January 29th

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2000
? The Mets announce that singer Garth Brooks will participate in spring training with the team. The 37-year-old singer worked out last spring with the Padres going 1-for-22.

1998
? Cleveland signs free agent DH?OF Geronimo Berroa to a 1-year contract.

Former White Sox SS Ozzie Guillen signs a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles, who invite him to spring training as a non?roster player.

1996
? The Red Sox trade outfielders Lee Tinsley and Glenn Murray and P Ken Ryan to the Phillies in exchange for P Heathcliff Slocumb, OF Rick Hollifield and P Larry Wimberly.

1994
? The Orioles sign free agent P Lee Smith.

1989
? The game-winning RBI is dropped as an official statistic after nine years of use. The Mets Keith Hernandez is the all-time leader with 129.

1988
? Detroit's Kirk Gibson signs a 3-year contract with the Dodgers. Gibson will be the only one of the seven no-risk free agents to change clubs.

1987
? Red Sox Wade Boggs avoids going to salary arbitration for the 3rd consecutive year by signing a 3-year contract worth over $5 million.

1982
? Wayne Garland, baseball's first millionaire free agent, is waived by the Indians with five seasons remaining on his 10-year contract. Garland was 3-7 with a 5.79 ERA in 1981.

1981
? AL owners approve the sales of two franchises, the White Sox to Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn for $20 million, and 80 percent of the Mariners to George Argyros for $10.4 million.

1971
? The Pirates trade OF Matty Alou and P George Brunet to the Cardinals for OF Vic Davalillo and P Nelson Briles.

1970
? Pitcher Miguel Fuentes, 20, is shot and killed during a bar fight in Loiza Aldea, Puerto Rico. Against the A's on October 2, 1969, Fuentes (1?3) pitched the last inning in the history of the Seattle Pilots.

1969
? Washington manager Jim Lemon is fired.

1967
? Branch Rickey and Lloyd Waner are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by a unanimous vote of the Special Veterans Committee.

1964
? Pitcher-writer Jim Brosnan is given permission by the White Sox to make his own deal with another team. His in-season writing has been censured by owner Ed Short.

1963
? James M. Johnston, James H. Lemon, and George M. Bunker purchase 80 percent of the Senators, buying out five of the original owners, including club president Pete Quesada. Johnston is elected chairman of the board.

1961
? Billy Hamilton and Max Carey are voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee.

1960
? The Illinois Appellate Court says Dorothy Rigney, sister of Charles Comiskey, Jr., was entitled to sell her mother's shares of White Sox stock to Bill Veeck. Her brother brought suit in an effort to gain control of the club.

1958
? Dodgers C Roy Campanella suffers a broken neck in an early morning auto accident on Long Island. His spinal column is nearly severed and his legs are permanently paralyzed.

The Indians buy 1B Mickey Vernon from the Red Sox for the waiver price.

Stan Musial signs with the Cardinals for an National League record $100,000.

1957
? With the advent of coast-to-coast air travel, ML baseball weighs a plan for a player pool to be used in the event of an air disaster.

1951
? Baseball signs a 6-year All-Star Game pact for TV-radio rights calling for $6 million. A number of owners criticize lame duck Commissioner Happy Chandler, stating that in a couple of years the broadcast rights would be worth much more than a million per annum.

1949
? The Pirates get Murry Dickson from St. Louis for $125,000.

1948
? Commissioner Happy Chandler fines the Yankees, Cubs, and Phillies $500 each for signing high school players.

1930
? Ken Williams, former AL home run champion and a lifetime .319 batter, goes from the Red Sox to the Yankees for the waiver price. He will be released before the season begins.

1901
? Newly named Rules Committee of Connie Mack, John McGraw, and Charles Comiskey, after rejecting a proposal to ban the bunt, recommends no changes at this time.

1889
? Veteran Joe Hornung is released by Boston after eight years with that club. According to The Sporting News, "Ubbo's unruly tongue was the principal cause of his release."



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