DECEMBER 20, 1926
The World Champion Cardinals trade Rogers Hornsby to the Giants for Jimmy Ring and Frankie Frisch, who will play an integral role in the success of the Gas House Gang in the 1930’s after being sent to St. Louis due to a falling out with New York’s manager John McGraw. The trade gets complicated when the ‘Rajah’ refuses to sell his 1,167 shares of the team stock back to the Redbirds at the asking price. (Nationalpastime.com)
DECEMBER 17, 1898
John Day is named as the Giants manager. New York’s new skipper will be replaced by Fred Hoey after just 66 games next season when the team gets off to a 29-35 start. (Nationalpastime.com)
DECEMBER 16, 1954
Willie Mays becomes the first player to win Most Valuable Player Award in his first full year in the majors when he easily outdistances Reds first baseman Ted Kluszewski for the honor. The 23-year-old Giants center fielder made his big league debut at the end of May in 1951, but missed the last two seasons due to his military service in the U.S. Army. (Nationalpastime.com)
DECEMBER 15, 1900
The Giants trade Amos Rusie, a veteran pitcher who hasn’t played since 1898, but won 20+ games in each season during his eight years with the team, to the Reds for Chisty Mathewson. ‘Matty’, a future Hall of Famer, will post a 372-188 record and will become a legend during his 17-year tenure in New York. (Nationalpastime.com)
DECEMBER 13, 1956
The Dodgers trade Jackie Robinson to the cross-town rivals, the Giants, for pitcher Dick Littlefield and $35,000. Jackie, according to some accounts had already decided privately to leave the game to work for Chock Full of Nuts, publicly retires from baseball rather than to accept the trade. (Nationalpastime.com)
DECEMBER 12, 1913
The Reds trade outfielder Bob Bescher to the Giants for Buck Herzog. Herzog will play shortstop and will manage the team replacing Joe Tinker. (Nationalpastime.com)
DECEMBER 11, 1941
The Giants trade hurler Bill Lohrman, catcher James O’Dea, first baseman Johnny McCarthy and $50,000 to the Cardinals to obtain first baseman Johnny Mize (Nationalpastime.com)
DECEMBER 6, 1941
The Giants select Mel Ott to replace Bill Terry as the team’s skipper. The new manager spent all of his 22 years in the majors with the franchise hitting 511 home runs during his Hall of Fame career. (Nationalpastime.com)
DECEMBER 5, 1950
Mel Ott leaves the Giants’ organization signing a two-year pact with to manage the Pacific Coast League’s Oakland club. ‘Master Mel’ will be replacing Charlie Dressen. (Nationalpastime.com)
DECEMBER 2, 1941
Giants’ skipper Bill Terry is named as the team’s new general manager. Mel Ott, a future Hall of Famer, will serve as New York’s player/manager for the next seven years, but the club will never finish above third place. (Nationalpastime.com)
