This Weekend in Baseball History

November 20th, 2012: The Blue Jays bring back John Gibbons for a second tour of duty as manager, after John Farrell got out of his contract to take over the Red Sox. He'll post a winning record three times in the next six seasons, highlighted by a 2015 AL East title.

November 20th, 2009: Tim Lincecum of the Giants becomes the eighth pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards. Chris Carpenter of the Cardinals finishes second.

November 20th, 2008: Mike Mussina, who just authored the first 20 win season of his career, announces his retirement from the baseball. Splitting his 18 year career between the Orioles and Yankees, he won 270 games -- capped by a his only 20 victory season in 2008.

November 20th, 2008: George Steinbrenner, now 78, steps down as control person of the Yankees, replaced by his son Hal.

November 20th, 2007: Jimmy Rollins becomes the fifth Phillies player to be named National League MVP, joining Chuck Klein (1932), Jim Konstanty (1950), Mike Schmidt (1980, 1981, 1986), and Ryan Howard -- who won it the year before.

November 20th, 2001: Ichiro Suzuki becomes the second player ever to win Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Only Fred Lynn, of the '75 Red Sox, had previously claimed his double honor.

November 20th, 1969: In the first year of divisional play, Willie McCovey is named National League MVP -- as opposed to a player from the division-winning Mets or Braves. Stretch had a great season (45 homers, 126 RBIs and a .320 average), but  San Francisco fell three games shy of the Western champion Braves.

November 20th, 1967: Tom Seaver is named National League Rookie of the Year, easily outpacing Dick Hughes of the Cardinals. The future "franchise" and Hall of Famer went 16-13 on  a club that finished last in a 10 team league.

November 20th, 1955: Carroll Hardy catches two Y.A. Tittle touchdown passes in the 49ers 27-21 loss to the Packers at Milwaukee County Stadium. The 22 year-old rookie halfback will change sports over the winter and sign with Red Sox where, five years later, he will be the only player to ever pinch-hit for Ted Williams.

November 21st, 2011: Justin Verlander -- capping a 24-5 season with a  2.40 ERA -- is named the American League's Most Valuable Player -- the first starting pitcher to to capture the honor since Roger Clemens in 1986.   

November 21st, 2010: Terry Collins replaces Jerry Manuel as the Mets manager. He'd lead the club for the next six seasons, highlighted by winning the 2015 National League pennant.

November 21st, 2002: The Expos take their biggest step yet toward leaving Montreal -- announcing plans to play around 20 home games in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

November 21st, 1989: The Yankees, coming off a 74-87 season, sign free agent Pascual Perez to a three-year contract. The deal is a dud: Perez spends considerable time on the disabled list before being suspended for the '92 season after a failed drug test.

November 21st, 1983: Darryl Strawberry of the Mets snaps the Dodgers four-year streak (Rick Sutcliffe, Steve Howe, Fernando Valenzuela, and Steve Sax) of consecutive Rookie of the Year Award winners. The power-hitting prodigy becomes the third Met to be named the league's top rookie, after Tom Seaver (1967) and Jon Matlack (1972).

November 21st, 1972: Red Sox catcher -- and future Hall of Famer -- Carlton Fisk becomes the first unanimous winner of the American League Rookie of the Year.

November 21st, 1952: Joe Black  -- who posted a 15-4 record with 15 saves and a 2.15 ERA -- is named National League's Rookie of the Year, with Hoyt Wilhelm of the cross-town rival Giants finishing second. He also made history weeks earlier, as the first Black pitcher to win a World Series game.

November 21st, 1934: The Yankees purchase Joe DiMaggio’s contract from the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League. The price for the future Hall of Famer and baseball icon -- who's hit in 61 consecutive PCL games the previous season -- is $50,000 and five players. 

November 22nd, 2016:  Vin Scully receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Honored by President Obama in a White House ceremony, the recently retired Voice of the Dodgers joins Hank Aaron, Moe Berg, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Ted Williams, and Stan Musial, as baseball figures granted the nation's highest civilian honor.

November 22nd, 2010: Joey Votto, having helped the Reds reach the post-season for the first time in 15 years, is named National League Rookie of the Year -- with 31 of the 32 first-place votes.

November 22nd, 2004: The just relocated Washington  franchise announces its new name, logo, and colors. Using the official original name of the district's team which took the nickname the Senators from 1901-56, the club clad in red, white, blue, and gold will be known as the Nationals.

November 22nd, 1986: The groundbreaking ceremony is held for what will eventually become Tropicana Field in Saint  Petersburg. After failing to lure the White Sox, Twins, Mariners and Giants, the Pinellas County venue lands an American League expansion team that begins play in 1998.

November 22nd, 1982: Steve Sax becomes the fourth consecutive Dodger to win the National League Rookie of the Year -- following the footsteps of Rick Sutcliffe, Steve Howe, and Fernando Valenzuela.

November 22nd, 1977: Two top flite relief pitchers land big money free agent deals: Goose Gossage joins the Yankees, while Terry Forster, once Gossage's teammate on the White Sox (and a 1977 Pirate) becomes the first free agent to sign with the Dodgers. Gossage and Forster's new teams will meet in the 1978 World Series.

November 22nd, 1967: Rod Carew of the Twins takes 19 of the 20 first place votes and is named the American League Rookie of the Year.

November 22nd, 1961: Frank Robinson, who just led the Reds to their first NL pennant in 21 years, is named the National League's Most Valuable Player.

November 22nd, 1954: The Pirates purchase the contract of Roberto Clemente from the Dodgers' farm club in Montreal.