Portal:Baseball/Anniversaries/December 2

Events

• 1887 – The International League disbands. Syracuse, Toronto, Hamilton, and Buffalo split off to form the International Association, while Newark, Jersey City, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton become the nucleus of the Central League.
• 1927 – The St. Louis Browns acquire star outfielder Heinie Manush from the Detroit Tigers in a five-player deal. Manush, who batted .298 for Detroit, will explode with the Browns, batting .378 with 108 RBI and a league-leading 241 hits.
• 1961 – MLB clubs vote to curb bonuses. All first-year players not on major rosters, except one minor leaguer, can be drafted by any other club for $8,000. Clubs are expected to be unwilling to pay large bonuses for players who will be subject to a draft for just $8,000.
• 1963 – The MLB Rules Committee bans oversized catcher's mitts, effective in 1965.
• 1995 – Michael Stirn, the fan who caught the ball Cal Ripken, Jr. hit for a home run on the night he broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak, sells it to a Maryland businessman for $41,736.
• 2002 – In the biggest free agent signing this year, the Philadelphia Phillies sign Cleveland Indians first baseman Jim Thome to a six-year contract.

Births

• 1968 – Darryl Kile, pitcher; All-Star (d. 2002)

Deaths

• 1976 – Danny Murtaugh, infielder, manager (b. 1917)