of the Steelers play-off victory over the Colts.
In 1986, after determining no other clubs were interested in signing him, free-agent pitcher and 20-game winner Jack Morris agreed to salary arbitration with the Tigers.
In 1990, Tigers management and WJR announced that 1991 would be Ernie Harwell’s final season in the broadcast booth. The dismissal of Detroit’s popular play-by-play announcer started a furor among fans which included a threat to boycott Domino’s Pizza, the business of club owner Tom Monaghan.
In 1991, the Orioles signed free agent right-hander Rick Sutcliffe… the 1984 Cy Young Award winner had gone 6-5, 4.10, with the Cubs in 1990.
In 2001, just before a midnight deadline, Barry Bonds accepted the Giant’s offer of salary arbitration. San Francisco’s decision to go to arbitration avoided a bidding war for the reigning National League MVP.
In 2003, Gary Deporter, the managing partner of the late Harry Caray’s Chicago-area restaurants, submitted a winning bid of $106,600 to obtain the foul ball that Steve Bartman deflected during Game 6 of the NLCS — a faux pas that many believe cost the Cubs an out — and possibly the pennant. The plan was to have the ball destroyed as an act of exorcism during a worldwide toast to Harry on his next birthday (February 26, 2004).
In 2007, in a 3,200-word posting on his blog, Curt Schilling urged Roger Clemens to surrender the four Cy Young Awards won after 1997 if he was (is) unable to clear his name (NOTE: this is the period after he aledgedly starting taking performance-enhancing substances, according to the Mitchell Report).
Born Today: Al Kaline (1934), Mike Fetters (1964), Russell Branyan (1975)
Topics: MLB History |
