Month: December 2018

On This Day: December 28

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1983 

Free agent outfielder Warren Cromartie signs a reported three-year, $2.5 million contract with Japan’s Yomiuri Giants. The 30-year-old Cromartie, who hit .278 as a mainstay in the Montreal outfield in 1983, is the best American player to jump to Japan while still in his prime. He will play in Japan for seven seasons (MVP in 1989) before returning for one…

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On This Day: December 22

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1953 

Jack Dunn III, whose family successfully owned and operated the Baltimore Orioles in the International League, officially turns the old team name over to the relocated St. Louis Browns. The new Baltimore Orioles will draw 1,060,910 in their first season the Browns barely drew that number in their last three years in St. Louis combined.

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On This Day: December 19

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1986

After finding no other clubs interested in signing him, free-agent pitcher and 20-game winner Jack Morris agrees to salary arbitration with the Tigers. Morris accuses MLB owners of collusion against free agents. Morris had offered to sign a 1-year contract, with salary to be determined by an arbitrator, with the Yankees, Angels, Twins, or Phillies, but was turned down by…

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On This Day: December 16

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1982

Tom Seaver agrees to a new contract with the Mets, completing a trade that sends him back to New York from Cincinnati. The Reds receive pitcher Charlie Puleo and minor leaguers Lloyd McClendon and Jason Felice for the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Tom Terrific will go 9-14 with a 3.55 ERA in 1983 for the Amazins’

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On This Day: December 15

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Happy 70th birthday to Doug Rau! Rau was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 2, 1972, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That season he earned a 2.20 ERA in 32 2/3 innings and giving up just 18 hits. In 1974, Rau became a starter and the Dodgers won the NL pennant. Over his career, Rau fashioned a 81-60 won-loss…

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On This Day: December 13

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1930
The 15-year career of George Sisler, spent mostly with the St. Louis Browns, ends when the Boston Braves release him. A lifetime .340 hitter who twice led the AL with averages above.400, Sisler will be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.

On This Day: December 11

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1989
The Kansas City Royals sign free agent Mark Davis, formerly of the San Diego Padres, to a four-year contract. Davis and Bret Saberhagen will make the 1990 Royals the first team ever to have both defending Cy Young Award winners. It will not help the KC club as Davis drops from saving 44 games to only 6.

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On This Day: December 9

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1936
Tweaks to the game are nothing new. The American League (AL) approves night baseball for St. Louis. The National League adopts a new design for home plate. It will have beveled edges, the first change in 50 years. The AL also adopts a rule stating that no batter can be batting champion unless he has 400 or more at bats.

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