This Date in Baseball

"I don't regret for one minute the 12 years I've spent in baseball, but I could
regret one season too many." -SANDY KOUFAX, announcing his retirement (1966)

1886 The Pittsburgh Alleghenys leave the American Association to join the National League.
1914 The Cubs name future Hall of Famer Roger Bresnahan to manage the team. The former Cardinal skipper will be in the dugout for just one year as Chicago finishes fourth with a 73-80 record.

1947 The Browns trade All-Star shortstop Vern Stephens and pitcher Jack Kramer to the Red Sox for six players and $310,000. The dealing will continue tomorrow as Ellis Kinder and Billy Hitchcock also go to Boston in exchange for three more St. Louis players and $65,000 making the total number of players traded 13 (4 Browns, 9 Red Sox) with $375,000 going to the cash deprived Browns.
1949 Jackie Robinson (.342, 16, 124) becomes the first black player to win the MVP Award. Stan Musial, Ralph Kiner, and teammate Pee Wee Reese are the runner ups.

1951 Wanting to stay in California, PCL Los Angeles Angels first baseman Chuck Connors becomes the first player to refuse to participate in the major league draft. The former Cub first baseman and future star of the TV series The Rifleman refusal allows the minor leagues to ask for more money for big league talent.
1954 The A's hire Lou Boudreau as manager replacing Eddie Joost who is given his unconditional release. During his three-year tenure in Kansas City, the future Hall of Famer will pilot the second-division club to a 151-260 record.
1959 The A's announce Bob Elliott will replace Harry Craft as the team's manager. 'Wildfire' compiles a 162-196 (.453) during his three-year stint in Kansas City.

1966 After posting a 27-9 record with a 1.73 ERA, Dodger great Sandy Koufax unexpectedly retires. The Brooklyn native cites the fear of permanent damage of his arthritic elbow as the reason.
1966 Replacing the legendary Casey Stengel (175-404, .302) , the Mets name Wes Westrum as the team's second manager in the franchise's brief history. The former Giant catcher had taken over the club reins after the 'Old Perfessor' had fractured his hip in July.
1966 After finishing the Cy Young season with a 27-9 record and a league-leading 1.73 ERA, Sandy Koufax shocks the baseball world by announcing his retirement at the age of 30. The southpaw, who has thrown four no-hitters and set the single season strikeout record last year with 382, cites his arthritic arm and the fear of permanent damage as the reason for being placing himself on the voluntarily retired list.

1980 After batting nearly .400 all season, Royals third baseman George Brett (.390, 24, 118) is named the American League's MVP.
1981 Dick Williams replaces Frank Howard as manager of the last place Padres. Williams who has won three pennants and two World Series in last 14 years as a major league skipper, will pilot San Diego to a National League pennant in 1984.
1985 Pitching phenoms 20-year old Dwight Gooden (Mets - NL) and 21-year old Bret Saberhagen (Royals - AL) win the Cy Young Award. Both become the youngest players in their respective leagues to win the coveted pitching honor.
1986 Red Sox Roger Clemens is elected the American League's MVP Award becoming the first pitcher to accomplish the feat since Vida Blue won the honor in 1971. The 'Rocket' receives 19 of the 28 first place votes and Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly is the runner-up.
1987 Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson (.287, 49, 137) becomes the first player to win the MVP award as a member of a last place club.
1998 For the second time in three seasons, Juan Gonzalez is voted the American League's Most Valuable Player becoming the first Latin American native to win two MVP awards.

2000 The Mariners sign Orix Blue Wave's Ichiro Suzuki to a three-year deal making him the first Japanese position player in major league history. Although terms of the contract were not disclosed, Seattle agrees to pay $13 million to his former team for the right to negotiate with ` best hitter.
2004 Although the Expos may not know where they are playing next season (the final MLB approval for Washington, DC has been postponed) or the team’s new name, the former Montreal franchise will know who is the club’s manager. Frank Robinson, after compiling a 233-253 record despite many restrictions and hardships, will return to the helm for his fourth year as the skipper of this nomad ship.