December 28
From BR Bullpen
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| Stats of players who died on this day | |
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Events, births and deaths that occurred on December 28.
Events[edit]
- 1885 - The American Association officially admits the New York Metropolitans club, having been forced by the courts to do so.
- 1888 - The Cuban Giants, the top colored team in the nation, announces its plans for 1889: Monday and Saturday games at Elysian Field in Hoboken, Wednesdays and Fridays in Trenton, and Sundays at Long Island Grounds in Maspeth, Queens.
- 1895 - Star Chicago Colts shortstop Bill Dahlen breaks his left arm in a fall.
- 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.
- 1926 - National League MVP Bob O'Farrell is named to replace Rogers Hornsby as the St. Louis Cardinals manager. The job was reportedly first offered to Bill Killefer who, out of loyalty to Hornsby turned it down, and quit. Killefer will sign on as a coach of the St. Louis Browns.
- 1944 - Washington Senators third baseman Buddy Lewis wins the Distinguished Flying Cross for precision flying over the Burma War Theater.
- 1953 - The Pittsburgh Pirates send flashy 2B Danny O'Connell to the Milwaukee Braves for 3B Sid Gordon, OF Sam Jethroe, P Max Surkont, and four minor league pitchers. Pittsburgh also get $100,000 from the Braves. This is the only six-for-one trade in major league history and will be surpassed only by the seven-for-one deal that will send Vida Blue from the Oakland A's to the SF Giants in 1978.
- 1956 - The New York City Board of Estimate votes $25,000 for a survey regarding the Brooklyn Dodgers' proposed new stadium for downtown Brooklyn.
- 1957:
- CBS states that it will not broadcast baseball into any area at the time a minor league game is scheduled.
- The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds exchange well-known first basemen. The Pirates acquire slugger Ted Kluszewski, known for wearing cut-off sleeves to accommodate his bulging biceps. In exchange, Pittsburgh surrenders Dee Fondy, who batted .313 last season while splitting the season between the Pirates and the Chicago Cubs.
- 1983 - Free agent Warren Cromartie signs a reported three-year, $2.5 million contract to play for the Yomiuri Giants of the Pacific League. The 30-year-old Cromartie, who hit .278 as a mainstay in the Montreal Expos' outfield last season, is arguably the best American player to jump to Nippon Pro Baseball while still in his prime. He will play in Japan for seven seasons before returning for one more season in the major leagues with the Kansas City Royals in 1991.
- 1994 - The Houston Astros and San Diego Padres swing a mammoth twelve-player trade. Houston obtains OF Derek Bell, IF Ricky Gutierrez, P Pedro Martinez, OF Phil Plantier, and IF Craig Shipley from San Diego in exchange for 3B Ken Caminiti, SS Andújar Cedeño, OF Steve Finley, 1B Roberto Petagine, P Brian Williams, and a player to be named. P Sean Fesh will go to the Padres next May to complete the biggest deal in the major leagues since 1957.
- 1995 - The Chicago White Sox trade OF Tim Raines to the New York Yankees in exchange for future considerations and the Pittsburgh Pirates sign free agent 3B Charlie Hayes.
- 1998:
- The Detroit Tigers sign free agent Gregg Jefferies to a two-year contract and trade outfielder Luis Gonzalez to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Karim Garcia. Gonzalez, whose career has been undistinguished so far, will blossom into a star in Arizona.
- St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire is named by the Associated Press as the Male Athlete of the Year.
- 2001 - Outgoing New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani announces the Yankees and Mets have reached a tentative agreement with the city to build a pair of $800 million, retractable-roof stadiums. Mayor-elect Michael Bloomberg, who is concerned that the Big Apple cannot afford what is believed to be the largest private-public venture in history, will have final word on the $1.6 billion cost of the proposed new ballpark agreements.
- 2005:
- Venezuela offers to host part of next year's World Baseball Classic in place of Puerto Rico and suggests moving the final to Canada, proposals aimed at keeping Cuba in the 16-team tournament.
- Outfielder Hideki Matsui has decided not to play for Japan at next year's World Baseball Classic so he can concentrate his efforts on winning a World Series with the New York Yankees.
- Pitcher Jon Garland agrees to a three-year, $29 million contract to stay with the World Series champion Chicago White Sox.
- Free agent OF Jeromy Burnitz and the Orioles agree on a two-year contract; IF Miguel Cairo and the Yankees reach an agreement on a $1 million, one-year contract, and relief pitcher Chad Bradford agrees to a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Mets.
- 2007 - Former major league player Jim Leyritz is arrested in Florida. He crashed his car into another vehicle, killing the occupant. He is charged with DUI manslaughter and driving with a suspended license.
- 2009:
- The Mets sign P Kelvim Escobar to a one-year deal. Escobar missed all of 2008 and made only one start for the Angels last season because of a torn labrum.
- The Mariners sign C Josh Bard and P Chad Cordero to minor league deals, while the Nationals come to terms with 1B Josh Whitesell and utility player Eric Bruntlett.
- 2010 - The Blue Jays sign P Octavio Dotel to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million.
- 2011:
- The Athletics swing another major trade, this time sending 2009 American League Rookie of the Year Award winner Andrew Bailey and OF Ryan Sweeney to the Red Sox in return for OF Josh Reddick, IF Miles Head and P Raul Alcantara. Bailey is expected to take over as Boston's closer for Jonathan Papelbon, who left via free agency earlier this off-season.
- The Yankees sign reliever Hideki Okajima to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
- 2012 - The Brewers sign P Mike Gonzalez.
- 2014 - The second Cuban All-Star Game of the year is played as the 2013-2014 contest was held in January and the 2014-2015 one is today. Lourdes Gourriel Jr. homers and drives in four to power the Occidentales to a 9 - 4 win over the Orientales. The Occidentales get four of their 16 hits from first basemen Alex Malleta and Yunier Mendoza.
- 2015 - Can a team ever have too much relief pitching? Already sporting the terrific late-game duo of Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances, the Yankees trade for Reds closer Aroldis Chapman in return for four prospects: Caleb Cotham, Rookie Davis, Eric Jagielo and Tony Renda. The Bronx Bombers make the trade even though Chapman is currently under investigation for a domestic violence incident that could result in an extensive suspension.
- 2020 - The Padres continue to be the busiest team this off-season, as two days after landing P Blake Snell, they reportedly pull off another deal for a front-line pitcher, Yu Darvish, acquired from the Cubs alongside C Victor Caratini in return for P Zach Davies and four prospects. The Padres are also said to have come to an agreement with Korean infielder Ha-seong Kim, who has been made available via the Posting system. These latest two deals are still awaiting confirmation, but they underline that the Friars are serious about making a title run this coming season.
- 2022 - Two more free agents find a home as the Marlins sign 2B Jean Segura to a two-year contract for $17 million and the Red Sox add veteran P Corey Kluber on a one-year deal.
Births[edit]
- 1847 - Count Sensenderfer, outfielder (d. 1903)
- 1860 - Cal Broughton, catcher (d. 1939)
- 1864 - Charlie Kalbfus, outfielder (d. 1941)
- 1875 - Bill Karns, pitcher (d. 1941)
- 1885 - Jiggs Parson, pitcher (d. 1967)
- 1887 - Pete Henning, pitcher (d. 1939)
- 1891 - Ralph Carroll, catcher (d. 1983)
- 1898 - Bill Kelly, infielder (d. 1990)
- 1900 - Ted Lyons, pitcher, manager; All-Star, Hall of Famer (d. 1986)
- 1900 - Joe Ranson, catcher (d. 1945)
- 1901 - Wattie Holm, outfielder (d. 1950)
- 1903 - Louis Nippert, owner (d. 1992)
- 1905 - Manuel García, pitcher/outfielder (d. 1995)
- 1906 - Tommy Bridges, pitcher; All-Star (d. 1968)
- 1912 - Otto Denning, catcher (d. 1992)
- 1913 - Ollie West, pitcher (d. 1987)
- 1915 - Hank Sweeney, infielder (d. 1980)
- 1919 - Doug Sydnor, outfielder (d. 1969)
- 1920 - Leslie Aulds, catcher (d. 1999)
- 1921 - Nelson Burbrink, catcher (d. 2001)
- 1922 - Bill Gallo, writer (d. 2011)
- 1923 - Tony Daniels, infielder (d. 2005)
- 1923 - Don Thompson, outfielder (d. 2009)
- 1924 - Steve Kuczek, pinch hitter (d. 2010)
- 1925 - Ramón del Monte. Dominican national team pitcher
- 1926 - Edward Post, minor league pitcher (d. 1978)
- 1929 - Dick Aubertin, minor league pitcher (d. 2012)
- 1929 - Bob Flori, minor league catcher and manager (d. 2009)
- 1934 - Noboru Yamashita, NPB pitcher (d. 1976)
- 1937 - Andy Musser, broadcaster (d. 2012)
- 1938 - Giorgio Gandolfi, writer; Italian Hall of Fame
- 1944 - Ray Lamb, pitcher
- 1946 - Bill Lee, pitcher; All-Star
- 1947 - Aurelio Rodriguez, infielder (d. 2000)
- 1948 - Ted Nicholson, minor league outfielder
- 1949 - John Milner, infielder (d. 2000)
- 1949 - Kyosuke Sasaki, NPB outfielder and manager
- 1950 - Steve Lawson, pitcher
- 1950 - Cliff Schaller, umpire
- 1951 - Alfonso Collazo, minor league pitcher
- 1952 - Ray Knight, infielder, manager; All-Star
- 1952 - Jose Sosa, pitcher (d. 2013)
- 1953 - Ronny De Vriendt, First Division player and manager
- 1953 - Ernesto López, Nicaraguan national team outfielder
- 1955 - Dave Boyer, minor league infielder
- 1955 - Toru Iwasaki, Myanmar national team manager
- 1960 - Zane Smith, pitcher
- 1960 - Carl Willis, pitcher
- 1962 - Scott Potter, umpire
- 1962 - Bruce Williams, minor league pitcher
- 1963 - Mel Stottlemyre, pitcher
- 1963 - Chien-Wen Su, CPBL umpire
- 1964 - Torsten Stender, Bundesliga player
- 1967 - Dean Croy, Canadian national team catcher
- 1969 - Rodney Pedraza, minor league pitcher
- 1970 - Kazutoshi Yamahara, NPB pitcher
- 1971 - Benny Agbayani, outfielder
- 1971 - Melvin Nieves, outfielder
- 1972 - Einar Diaz, catcher
- 1973 - John Musachio, college coach
- 1974 - Tim Huff, scout
- 1975 - B.J. Ryan, pitcher; All-Star
- 1976 - Shinobu Fukuhara, NPB pitcher
- 1976 - Nobutoshi Ido, minor league outfielder
- 1976 - Jose Mateo, minor league infielder and manager
- 1976 - Jon Topolski, minor league outfielder
- 1979 - Bill Hall, infielder
- 1980 - Gino Lollio, Serie A1 outfielder
- 1982 - Cedric Benson, minor league outfielder (d. 2019)
- 1982 - Mike Elias, scout
- 1984 - Barret Browning, pitcher
- 1985 - Angel Gonzalez, minor league infielder
- 1986 - Sam Wiley, Great Britain national team catcher
- 1987 - Shawn O'Malley, infielder
- 1989 - Austin Barnes, catcher
- 1989 - Nic Lentz, umpire
- 1989 - Casey McElroy, minor league infielder
- 1989 - Austin Nola, catcher
- 1990 - Ángel Vilchez, minor league pitcher
- 1991 - Myles Jaye, pitcher
- 1991 - Keisuke Takano, NPB pitcher
- 1992 - Carlos Estevez, pitcher; All-Star
- 1993 - Scott Effross, pitcher
- 1993 - Mike Meyers, minor league outfielder
- 1993 - Simon Rosenbaum, Israeli national team infielder
- 1994 - Dario Agrazal, pitcher
- 1994 - Daniel Castillo, Colombian national team pitcher
- 1994 - Ka-Ho Sam Leung, Hong Kong national team pitcher
- 1994 - Dean Pelman, Israeli national team pitcher
- 1994 - Mitch White, pitcher
- 1995 - Dylan Cease, pitcher
- 1995 - Corbin Martin, pitcher
- 1996 - Diego Uezu, Peruvian national team pitcher
- 1998 - Tanner Burns, minor league pitcher
- 1998 - Haicheng Gong, minor league pitcher
- 1998 - Enmanuel Valdéz, infielder
- 1999 - Diana Ibarra, Mexican women's national team outfielder
- 2000 - Manon Delegue, French women's national team infielder-outfielder
- 2001 - J.J. D'Orazio, minor league catcher
- 2003 - Michal Kovala, Extraliga pitcher
Deaths[edit]
- 1901 - George Flynn, outfielder (b. 1871)
- 1935 - Jack Corcoran, catcher (b. 1858)
- 1936 - James Searle, Australian baseball pioneer (b. 1861)
- 1941 - Jack Hickey, pitcher (b. 1881)
- 1943 - Steve Evans, outfielder (b. 1885)
- 1944 - Bill Bowman, catcher (b. 1867)
- 1949 - C.E. Brickley, Olympic catcher (b. 1891)
- 1952 - Deacon Jones, pitcher (b. 1893)
- 1963 - Ray Keating, pitcher (b. 1898)
- 1967 - James Johnston, owner (b. 1895)
- 1968 - Roosevelt Davis, pitcher (b. 1904)
- 1970 - Doc Ozmer, pitcher (b. 1901)
- 1972 - Eddie Leishman, minor league infielder and manager (b. 1910)
- 1974 - Russell Abbett, minor league player (b. 1913)
- 1974 - Jack Salveson, pitcher (b. 1914)
- 1979 - Hank Butcher, outfielder (b. 1886)
- 1979 - Hank Doty, minor league infielder and manager (b. 1900)
- 1979 - Jim Mosolf, outfielder (b. 1905)
- 1979 - Red Tramback, outfielder (b. 1915)
- 1980 - Jim Britt, broadcaster (b. 1911)
- 1981 - John Bischoff, catcher (b. 1894)
- 1986 - Harry Else, catcher; All-Star (b. 1906)
- 1992 - Sal Maglie, pitcher; All-Star (b. 1917)
- 1993 - Augie Galan, outfielder; All-Star (b. 1912)
- 1994 - Yukio Shimabara, NPB pitcher (b. 1933)
- 1995 - Hipolito Arenas, outfielder/infielder (b. 1907)
- 1999 - Hiroshi Minohara, NPB outfielder (B. 1929)
- 2000 - Cotton Williams, pitcher/outfielder (b. 1917)
- 2010 - Takashi Kusaka, NPB outfielder (b. 1929)
- 2010 - Bill Lajoie, general manager (b. 1934)
- 2011 - Bruce Fine, owner (b. 1937)
- 2011 - Don Mueller, outfielder; All-Star (b. 1927)
- 2012 - Craig Sorensen, minor league outfielder (b. 1935)
- 2014 - Leo Ferguson, minor league infielder (b. 1922)
- 2014 - Ewell Utley, minor league pitcher (b. 1931)
- 2016 - Joe Osinski, minor league catcher (b. 1931)
- 2017 - Roberto Cadena, Mexican national team catcher (b. 1945)
- 2017 - Al Luplow, outfielder (b. 1939)
- 2017 - Ken Poulsen, infielder (b. 1947)
- 2017 - Ray White, minor league player (b. 1928)
- 2018 - Larry Keller, scout (b. 1954)
- 2021 - Elijah Johnson, NPB infielder (b. 1942)
- 2021 - Dick Lawlor, scout (b. 1932)
- 2023 - Carlos Pulido, pitcher (b. 1971)
- 2023 - Bill Voss, outfielder (b. 1943)
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