Monday, November 9, 2009

Supreme Court Rules Baseball is NOT a Business


November 9, 1953
Reaffirming its earlier position, the United States Supreme Court rules, 7-2, baseball is a sport and not a business. This decision exempts baseball from anti-trusts laws


Comment: I rarely comment on the baseball history but this one is ridiculous. Baseball is a business. If it wasn't a business would there be complaints about the over priced tickets or the multi million dollar salaries? Would the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers not have made a profit? Would teams like the Pirates be looking for tax loopholes? Baseball is a business and needs to pay its fair share because it is a business.


Sunday, November 8, 2009

1951 - Catcher Yogi Berra of the Yankees wins the first of his three Most Valuable Player awards.


November 8, 1951 - Catcher Yogi Berra of the Yankees wins the first of his three Most Valuable Player awards.


November 8, 1961 - With only one Cy Young Award given for the two leagues, Whitey Ford, the American League leader in wins and innings, gets the honor ahead of Warren Spahn, who led the National League with 21 wins and a 3.02 ERA.


November 8, 1966 - Triple Crown winner Frank Robinson of the Orioles is the unanimous choice as American League Most Valuable Player. He is the first player to win the award in both leagues.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Elston Howard Becomes First African American to Win AL MVP


November 7, 1963
Elston Howard is named the American League's Most Valuable Player Award becoming the first black player to receive the honor. Joining Roger Maris (1960-61) and Mickey Mantle (1962), the New York catcher becomes the third consecutive Yankee to win the MVP.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Mike Marshall Becomes First Relief Pitcher to Win Cy Young Award


November 6, 1969
For the first time in Cy Young Award voting history a tie occurs with Tiger Denny McLain (24-9, 2.80) and Oriole Mike Cuellar (23-11, 2.38) receiving equal votes from the BBWAA for being the best pitcher in the American League. 9 For the first time in Cy Young Award voting history a tie occurs with Tiger Denny McLain and Oriole Mike Cuellar receiving equal votes from the BBWAA for being the best pitcher in the American League.


November 6, 1974
Mike Marshall becomes the first relief pitcher to win the Cy Young Award. The 'Iron Man' set major league records for penmen with innings pitched (206), game appearances (106), consecutive games (14) and games finished (83) .

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Sadaharu Oh Retires Charlie Manuel Named Manager of the Phillies


November 4, 1980
Japan's all-time home run hitter, Sadaharu Oh, retires from professional baseball. The Tokyo Yomiuri Giants' first baseman hit a record 868 home runs in his 22-year playing career.

November 4, 2001
In Game 7 of a classic World Series, Arizona rallies for two runs in the bottom of the ninth defeating the Yankees and their usually unbeatable closer, Mariano Rivera, 3-2. The four-year old Diamondbacks, the youngest franchise to win a Fall Classic, ends New York's string of three consecutive World Championships.


November 4, 2001
Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling are named co-MVPs of the World Series. The Diamondback hurlers are the first multiple winners since a trio of Dodgers( Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager) shared the award in 1981.


November 4, 2004
Former Indians manager Charlie Manuel is named to replace Larry Bowa as the Phillies skipper. The 60-year old piloted Cleveland from 2000-02.


November 4, 2004
The Mets introduced Willie Randolph as the franchise's 18th manager. The long-time Yankee second baseman and third base coach becomes the first black to manage in New York.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Ty Cobb Retires From Baseball


November 3, 1926 - Ty Cobb resigns as Tigers manager and announces his retirement from the game. Umpire and former Tigers infielder George Moriarty replaces him. Moriarty is the first man to hold baseball's four principal jobs: player, umpire, scout, and manager.


Novermber 3, 1934 - Although Lou Gehrig wins the Triple Crown with 49 home runs, 165 RBI, and a .363 average, Mickey Cochrane, with two home runs, 76 RBI, and a.320 average, is named American League Most Valuable Player. Dizzy Dean, with a 30-7 record, is chosen as National League Most Valuable Player.


November 3, 1942 - Ted Williams is the Triple Crown winner in the major leagues, but the writers select second baseman Joe Gordon by 21 votes as American League Most Valuable Player. Gordon of the New York Yankees leads the American League with 95 strikeouts, the most ground balls hit into double plays (22), and the most errors at his position (28). Pitcher Mort Cooper gets the Most Valuable Player honor in the National League.


November 3, 1989 - Lou Piniella is named manager of the Reds, replacing the banned Pete Rose.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Jimmie Foxx Wins 3rd MVP Award


November 2, 1938
Receiving 19 of 22 first-place votes, Red Sox first baseman Jimmy Foxx (.349, 50, 175) becomes the first player to win the Most Valuable Player award three times. The 31-year old slugger was also the recipient of the honor in 1932 and '33 playing for the Philadelphia A's.

November 2, 1944
Japan, where baseball has been banned as an undesirable enemy influence, mourns the death of Eiji Sawamura. The Japanese pitcher, who is killed in action in the Pacific, became a national hero by striking out Babe Ruth in an exhibition game.


November 2, 1964
CBS becomes first corporate owner of a major league team buying eighty percent of Yankees for $11,200,000.


November 2, 1974
The Braves trade Hank Aaron to the Brewers for Dave May and Roger Alexander. The move allows the all-time career home run champ to finish his career in Milwaukee, the city in which he started in the majors.