The holiday season marks the yearly ritual when tokens of appreciation are exchanged between family, friends, and co-workers.
But in the annals of baseball, such offerings are liable to be provided at any time – without much in return. Here are six instances which prove it isn’t always better to give than receive.
To: New York Yankees
From: Boston Red Sox
Selling Babe Ruth
Quite frankly, everything you’ll see below pales in comparison to this dubious offering from Harry Frazee. The Red Sox owner and theatrical producer was far more interested in funding a Broadway show than keeping his baseball club in contention.
Thus, he would sell off his best assets for cash. Babe Ruth’s turn came after the 1919 season (the story goes that the money Frazee received went on to fund No, No, Nanette). Starring mainly as a pitcher, Ruth had led Boston to three World Championships in the decade. Upon being purchased by the Yankees, he transitioned into a full-time outfielder. And we all know what happened from there.
To: Pittsburgh Pirates
From: Los Angeles Dodgers
Letting Roberto Clemente go
Save for the Yankees, the Dodgers arguably have the greatest lineage of all-time greats. Imagine if Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Maury Wills had the best right fielder in the game during the 1960s?
Josh Hamilton, Jose Bautista and Johan Santana are some of the notable names who have changed teams via the Rule 5 Draft, where each MLB team leaves a certain number of its minor leaguers unprotected and, thus, eligible to be snatched up by another club. Without debat, the most notable Rule 5 product is Clemente in 1954.
What was Dodgers trash turned into Pirates’ treasure. Clemente compiled a Hall of Fame career that included four batting titles, 12 consecutive gold gloves, a pair of rings, the 1971 World Series MVP and 3,000 hits – all before his career (and life) was tragically cut short by a plane crash.
The Dodgers won three World Series from 1959-66. With Clemente, there’s no doubt L.A. would have had a dynasty on its hands.
To: St. Louis Cardinals
From: Chicago Cubs
Trading Lou Brock
Languishing in eighth place by mid-June of 1964, the Cardinals needed a spark at the top of the lineup to help revive their struggling offense.
Leave it to a hated rival to provide the help. The Cubs sent the future Hall of Famer Brock (along with a reliever and a minor league pitcher) to St. Louis in exchange for veteran pitcher Ernie Broglio, Bobby Shantz and Doug Clemens.
The centerpiece of the trade was Brock-for-Broglio. And it’s what makes this deal one of the most lopsided in the modern era. The 28-year-old Broglio was an established starter, but encountered elbow trouble soon after joining the North Siders. He would go 7-19 for the Cubs and retired by 1966.
Brock, on the other hand, changed the course of the Cardinal franchise. For the remainder of ’64, hit .348 with 21 doubles, 12 homers and 33 stolen bases as St. Louis climbed up the standings. And with a bit of help from the collapsing Philadelphia Phillies (who blew a 6.5-game lead with 12 to play), the Cards clinched the NL pennant on the last day of the regular season. St. Louis went on to a seven-game World Series triumph over the Yankees.
To: Kansas City Royals
From: Don Denkinger
Blown call at first base in Game 6 of 1985 World Series
The latest postseason trips for the Kansas City Royals have brought about memories of the franchise’s last brush with success. It took a pair of tremendous comebacks – from down three-games-to-one in both the ALCS and World Series – to secure a K.C.’s first championship thirty years ago. That Fall Classic in 1985 wouldn’t have been possible without a little help from one of the men in blue.
With the Cardinals up 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth in Game 6, lead-off hitter Jorge Orta sent a chopper to the right of first baseman Jack Clark. Cards closer Todd Worrell ran over to cover first. Clark completed a toss to Worrell just before Orta touched the bag. But first base umpire Don Denkinger called Orta safe. Several Cardinals argued briefly, but to no avail.
The Royals took full advantage of the break. A single, a force out, and a walk left the bases loaded. That set the stage for Dane Iorg, whose single to right field drove in pinch runner Onix Concepcion and a sliding Jim Sundberg to finish off the rally and send Kansas City into hysteria. The Royals cruised to an 11-0 win in Game 7.
To: New York Mets
From: Boston Red Sox
1986 World Series Game 6 collapse
Bill Buckner’s infamous error is what most remember. But there were many who contributed to Boston’s downfall and, subsequently, New York’s remarkable reprieve.
At the forefront, manager John McNamara – removing Roger Clemens in the eighth inning (although McNamara claims “The Rocket” asked out) despite showing no signs of struggle and not making the defensive replacement of younger Dave Stapleton for veteran Bill Buckner at first base (something he had done in all of Boston’s seven postseason victories that year).
There was Calvin Schiraldi, the inexperienced reliever, who was unable to record the last out in the bottom of the tenth while holding a 5-3 lead. After three hits and a run, he gave way to Bob Stanley. His wild pitch on a 2-2 count to Mookie Wilson allowed Kevin Mitchell to score the equalizer.
All of that led up to the dubious ground ball that went between the aching legs of the 36-year-old Buckner. Collectively, it created another Mets miracle and a continuation of cursed legacy that had its roots trace back nearly seven decades.