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8 Fact(s) Found
| 1984 | The Mets send right-handed starter Walt Terrell to the Tigers for infielder Howard Johnson. New York's new third baseman will spend nine years with the club, returning to the organization to become a minor-league manager and big-league coach. |
| 1988 | Nolan Ryan becomes the first major leaguer to play for all four original expansion teams when he signs as a free agent with the Rangers, who played their first 11 seasons as the new Senators in Washington, D.C. The right-hander broke in with the Mets (1966, 1968-71) before being traded to the Angels (1972-79) and then signing with the Astros (1980-1988), known initially as the Colt .45s. |
| 1988 | The Mets deal Wally Backman and prospect Mike Santiago to the Twins for minor leaguers Jeff Bumgarner, Steve Gasser, and Toby Nivens. The trade leaves second base open for Gregg Jefferies, but the highly touted rookie infielder will falter, hitting a meager .258 next season. |
| 1999 | The Mariners sign Mets' free-agent first baseman John Olerud to a $20-million, three-year deal. The former Washington State University All-American garners a Gold Glove in his three seasons with Seattle, playing a pivotal role in the team's historic 116-46 campaign in 2001, compiling a .401 on-base percentage. |
| 2001 | In a rare deal between the crosstown rivals, the Yankees trade outfielder/DH David Justice (.241, 18, 51) to the Mets for third baseman Robin Ventura (.237, 21, 61). The teams had exchanged players only six times in forty years, the last time being in 1992 when the Mets dealt Frank Tanana for Kenny Greer, a minor league pitcher. |
| 2011 | Tim McCarver is named the Ford C. Frick Award recipient, becoming the second television analyst, joining Tony Kubek to win the broadcasting excellence award. The former catcher and longtime broadcaster has provided regional analysis for the Mets, Yankees, and Phillies, as well as appearing on the national stage doing the Game of the Week and postseason telecasts for NBC, CBS, and FOX. |
| 2011 | At the Winter Meetings, Jose Reyes is introduced as the Marlins' new shortstop. The 28-year-old switch-hitting infielder, the NL's batting champ, signed a six-year, $106 million contract to play with Miami after the cash-strapped Mets showed little interest in retaining their homegrown All-Star. |
| 2023 |
Ron Darling, Class of 1981, becomes the second Yale player elected into the College Baseball Hall of Fame after compiling an impressive collegiate record that included 25 consecutive complete games, 23 wins, 236 strikeouts, and a career 2.18 ERA. The Hawaiian-born, Massachusetts-raised right-hander, best known for his playing days with the Mets, batted .384 with a .589 slugging percentage during his sophomore year with the Bulldogs.
(Ed. Note: Frank Quinn, ‘48, a right-hander who led the Yale baseball team to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA College World Series, was selected to CBHOFin 2021. - LP) |
8 Fact(s) Found