February 13 In Baseball

1800S

1898 - Cincinnati Reds president John T. Brush dismisses criticism of his proposed league resolution to punish players who use vulgar and obscene language on the field, saying Newspaper criticism is the result of ignorance.

1900S-1950S

1920 - Officials organize the Negro National League in a meeting held at the '' YMCA '' in Kansas City, Missouri . Spearheaded by league founder Rube Foster , the NNL will become the most successful of all Negro Leagues ventures and will last until the late 1940s.

1934 - In an item discovered by baseball researcher Doug Pappas , the National League loans the Cincinnati Reds $50,000 at 4.5% interest. Powel Crosley, who bought the team 10 days ago, will repay Cincinnati debt in full by 1938.

1935 - Signing a contact written in French , Washington Senators Outfielder Gus Dugas , who was born in Canada , is obtained by Triple-A Montreal of the International League .

1953 - The Philadelphia Athletics change the name of Shibe Park to Connie Mack , in honor of their longtime owner and Manager . Mack was part-owner and manager of the franchise for a record 50 years. Connie Mack Stadium will remain in existence until 1970, when it is torn down and replaced by Veterans Stadium .

1960S-1970S

1964 - Chicago Cubs Second Baseman Ken Hubbs , named National League Rookie Of The Year in 1962, dies in Provo, Utah at age 22, when the plane that he was piloting crashed.

---The Los Angeles Dodgers trade Infielder s Ron Hunt and Nate Oliver to the San Francisco Giants for Catcher Tom Haller and Pitcher Frank Kasheta . Haller will hit .285 as the Dodgers’ regular catcher in 1968. This is the first trade between the two franchises since 1956 when Jackie Robinson was sent to the Giants but retired instead.

---The Chicago White Sox send Shortstop Ron Hansen and Pitcher s Dennis Higgins and Steve Jones to the Washington Senators in exchange for Infielder Tim Cullen and pitchers Bob Priddy and Buster Narum .

1970 - The National League . offices begin their move from Cincinnati to San Francisco . The transfer will be completed February 23.

1974 - James (Cool Papa) Bell is elected to the Hall Of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee . Known for his legendary footspeed, Bell joins Satchel Paige , Josh Gibson , Buck Leonard and Monte Irvin , as Negro Leagues greats selected to the Hall.

1980S-1990S

1985 - The New York Yankees re-acquire Catcher Ron Hassey from the Chicago White Sox . Hassey, who had been traded to Chicago only two months earlier, returns to New York in a seven-player trade.

1987 - Detroit Tigers Pitcher Jack Morris is awarded a $1.85 million salary by arbitrator Richard Bloch, the highest amount awarded to date through that process.

1995 - The Los Angeles Dodgers sign Japan ese pitching star Hideo Nomo to a contract that includes a $2 million signing bonus. Nomo won 78 games for the Kintetsu Buffaloes over the past four seasons, as he will become the National League Rookie Of The Year in 1996.

1996 - The St. Louis Cardinals complete a long-rumored swap, acquiring Closer Dennis Eckersley from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league Reliever Steve Montgomery . Eckersley replaces Tom Henke , who announced last month he was retiring. The Cardinal also announce that they are laying nearly three acres of Natural Grass over the field at Busch Stadium , replacing the Artificial Turf that has been used for 26 years. The grass turf will be ready for the April 8 opener against Montreal .

2000

2002 - The Boston Red Sox sign 43-year-old Rickey Henderson to a Minor League contract. Last season with the San Diego Padres , Henderson Batted his 3000th career Hit and broke the MLB all-time records for Walks and Runs .

2003 - The New York Mets sign veteran Pitcher David Cone to a minor league contract. Cone, who compiled an 80-48 record with the Mets from 1987-1992, is coming out of retirement hoping to win the fifth spot in the rotation.

---Pitcher Nelson Briles , who was part of two World Series championships with the Cardinals and Pirates , dies at age 61 in Orlando, Florida , after suffering a Heart Attack at a Pirates alumni Golf tournament.

---Avoiding an arbitration, Starting Pitcher Ben Sheets (12-14, 2.70) and the Milwaukee Brewers agree to a one-year contract valued at $5.5 million. Sheets, who made $2.5 million last season while posting a 12-14 record with a 2.70 ERA , established a team record last May Striking Out 18 batters.

---After 19 years at Shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds , Barry Larkin announces his retirement as an active player, to become special assistant to the Washington Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden . A 12-time All-Star , National League MVP , and three-time Gold Glove winner, Larkin spent his entire career in Cincinnati , his hometown.

2006 - Scott Hatteberg sign to a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Cincinnati Reds , giving the team more flexibility at First Base .

BIRTHS

DEATHS

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