Author: Baseballia

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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Baseball History · On This Day

On This Day: December 8

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1968
Happy 50th birthday to Mike Mussina. He was 22 years old when he broke into MLB with the Baltimore Orioles. Nicknamed Moose, Mussina played for the Baltimore Orioles (1991–2000) and the New York Yankees (2001–2008). He won at least 11 games in 17 consecutive seasons – an AL record – and recorded a career .638 winning percentage.

Baseball History · On This Day

On This Day: December 5

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1978
After 18 years with the Cincinnati Reds, free agent Pete Rose signs a four-year, $3.2 million contract with the Phillies to temporarily become the highest-paid athlete in team sports. Rose and the Phils will win the World Series in 1980.

Baseball History · On This Day

On This Day: December 3

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1990
NL batting champion Willie McGee signs as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants, ending his three-month stint across the bay with the Athletics. He finished the season with the A’s following a trade from the Cardinals, but McGee still qualified as the NL batting champion, hitting .335

Baseball History · On This Day

On This Day: December 1

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1953
The Red Sox trade for hard-hitting Jackie Jensen, sending Maury McDermott and Tom Umphlett to the Washington Senators. Jensen will average 25 home runs a year in his seven seasons at Fenway, lead the AL in RBI three times, and win the MVP award in 1958.

Baseball History · On This Day

On This Day: November 28

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1978
The Reds fire manager Sparky Anderson after nine years, during which the club averaged 96 wins per season and won five divisional titles, four National League pennants, and two World Championships. He will lead the Detroit Tigers to the World Series Championship in 1984.

Baseball History · On This Day

On This Day: November 26

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1961
The Professional Baseball Rules Committee votes 8-1 against legalizing the spitball, formally banned in 1920. Only National League supervisor of umpires Cal Hubbard votes in favor. Hubbard had been an umpire in the American League from 1936 to 1951.

Baseball History · On This Day

On This Day: November 24

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1953
The Dodgers sign the relatively unknown Walter Alston to a one-year pact as their manager for 1954. He will sign 23 one-year contracts with the team and manage the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers through 1976. Alston led Dodgers teams to seven National League pennants and four world championships.