NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 09: Pitcher Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning of a game at Citi Field on April 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
APRIL 1934: Lefty Grove #10, pitcher of the Boston Red Sox throws a pitch while at spring training camp, April 1934. (Photo by The Stanley Weston Archive/Getty Images) /
16. The Weird Trades
Baseball has been played professionally longer than any other major sport in the United States. When you start going back almost 125 years to a time when players moved back and forth in weird ways due to the loose business practices of the time, there are bound to be some trades that warrant a raised eyebrow to modern fans.
Cy Young for a suit and $300, 1890: Cy Young was a flamethrower for the Canton Nadjys (1890s slang was lit, fam) of the Tri-State League in 1890. The Cleveland Spiders wanted him, but the teams could not really trade with one another since the Nadjys were independent. So, Cy Young went to the National League for $300 and a new suit.
Lefty Grove for a repaired fence, 1920: Industrial teams were a big deal in the 1920s, and Lefty Grove was able to score a job with the B&O Railroad cleaning trains because they wanted him for their ballclub. Before Grove ever pitched for the B&O team, Martinsburg of the Class-D league tried to acquire him. The Baltimore Orioles then decided they wanted Grove too, but Martinsburg’s field had been flooded and needed a new fence. The Orioles paid $3,500 to repair the fence and got the future Hall of Famer.
Harry Chiti for himself, 1962: The Cleveland Guardians forgot to call out “No trades back” after they sent catcher Harry Chiti to the fledgling New York Mets for the 1962 season. The deal was for a player to be named later, and Chiti became that player after hitting .195/.233/.220 in 15 games for the Mets.
Kerry Lightenberg for balls and bats, 1996:
Right-handed reliever Kerry Lightenberg’s name might ring a bell to Atlanta Braves fans of the late 1990s. He saved 30 games and earned Rookie of the Year votes in 1998. Two years earlier, he was pitching in Indy ball and was discovered by Braves scouts. People make jokes about trading underperforming players for used equipment, but that’s what actually happened with Lightenberg. His independent team needed balls and bats, and got 12 dozen balls and four dozen bats.
