This Date in Baseball

"I'm a sweet hitter. Not really a great hitter. Just a sweet hitter." -MARV
THRONEBERRY, Major league first baseman and outfielder (1955-63)

1941 The Giants trade hurler Bill Lohrman, catcher James O'Dea, first baseman Johnny McCarthy and $50,000 to the Cardinals to obtain first baseman Johnny Mize.
1950 In a close vote (9-7), the owners vote not to renew A. B. 'Happy' Chandler's contract for another term as commissioner.

1951 Joe DiMaggio officially retires from baseball. The Yankee Clipper ends his thirteen year career with a life time .325 BA and 361 home runs.
1952 Fred Haney is named as the Pirate manager for the upcoming season.
1956 A major league player association is formed. Bob Feller, a star pitcher with the Indians, is named as the organization's first president.
1959 The Yankees trade Hank Bauer, Marv Throneberry, Don Larsen and Norm Siebern to the Kansas City A's for outfielder Roger Maris and two other players.
1968 The Angels trade two catchers, Ed Kirkpatrick and Dennis Paepke, to the Kansas City A's for right-handed knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm.
1975 In a busy day of trading, the Yankees acquire pitchers Dock Ellis and Ken Brett, and second baseman Willie Randolph from the Pirates for hurler Doc Medich. In a separate deal with the Angels, the club trades Bobby Bonds for outfielder Mickey Rivers and pitcher Ed Figueroa.
1987 The A's obtain Jesse Orosco from the Mets and then trades the southpaw reliever along with shortstop Alfredo Griffin and right-hander Jay Howell to the Dodgers for pitchers Matt Young, Bob Welch and Jack Savage. New York gets Savage as well as right-hand hurlers Wally Whitehurst and Kevin Tapini from Oakland to complete the three-team, eight player deal.
2000 The Astros and Tigers complete a six-player trade with outfielder Roger Cedeno, catcher Mitch Meluskey and right-hander Chris Holt going to Detroit and catcher Brad Ausmus, relievers Doug Brocail and Nelson Cruz headed for Houston.
2000 Alex Rodriguez signs the richest contract in sports history, a ten-year deal with the Rangers worth $252 million. The quarter billion dollars doubles the previous high of $126 million paid by the NBA's Timberwolves to Kevin Garnett in a six-year agreement signed in October, 1997.
2001 The Mets trade outfielders Matt Lawton and Alex Escobar, righthanded pitcher Jerrod Riggan and two players to be named to the Indians for 12-time All-Star second baseman Roberto Alomar (.336, 20, 100), first baseman Danny Peoples and minor leaguer pitcher Mike Bacsik.

2003 The Royals sign 18-year veteran Benito Santiago (279, 11, 56 ) to a two-year deal. Kansas City hopes the veteran catcher's, who is a three-time Gold Glove winner, experience will be helpful to the team's young pitching staff.
2003 Andy Pettitte inks a three-year, $31.5 million deal with his 'hometown' Astros. The thirty-one year old Texan, who compiled a 149-78 won-loss record with a 3.94 ERA during his nine-year stint in pinstripes turned down better offers to stay with the Yankees or go to the rival Red Sox.