Baseball History Today: October 29th – Delay to Win
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
2008 – After a two-day delay, Game 5 of the World Series is completed. Only three innings of play were necessary as the Philadelphia Phillies emerge victorious, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3. Cole Hamels (2 GS, 13 IP, 1-0, 2.86 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 9 SO) is named MVP.
1991 – Buck Showalter is hired to be the next manager of the New York Yankees, his first MLB managerial position. Showalter would manage the Yankees through the end of the ’95 season and go 313-268 during his time there. He led the Bronx Bombers to one AL East first place finish, but it would come in the interrupted 1994 season.
1979 – Hall of Famer Willie Mays officially severs ties with MLB after signing a deal with Bally Corporation. Bally Corp. is involved in the legalized gambling business in Atlantic City. Mays had previously been told that the deal with Bally would require the severing.
1942 – Branch Rickey resigns from his post as team president of the St. Louis Cardinals. The resignation opens the door for Rickey to attain the same position with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Some awards handed out on this date…
1975 – Boston’s Fred Lynn is the overwhelming choice as AL Rookie of the Year. Lynn led the AL in doubles (47) and OPS (.967). He led all of MLB in doubles (47) and slugging (.566).
1969 – Mets starter Tom Seaver is awarded the NL Cy Young, going 25-7 with and ERA of 2.21 and WHIP of 1.039. Seaver led MLB with that win total. He would finish second behind Willie McCovey in the NL MVP voting.
1931 – Lefty Grove, winner of 31 games, wins the AL MVP. In 30 starts, Grove tossed 27 complete games and worked 11 games out of the bullpen.
Notable Birthdays:
Jim Bibby (1944)
Jesse Barfield (1959)
R.A. Dickey (1974)
Will Venable (1982)