On December 18 in Baseball History...

    1952 - Ellis W. Ryan resigns after failing to secure a vote of confidence at a shareholder's meeting. After losing the showdown with general manager Hank Greenberg, the president of the Indians resigns and sells his stock for a nifty profit of more than a quarter of a million dollars for the 551 shares he purchased three years ago.

    1956 - Former Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto signs as a Yankee radio-TV announcer.

    1973 - The Yankees announce the signing of Dick Williams as manager, precipitating a legal showdown with Charlie Finley. Two days later, AL president Joe Cronin rules that the Yankees cannot sign Williams.

    1975 - Chuck Tanner signs a three-year deal to manage the A's. After compiling a 87-74 (.540) record to finish in second place, Oakland will release the New Castle, PA native from his contract allowing him to manage the Pirates in exchange for catcher Manny Sanguillen and $100,000 from Pittsburgh.

    1981 - The Reds swap third baseman Ray Knight to the Astros for outfielder Cesar Cedeno. The trade will help both clubs with each player spending at least 2+ years in a productive role with their new team.

    1985 - The Giants trade Rob Deer to the Brewers for farmhands Eric Pilkington and Dean Freeland.

    1990 - The NL announces the six finalist cities for the two expansion clubs that will join the league in Buffalo, Denver, Miami, Orlando, Tampa-St. Petersburg, and Washington, D.C.

    2000 - Charles Johnson, the catcher when the team won the 1997 World Series, agrees to return to the Marlins signs a five-year contract worth $35 million. The 29-year old backstop batted .304 with 31 home runs and 91 RBIs for the Orioles and White Sox last season.

    2000 - Free agent Sandy Alomar Jr. agrees to a $5.4 million, two-year deal with the White Sox. The former Indians catcher will replace Charles Johnson, who earlier in the day signed to a $35 million, five-year contract with the Marlins.

    2001 - Filling the void created by Mark McGwire's unexpected retirement, the Cardinals sign first baseman Tino Martinez to a $21 million, three-year contract. After he was replaced in the Yankees lineup by Jason Giambi, the former Bronx Bomber said the Cardinals were his first choice as a free agent.

    2001 - John Rocker is traded to the Rangers from the Indians for minor league pitcher David Elder. The reliever, not known for his clubhouse diplomacy, will join recently acquired Carl Everett, who also has had difficulties with management and teammates.

    2002 - After spending the previous six seasons with the Giants, the 2000 National League MVP Jeff Kent (.313, 37, 108) signs an $18.2 million, two-year contract with the Astros. The 34-year old Texas resident's presence on the team moves four-time second base Gold Glove winner, Craig Biggio to the outfield.

    2002 - The Rangers sign free agent Doug Glanville to a reported one-year, $1 million deal. In July, Texas will trade the former Philadelphia outfielder to Chicago, where he will be the hero of the Cubs' 5-4 victory over Florida when he triples home the winning run in the top of the 11th inning in Game 3 of the NLCS.

    2003 - Adam Kennedy (.269, 13, 49) agrees to an $8.85 million, three-year deal with the Angels. The 28-year old second baseman has a career average of .277, 36 homers and 229 RBIs during his four years with Anaheim.

    2004 - Two days after trading pitching ace Tim Hudson (17-8, 4.43) to the Braves, the A's deal Mark Mulder to the Cardinals for starting pitcher Dan Haren, reliever Kiko Calero and minor league catching prospect Daric Barton. Five of the six players obtained by giving up two-thirds of the team’s ‘Big Three’ are expected to be part of the opening day roster for Oakland.

    2005 - The bat Pete Rose used to hit his 159th career home run in 1985 is acquired by GoldenPalace.com for $103,631.91 during Lelands Winter 2005 Auction. The on-line c@sino, infamous for placing winning bids for the Dallas Grassy Knoll fence and the Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich, plans to raise money for charity by sawing the bat in half to determine if the bat is corked as is widely believed.

    2007 - In a statement released by his attorney, Randy Hendricks, Roger Clemens vehemently denies the allegations put forth by the Mitchell Report concerning his use of performance-enhancing drugs. Brian McNamee, the former trainer of the seven-time Cy Young Award winner, states in the report he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone at least 16 times while Clemens was a member of the 1998 Blue Jays and the 2000-01 Yankees.

    2008 - Sixteen-year-olds Bill Pena, a catcher, and southpaw Gregory Baez agree to contracts with the Nationals. The Dominican youngsters were scouted by the team at the Loma del Sueno complex in San Cristobal.

    2008 - The Astros sign free-agent Aaron Boone (.241, 6, 28) to a $750,000, one-year contract deal. The former National infielder will who will share third base with Geoff Blum, and Chris Johnson, fills the void created when the team didn't tender Ty Wigginton a contract as a means of cutting the payroll, making the infielder a free agent.

    2009 - The Orioles finalize their $12 million, two-year deal with Mike Gonzalez hoping the veteran southpaw reliever can outpitch his competition this spring to become a dependable closer for the team, that has not had one since trading George Sherrill to L.A. at the end of July. The 31-year old Texan posted a 5-4 record with 10 saves for Atlanta last season, and in 2006 compiled a career-high 24 saves for the Pirates before undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery the following season.

    2009 - Avoiding arbitration, Ricky Nolasco and the Marlins agree to a $3.8 million, one-year deal, which is an increase of $1.4 million from last season. The team's Opening Day starter posted a 13-9 record compiling an ERA of 5.06 for the Fish last season.

    2009 - The Cubs trade outcast Milton Bradley to the Mariners in exchange for starting pitcher Carlos Silva (1-3, 8.60), Seattle's very costly and underachieving right-hander. Chicago suspended the outspoken and unpopular outfielder for his criticism of the atmosphere surrounding the team as being the reason the club hasn’t won a World Series since 1908.

    2009 - The Chicago White Sox traded John Ely and Jon Link to the Los Angeles Dodgers completing trade in which the Los Angeles Dodgers traded Juan Pierre to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for 2 players to be named later (December 15, 2009).

    2015 - The Chicago White Sox signed Hector Sanchez as a free agent.



    Baseball Birthdays on December 18...

    1842 - Wolters, Rynie
    1860 - Hamill, John
    1864 - Oldfield, Dave
    1870 - Rothermel, Bobby
    1873 - Clymer, Bill
    1881 - Essick, Bill
    1881 - Perry, Clay
    1883 - Knolls, Hub
    1886 - Cobb, Ty
    1886 - Murphy, Dummy
    1889 - Napier, Buddy
    1893 - Mulrenan, Dominic
    1893 - Williams, Rinaldo
    1893 - Jacobus, Larry
    1894 - Covington, Sam
    1897 - Richbourg, Lance
    1899 - Barnes, Sam
    1902 - Burke, Les
    1902 - Buskey, Joe
    1906 - Coffman, Dick
    1908 - Pattison, Jimmy
    1911 - Triplett, Coaker
    1915 - Barrett, Johnny
    1924 - Gorman, Herb
    1929 - Cimoli, Gino
    1930 - Baxes, Mike
    1930 - Skowron, Bill
    1938 - White, Mike
    1939 - Versalles, Zoilo
    1944 - Hovley, Steve
    1944 - O'Brien, Syd
    1951 - Ramirez, Orlando
    1953 - Howell, Roy
    1955 - Clancy, Jim
    1958 - Nielsen, Scott
    1961 - Hengel, Dave
    1961 - Bailes, Scott
    1963 - Czajkowski, Jim
    1965 - Blair, Willie
    1969 - Randa, Joe
    1970 - Gulan, Mike
    1972 - Seelbach, Chris
    1974 - Carter, Lance
    1974 - Rodriguez, Jose
    1977 - Acevedo, Jose
    1983 - Brown, Jordan
    1984 - Rodriguez, Josh
    1986 - Carter, Chris
    1987 - Brothers, Rex
    1987 - Owens, Rudy
    1989 - Jungmann, Taylor
    1990 - Johnson, Micah
    1993 - Buxton, Byron



    Baseball Deaths on December 18...

    1899 - Truax, Fred
    1904 - Clapp, John
    1931 - Matteson, C.V.
    1933 - Robinson, Fred
    1940 - Kiley, John
    1943 - Conway, Bill
    1951 - Ohl, Joe
    1955 - Caster, George
    1960 - Nehf, Art
    1974 - Hooper, Harry
    1975 - Allen, Bob
    1976 - Harris, Ned
    1981 - Brown, Jake
    1986 - Shanner, Bill
    1990 - Gibson, Charlie
    2001 - Howerton, Bill
    2004 - Vaughan, Glenn
    2010 - Cavarretta, Phil
    2015 - Hernandez, Evelio