Category: November

Nov 2: CBS buys Yankees

NOVEMBER 2, 1964 | NEW YORK, NEW YORK – CBS, the broadcasting company, became principle owner of the New York Yankees on this date in 1964. It paid $11.2 million for the privilege. That much wouldn’t pay for the restrooms in today’s Yankee Stadium.

According to Forbes magazine, as of March 2016, the Yankee franchise is worth $3.4 Billion (that’s Billion with a “B”), an increase of over 300-fold from what CBS paid for the team in 1964 [it’s worth more today — 2020

According to Forbes valuations of MLB teams, 17 of them are, as of March 2016, worth more than a Billion dollars:

      Team—————–Value
1   New York Yankees…..$3.4 Billion
2   Los Angeles Dodgers…..$2.5 Billion
3   Boston Red Sox…..$2.3 Billion
4   San Francisco Giants…..$2.25 Billion
5   Chicago Cubs…..$2.2 Billion
6   New York Mets…..$1.65 Billion
7   St. Louis Cardinals…..$1.6 Billion
8   Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim…..$1.34 Billion
9   Washington Nationals…..$1.3 Billion
10 Philadelphia Phillies…..$1.24 Billion
11 Texas Rangers…..$1.23 Billion
12 Seattle Mariners…..$1.2 Billion
13 Atlanta Braves…..$1.75 Billion
14 Detroit Tigers…..$1.5 Billion
15 Houston Astros…..$1.1 Billion
16 Chicago White Sox…..$1.05 Billion
17 Baltimore Orioles…..$1 Billion
18 Pittsburgh Pirates…..$975 million
19 Arizona Diamondbacks…..$925 million
20 Minnesota Twins…..$910 million
21 Cincinnati Reds…..$905 million
22 Toronto Blue Jays…..$900 million
23 San Diego Padres…..$890 million
24 Milwaukee Brewers…..$875 million
25 Kansas City Royals…..$865 million
26 Colorado Rockies…..$860 million
27 Cleveland Indians…..$800 million
28 Oakland Athletics…..$725 million
29 Florida Marlins…..$675 million
30 Tampa Bay Rays…..$650 million

Here is a facinating interactive graphic published by Bloomberg in 2013 which shows, among other things, which teams got the most for their money and how valuable TV and radio contracts are, especially in big cities.

CONTRIBUTING SOURCES:
The New York Times, November 3, 1964, by Leonard Koppett
Forbes, “Baseball’s Most valuable Teams,” March 23, 2016

Nov 1: Most MVPs

NOVEMBER 1, 2016 | NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Most Valuable Player awards have been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BWAA) since 1931.

The players who’ve won the award the most in the American League were Mickey Mantle, Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Alex Rodriquez. All were 3-time MVP winners. And all, except Foxx, wore Yankee pinstripes.

In the National League, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Mike Schmidt and Albert Pujols were 3-time MVP’s. Barry Bonds won the award 7 times – pretty phenomenal even for someone who apparently took PED’s (performance enhancing drugs), but then again, Bonds apparently took PED’s.

MVP Winners
Year – National League — American League
2015 Bryce Harper, Was — Josh Donaldson, Tor
2014 Clayton Kershaw, LA — Mike Trout, Ana
2013 Andrew McCutchen, Pit — Miguel Cabrera, Det
2012 Buster Posey, SF — Miguel Cabrara, Det
2011 Ryan Braun, Mil — Justin Verlander, Det
2010 Joey Votto, Cin — Josh Hamilton, Tex
2009 Albert Pujols, StL — Joe Mauer, Min
2008 Albert Pujols, StL — Dustin Pedroia, Boston
2007 Jimmy Rollins, Phi — Alex Rodriguez, NY
2006 Ryan Howard, Phi — Justin Morneau, Min
2005 Albert Pujols, StL — Alex Rodriguez, NY
2004 Barry Bonds, SF — Vladimir Guerrero, Ana
2003 Barry Bonds, SF — Alex Rodriguez, Tex
2002 Barry Bonds, SF — Miguel Tejada, Oak
2001 Barry Bonds, SF — Ichiro Suzuki, Sea
2000 Jeff Kent, SF — Jason Giambi, Oak
1999 Chipper Jones, Atl — Ivan Rodriguez, Tex
1998 Sammy Sosa, Chi — Juan Gonzalez, Tex
1997 Larry Walker, Col — Ken Griffey, Sea
1996 Ken Caminiti, SD — Juan Gonzalez, Tex
1995 Barry Larkin, Cin — Mo Vaughn, Bos
1994 Jeff Bagwell, Hou — Frank Thomas, Chi
1993 Barry Bonds, SF — Frank Thomas, Chi
1992 Barry Bonds, SF — Dennis Eckersley, Oak
1991 Terry Pendleton, Atl — Cal Ripken, Bal
1990 Barry Bonds, SF — Rickey Henderson, Oak
1989 Kevin Mitchell, SF — Robin Yount, Mil
1988 Kirk Gibson, LA — Jose Canseco, Oak
1987 Andre Dawson, Chi — George Bell, Tor
1986 Mike Schmidt, Phi — Roger Clemens, Bos
1985 Willie McGee, StL — Don Mattingly, NY
1984 Ryne Sandberg, Chi — Willie Hernandez, Det
1983 Dale Murphy, Atl — Cal Ripken, Bal
1982 Dale Murphy, Atl — Robin Yount, Mil
1981 Mike Schmidt, Phi — Rollie Fingers, Mil
1980 Mike Schmidt, Phi — George Brett, KC
1979 Keith Hernandez, StL Willie Stargell, Pit (tie) — Don Baylor, Cal
1978 Dave Parker, Pit — Jim Rice, Bos
1977 George Foster, Cin — Rod Carew, Min
1976 Joe Morgan, Cin — Thurman Munson, NY
1975 Joe Morgan, Cin —  Fred Lynn, Bos
1974 Steve Garvey, LA — Jeff Burroughs, Tex
1973 Pete Rose, Cin — Reggie Jackson, Oak
1972 Johnny Bench, Cin — Dick Allen, Chi
1971 Joe Torre, StL — Vida Blue, Oak
1970 Johnny Bench, Cin —  Boog Powell, Bal
1969 Willie McCovey, SF — Harmon Killebrew, Min
1968 Bob Gibson, StL — Denny McLain, Det
1967 Orlando Cepeda, StL — Carl Yastrzemski, Bos
1966 Roberto Clemente, Pit — Frank Robinson, Bal
1965 Willie Mays, SF — Zoilo Versalles, Min
1964 Ken Boyer, StL  — Brooks Robinson, Bal
1963 Sandy Koufax, LA — Elston Howard, NY
1962 Maury Wills, LA — Mickey Mantle, NY
1961 Frank Robinson, — Cin Roger Maris, NY
1960 Dick Groat, Pit —  Roger Maris, NY
1959 Ernie Banks, Chi — Nellie Fox, Chi
1958 Ernie Banks, Chi  — Jackie Jensen, Bos
1957 Hank Aaron, Mil — Mickey Mantle, NY
1956 Don Newcombe, Bro —  Mickey Mantle, NY
1955 Roy Campanella, Bro — Yogi Berra, NY
1954 Willie Mays, NY —  Yogi Berra, NY
1953 Roy Campanella, —  Bro Al Rosen*, Cle
1952 Hank Sauer, Chi — Bobby Shantz, Phi
1951 Roy Campanella, — Yogi Berra, NY
1950 Jim Konstanty, Phi — Phil Rizzuto, NY
1949 Jackie Robinson, Bro — Ted Williams, Bos
1948 Stan Musial, StL — Lou Boudreau, Cle
1945 Phil Cavarretta, Chi — Hal Newhouser, Det
1944 Marty Marion, StL — Hal Newhouser, Det
1943 Stan Musial, StL — Spud Chandler, NY
1942 Mort Cooper,  — StL Joe Gordon, NY
1941 Dolph Camilli, Bro, — Joe DiMaggio, NY,
1940 Frank McCormick, Cin Hank Greenberg, Det
1939 Bucky Walters, — Cin Joe DiMaggio, NY
1938 Ernie Lombardi, trans action comes.  Jimmie Foxx, Bos
1937 Joe Medwick, StL — Charlie Gehringer, Det
1936 Carl Hubbell*, NY — Lou Gehrig, NY
1935 Gabby Hartnett, Chi — Hank Greenberg*, Det
1934 Dizzy Dean, StL — Mickey Cochrane, Det
1933 Carl Hubbell, NY — Jimmie Foxx, Phi
1932 Chuck Klein, Phi — Jimmie Foxx, Ph
1931 Frankie Frisch, StL — Lefty Grove, Phi

CONTRIBUTING SOURCES:
Baseball Writers Association of America (BWAA) 
MVP Award – wikipedia   

NOV 28 IN BASEBALL HISTORY: Monty Stratton’s career ends suddenly

NOVEMBER 28, 1936 | DALLAS, TEXAS – The 26-year old ace of the Chicago White Sox had his right leg amputated on this date in 1938. Monty Stratton accidentally shot himself in the leg while hunting the day before. The story appeared to be, ‘Monty Stratton’s career ends suddenly.’ Stratton had other ideas.

According the New York Times, the accident happened while Stratton was hunting for rabbits on the family farm. He slipped and fell, accidentally discharging his shotgun. The pellets ripped into his right leg, striking a major artery. Doctors were forced to remove the leg.

The 6-foot 5-inch Stratton had pitched five seasons for the Sox before the accident. He went 15-5 and 15-9 the previous two seasons. He spent the two seasons after he lost his leg coaching for the White Sox and pitching batting practice. But he was determined to pitch competitively again.

Stratton was fitted for a wooden leg. He got himself back in shape. Though he never pitched in the major leagues again, Stratton pitched in the minor leagues for Sherman and Waco, Texas, going 18-8 and 7-7 in 1946 and 1947.

While Monty Stratton’s career ended suddenly, his inspiring story is depicted in the 1949 film, The Monty Stratton Story  starring James Stewart.

Contributing Sources:
Monty Stratton
Associated Press (AP), The Montreal Gazette, November 29, 1938
Monty Stratton minor leagues stats

NOV 25: Follow the money

NOVEMBER 25, 1895 | YOUNGSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA • A ballplayer by the name of Frank Spruiell May was born on this date in 1895. What’s so interesting about Jakie May, as he was called? Well, during the course of his 14-year major league baseball career he struck out Babe Ruth twice during the 1932 World Series while pitching for the Chicago Cubs. But I bring him up mainly for comparison of salaries-there’s comparison.

Jakie May was a dependable left-handed journeyman relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and Cubs from 1917 to 1932. He appeared in 410 games, won 72 and lost 95. Salary figures back in the day for guys not named Ruth are hard to come by, but May probably made around $70,000 for his entire career. Don’t even ask if Jakie May had to get a job when his playing days were over. He had to get a job every off-season, as did just about every other ballplayer not named Ruth.

Let’s compare May to a left-handed journeyman pitcher of the 21st Century. How about Alan Embree? He played 16 years with a number of teams, retiring in 2009.

Embree appeared in 882 games (though about half as many innings as Jakie May) with a record of 39 wins and 45 losses. Embree was paid an average of over $2-million dollars each year over the last decade if his career. He made over $22-million in his career. That’s 314 times greater than what Jakie May made in his career. Certainly costs of everything have gone up. The average home price in 1930 was about $7,000 compared to $211,000 when Alan Embree played. That’s about a 30-fold jump – significant, but no where near 314-fold.

Needless to say, while neither pitcher was ever a candidate for the Hall of Fame, Alan Embree will probably never have to work again. Jakie May never stopped working.

Contributing sources:
Raleigh News & Observer, “When baseball really was a game and nothing more,” by Dennis Rogers, October 11, 1994
Jakie May
MLB salary leaders, 1874-2012 (SABR)
Baseball in the 1930s

Special thanks to Kirk Kruger of Raleigh, NC for sending me press clippings about his grandfather, Jakie May.

NOV 22 IN BASEBALL HISTORY-Rod Carew in a runaway

NOVEMBER 22, 1967 | NEW YORK, NEW YORK • Rod Carew ran away with the American League Rookie of the Year award on this date in 1967. Carew would go on to a 19-year Hall of Fame career, mostly with the Minnesota Twins and mostly as a second baseman. He played 5 seasons for the California Angels (now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim).

Carew was an all-star every year of his career except his last.

He was named AL Most Valuable Player in 1977 when he hit .388, drove in 100 runs and scored 128. He finished with a lifetime batting average of .328.

Carew was born on a train October 1, 1945 in what was then known as The Panama Canal Zone. When his mother went into labor she was assisted by a doctor by the name of Rodney Cline. In an expression of gratitude, the child was officially named Rodney Cline Carew.

The family emigrated to the United States when Rodney was 14. They settled in the Washington Heights section of New York City.

Contributing sources:
1967 post-season awards