Categories: December

December 9th

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Happy ’80s Birthday to Del Unser. Drop him into the 8th inning of any game and he’d smoke a double into the gap.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Darold Knowles, who was the first pitcher to appear in all seven games of a World Series and spent 16 years in the bigs. He’s also a good dude.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Juan Samuel, who finished 2nd in the 1984 NL Rookie of the Year balloting to Dwight Gooden and spent 16 years in the bigs. 

Happy ’80s Birthday to Doc Medich, who pitched in the big leagues for 11 years and retired to become a doctor. Medich won 19 games for the Yankees in 1974 and retired at age 33.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Ed Romero, who spent twelve years in the bigs and managed in the minor leagues for 14 years.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Bruce Tanner, who won one game for the 1985 White Sox and later became a coach in the minor leagues and in the big leagues. He is Chuck Tanner’s son.

Tom Magrann, who signed with the Phillies as an amateur free agent and appeared in nine games for Cleveland in 1989. He later played in Belgium.

12/9/80

The Pirates trade Bert Blyleven and Manny Sanguillen to Cleveland for Bob Owchinko, Victor Cruz, Gary Alexander, and a minor league pitcher.

Blyleven briefly left the team in the middle of the 1980 season and demanded a trade. 

12/9/80

The Cubs trade reliever Bruce Sutter to the Cardinals for Ken Reitz, Leon Durham, and a PTBNL. This gives the Cardinals both Sutter and Rollie Fingers in their bullpen, but Whitey Herzog wasn’t finished dealing yet. 

12/9/81

The Dodgers trade Rick Sutcliffe and Jack Perconte to the Indians for Jorge Orta. The Dodgers made a lot of good moves back in the day. This wasn’t one of them but the fact that Sutt tore up Tommy Lasorda’s office at the end of 1981 MAY have been a factor.

12/9/81

The Tigers trade Mike Chris and Dan Schatzeder to the Giants for Larry Herndon. 

Schatzeder was solid, but Herndon became a nice part of the World Champion 1984 Tigers. 

12/9/81

The A’s trade Rich Bordi to the Mariners for Dan Meyer.

12/9/82

The Cubs trade Steve Henderson to the Mariners for Rich Bordi. 

12/9/82

5 for 1 happens. Fortunately, Phillies Phans are completely over that by now. Right, Phillies Phans? 

Philadelphia trades Julio Franco, George Vukovich, Manny Trillo, Jay Baller, and Jerry Willard to Cleveland for Von Hayes. 

12/9/82

The Yankees trade Dave Collins, Mike Morgan, and minor leaguer Fred McGriff to the Blue Jays for Dale Murray and minor leaguer Tom Dodd. Looking back on this deal, George probably should not have given it his full endorsement.

12/9/87

The Phillies trade Dave Brundage (minors), Michael Jackson, and Glenn Wilson to the Mariners for Phil Bradley and Tim Fortugno. 

12/9/87

The Orioles trade Ken Dixon to the Mariners for Mike Morgan.

12/9/88

The Cubs trade Rolando Roomes to the Reds for Lloyd McClendon. 

Cincinnati releases Roomes the following summer after acquiring Glenn Braggs from Milwaukee, 

12/9/80

The Royals sign Lee May as a free agent. He spends his final two seasons in KC and retires. 

12/9/82

The Yankees sign Steve Kemp as a free agent to a five-year, $5.6 million deal. 

Kemp hits .264 with 19 homers over two seasons in the Bronx before being traded to Pittsburgh and a deal that sends Jay Buhner to the Yanks. 

Transactions

12/9/82

The Phillies purchase Larry Milbourne from Cleveland. He plays sparingly in Philadelphia and is sold to the Yankees in June of 1983. 

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