This Date in Baseball

"When you call a pitcher 'Lefty' and everybody in both leagues knows who you
mean, he must be pretty good." -CLINT HURDLE, Kansas City Royal infielder
speaking about Steve Carlton.

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

1972 Leading the league in victories (27), ERA (1.97), starts (41), complete games (30), and strike outs (310), Steve Carlton wins the National League's Cy Young Award. 'Lefty's' 27 victories nearly accounts for nearly half (45.8%) of the last-place Phillies wins.
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.
1976 After winning 22 games, Randy Jones captures the National League's Cy Young Award. Two years ago the Padre hurler had lost 22 games.
1983 John Denny wins the National League's Cy Young Award. The Prescott, Arizona native posted a 19-6 record with a 2.37 ERA for National League Champion Phillies.
2000 After a 15-year big league career, first baseman Will Clark announces his retirement. 'The Thrill' ends his playing days with the McGwire-less Cardinals supplying the Redbirds with much needed offense (.345,12 HRs and 42 RBIs) in a two-month span after being traded from the Orioles.

1999 Ken Griffey Jr. asks the Seattle Mariners to trade him. The superstar outfielder wants be closer to Orlando, Florida, where his family resides.
2000 Former Blue Jay catcher (1981-86) and the team's present TV color analyst, Buck Martinez, is hired as the Toronto manager. Replacing Jim Fregosi, the 51-year ESPN commentator joins Astros' Larry Dierker and Diamondbacks' Bob Brenly as first-time major league skippers hired from the broadcast booth.
2000 Wrigley Field has been granted preliminary landmark status by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. Any plans to refurbish or tear down Cubs' home since 1916 will have to be reviewed by this panel.
2004 After a grounds keeper finds a grenade in the Wrigley Field turf, police bomb and arson investigators are called to evaluate the right field discovery. The rusty, hollowed-out shell turns out to be harmless and its origins remain a mystery.
2005 Pat Gillick signs a three-year deal becoming the Phillies' general manager. The 68-year old, who has held the same position with Orioles, Blue Jays and Mariners, has lead his teams to two World Series titles and nine playoff appearances.