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)