This Weekend in Baseball History
December 10th, 2008: CC Sabathia joins the Yankees on a seven-year $161 million free agent contract, the biggest to date for a pitcher.
December 10th, 1998: Dennis Eckersley, the first pitcher have both a 20-win and 50-save season, announces his retirement after a 24-year big league career.
December 10th, 1984: Gary Carter becomes a Met, in a trade that sends Hubie Brooks and prospects Herm Winningham and Floyd Youmans to the Expos.
The Amazins also made a pair of deals on this date that went down as clunkers:
- December 10th, 1982: Mike Scott, who struggled to a 14-27 over four seasons, goes to the Astros for outfielder Danny Heep. After learning how to throw the split-finger fastball from Roger Craig, Scott turns into an ace, leading Houston to the 1986 NL West title and a memorable post-season series against his former club.
- December 10th, 1971: In what becomes the worst trade in franchise history, the Mets obtain veteran infielder Jim Fregosi from the Angels for a package of four players: Leroy Stanton, Don Rose, Francisco Estrada -- and Nolan Ryan, who goes on to throw more no hitters and post the most strikeouts of any pitcher ever.
December 10th, 1981: The Padres and Cardinals swap shortstops, as Ozzie Smith heads to St. Louis, where he becomes a Busch Stadium legend, playing on the 1982 World Champs and two other pennant winning clubs, while Garry Templeton goes to San Diego.
December 10th, 1919: The National League votes to ban the spitball’s use by all new pitchers. But, in a grandfather clause, it also permits the use of the pitch by veteran who currently throw it. The American League follows suit a year later.
December 11th, 2000: Alex Rodriguez makes sports history when he signs the first free agent contract worth more than a quarter-billion dollars. He leaves the Mariners and signs with the Rangers for 10 years and $252 million.
December 11th, 2000: The Mets, after being spurned by Mike Hampton, try to replace him by signing free agent pitchers Kevin Appier and Steve Trachsel.
December 11th, 1995: Mariano Duncan signs with the Yankees as a free agent. He'd go on to a hit a career-best .340 in the franchise's first championship season since the '70s.
December 11th, 1991: The Royals trade two-time Cy Young winner Bret Saberhagen to the Mets (along with Bill Pecota) for Kevin McReynolds, Gregg Jefferies and Keith Miller.
December 11th, 1976: A busy day of Winter Meetings trades that reshape the Yankees: they obtain Willie Randolph from the Pirates for Doc Medich, and send Bobby Bonds to the Angels for Mickey Rivers and Ed Figueroa.
December 11th, 1962: The Red Sox send Tracy Stallard and infielders Pumpsie Green and Al Moran to the Mets for Felix Mantilla.
December 11th, 1959: Roger Maris becomes a Yankee. In the most significant of the many New York-Kansas City trades of the era, a seven-player swap sends Hank Bauer, Marv Throneberry, Don Larsen and Norm Siebern to the Athletics for the promising lefthanded power hitter who becames a Yankee legend (plus infielder Joe DeMaestri and backup 1st baseman Kent Hadley).
Maris would hit 40 home runs and be named American League MVP in his first Bronx season; and then bash a record-setting 61 in 1961.
December 11th, 1954: The Phillies, now the only MLB team in Philadelphia, purchase Connie Mack Stadium from the Athletics new owner Arnold Johnson for $1.6 million.
December 11th, 1951: Joe DiMaggio announces his retirement after 13 Yankee seasons (and three others given to military service). He finishes his career with a .325 lifetime average and 361 home runs (against just 369 strikeouts).
December 11th, 1941: Johnny Mize becomes a Giant. Helping to clear a place for promising rookie Stan Musial, the Cardinals trade their 1st Baseman (and future Hall of Famer) to the New York Giants for three players -- Ken O'Dea, Bill Lohrman and Johnny McCarthy, plus $50,000 cash.
December 11th, 1928: Here's a man ahead of his time: National League president John Heydler proposes the use of a designated hitter for pitchers to improve and speed up the game. Claiming that fans are tired of watching weak-hitting pitchers try to bat, Heydler refers to his concept as "the 10th regular." It will take more than 40 years before being adopted by the American League. And, except for the pandemic shortened 2020, the National League has resisted the concept.
December 11th, 1917: Desperate for cash, the Phillies trade three-time 30 game winner Grover Cleveland Alexander to the Cubs for pitcher Mike Prendergast, catcher Pickles Dillhoeffer and cash. Ironically, Alexander will pitch in just three games for Chicago in 1918, after being drafted into the Army. But he returns in 1919 and quickly regains his place among baseball's best pitchers.
December 12th, 2015: Ken Giles and former 1st overall draft pick Mark Appel are the big names in a four-player deal between the Astros and Phillies, who also receive Brett Oberholtzer and Vince Velasquez.
December 12th, 1975: In another trade that proves disastrous for the Mets, they send fan favorite Rusty Staub to the Tigers for Mickey Lolich. Detroit's 1968 World Series hero goes 8-13 for New York, while Rusty gives the Tigers three strong seasons as an outfielder and DH.
December 12th, 1920: Try to cleanse its image in the wake of the Black Sox Scadal, baseball owners appoint U.S. District Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis to be the game's first commissioner. While he helps restore a sense of integrity, Landis becomes an unbending opponent of integrating the national pastime, which doesn't accept a black player until three years after his death.
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