January 24th – This Day in NY Sports History

On this day in NY sports history…

January 24, 1901 – 1st American League baseball games.

January 24, 1938 - Former Mets and Giants manager James J. Mutrie dies at age 86. He is credited for giving the team its nickname by calling his 1888 and 1989 championship teams “My Giants.”

January 24, 1939 - Former Giant William “Wee Willie” Keeler is elected to MLB Hall-of-Fame.

January 24, 1950 - Dodgers and Jackie Robinson agree on a $35,000 contract, the largest in team history.

January 24, 1956 - Yankees and Mickey Mantle agree on a $30,000 contract making him the highest paid 24 year old in MLB history.

January 24, 1958 – Birthday of former Yankee and Mets pitcher Neil Allen.

January 23, 1969 – Former Yankee pitcher Tom Zachary (a.k.a. Zach Walton) dies.  As a Washington Senator he gave up Babe Ruth’s 60th HR in 1927.

January 24, 1973 - Birthdays of the second set of identical twins to play on the same NHL team, Rangers Chris and Peter Ferraro.

January 24, 1981 - Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon purchase the Mets for $21.1 million, the most ever paid for a MLB franchise.

January 24, 1981 - Islanders score 5 power-play goals in a 7-4 win over against Quebec.

January 24, 1981 - Islander Mike Bossy becomes the 2nd NHL player to score 50 goals in 1st 50 games.

January 24, 1986 – Islander Mike Bossy gets his 1000th NHL career point and Bryan Trottier gets his 15th NHL career hat-trick in a 7-5 win over Washington.

January 24, 1992 - John Starks records the first four-point play in Knicks regular-season history.

January 24, 2012 – Yankees catcher Jorge Posada retires after 17 seasons with the club.

Possibly Related Posts:

• February 22nd – This Day in NY Sports History
• February 21st – This Day in NY Sports History
• February 20th – This Day in NY Sports History
• February 19 – This Day in NY Sports History
• February 18th – This Day in NY Sports History

Tags: Jackie robinson, Mickey Mantle, Sports History