1. materials characteristic of baseball and the culture of baseball; 2. collectible baseball Americana
1900
Future Hall of Fame pitcher Ted Lyons is born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Lyons will make his major league debut in 1923 and will go on to win 260 games over a 21-year career with the Chicago White Sox.
May You Know A Merry Christmas…
1980
The Boston Red Sox mail Fred Lynn and Carlton Fisk their new contracts two days after the Basic Agreement’s December 20 deadline. Boston’s blunder make their All-Stars eligible for free agency.
1974
The race to sign newly-minted free agent Catfish Hunter begins in the law offices of Cherry, Cherry & Flythe in Ahoskie, North Carolina. Yankees and Red Sox representatives are the first arrivals. Hunter will sign with New York and go 23-14 his first season in the Big Apple.
1992
The Twins sign free agent DH/outfielder Dave Winfield. During the 1992 season for the World Champion Blue Jays, the St. Paul native hit .290 and had 108 RBIs and 26 home runs. For the Twins the 41 year-old future Hall of Famer will hit .271 with 21 dingers.
1948
The Cleveland Indians acquire future Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn and first baseman Mickey Vernon from the Washington Senators for three players. Vernon will go back to Washington in 1950 but Wynn will stay in Cleveland and will win 163 games for the Indians over nine seasons.
1938
The New York Giants get slugger Zeke Bonura from the Washington Senators for $20,000 and two minor league players. Bonura will hit .321 the following season.
1975
In a busy day of trading, the Yankees acquire pitchers Dock Ellis and Ken Brett, and 2B Willie Randolph from the Pirates for hurler Doc Medich. In a separate deal with the Angels, the club trades Bobby Bonds for OF Mickey Rivers and pitcher Ed Figueroa.
1966
Five years after he broke Babe Ruth’s record for HRs in a season, the Yankees trade OF Roger Maris to the Cardinals for journeyman 3B Charley Smith. The next two seasons will find the Cardinals in the World Series and Maris in an important role.
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.
