On December 29 in Baseball History...

    1877 - In Havana, the the first game is played in the Professional Baseball League of Cuba. Habana, led by player-manager Esteban Bellán, the first Latin player to appear in the major leagues, beats Almendares, 21-20.

    1932 - Shanty Hogan, who started his career in Boston, is purchased by the Braves after five years as the regular catcher for the Giants. Hogan will finish his career as a part-time player, but will also have a .295 career batting average.

    1933 - Yankees owner Jake Ruppert refuses to release Babe Ruth so he can become manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

    1969 - The New York Times reports Curt Flood will challenge the reserve clause by suing major league baseball. The Cardinals' outfielder's case, which will ultimately be appealed unsuccessfully in the U.S. Supreme Court, will pave the way for the players to overturn baseball's reserve clause in their attempt to gain free agency.

    1977 - Melissa Ludtke, female Sports Illustrated sports writer, files suit against major league baseball, the Yankees and New York City officials for denying her access to the locker room to interview players during the World Series.

    2002 - Sending a huge dust cloud down the Ohio River, Cinergy Field, formerly known as Riverfront Stadium, is imploded with 1,275 pounds of explosives. The former home of the Reds was the site where Hank Aaron tied Ruth's career home run record on Opening Day in 1974, and Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb's all-time hits record in 1985.

    2003 - The Angels announced their ballpark will now be known as Angel Stadium of Anaheim. In 1997, their 41-year old home originally known Anaheim Stadium was renamed Edison International Field.

    2005 - Agreeing to a $60 million, five-year contract, Indians free agent Kevin Millwood (9-11, 2.86) joins the Rangers' new and improved rotation as the ace the team has been seeking. The 31-year old right-hander, who had the lowest ERA in the American League last season, will anchor a staff which also includes newcomers Vicente Padilla (9-12, 4.71) and Adam Eaton (11-5, 4.27) acquired from the Phillies and Padres respectively.

    2005 - In an attempt to permit Cuba to participate in the 16-team World Baseball Classic, Venezuela offers to host the Group C teams in place of the U.S. commonwealth of Puerto Rico and suggests the finals be played in Canada rather than in San Diego’s PETCO Park. The changes in venue would mean Castro’s charges would avoid playing on U.S. soil, and not be subject to the U.S. Treasury Department regulations which ban the team due to American trade and financial embargoes.

    2009 - Mark DeRosa, a veteran .275 hitter, signs a $12 million, two-year deal with the Giants. The 34-year old versatile infielder, who was traded by Cleveland to the Cardinals at the end of June, will most likely play first or third base and hit fifth behind cleanup batter Pablo Sandoval.

    2009 - The Mets and Jason Bay, a former farmhand, agree to a four-year deal worth approximately $66 million that includes a vesting option for a fifth year for an additional $14 million. The 31-year-old outfielder joined the organization as a minor leaguer in 2002 when Omar Minaya, then the general manager of the Expos, traded the Class A pull hitter to New York, who shipped him four months later to San Diego as part of an undistinguished deal.

    2012 - Ruth Ann Steinhagen, the Chicago woman whose near-fatal 1949 shooting as a 19-year-old of former Cubs first baseman Eddie Waitkus, dies anonymously at the age of 83. Her crime, the inspiration for the book and movie The Natural, put a spotlight on 'baseball Annies', young, hero-worshipping females who relentlessly pursued major league ballplayers.

    2014 - The Kansas City Royals signed Edinson Volquez as a free agent.




    Baseball Birthdays on December 29...

    1884 - Fiene, Lou
    1885 - Salve, Gus
    1889 - McAllester, Bill
    1890 - Aiton, George
    1892 - Skeels, Dave
    1893 - Smith, Joe
    1894 - DeBerry, Hank
    1895 - Barnhart, Clyde
    1904 - Sweeney, Bill
    1911 - Knickerbocker, Bill
    1926 - Upton, Tom
    1934 - Conde, Ramon
    1937 - Perez, George
    1941 - Upham, John
    1941 - Brubaker, Bruce
    1946 - Rudolph, Ken
    1952 - Werth, Dennis
    1956 - Ford, Dave
    1959 - Brown, Mike
    1960 - Wilson, Jim
    1962 - White, Devon
    1964 - Nichols, Rod
    1964 - Grebeck, Craig
    1966 - de los Santos, Luis
    1969 - Ruffcorn, Scott
    1972 - Brower, Jim
    1973 - Perez, Tomas
    1974 - Sexson, Richie
    1974 - Brown, Emil
    1975 - Jacquez, Tom
    1975 - Wright, Jaret
    1977 - Journell, Jimmy
    1977 - Wilson, Jack
    1980 - Wolfe, Brian
    1982 - Davis, Brad
    1982 - Hart, Kevin
    1991 - Herrera, Odubel
    1993 - De Jong, Chris
    1994 - Fowler, Justin



    Baseball Deaths on December 29...

    1916 - Doheny, Ed
    1924 - White, Bill
    1928 - Scanlan, Mort
    1930 - Piez, Sandy
    1930 - Shinault, Ginger
    1930 - Stutz, George
    1935 - Payne, Harley
    1936 - Prough, Bill
    1947 - Blaeholder, George
    1948 - Hoffman, Larry
    1952 - Meinke, Bob
    1962 - Graham, Tiny
    1965 - Main, Alex
    1977 - Brown, Jimmy
    1978 - Alexander, Walt
    1979 - Albrecht, Ed
    1980 - Reinholz, Art
    1981 - Plarski, Don
    1988 - Mossor, Earl
    1988 - Happenny, John
    2004 - Niarhos, Gus
    2004 - Burkhart, Ken
    2005 - Carnevale, Danny
    2010 - Boros, Steve
    2011 - Garcia, Rosman
    2014 - Usher, Bob
    2015 - Malzone, Frank
    2015 - Mayer, Ed
    2016 - Cannizzaro, Chris