Portal:Baseball/Anniversaries/February 20

Events

• 1923 - Christy Mathewson becomes president and owner of the Boston Braves.
• 1936 - The New York Giants purchase Sam Leslie from the Brooklyn Dodgers.
• 1963 - The Chicago Cubs hire Bob Kennedy as manager, ending their College of Coaches system.
• 1963 - Willie Mays becomes the highest paid player signing a $100,000 contract with the San Francisco Giants.
• 1966 - The American League officially announces the hiring of Emmett Ashford, who will become the first black umpire in Major League Baseball history.
• 1980 - The Oakland Athletics sign Billy Martin to a two-year contract as manager.
• 1984 - Pedro Guerrero becomes the highest paid player in Los Angeles Dodgers history when he signs a five-year, seven million dollar contract.
• 1997 - Danny Tartabull signs with the Philadelphia Phillies.
• 2001 - Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones wins a record $8.2 million contract in salary arbitration.

Births

• 1858 - Jim Toy, infielder (d. 1919)
• 1862 - Harry Raymond, infielder (d. 1925)
• 1866 - John Pickett, infielder (d. 1922)
• 1873 - Charlie Babb, infielder (d. 1954)
• 1873 - Tom O'Brien, outfielder (d. 1901)
• 1887 - Boardwalk Brown, pitcher (d. 1977)
• 1890 - Dave Davenport, pitcher (d. 1954)
• 1890 - Sam Rice, outfielder; Hall of Famer (d. 1974)
• 1890 - Tink Turner, pitcher (d. 1962)
• 1892 - John Donaldson, Negro League pitcher (d. 1970)
• 1894 - Suds Sutherland, pitcher (d. 1972)
• 1896 - Muddy Ruel, catcher, manager (d. 1963)
• 1900 - Al Williamson, pitcher (d. 1978)
• 1912 - Whitey Wistert, pitcher (d. 1985)
• 1913 - Tommy Henrich, outfielder; All-Star
• 1917 - Jack Bolling, infielder (d. 1998)
• 1920 - Frankie Gustine, infielder; All-Star (d. 1991)
• 1920 - Roy Valdés, pinch hitter (d. 2005)
• 1921 - Jack Robinson, pitcher (d. 2000)
• 1922 - Jim Wilson, pitcher; All-Star (d. 1986)
• 1924 - Sal Yvars, catcher (d. 2008)
• 1928 - Roy Face, pitcher; All-Star
• 1936 - Wynn Hawkins, pitcher
• 1941 - Clyde Wright, pitcher; All-Star
• 1947 - Tom Buskey, pitcher (d. 1998)
• 1957 - Jesús Figueroa, outfielder
• 1958 - Brian Snyder, pitcher
• 1959 - Bill Gullickson, pitcher
• 1963 - Phil Lombardi, catcher
• 1965 - Tony Menéndez, pitcher
• 1966 - Derek Lilliquist, pitcher
• 1972 - Shane Spencer, outfielder
• 1974 - Tom Fordham, pitcher
• 1975 - Leo Estrella, pitcher
• 1975 - Liván Hernández, pitcher; All-Star
• 1975 - Donzell McDonald, outfielder
• 1980 - Ryan Langerhans, outfielder
• 1982 - Jason Hirsh, pitcher
• 1983 - José Morales, catcher
• 1983 - Justin Verlander, pitcher; All-Star
• 1984 - Brian McCann, catcher; All-Star
• 1985 - Ryan Sweeney, outfielder

Deaths

• 1909 - John Hatfield, infielder, manager (b. 1847)
• 1949 - Norm Baker, pitcher (b. 1863)
• 1954 - Sadie McMahon, pitcher (b. 1867)
• 1959 - William Pierson, pitcher (b. 1899)
• 1960 - Dummy Leitner, pitcher (b. 1872)
• 1961 - Otto Krueger, infielder (b. 1876)
• 1963 - Bill Hinchman, outfielder (b. 1883)
• 1974 - Bob Christian, outfielder (b. 1945)
• 1985 - Syl Johnson, pitcher (b. 1900)
• 1988 - Bob O'Farrell, catcher, manager (b. 1896)
• 1991 - John Fetzer, owner (b. 1901)
• 1999 - Buck Rogers, pitcher (b. 1912)
• 2001 - Bill Rigney, infielder, manager; All-Star (b. 1918)
• 2006 - Curt Gowdy, announcer (b. 1919)
• 2007 - Casey Wise, infielder (b. 1932)
• 2007 - Bob Malloy, pitcher (b. 1918)