This Date in Baseball

"Close don't count in baseball. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand
grenades." -FRANK ROBINSON, Hall of Fame outfielder (1956-76)

1953 The Senators trade Jackie Jensen to the Red Sox for Maury McDermott and Tom Umphlett.

1954 The Yankees and Orioles complete the largest trade in major league history as 17 players, including Don Larsen, Gene Woodling, Bob Turley change teams. The first phase of the transaction began November 18th and will conclude today after the major league draft.
1955 Pitcher Virgil Trucks returns to the Tigers in a trade for White Sox third baseman Bubba Phillips.

1956 In an unanimous vote, Reds outfielder Frank Robinson is selected as the National League Rookie of the Year.

1956 White Sox shortstop Luis Aparicio is selected as the American League Rookie of the Year beating out Indian Rocky Colavito and Oriole Tito Francona.
1964 The Houston Colt 45's become the Astros. The change in name for the three-year old franchise is necessitated due to a dispute with the Colt firearm company and the team's location to NASA.
1987 Free agent Brett Butler (.295, 9, 41) signs with the Giants. The former Indian 31-year old outfielder stole 33 bases for the tribe last season.
1998 Due the acquisition of all-star backstop Mike Piazza, the Mets deal fan favorite Todd Hundley along with right-hander Arnold Gooch to the Dodgers for outfielder Roger Cedeno and catcher Charles Johnson. New York then sends Johnson to Baltimore to obtain closer Armando Benitez.
1998 Bypassing his agent and making the deal himself, Rafael Palmeiro turns down a bigger offer from Orioles and signs a five-year $45 million contract to stay with the Rangers.

2000 Turk Wendell, who wears uniform number 99, agrees to a three-year deal worth $9,999,999.99 with the Mets. The New York reliever had asked that his pact include an option year in which he would play for free, but that plan was unworkable because baseball's collective bargaining agreement sets a $200,000 minimum salary.
2005 The Red Sox have petitioned a judge to keep the ball used to record the last out of 2004 World Series making the team World Champs for the first time in 86 years. Former first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who caught the ball after being thrown by Keith Foulke, loaned it to Boston but continues to claim ownership of the sensational sphere.