On January 17 in Baseball History...

    1888 - Kansas City is admitted to the American Association to replace the Mets. Although the Mets were bought by Brooklyn, the franchise is considered suspended until a Manhattan playing field can be located.

    1915 - According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the American League franchise will now be known as the Indians replacing the nickname the Naps - a change necessitated due to the departure of player-manager Napolean Lajoie to the Philadelphia A's. Team owner Charles W. Somers asked the city's baseball writers for help, and with the feedback of their readers, the scribes selected the team's new moniker to honor former Cleveland Spider player Louis Sockalexis, the first Native American to play in the major Leagues.

    1916 - The Giants buy Benny Kauff, the Federal League's best player, from the Brooklyn Tip Tops for $35,000. The 26-year old center fielder's first three seasons with New York are solid, but the trash-talking fly chaser will never live up to his reputation of being the 'Ty Cobb of the Feds'.

    1922 - Benny Kauff's appeal to be reinstated as a major league player is denied by an appellate court. The former Giant outfielder believed his banishment from the game by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis is unjust due to his acquittal of the auto theft charges brought against him.
   
    1934 - Carl Hubbell, the N.L. M.V.P. winner, is rewarded with a $18,000 contract by the New York Giants.

    1952 - Detroit owner Walter O. Briggs dies at the age of 74. His son will succeed him in the presidency.

    1970 - The Sporting News names Willie Mays as Player of the Decade for the 1960s.

    1970 - The Yankees draft Fred Lynn in the January phase of the free-agent draft. The Chicago native, who becomes the first player in baseball history to win the MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season while playing for the 1975 Red Sox, chooses not to sign with the Bronx Bombers.

    1977 - Kansas City releases Tommy Davis, ending an 18-year career spent with 10 different teams.

    1979 - After resigning as the general manager of the Rangers nine days ago, Danny O'Brien signs a contract to become the Mariners' president and CEO.

    1983 - Bob Horner and the Braves agree to a $6 million, four-year deal. The contract includes $400‚000 in bonuses if the Atlanta third baseman keeps his playing weight under 215 pounds.

    1986 - The Braves and Chief Noc-A-Homa, the team mascot who has become a huge fan favorite in Atlanta with his spirited dances when a homer is hit by the home team, agree to end their 17-year association. Levi Walker, the third person to play the role for the franchise, is reportedly dissatisfied with his pay of $60 a game, and club officials were unhappy with the Georgia native's failure to attend seven scheduled appearances last year.


    2002 - Commissioner Bud Selig indicates Washington, D.C. area is a 'prime candidate' to get a team if a franchise relocates in the near future. The nation's capital has two lost major league teams, the original franchise shifted to Minnesota and became the Twins in 1961 and were replaced by the expansion Senators who moved to Texas a decade later becoming the Rangers.

    2002 - Avoiding arbitration, Darin Erstad (.258, 9, 63) and the Angels agree to a one-year contract worth $6.25 million. The first baseman/outfielder, who can be a free agent after the season, turned down a long-term deal from Anaheim last spring estimated to be worth $50 million.

    2002 - Jermaine Dye agrees to a three-year extension worth $32 million to stay with the A's. Oakland is counting on the injured outfielder, who shattered his left tibia fouling a ball off his leg just below the knee in Game 4 of the ALDS, to fill the void created by Jason Giambi's departure to New York.

    2003 - Avoiding arbitration, the Reds give Danny Graves (7-3 , 3.19 , 32 saves) a three-year deal The former Reds closer is slated to join the starting rotation this season after posting a 1-0 record with a 1.89 ERA in his four appearances as a starter at the end of last season.

    2003 - Despite his Cooperstown's ban in the United States, Pete Rose is nominated for induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. The former member of the 1984 Montreal squad, who banged out his 4,000th career hit, a double off Jerry Koosman, as a member of the Expos, was named by the chairman of the newly formed Canadian Baseball League, Tony Riviera.

    2003 - Torii Hunter (.289, 29, 94) agrees to a four-year, $32 million deal to stay with the Twins. Although being a spark plug for the AL West division winners, the 27-year old Gold Glove outfielder didn't think he would offered a multiyear contract by the small-market team.

    2005 - With the Astros offering $13.5 million, Roger Clemens asks for $22 million in salary arbitration. The amount, which would make the ‘Rocket the richest paid hurler in big league history, surpasses the previous record amount submitted for arbitration of $18.5 million by Yankee Derek Jeter in 2001.

    2005 - Former major leaguer Raymond ‘Lee’ Cunningham celebrates his 100th birthday. The oldest living player, who made his debut with the Cardinals in 1931, played in 14 games during two seasons hitting .154 in 26 plate appearances.

    2006 - At the 41st Annual Red Smith Sports Award Banquet, Gaylord Perry receives receive the 2006 "Nice Guy" Award. The 67-year old Hall of Famer, infamous for throwing a spitball, joins Kirby Puckett, Lou Brock and Brooks Robinson as a recipient of this award.

    2006 - After delaying his decision about playing in the World Baseball Classic, Alex Rodriguez announces he will be a member of the United States team. The Yankee All-Star third baseman had considered playing for Dominican Republic, the homeland of his parents.

    2008 - The Blue Jays ink Scott Downs ( 4-2, 2.17) to a $10 million, three-year deal. The southpaw tied for the American League lead in relief appearances last season with 81, half of the games he team played.

    2011 - The New York Mets signed Willie Harris as a free agent.

    2011 - The Toronto Blue Jays signed Jon Rauch as a free agent.

    2012 - Cole Hamels (14-9, 2.79) and the Phillies come to terms on a $15 million, one-year deal. It is the richest contract ever offered by a team to avoid arbitration with a player.

    2012 - The Toronto Blue Jays released Mark Teahen.

    2012 - Calling them the "greatest comeback team in the history of baseball," President Barack Obama welcomes the World Champion Cardinals to the White House. Noticeably absent from the twenty Redbird players and other club personnel that attended the East Room ceremony are Albert Pujols, now an Angel after signing a very lucrative free-agent deal last month, and manager Tony La Russa, who retired at the end of the season.


    2012 - Avoiding arbitration, the Red Sox and Jacoby Ellsbury come to terms on a one-year, $8.05 million non-guaranteed deal. The 28-year old outfielder, the American League Comeback Player of the Year, finished second in AL Most Valuable Player balloting after hitting .321, belting 32 home runs, and driving in 105 runs.

    2012 - The Tigers announce that Victor Martinez (.330, 12, 103) will most likely miss next season due to the tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while he was working out last week. The anticipated absence of the 33 year old DH, a four-time All-Star, will lead to Detroit to sign free-agent Cecil Fielder to a nine-year mega-deal worth $214 million.

    2013 - The Washington Nationals signed Rafael Soriano as a free agent.

    2014 - The Tigers come to terms with Max Scherzer on a one-year contract for $15,525,000, avoiding arbitration with the 29 year-old right-hander, who will be eligible for free agency after next season. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner posted a 21-3 record last season along with a 2.90 ERA and 240 strikeouts, prior to earning two victories in the ALDS against Oakland for the AL Central Division champs.

    2017 - The Baltimore Orioles signed Zach Stewart as a free agent.



    Baseball Birthdays on January 17...

    1853 - Hollingshead, Holly
    1858 - Roxburgh, Jim
    1866 - Scott, Milt
    1867 - Glenalvin, Bob
    1878 - Bay, Harry
    1882 - Kerr, Doc
    1882 - Pattee, Harry
    1886 - Coles, Cad
    1889 - Johns, Pete
    1889 - Welf, Ollie
    1892 - Grover, Roy
    1893 - Morrisette, Bill
    1893 - Glavenich, Luke
    1896 - Hanson, Harry
    1899 - Sigman, Tripp
    1905 - Cunningham, Ray
    1908 - Willis, Les
    1911 - Leiber, Hank
    1915 - Smith, Mayo
    1915 - Harris, Lum
    1917 - Thompson, Jocko
    1920 - Heard, Jay
    1922 - Merson, Jack
    1925 - Schmulbach, Hank
    1931 - Zimmer, Don
    1933 - Porter, Jay
    1935 - Brown, Dick
    1944 - Doyle, Denny
    1952 - LaC0ck, Pete
    1952 - Porter, Darrell
    1953 - Littell, Mark
    1954 - Turner, Jerry
    1959 - Bryden, T.R.
    1960 - Davis, Chili
    1964 - Tabaka, Jeff
    1971 - Houston, Tyler
    1972 - McKeel, Walt
    1975 - Mullen, Scott
    1975 - Fullmer, Brad
    1977 - Bell, Rob
    1978 - Malaska, Mark
    1980 - Bohn, T.J.
    1980 - Rabelo, Mike
    1985 - Beck, Chad
    1985 - Burriss, Emmanuel
    1985 - Miller, Jai
    1987 - Beliveau, Jeff
    1987 - Decker, Cody
    1987 - Scheppers, Tanner
    1989 - Alvarez, Dario
    1989 - Beavan, Blake
    1989 - Jordan, Taylor
    1990 - Garces, Frank
    1991 - Bauer, Trevor
    1995 - Jimenez, Joe
    1995 - Mendez, Yohander



    Baseball Deaths on January 17...

    1917 - McCauley, Pat
    1923 - Meister, John
    1932 - Stewart, Mark
    1945 - Ward, Rube
    1945 - Radebaugh, Roy
    1950 - Sanders, Roy
    1950 - Ens, Jewel
    1952 - Salisbury, Bill
    1957 - Stanton, Tom
    1957 - Sawyer, Carl
    1961 - Tinning, Bud
    1964 - Grimes, John
    1967 - Maloney, Charlie
    1970 - Mustaikis, Alex
    1976 - Kinsella, Ed
    1977 - Wingard, Ernie
    1981 - Kahn, Owen
    1987 - Busch, Ed
    1991 - Breuer, Marv
    1992 - Durrett, Red
    1993 - Polly, Nick
    1995 - Hall, John
    2004 - Freeman, Hersh
    2004 - Brecheen, Harry
    2006 - Morehead, Seth
    2008 - McHaile, John
    2011 - Beringer, C.B.
    2011 - Currin, Perry
    2012 - Springstead, Marty