On December 26 in Baseball History...

    1906 - In an effort to prevent hitters from rubbing out chalk lines, National League umpire Hank O'Day suggests white rubber strips be used to mark out the batter's box.

    1919 - Although not official until January, the Yankees buy Babe Ruth from the Red Sox for $100,000 and guarantees a $300,000 loan with Fenway Park as collateral.

    1934 - Commissioner Judge Landis denies the Dodgers' claim to the services of teenager hurler Johnny Vander Meer. The southpaw had signed a free agent with Brooklyn last season and was assigned to the Daytona Ducks who traded him to Boston.

    1934 - Matsutaro Shoriki, head of Yomiuri Newspapers, announces the official formation of Japan's first professional team, the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Giants. The team is made up of players signed to compete against the American all-star team. Professional league play, with six teams, does not begin until 1936.

    1950 - With a large portion going to the players' pension fund, out-going Commissioner Happy Chandler announces the Gillette Razor Company has purchased the television rights to the All Star game for six years for six million dollars.

    1964 - The Seattle Angels of the Pacific Coast League select Bob Lemon as manager for the upcoming season.

    1990 - Due to a financial dispute between the club owners, the Fort Myers Sun Sox franchise collapses causing the Senior Professional Association League to fold in the middle of its second season.

    1995 - The Associated Press selected Cal Ripken, Jr. as the top sports story of the year, followed by the death of Mickey Mantle.

    2001 - The Angels sign free agent Aaron Sele (15-5, 3.60) to a three-year contract. The 31-year old right-hander, who has pitched for the Red Sox, Rangers and Mariners has 107-68 career record.

    2007 - Coming to an agreement with Mark Prior, the Padres add another pitcher to the staff who will start next season coming off shoulder surgery. Joining southpaw Randy Wolf, the 27-year old right-hander, formerly with the Cubs, signs a $1 million, one-year deal which can be worth more with performance bonuses.

    2008 - Randy Johnson (11-10, 3.91), a five-time Cy Young award recipient, signs a one-year, $8 million deal with the Giants. The 45-year-old southpaw, five victories shy of 300, joins a staff which includes Tim Lincecum (2008) and Barry Zito (2002), who have also won the prestigious pitching prize.

    2012 - The Texas Rangers signed A.J. Pierzynski as a free agent.




    Baseball Birthdays on December 26...

    1861 - Tebeau, George
    1863 - Burns, Dick
    1866 - Murphy, Bob
    1876 - High, Ed
    1879 - Freeman, Jerry
    1883 - O'Rourke, Queenie
    1887 - Clark, Jim
    1889 - Henry, John
    1889 - Cavet, Pug
    1889 - Rush, Andy
    1892 - King, Lee
    1895 - Hollingsworth, Bonnie
    1895 - Pillette, Herman
    1899 - Gardiner, Art
    1900 - Drake, Logan
    1901 - Farrell, Doc
    1902 - Cronin, Bill
    1907 - Taylor, Harry
    1913 - Milnar, Al
    1919 - Markland, Gene
    1927 - Schell, Danny
    1927 - Miller, Stu
    1936 - Causey, Wayne
    1939 - Braun, John
    1940 - Sadecki, Ray
    1947 - Fisk, Carlton
    1948 - Chambliss, Chris
    1948 - Rader, Dave
    1950 - Mendoza, Mario
    1950 - Willis, Mike
    1954 - Smith, Ozzie
    1960 - Stone, Jeff
    1961 - Traber, Jim
    1961 - Davis, Storm
    1964 - King, Jeff
    1967 - Beltre, Esteban
    1971 - Valdez, Carlos
    1971 - Tessmer, Jay
    1974 - Fitzgerald, Brian
    1974 - Lee, Corey
    1975 - Tateyama, Yoshinori
    1978 - German, Esteban
    1978 - Thomas, Charles
    1979 - Boscan, Jean
    1981 - Colina, Alvin
    1981 - Infante, Omar
    1981 - Moseley, Dustin
    1983 - Pino, Yohan
    1984 - Downs, Darin
    1984 - Sinkbeil, Brett
    1985 - Carpenter, Chris
    1987 - Minor, Mike
    1989 - Nolin, Sean
   



    Baseball Deaths on December 26...

    1908 - Pyle, Shadow
    1908 - Householder, Charlie
    1913 - O'Connor, Frank
    1915 - Ball, Art
    1929 - Stecher, Charlie
    1934 - Kopshaw, George
    1934 - Mallonee, Jule
    1936 - Clymer, Bill
    1939 - Engle, Clyde
    1945 - Lange, Frank
    1947 - Stremmel, Phil
    1947 - Roach, Roxey
    1948 - Pate, Joe
    1957 - Fleming, Tom
    1970 - Stansbury, Jack
    1971 - Daringer, Cliff
    1977 - Mahon, Al
    1980 - Crouch, Bill
    1980 - Oulliber, Johnny
    1983 - Billings, Josh
    1983 - Graves, Sid
    1984 - Gill, Johnny
    1985 - Bilbrey, Jim
    1985 - Bell, Les
    1989 - Joiner, Roy
    1992 - Gorman, Tom
    1994 - Reynolds, Allie
    1995 - Veselic, Bob
    1998 - Adkins, Dewey
    2001 - McBride, Tom
    2002 - Reiber, Frank
    2003 - Owens, Paul
    2006 - Brown, Chris
    2007 - Castiglia, Jim
    2013 - Blair, Paul
    2014 - Macko, Joe
    2015 - Dews, Bobby
    2015 - O'Toole, Jim