Daily Rewind

December 26th Show NotesDecember 26, 1919 —  Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee makes a secret agreement to sell Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $100,000 (one-fourth cash, plus $25,000 a year at 6 percent) plus guaranteeing a $300,000 loan with Fenway Park as collateral. The transaction will be announced publicly in one week.December 26, 2005 — The Associated Press reports that baseball took a lot of shots in 2005 from politicians, commentators and players themselves as the sport struggled with steroids. MLB went from no drug policy in 2002 to anonymous testing in 2003, to counseling for positive tests in 2004, to a dozen 10-day suspensions this year. Starting next year, an initial positive test will result in a 50-game suspension, and players will be tested for amphetamines for the first time, with penalties for a second positive result.MLB took similar shots in 1973, many people don’t realize this, but they were on the hot seat by the Staggers Committee that found steroid and amphetamine use in baseball was alarming in November of 1973. Bowie Kuhn was there and testified under oath along with Bud Selig.They did vow to clean up the game and congress let them off easy and never reviled the names of the players, unlike 2003. Tom House would later tell folks that 6 of 8 players were using steroids and his famous line was we never felt we lost, we were out-milligrammed. Born: December 26, 1954 in Mobile, AL. Defying critics who said he was too small and would never hit enough to stay in the big leagues, Ozzie Smith soared through the infield with his acrobatic moves, redefining the role of shortstop. He won 13 consecutive Gold Gloves and set a major league record for assists by a shortstop. Dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals early in his career, Smith became one of the most popular players in franchise history. A switch-hitter, Ozzie blasted one of his few home runs from the left side of the plate to win the 1985 National League pennant. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2002, his first year of eligibility.Died: December 26, 2013 in Baltimore, MDAn eight-time Gold Glove Award winner, Paul Blair was the best defensive center fielder in the American League in the late 1960s and early 1970s. With uncanny instincts and great speed, Blair positioned himself perfectly, often gliding into shallow center to snare would-be singles. He had several great moments in the postseason, including a game-winning homer in Game 3 of the 1966 World Series, and a leaping catch the next day to prevent a home run.In 1970, Blair was hit in the cheek, under his left eye, by a fastball from Ken Tatum of the Angels. It shattered about four different bones in his face and he underwent surgery. He missed 21 games but rebounded to play another 10 seasons. Contrary to some who say he was never quite the same hitter, Blair claimed he was...

December 22nd Show NotesBorn on December 22, 1862 in East Brookfield, MA, Player, manager, scout, general manager, owner — Cornelius MacGillicuddy (Connie Mack) — did it all. For more than half a century, he owned and managed the Philadelphia A’s — nearly their entire existence. He built two dynasties that won a total of five World Series titles.Mack was often described as the “grand old gentleman of the game,” but he wasn’t above stretching the rules to gain a competitive advantage. He was rumored to have kept frozen baseballs handy to insert into the game when his pitchers were on the mound. He also employed a special coach who stationed himself in center field at Shibe Park to steal signs from opposing teams.Connie Mack pieced together a tremendous baseball team in the first decade of the 20th century, built in large part, around his famous “$100,000 Infield.” At the time, Mack claimed that even that lofty dollar-amount would not pry the four star players away from him. In 1911, John “Stuffy” McInnis was switched to first base to replace the aging Harry Davis, a fine player. McInnis, who earned his nickname because he had the “right stuff” as a young ballplayer in Boston, joined Eddie Collins, Jack Barry, and Frank Baker to form the greatest infield of the era.His A’s from 1929-1931, had a team second to none, which featured Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Cochrane, Al Simmons, Lefty Grove, George Earnshaw, Rube Walberg, and Jack Quinn.Mack holds the all-time record for most games managed (7,755), most games won (3,731), and most games lost (3,814). His record of 50 years managing one team, and 53 years overall will most likely never be broken.Tom December 22, 1944 – Future Hall of Famer Steve Carlton is born in Miami, Florida. Rivaling Tom Seaver as the finest pitcher of the 1970s, Steve Carlton won the National League Cy Young Award in 1972 and 1977 before capturing another two trophies during the early portion of the ensuing decade. One of the greatest...

December 19th Show Notes December 19, 1934 – The New York Yankees send five players to the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League as partial compensation for the acquisition of Joe DiMaggio. The Yankees had previously paid $25,000 for the future Hall of Famer. DiMaggio will play one more season in the PCL before reporting to the Yankees in 1936. In ‘36, DiMaggio will hit .323 with 125 RBIs in helping the Yankees to a World Series title.December 19, 1976 — A single-engine Piper Cherokee plane crashes into the upper deck of Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, home of the Orioles, injuring the pilot and three others. Minutes prior to the mishap, the plane had buzzed the stadium during the final moments of the Steelers’ playoff victory over the Colts. The pilot of the Piper Cherokee was 33-year-old Donald Kroner. Kroner served three months of a two-year sentence for malicious destruction of property and violation of aviation ordinances.Kroner had been arrested prior to the Stadium incident for making threats against former Colt Bill Pellington. This included Kroner being accused of dropping a bottle and toilet paper from his plane onto the roof of Pellington’s Timonium restaurant. According to news reports, Kroner was upset over being thrown out of the restaurant. Kroner died in 2013.Kroner had been fired as an MTA bus driver the day before the crash. He also had been a flight instructor and, according to some accounts, had worked as an air traffic controller. In 1980, Kroner was charged with stealing a Greyhound bus from Dulles International Airport. December 19, 1990 — At a press conference, Tiger management and WJR announce 1991 will be Ernie Harwell’s 32nd and final season in the broadcast booth. The dismissal of the Motor City’s popular play-by-play announcer starts a furor among fans, which includes a threatened boycott of Domino’s Pizza, a business of club owner Tom Monaghan, and the rise of the slogan, “Say It Ain’t So, Bo”, which appears on bumper stickers and T-shirts all over Detroit, referring to Bo Schembechler, the team president and former University of Michigan football coach."[Harwell's situation is] not going to change no matter how much clamor is made over it," said team president Bo Schembechler. The situation caused outrage so much that some made threats of violence against Schembechler. Some, such as Mitch Albom, blamed the situation causing as much negative feeling as it did on WJR executive Jim Long who was the one who pushed the quick, no severance pay removal of Harwell.[6] The movement in favor of keeping Harwell was so strong that even billboards in favor of his remaining were put up.[7] Rick Rizzs was hired away from the Seattle...

Matt and Tom Discuss -Bob Feller, Pitching Machines, December 15th, Free Agency, Bill Hamilton and Tommie AgeeDecember 15th Show Notes December 15, 1896 –THE PITCHING CANNON AT WORKIn 1896, Princeton University mathematics instructor Charles Hinton designed a gunpowder-powered baseball pitching machine for the Princeton University baseball team’s batting practice. According to one source it caused several injuries and may have been partly responsible for Hinton’s dismissal from Princeton that year. A demonstration was given in the school’s gymnasium on December 15, 1896.Hinton died unexpectedly in 1907 from a cerebral hemorrhage and while he is mostly remembered for his work on the fourth dimension, in stark contrast, he is also credited with designing the first playground jungle gym. December 15, 1967 — The Mets obtain Tommy Agee, the 1966 Rookie of the Year, and utility infielder Al Weis from the White Sox in exchange for Buddy Booker, Tommy Davis, Jack Fisher, and Billy Wynne. New York’s newest additions will both play a pivotal role in the team’s 1969 World Championship season.December 15, 1974 — Oakland A’s pitching star and Cy Young Award winner Catfish Hunter is declared a free agent. Arbitrator Peter Seitz rules that A’s owner Charlie Finley committed a breach of contract by failing to make a payment to Hunter’s life insurance fund. The four-time 20-game winner, who helped Oakland to World Championships in 1972, 1973 and 1974, will sign a five-year contract worth a record $3.75 million with the New York Yankees. The decision will usher in a new era in the owners’ relationship with their players.Died: December 15, 2010 in Cleveland, OH. Blessed with a resilient arm and an overpowering fastball that frequently approached 100 miles per hour, Bob Feller was the most dominant pitcher of his era. Despite missing four full seasons during the peak of his career to join the war effort, Feller compiled 266 victories over the course of 18 big-league seasons, including three no-hitters and a record 12 one-hitters. Many people still feel that no one has ever thrown a baseball harder than the Cleveland Indian Hall of Famer.Robert William Andrew Feller was born on November 3, 1918 in the small midwestern town of Van Meter, Iowa. Growing up an Iowa farm boy during the 1920s, much of Feller’s childhood consisted of performing household chores and playing baseball. Feller later credited milking cows, picking corn, and baling hay with strengthening his arms and giving him the capacity to throw as hard as he did.After pitching for...

  December 12, 1941 – Future Hall of Famer Arky Vaughan is traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Bucs receive four players in return, catcher “Hot Potato” Hamlin, Pete Coscarart, Babe Phelps and Jimmy Wasdell. Shifted to third base by the Dodgers, Vaughan had an off year in 1942, batting just .277, to finish under .300 for the first time in his career.  However, he rebounded in 1943, batting .305 and leading the National League with 112 runs scored and a career-high 20 stolen bases.  December 12, 1954 – Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente lead the North to victory in the Puerto Rican Winter League’s annual All-Star fundraiser. The Sporting News correspondent, Pita Alvarez De La Vega, gives the exuberant young duo’s exploits some national exposure: “The league took a break from its pennant battle to stage the annual ‘Three Kings’ all-star game at Mayaguez. All proceeds went into a YMCA fund to buy gifts for the island’s poor children in keeping with the old Latin tradition of the Three Kings bringing gifts on January 6… The All-Star North team, made up of players from the Santurce and Mayaguez clubs, won the game, 7 to 5. Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente hit home runs for the winners.”  December 12, 1969 — Cleveland trades pitchers Luis Tiant and Stan Williams to the Twins for 3B Graig Nettles, OF Ted Uhlaender, and pitchers Dean Chance and Bob Miller.Tiant posted a 9-20 record with a 3.71 ERA in 1969. However, his strikeout-to-walk ratio completely tanked, leading to suspicions that he was pitching hurt. He pitched very well at the start of the 1970 season. Tiant was 6-0 with a 3.12 ERA by the end of May, which was followed by him going on the disabled list with arm troubles. He came back in early August, but only won one more game the rest of the way, and then gave up a run in two-thirds of an inning in a relief appearance when...

Tribute to Dick Allen - Listen to his classic homeruns Mentioned in this episode:Classic Baseball BroadcastsClassic Baseball Broadcasts

On December 5, 1921, Babe Ruth and two other members of the New York Yankees are suspended for participating in an “illegal” barnstorming tour after the 1921 World Series. Commissioner Landis punishes Ruth, outfielder Bob Meusel, and pitcher “Wild Bill” Piercy for the first six weeks of the 1922 season. This will have little impact as the Yankees will make World Series for the second straight year (although they lost to the NY Giants for the second consecutive time). However, Ruth had the worst year of his career posting a 6.4 WAR, and as an everyday player, his 1.106 OPS was his second worst mark of the 20's. He did bounce back in 1923, winning the MVP. He still managed to hit 35 homers with 96 RBI, so it was a pretty good year. What I marvel at is how much of his Baseball Reference page is bolded. Between 1918 and 1931, he wasn't the league leader in home runs just twice. Once was this 1922 season and the other was 1925, when he appeared in just 98 games. On December 5, 1973 — Ron Santo becomes the first player to invoke the new 10 and 5 rule. The Cubs want to trade Santo to the Angels for two pitchers, but he vetoes the deal. The 10-5 rule, which was agreed upon during the 1972 players strike, gives a player with 10 years’ service and 5 consecutive years with a team the right to veto a trade. In this case Santo was from the west coast but was comfortable in Chicago and desired to stay in the area. The Cubs honored the new agreement, and he will eventually be traded to the cross-town White Sox. It did not work out well as Bill Melton was the third baseman, and Santo moved around between second and the DH role. He will hang up the cleats in 1974. Ironically on this day in 2011, Santo will finally get his due and be voted into Baseball's Hall of Fame. A long overdue honor for Santo who passed away the previous year. He receives 15 of 16 votes from members of the “Golden Era” Committee. On December 5, 1978 — After sixteen years with the Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signs a four-year, $3.2 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Other teams which pursued “Charlie Hustle” include the Mets, Braves, Pirates and the Royals. The deal temporarily makes Rose the highest-paid athlete in team sports. In 5 years with the Phils (1979-1983), Pete will be a 4X All-Star and help the Phillies to 2 NL Pennants including the Phillies first Championship in 1980. He led the league in hits in 1981 with 140 base knocks, and he finished his Phillies career with a slash line of .291/.365/.361. That was a period that covered his age-38 to age-42 seasons. On December 5, 1990, the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays collaborate on an old-fashioned blockbuster trade. San Diego deals Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter to Toronto for Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez. Alomar and Carter will help the Blue Jays to two World Championships. Alomar will become one of baseball’s best players during his 6 years, hitting .307 with 206 stolen bases, a .382 OBP and .833 OPS. He will finish in top 10 in the MVP vote 3 times and win 6 Gold Globes. Carter, a premium RBI man, will drive in 100+ runs in 6 of his 7 years in Toronto. Only the strike shortened year stopped him in 1995. He will finish in the top 5 for MVP voting twice and hit one of the most historic homeruns in World Series history off Mitch Williams. Fred McGriff will go on to hit 493 home runs over his career playing for multiple teams. It remains an injustice he is not in Cooperstown.Tony Fernandez will play for 2 seasons in San Diego end up back on Toronto and play on the 1993 World Championship team, playing in all 6 games and driving in 9 runs. On December 5, 1951, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson dies at the age of 62. Jackson, who succumbs to a heart attack, batted .356 over his 13-year career. Jackson had the talent to be the greatest player in history, but he threw it away...

Five Cool Things About December 1 in Baseball history When was the DH first discussed? 1911 - Hall of Fame Manager Walter Alston was Born. Alston put himself through College playing pool, and despite just 1 at bat, would eventually come to manage the Dodgers from 1954 to 1976. 1928 - The DH narrowly gets voted down by the AL 1948 - George Foster is born and becomes a key cog in the big Red Machine blasting 52 homeruns in 1977.1956 - Frank Robinson who tied the NK Rookie HR record with 38, wins the NL ROY. Luis Aparicio wins the AL Award. They will be teammates in Cooperstown some 20 odd years later.  1965 - The KC A's get Joe Rudi back from Cleveland. It will be a key trade as he becomes a gold glove outfielder and contributor to the three title teams Mentioned in this episode:Classic Baseball BroadcastsClassic Baseball Broadcasts

Oct. 12, 1972 -- In game 5 of the American League Championship Series the A’s, win 2-1 over the Detroit Tigers. The deciding run comes in the second inning with Mickey Lolich on the mound,  Mike Epstein on first, and Reggie Jackson on third when A’s Manager Dick Williams flashes the sign for a double steal. Reggie bounded down the third base line on the delayed steal as Tiger’s shortstop Dick McAuliffe  cut off the throw to second and fired it back to A’s Catcher Bill Freehan. Reggie and Freehan collided and Jackson was called safe at the plate. Sal Bando, A’s Captain, recalled that “Reggie had an unusual way of sliding. He would jump up, then leave his feet."Whether it was the slide or the collision, this time it would result in a torn left hamstring that would force Reggie to leave the game and keep him from appearing in the ’72 World Series. Jackson is the only player to ever steal home in league championship play. After the chaos of that hard fought series Dick Williams was quoted as saying that he slept like a baby. That is, he “woke up every two hours crying”.October 12, 1980 - The Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Houston Astros, 8 - 7, to capture the NLCS in 6 games. In the 10th inning, Garry Maddox drives in Del Unser to end a dramatic playoff series that featured four extra-inning games.Mentioned in this episode:Classic Baseball BroadcastsClassic Baseball Broadcasts

September 30, 1972 Roberto Clemente doubles off the Mets' Jon Matlack to become the eleventh major leaguer to collect 3000 hits. On hand for the event was Clemente's hero, Willie Mays, now a New York Met, who called Clemente "The Greatest". Sealing the mutual admiration Clemente was quoted saying ""Willie Mays is the greatest player I've ever seen. I never saw Joe DiMaggio play, but if Joe DiMaggio was better than Willie Mays, he belongs in heaven." Sadly, the Pirate right fielder's 3000th hit would be his last, as he would die on New Year's Eve in a plane crash while attempting to bring relief aid to earthquake-stricken Managua, Nicaragua.September 30, 1945 Hank Greenberg hits a pennant-winning grand slam on the final day of the season. The Tiger left fielder's ninth-inning 4 run bomb beats the Browns 6 - 3 clinching the American League flag for Detroit over the second-place Senators.September 30, 1962 Willie Mays' 47th home run, an 8th-inning blast off Dick Farrell, leads the Giants to a critical 2 - 1 win. They would all stay in the clubhouse after the win to hear the results of the Dodger game. The season would end in a tie which required a three game playoff to settle the pennant in the Giants favor.September 30, 1999 The largest regular-season crowd in Candlestick Park history, 61,389 fans, watch the Dodgers beat the home team 9 - 4 in the last baseball game to ever be played at the 'Point'. Giant greats help mark the occasion with Juan Marichal tossing out the ceremonial first pitch before the game and Willie Mays throwing out the ballpark's final pitch after the game.Mentioned in this episode:Classic Baseball BroadcastsClassic Baseball Broadcasts

Five cool things in Baseball History from November 30 Born on November 30, 1962 in Bessemer, AL, Superathlete Bo Jackson. “Sometimes the best trades are the ones you never make” – BILL VEECK, the Indian owner’s observation about a possible deal that wasn’t made. Lou Boudreau is selected as the American League Most Valuable Player, becoming the only manager to win a World Series and be named the League MVP in the same season.   Listen to the entire 1948 World Series   Billy Williams wins NL Rookie of the Year.   Randy Johnson signs a four-year deal with Arizona.   Derek Jeter wins Sportsman of the Year Award   https://thisdayinbaseball.com/this-day-in-baseball.../Mentioned in this episode:Classic Baseball BroadcastsClassic Baseball Broadcasts

Events that happened on November 6   This Day in Baseball history. November 6 , 1887 Walter Johnson was born on this day in 1887. Considered by many to be the greatest right-hander in baseball history, Johnson was the hardest thrower of his time. He was a phenomenally successful pitcher on often terrible Washington Senators’ teams. As a veteran, he anchored the only Senators’ World Series winning club, in 1924. He and Christy Mathewson were the first pitchers inducted into the Hall of Fame. He was known as the “Big Train” and in later years, upon seeing Bob Feller throw his hard one, Johnson admitted that he had thrown harder in his day. Johnson is the greatest player to ever play for the Washington Senators, debuting on August 2, 1907, against the Detroit Tigers and Ty Cobb. “He’s got a gun concealed about his person. They can’t tell me he throws them balls with his arm.” – Famed writer Ring Lardner wrote of JohnsonSam Rice tells the truth about game 3 of the 1925 World Series  - On November 6, 1974, the contents of a letter written by the late Sam Rice to the Hall of Fame are revealed in Cooperstown, New York. In the letter, Rice, who had instructed the letter be opened after his death, says that he did successfully make a disputed catch in the 1925 World Series.Bud Selig goes toe to toe with the players association - November 6, 2001 — Denying it’s a negotiating ploy, major league owners give commissioner Bud Selig the authority to “begin the process” of eliminating two ‘to be announced’ teams by a 28-2 vote. Donald Fehr, the Players Association executive director, calls the action of possibly eliminating the Expos, Twins, or Marlins most imprudent and unfortunate, and the worst manner in which to begin the process of negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement. We had hoped that we were in a new era, one that would see a much better relationship between players and owners. Today’s announcement is a severe blow to such hopes.November 6, 1950, Branch Rickey signs a five-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates after selling his 25 per cent interest in the Brooklyn Dodgers’ franchise. On October 26, Rickey had resigned as Brooklyn’s president, giving way to Walter O’Malley. Rickey will serve as the Pirates’ general manager and executive vice-president. The ‘Mahatma’s’ magic doesn’t seem to work, as the Bucs will compile a 269-501 record (.349) during his tenure in Pittsburgh.Mentioned in this episode:Classic Baseball BroadcastsClassic Baseball Broadcasts

Up first up a little trivia Burleigh Grimes played with an astonishing 36 hall of fame players, including 4 HOF first basemen can you name them . . . .  On November 5, 1936 — The Dodgers name Burleigh Grimes as their new manager. The former Brooklyn spitballer will be replacing Casey Stengel, who was fired last month during the World Series after compiling a 208-251 (.453) record during his four-year tenure. The Dodgers for a short period will be paying 3 managers, Max Carey, Grimes and Stengel.Grimes will last two seasons and win only 131 games and lose 171.Grimes is one of the more interesting players I have researched . . . Burleigh Grimes won twenty games five times, and reached double-digits in wins fourteen consecutive years. He was a hard-nosed battler who used every edge he could to beat his opponents, including memorizing the rule book in case he had to argue a point with the men in blue. Grimes was the last man to throw a legal spitball in the major leagues. Despite shuffling among six of the eight NL teams, he pitched for three teams in the World Series. His greatest moment came in Game Seven of the 1931 World Series when he took a shutout into the 9th inning against the two-time defending A's. He won the game and the Cardinals had their second World Championship.Factoid In 1921, Burleigh Grimes led the National League with 22 wins, but was paid the modest sum of $1,960 by Brooklyn.Post-Season Notes Burleigh Grimes pitched the 1931 World Series with his swollen appendix frozen to numb the pain. After the Series, which the Cardinals won thanks to his 8 2/3 innings in Game Seven, Grimes' appendix was removed.Grimes pitched in 4 World series and was 3-4 in his 9 starts.Factoid In a 1925 game, Burleigh Grimes grounded into two double plays and a triple play in a loss to the Cubs. In his three hitless at-bats, he accounted for seven outs.There is so much more I encourage you to check out his page on this day in baseball and if you are interested in listening to a game he pitched in September 20, 1934, regular season game Detroit Tigers vs Yankees he pitched 2 innings in relief. Check it out on TriviaBurleigh Grimes played with nearly every National League Hall of Famer of his era, 36 in total and 8 different teams during his career and He was a teammate of four Hall of Fame first basemen . . . . George Sisler, Bill Terry Jim Bottomley and Lou GehrigMentioned in this episode:Classic Baseball BroadcastsClassic Baseball Broadcasts

On November 5, 1936 — The Dodgers name Burleigh Grimes as their new manager. The former Brooklyn spitballer will be replacing Casey Stengel, who was fired last month during the World Series after compiling a 208-251 (.453) record during his four-year tenure. The Dodgers for a short period will be paying 3 managers, Max Carey, Grimes and Stengel. Grimes will last two seasons and win only 131 games and lose 171.On November 5, 1997 – In an unprecedented move, Davey Johnson resigns the same day he is named American League Manager of the Year. Despite the fact that Johnson ended the Baltimore Orioles’ 13-year playoff drought in 1996 and led the Orioles to the league’s best record in 1997 (98-64), a dispute over $10,500 in fines to second baseman Roberto Alomar ends Johnson’s reign in Baltimore. Johnson directed the fines to be paid to a charity. Orioles owner Peter Angelos is upset with the way the matter is handled and Johnson resigns.On November 5, 2010 — One of the approximately 60 rare T206 Honus Wagner baseball cards, auctioned off by the Baltimore-based School Sisters of Notre Dame, is acquired by a sporting card store owner Doug Walton, who pays $262,000 for the treasured piece of memorabilia. The School Sisters of Notre Dame plan to use the windfall from the sale of the valuable card of the Pirates’ third baseman to benefit ministries for the poor in 35 countries.Born November 5,  Selected by the Toronto Blue Jays as the second player overall in the 1978 free agent draft, Lloyd Moseby was rushed to the majors by the talent-hungry Blue Jays faster than the development of his potential would have ordinarily warranted. A talented center fielder, he combined with Jesse Barfield and George Bell to form what was sometimes called the best outfield in baseball in the late 1980s.In 1983 Moseby became the first Blue Jay to score 100 runs in a season, and tied teammate Damaso Garcia for a team-record (and league-leading) 21-game hitting streak. The following season, he tied with teammate Dave Collins for the AL lead in triples, and was a consistent run-producer and stolen base threat for the mid-80s Jays. By the end of the decade, the “best outfield” was being dismantled. Barfield was traded to the Yankees, and emerging prospect Junior Felix was gradually pushing Moseby out of center. When Moseby signed with the Detroit Tigers in December 1989, he left Toronto as the Blue Jays’ career leader in games, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, total bases, extra-base hits, stolen bases, strikeouts, being hit by the pitch, and sacrifice flies.Mentioned in this episode:Classic Baseball...

Frank Robinson was the first black manager when the Cleveland Indians hired him, but there was another black player who managed before Robbie . . . . On November 4, 1948  Jake Powell, 39, former big league baseball star, shot himself to death in Washington police headquarters late today while being questioned on bad check charges.Powell had been picked up at the Union Station the complaint of a local hotel where he had been staying the past three days. After Powell was taken to the check and fraud division of local police headquarters and during the questioning police said he asked permission to leave the room for several minutes. Police said he stepped outside the door pulled out a 25-caliber revolver and shot himself once in the chest and once in the right temple. With him when he was taken into custody was a woman who identified herself as Josephine Amder, of Deland, Fla. she told police she and Powell had planned to be married during the day, but later changed their plans.But Mrs. Elizabeth Powell, to whom the ballplayer had been married several years, said she was still his wife and as far as she was concerned there had been no separation.On November 4, 1889 — After a formal meeting of representatives from all National League chapters, the Brotherhood issues a “Manifesto” in which it claims that “players have been bought, sold and exchanged as though they were sheep instead of American citizens.” This bold statement constitutes a declaration of war between the Brotherhood and major league officials which will soon explode into the formation of the Players League.86 years later . . . .On November 4, 1976 — The first mass-market free agent re-entry draft is held at the New York Plaza Hotel. Among those available are Reggie Jackson, Willie McCovey, Joe Rudi, Don Gullett, Gene Tenace, Nate Colbert, Rollie Fingers, Don Baylor, and Bobby Grich. McCovey and Colbert are the only two players not selected, but McCovey will catch on with the Giants in spring training and have a banner year at his old first base position. Jackson will go onto star for the New York Yankees and win two World Championships. Fingers will have several excellent seasons for the Padres and Brewers...

November 4 This Day in Baseball history. Let's celebrate Pete Alexander on his birthday - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/pete-alexander-page/All of Today's amazing events - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/this-day-in-baseball-november-4/Reggie Jackson - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/reggie-jackson-biography/Please help us out and commemorate a page with a dedication - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/donations/donation-form/Mentioned in this episode:Classic Baseball BroadcastsClassic Baseball Broadcasts

Day of Cy Young Awards, 8 Cy Youngs are awarded with 3 multiple winners –Vern Law 60 he went 20-1 and started game 1, 4 and the historic game 7 of the 1960 World Series and went 2-0 you can listen to all three of those games in our community.Sandy Koufax wins his 3rd, setting the NL record with 382 stakeouts in 1965. You can listen to his starts from 1965, April 22, June 20 and August 10, the 9th inning of his perfect game and for good measure Game 7 of the 1965 World Series on 2 days rest.Jim Lonborg 67, 22-9 the leader on the mound for the impossible dream red sox, you can hear his Sept 2, and all three of his world series startsBob Gibson 2 70, Gibson posts his career high in wins with 23, you can listen to Gibson in the 68, 64 and 67 World Series, and his no hitter in 1971.Fergie Jenkins 71. Finally gets his after 2 close calls and you can hear him in the 1971 All Star game.Rollie Fingers 82 and Pete Vuckovich 82 – back to back for the Brewers and they were both acquired by the brewers from the Cardinals in the same trade on December 12, 1980.And Greg Maddux wins his (2) in a row in 1993, and he will win the next two as well becoming the first pitcher to win 4 in a row. Maddux went 20-10 with a 2.36 ERAAll but Law, Lonborg and Vuckovich will end up in CooperstownOn November 3, 1928 — Voters in Massachusetts approve Sunday baseball in Boston, provided that Braves Field is more than 1,000 feet from a church. This leaves Pennsylvania as the only state with no Sunday baseball in the major leagues.On November 3, 1987 — Oakland Athletics first baseman Mark McGwire, who hit 49 home runs with 118 RBI, wins the 1987 American League Rookie of the Year Award. McGwire is the second player to win that league’s award unanimously. Carlton Fisk of the Boston Red Sox was the first to do it in 1972. McGwire set a rookie record with 49 homers and was the first rookie to lead the majors in homers since Al Rosen in 1950.On November 3, 1968 — Harry Caray, trying to cross the busy Kings Highway near the Chase Park Plaza Hotel in...

On November 2, 1972 -- Leading the league in victories (27), ERA (1.97), starts (41), complete games (30), and strikeouts (310), Steve Carlton wins the 1972 National League Cy Young Award, the first of three he will win. 'Lefty's' 27 victories account for nearly half (45.8%) of the last-place Philadelphia Phillies 59 wins.November 2, 1999 Ken Griffey Jr., who wants to be nearer his family in Orlando, asks the Mariners to move him to a team that is closer to Florida. The superstar outfielder will get his wish in February when Seattle trades him to the Reds for Mike Cameron, Antonio Perez, and Brett Tomko, and minor leaguer Jake Meyer.Pat Gillick signs on with the Phillies and will lead them to the 2008 World Series Title. Today's Birth boy Bob Feller A farmboy from Van Meter, Iowa, Feller was only 17 when he struck out eight members of the St. Louis Cardinals in three innings of an exhibition game. After this awesome display of pitching, Feller was advised to seek voluntary retirement from high school in order to sign a pro-baseball contract. In his first major league start, against the St. Louis Browns, Feller fanned 15 hitters and never looked back. For twenty years, all with the Indians, the teenage phenomena dominated AL batters with his blazing fastball and bending curve. He hurled three no-hitters, including the only opening day gem, notched 12 one-hitters, served in World War II, and won 19 games for Cleveland’s 1948 World Championship team. Feller was the second big league star to enter the service for World War II (following Hank Greenberg). He lost almost four seasons to military duty but was still at the top of his game when he returned. His first year back from the war he set a new record for strikeouts in a season (348 in 1946). While in the U.S. Navy, Feller won eight battle stars.Mentioned in this episode:Classic Baseball BroadcastsClassic Baseball Broadcasts

On November 1, 1892 –Statistics for the first 154-game season show that Dan Brouthers of the Brooklyn Grooms was the top hitter at .335, and Cy Young of the Cleveland Spiders the top pitcher in terms of wins with a 36-11 record.On November 1, 1951 — Future Hall of Famer Roy Campanella (.325, 33, 108) wins the first of his three National League MVP Awards. The Dodger backstop will also receive the prestigious honor in 1953 and 1955. Campanella outpoints Stan Musial, Monte Irvin and teammates Preacher Roe and Jackie Robinson. By the standards of WAR Robinson was the best player in the league with a 9.7 WAR. November 1, 1968 -- Denny McLain is the BBWAA's unanimous choice for the American League Cy Young Award, after the right-hander posts a 31-6 (.838) record with 280 strikeouts and a 1.96 ERA, for the World Champion Tigers. The 24 year-old Chicago native, who will win the prestigious pitching prize again next season, will be also named this year’s American League Most Valuable Player.On November 1, 2010 -- Tim Lincecum pitches 8 strong innings in besting the Rangers' Cliff Lee for the second time in the series and Edgar Renteria, who drove in the winning run for the Marlins against Cleveland in the 11th inning during Game 7 of the 1997 Fall Classic, joins Yankees legends Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Yogi Berra as only the fourth player in baseball history to collect two World Series-winning hits. The Series MVP's three-run homer off Lee in the seventh inning leads to San Francisco's 3-1 victory over the Rangers, bringing a World Championship to the Giants for the first time since 1954.Happy Birthday to Vic Power who on a...

October 11, 1999 -- With the American League divisional Series between Boston and Cleveland tied at two games apiece, the Red Sox send Bret Saberhagen out to face Charles Nagy. In an eruption of runs, both starters find themselves out of the game by the third inning and the game tied at 8. With the season on the line, Sox manager Jimy Williams summons his ace, Pedro Martinez from the bullpen. The electrifying move sent shockwaves through Jacob’s field since Martinez was removed from Game 1 after 4 innings due to a strained back, and all expected they had seen the last of Pedro’s incredible 1999 season. Martinez was masterful, striking out eight and walking three despite having neither his fastball nor changeup at his disposal. Throwing hiscurveball almost exclusively, Martinez and the Red Sox won the rubber match of the ALDS 12-8 in what is cited as one of Martinez’s greatest appearances. Also memorable in this game was the Indians strategy to intentionally walk shortstop Nomar Garciapara to face outfielder Troy O’Leary. Twice they walked Nomar and twice O’Leary returned the favor with a homerun driving in 7 runs for the day.October 11, 1985, George Brett steals the show in Game 3 of the 1985 American League Championship Series. Down 2-0 to Toronto in the series, Brett drove in or scored every Kansas City run, going 4 for 4 with a single, a double, and two home runs. When Brett wasn’t busy torturing Toronto pitcher Doyle Alexander at the plate, he was mystifying in the field making a back-handed stop at third base to throw out a runner at home, and recording the final out to give the Royals a much-needed 6–5 win; their first in a series that they would win in seven gamesMentioned in this episode:Classic Baseball BroadcastsClassic Baseball Broadcasts