1995 – Atlanta Braves pitcher Greg Maddux wins the National League Cy Young Award for an unprecedented fourth straight time. Maddux had a remarkable 19-2 record with a 1.63 ERA, the second year his ERA was below 1.80.
2018 – Brian Snitker of the Braves is named the Manager of the Year in the National League, while Bob Melvin of the Athletics wins the honor in the AL. Both men helped their teams make significant progress that landed them a postseason slot last season.
1899 – The National League announces that, starting next season, there will be two umpires working each game.
1978 – The New York Yankees sign free agent pitcher Luis Tiant to a two-year $875,000 contract. Tiant, formerly of the Boston Red Sox, becomes the first player to sign with a new club following this year’s reentry draft.
1979 – For the first time in major league history, two players share the Most Valuable Player Award. The National League co-winners are Willie Stargell, the spiritual leader of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who hit .281 with 32 home runs, and St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Keith Hernandez, who led the NL in runs (116), doubles (48) and batting average (.344).
1998 – The ball thrown by Boston Red Sox pitcher Howard Ehmke and hit by Babe Ruth for the first home run in Yankee Stadium history is sold at an auction for $126,500 (110,000 bid + 15% commission). Mark Scala found the 1923 historic ball in the attic of his grandmother’s home several years ago.
2020 – The Miami Marlins hire senior MLB executive Kim Ng to be their new General Manager, making her the first woman to occupy such a position in the history of North American men’s sports.