The “hot stove league”, the winter off season for
professional baseball, is a time for baseball fans to look forward to the
upcoming new season with enthusiasm and optimism about their favorite teams. Baseball’s winter off season has become
shorter because of Major League Baseball’s expansion. Whereas the World Series used to be over
before mid-October, this past season officially ended on October 28
and spring training for each Major League club will begin in less than a
month.
But the major change in the “hot stove league” has occurred
because of player free agency. The
biggest attention grabber during winter used to be blockbuster trades. In December, 1965, the Cincinnati Reds traded
All Star Frank Robinson to the Baltimore Orioles. Robinson won the American League Triple Crown
and Most Valuable Player award that next season and helped Baltimore win four
pennants and two World Champions. What
“hot stove league” trade do you remember that helped your favorite baseball
team?
But now free agent signings are what stoke the coals during
the winter. This past
December, three time National League MVP Albert Pujois left the St. Louis Cardinals
and signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. And last week, Milwaukee Brewer All Star
slugger Prince Fielder signed with the Detroit Tigers. Due to free agency, over 40 players will take
the field next season with a different team. For baseball fans of the free agency
generation, dramatically different team rosters from year to year have always
been an aspect of the game.
Baseball fans of the “baby boom” generation; however, fell
in love with the game when players were bound to the team in which they signed their
first professional contract. Player
movement was totally controlled by team owners.
It was not a good system for the players, but it was great for fans
because the core of their team stayed together year to year. St. Louis Cardinals fans did not have to worry
about losing Stan Musial, Ken Boyer, Bob Gibson, or Bill White to free agency.
But, free agency is more beneficial for the players. They are no longer “well paid slaves” as the
late Curt Flood, former Cardinal, called them.
So forgive us baby boomers if we miss those times when teams were
together longer. We are still adjusting.
What “hot stove league” trade do you remember
that helped your favorite baseball team?
