This Date in Baseball

"Any time you think you have the game conquered, the game will turn around and
punch you in the nose; -MIKE SCHMIDT, Phillies' Hall of Fame third baseman

1884 League secretary Nick Young becomes National League president replacing Abe Mills, who had resigned from the post.
1960 James Vernon will pilot the new Senators in the team's inaugural season. During his three year tenure with new club, 'Mickey' will compile a 135-227 record.
1962 The Cardinals trade pitcher Don Cardwell and infielder Julio Gotay to the Pirates for shortstop Dick Groat and pitcher Diomedes Olivio Groat will become a cog in Cardinal World championship in 1964.

1968 Yankee pitcher Stan Bahnsen (17-12, 2.05, 162) is named American League Rookie of the Year. The New York freshman easily outdistances outfielder Del Unser of the Washington Senators .
1975 In a landslide vote, Joe Morgan (.327, 17, 94) is overwhelming elected the National League MVP. The Reds' second baseman had a league-leading on-base percentage of .419.
1979 Former Angel Nolan Ryan becomes the first free agent to sign a million dollars per year contract with a new team. The 'Ryan Express' will post a 106-94 record for the Astros.

1986 Phillies' third baseman Mike Schmidt (.290, 37,119) joins Roy Campanella and Stan Musial becoming only the third player in National League history to win the MVP three times.
1990 Pirates' outfielder Barry Bonds (.301, 23, 114) wins the National League MVP Award. Pittsburgh teammate Bobby Bonilla is the runner-up.
1996 Free-agent Albert Belle signs a record five-year, $55 million deal with the White Sox making the left fielder the first $10 million a year player.
1998 Sammy Sosa is selected as the National League MVP creating an historic Latin American sweep of the MVP awards with Ranger Juan Gonzales winning the award in the American League this season.
2001 In a landslide vote (30 of 32 first-place votes) by the BBWAA, Giants' left fielder Barry Bonds (.328, 137, 73) wins the Most Valuable Player Award for an unprecedented fourth time (1990, 92-93 as a Pirate). Three-time MVPs include Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Joe DiMaggio, Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial and Mike Schmidt.

2002 Twenty-four year veteran Jesse Orosco, who is the all-time leader in games pitched at 1,187 agrees to a one-year contract with the Padres estimated at $800,000, At age 45, the lefty reliever, who started his major league with the Mets in 1979 (traded by the Twins for Jerry Koosman), is the oldest player in the majors.
2004 The Angels trade flychaser Jose Guillen (.294, 27, 104) to the Washington Expos for outfielder Juan Riveria and infielder Maicer Izturis. The Dominican Republic native, now playing for his sixth team in his 8-year career, was suspended by Anaheim after throwing a helmet during a tirade caused by being taken out for a pinch runner last September.