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This Day in Baseball History
January 24th

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10 Fact(s) Found
1939 Needing to choose at least one more player to reach the initial goal of having ten inductees prior to the dedication ceremonies this summer, members of the BBWAA elect 'Wee' Willie Keeler, George Sisler and Eddie Collins to be in the inaugural class of the Hall of Fame. The trio joins nine major leaguers who were chosen in annual elections beginning with class of 1936, which included Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson.
1955 In an effort to speed up the game, major league baseball announces a new rule which requires a pitcher to deliver the ball within 20 seconds after taking a pitching position.
1961 The A's trade Whitey Herzog and Russ Snyder to the Orioles for Wayne Causey, Jim Archer, Bob Boyd and Al Pilarcik. The deal will not improve either club as both teams will finish in the second division next season.
1962 The Southern Association, established in 1901, suspends operation due to decreasing yearly attendance. With the exception Nat Peeples, who became only black player in the league's history when he played two games with 1954 Atlanta Crackers, the circuit remained racially segregated until the end of it existence.
1973 Warren Spahn, becoming only the sixth player elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, receives 316 of the 380 (83.2%) votes cast by the BBWAA scribes. The crafty southpaw, who recorded thirteen 20-win seasons with the Braves, retired as the winningest left-handed pitcher in big league history with 363 victories.
1980 Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon purchase the Mets for an estimated $21.1 million. The price tag is the highest amount ever paid for a baseball franchise.
2001 Believed to be an historical first, sixty-eight major league umpires participate in a pre-season session to practice calling strikes as defined by the rule book. With the help of minor leaguers wearing tapes nine inches above their belts, the men in blue get a good look at pitches, normally called balls, which now will be considered a strike as the correct interpretation of the zone will be enforced this upcoming season.
2006 Jay Gibbons (.277, 26, 79) and the Orioles agree to a $21.1 million, four-year deal. The 28-year old outfielder, who is getting married this weekend could have taken his chances on the free agent market next season
2007 Coming off an injured Achilles tendon, Cliff Floyd signs a very flexible deal with the Cubs, beginning with a one-year guaranteed contract for $3 million to one which could be worth as much as $17.5 million over two years. The Chicago native will give the North-siders left-handed power off the bench and is expected to platoon with Matt Murton.
2008 Avoiding arbitration, the Braves sign Rafael Soriano (3-3, 3.00) to a two-year deal worth $9 million. The team plans to use the relief pitcher, who had nine saves in 2007, as their closer this season.
10 Fact(s) Found