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This Day in All Teams History
February 6th

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10 Fact(s) Found
1921 The New York American League franchise purchases of a ten-acre plot of land for $675,000, from the estate of William Waldorf Astor as the site of the future Yankee Stadium. The club's new ballpark, located on the west side of the Bronx, will sit directly across the Harlem River from the Polo Grounds, the team's current home for the past ten years as tenants to the Giants.
1934 Ford Frick, a New York news reporter and broadcaster, is named the National League's public relations director. In November, the DePauw University graduate will be elected as the president of the Senior Circuit, succeeding John A. Heydler, who resigns due to poor health.
1935 Cardinal right-hander Dizzy Dean, who posted a 30-7 record last season for the Gashouse Gang, becomes a holdout when the team refuses to meet his demand for a yearly salary of $25,000. The 23 year-old future Hall of Famer, the NL's reigning MVP, quickly comes to terms with the Redbirds the following day, signing for $18,500 that includes a thousand dollar bonus.

Amazon Dizzy Dean and the Gashouse Gang

1956 Dodger owner Walter O'Malley, showing his support for the Wagner-Cashmore plan to build a $30-million downtown Brooklyn sports center, promises to buy four million dollars worth of bonds for the project. The proposed legislation, which will be passed and signed by New York Governor Averill Harriman in April, becomes irrelevant due to a lack of funding from the city's Board of Estimates.
1958 The Red Sox sign Ted Williams for $135,000, making him the highest-paid player in major league history. The 39 year-old outfielder, starting his 18th season with the club, led the major leagues with a .388 batting average last year.
1962 The Phillies announce the team will retire Robin Roberts' uniform number 36 when his new club, the Yankees, visits Clearwater to play Philadelphia in a March spring exhibition game. It will mark the first time that a uniform number has been retired in the 79-year history of the franchise.
1986 The Yankees sign free-agent Al Holland, a well-traveled reliever who saved five games for three different teams last season. The one-year contract has a clause that requires the 33 year-old southpaw, one of the players granted immunity in exchange for their testimony in last year's Pittsburgh cocaine trials, to submit to drug tests.
2008 The Rangers hire Nolan Ryan as team president during a pivotal point in club history, according to club president Tom Hicks. The 61 year-old Hall of Fame hurler, who retired with the Rangers in 1993 after playing a record 27 major league seasons, is introduced at The Ballpark in Arlington with much fanfare, including a video highlight package featuring many of the right-hander's milestones.
2010 After Seattle declined to offer him salary arbitration, free-agent Erik Bedard agrees to stay a part of the Mariners' pitching rotation, inking a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2011. The 30 year-old oft-injured southpaw, who is rehabilitating after surgery on his pitching shoulder last August, will not have to continue in his disappointing role as the ace of the team with the off-season trade for Cliff Lee and the emergence of Felix Hernandez.
2012 An arbitration panel rules in favor of 27 year-old Anibal Sanchez (8-9, 3.67), awarding the Marlin right-hander with a record-breaking $8 million salary for this season. The decision, which puts aside the team's counteroffer of $6.9 million, represents the most substantial amount ever given to a starting pitcher who went to arbitration.
10 Fact(s) Found