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On This Day in Baseball History: January 8
Sources Lahman People + MLB StatsAPI0 debuts110 transactions
Every major-league debut, final game, transaction, birth and death recorded for January 8, newest first. Player names link to career pages where one exists, and each season links onward to that year’s awards and postseason archives.
Debuts0
Final games0
Transactions110
Born63
Died25
| Year | Player | That season |
|---|---|---|
| No major-league debuts are recorded for this date. | ||
| Year | Player | That season |
|---|---|---|
| No final games are recorded for this date. | ||
| Year | Move | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Colorado Rockies signed free agent 2B Jack O'Dowd to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent 1B Ryan O'Hearn. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Atlanta Braves signed free agent RHP Blayne Enlow to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | New York Yankees signed free agent 3B Paul DeJong to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | San Diego Padres signed free agent 3B Luis Verdugo to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Tampa Bay Rays signed free agent C Blake Sabol to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Texas Rangers signed free agent RHP Nabil Crismatt to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Seattle Mariners signed free agent RHP Michael Rucker to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Boston Red Sox signed free agent RHP Seth Martinez to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Texas Rangers signed free agent OF Orlando Martinez to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - | |
| 2026 | Cleveland Guardians signed free agent RHP Ettore Giulianelli to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Tampa Bay Rays signed free agent RHP Cam Hill to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - | |
| 2025 | Kansas City Royals signed free agent RHP Michael Lorenzen. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Washington Nationals signed free agent RF Amed Rosario. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Houston Astros traded 3B Grae Kessinger to Arizona Diamondbacks for RHP Matthew Linskey. 2025 transaction archive |  |  |
| 2025 | Chicago White Sox signed free agent 3B Josh Rojas. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Athletics signed free agent LHP CD Pelham to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Colorado Rockies signed free agent RHP Jake Woodford to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - | |
| 2024 | Chicago White Sox signed free agent CF Brett Phillips to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - | |
| 2024 | Los Angeles Angels signed free agent SS Richie Martin to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2024 | Minnesota Twins signed free agent C Matthew Clayton to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2024 | Tampa Bay Rays signed free agent C Rob Brantly to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - | |
| 2024 | New York Yankees signed free agent SS Kevin Smith to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - | |
| 2022 | New York Mets signed free agent LHP Alex Claudio to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2022 | Oakland Athletics signed free agent RHP Jacob Lemoine to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - | |
| 2022 | Washington Nationals signed free agent RF Rusney Castillo to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - | |
| 2022 | Washington Nationals signed free agent RHP Ramon Santos to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - | |
| 2022 | Minnesota Twins signed free agent C Alex Rodriguez to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Seattle Mariners signed free agent LHP Roenis Elias to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Seattle Mariners signed free agent 3B Jantzen Witte to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Seattle Mariners signed free agent RHP Paul Sewald to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent LHP Mike Kickham to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2021 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2021 | Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent LHP Mike Kickham to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Chicago White Sox signed free agent P Peter Tago. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent P Mike Kickham. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | New York Mets released 2B Sam Haggerty. 2020 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | Cleveland Indians traded C Eric Haase to Detroit Tigers for cash. 2020 transaction archive | |  |
| 2020 | Washington Nationals signed free agent 3B Asdrubal Cabrera. 2020 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | Washington Nationals signed free agent 1B Eric Thames. 2020 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP Jimmy Nelson. 2020 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | Chicago White Sox signed free agent LF Cheslor Cuthbert to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2020 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | Chicago White Sox signed free agent RHP Alex McRae to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2020 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | Oakland Athletics signed free agent C Ronnie Freeman to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2020 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | New York Mets signed free agent RHP Yefry Ramirez to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2020 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | Washington Nationals signed free agent RHP Ronald Pena to a minor league contract. 2020 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | San Diego Padres signed free agent RHP Walki Lezan to a minor league contract. 2020 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | Washington Nationals signed free agent CF Carlos Tocci to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2020 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | Seattle Mariners signed free agent SS Ryan McLaughlin to a minor league contract. 2020 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | Washington Nationals signed free agent SS Luis Sardinas to a minor league contract. 2020 transaction archive | - | |
| 2020 | Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent 3B Deiferson Barreto to a minor league contract. 2020 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2019 | Chicago White Sox signed free agent RHP Kelvin Herrera. 2019 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | Tampa Bay Rays traded RHP Jaime Schultz to Los Angeles Dodgers for RHP Caleb Sampen. 2019 transaction archive | | |
| 2019 | Cincinnati Reds signed free agent RHP Odrisamer Despaigne to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2019 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2019 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent SS Lizardo Ruiz to a minor league contract. 2019 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2019 | St. Louis Cardinals signed free agent CF Smith Vargas to a minor league contract. 2019 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2019 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent CF Ezequiel Alvarez to a minor league contract. 2019 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | St. Louis Cardinals signed free agent OF Fernando Brazoban to a minor league contract. 2019 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | St. Louis Cardinals signed free agent RHP Jesus Jaquez to a minor league contract. 2019 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | Baltimore Orioles signed free agent C Carlos Perez to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2019 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2019 | Los Angeles Angels signed free agent RHP Alex Meyer to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2019 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | Cincinnati Reds signed free agent RHP Rob Wooten to a minor league contract. 2019 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | Cleveland Indians signed free agent 2B Ordomar Valdez to a minor league contract. 2019 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | Cleveland Indians signed free agent C Juan De La Cruz to a minor league contract. 2019 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | Kansas City Royals signed free agent RHP Winston Abreu to a minor league contract. 2019 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Minnesota Twins signed free agent 1B Jordan Pacheco to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent RHP Kyle Glogoski to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2018 | Oakland Athletics signed free agent C Cesarre Astorri to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent IF Austin O'Brien to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent C Christian Bethancourt to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2018 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2018 | Cincinnati Reds signed free agent RHP Dylan Floro to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent LHP Daniel Camarena to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Angels signed free agent LF Eric Young Jr. to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Miami Marlins signed free agent SS Cito Culver to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2017 | Detroit Tigers signed free agent LF Mike O'Neill to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | San Francisco Giants signed free agent SS Jimmy Rollins to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2017 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2016 | Cleveland Indians traded RHP Kirby Yates to New York Yankees for cash. 2016 transaction archive | | |
| 2016 | Atlanta Braves signed free agent 2B Kelly Johnson. 2016 transaction archive | - | |
| 2016 | Toronto Blue Jays traded Player To Be Named Later and LF Ben Revere to Washington Nationals for cash and RHP Drew Storen. 2016 transaction archive | | |
| 2016 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent C Jake Fox to a minor league contract. 2016 transaction archive | - | |
| 2016 | San Francisco Giants signed free agent LHP Mike Kickham to a minor league contract. 2016 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | Chicago White Sox signed free agent 2B Emilio Bonifacio. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP Sergio Santos to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | Atlanta Braves traded 3B Kyle Kubitza and Nate Hyatt to Los Angeles Angels for LHP Ricardo Sanchez. 2015 transaction archive | | |
| 2015 | St. Louis Cardinals signed free agent 3B Ildemaro Vargas to a minor league contract. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | San Diego Padres signed free agent RHP Marcos Mateo to a minor league contract. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | San Diego Padres signed free agent RHP Jose Valverde to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | San Francisco Giants signed free agent RHP Mike Broadway to a minor league contract. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | Texas Rangers signed free agent RHP Mason Tobin to a minor league contract. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent RHP Jeanmar Gomez to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | Detroit Tigers signed free agent RHP Thad Weber to a minor league contract. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | Miami Marlins signed free agent LHP Pat Misch to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | New York Yankees signed free agent RHP Robert Coello to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Cincinnati Reds signed free agent RHP Sean Black to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Oakland Athletics traded SS Hiram Martinez to Miami Marlins for cash. 2014 transaction archive | | |
| 2014 | Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent RHP R.J. Seidel to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Oakland Athletics signed free agent RHP Manny Correa to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Washington Nationals signed free agent 2B Mike Fontenot to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent CF Jose Gonzalez to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | Cleveland Indians signed free agent LHP Scott Kazmir to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | Cleveland Indians signed free agent RHP Jerry Gil to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | Cleveland Indians signed free agent LHP Edward Paredes to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | Washington Nationals signed free agent 1B Adam LaRoche. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | New York Yankees signed free agent LF Matt Diaz to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | Baltimore Orioles signed free agent RHP Stu Pomeranz to a minor league contract. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | Miami Marlins signed free agent RHP Michael Wuertz to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | Chicago White Sox signed LF Jason Coats. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2012 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent RHP Jesus Morales to a minor league contract. 2012 transaction archive | - | |
| 2012 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith to a minor league contract. 2012 transaction archive | - | |
| 2011 | Texas Rangers Traded RHP Guillermo Moscoso to Oakland Athletics and Burlington Bees Traded RHP Ryan Kelly to Hickory Crawdads. 2011 transaction archive | | |
| 2011 | Hudson Valley Renegades Traded LHP Zac Rosscup to Boise Hawks; Tampa Bay Rays Traded CF Fernando Perez and RHP Matt Garza to Chicago Cubs; Peoria Chiefs Traded SS Hak-Ju Lee to Bowling Green Hot Rods and Chicago Cubs Traded RF Brandon Guyer, RHP Chris Archer, C Robinson Chirinos and LF Sam Fuld to Tampa Bay Rays. 2011 transaction archive | | |
| Year | Player |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Jhoan Duran |
| 1998 | Kameron Misner |
| 1998 | Ken Waldichuk |
| 1997 | Nic Enright |
| 1996 | Chris Paddack |
| 1993 | Jeff Hoffman |
| 1992 | Breyvic Valera |
| 1991 | Carlos Contreras |
| 1988 | Jon Edwards |
| 1986 | James Russell |
| 1985 | Matt LaPorta |
| 1984 | Jeff Francoeur |
| 1984 | Kevin Whelan |
| 1981 | Daniel Davidson |
| 1981 | Derek Thompson |
| 1981 | Jeff Francis |
| 1977 | Dave Matranga |
| 1976 | Carl Pavano |
| 1975 | Geremi Gonzalez |
| 1973 | Mike Cameron |
| 1971 | Jason Giambi |
| 1969 | Brian Boehringer |
| 1968 | Brian Johnson |
| 1968 | Paul Carey |
| 1967 | Matt Maysey |
| 1967 | Randy Nosek |
| 1963 | Shane Turner |
| 1960 | Julio Solano |
| 1960 | Randy Ready |
| 1959 | Craig Gerber |
| 1959 | Ramon Romero |
| 1953 | Bruce Sutter |
| 1949 | Wilbur Howard |
| 1945 | Jesus Hernaiz |
| 1940 | Dick Kelley |
| 1937 | Don Dillard |
| 1936 | Chuck Cottier |
| 1936 | John DeMerit |
| 1935 | Reno Bertoia |
| 1934 | Gene Freese |
| 1933 | Willie Tasby |
| 1927 | Jim Busby |
| 1926 | Dick Lajeskie |
| 1923 | Ray Flanigan |
| 1922 | Ralph LaPointe |
| 1921 | Herb Conyers |
| 1921 | Jackie Tobin |
| 1921 | Marv Rickert |
| 1920 | Bert Kuczynski |
| 1919 | Don White |
| 1916 | Joe Just |
| 1915 | Walker Cooper |
| 1909 | Al Reiss |
| 1901 | Joe Benes |
| 1894 | Art Ewoldt |
| 1891 | Bud Weiser |
| 1886 | Sam Lanford |
| 1885 | Bill Bartley |
| 1883 | Bob Ingersoll |
| 1872 | Chauncey Fisher |
| 1865 | James Graham |
| 1864 | John Gilbert |
| 1862 | Jim Donahue |
| Year | Player | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jim Lawrence | 85 |
| 2022 | Don Dillard | 85 |
| 2022 | Eddie Basinski | 99 |
| 2017 | Jackie Brown | 73 |
| 2012 | Glenn Cox | 80 |
| 2008 | Steve Ridzik | 78 |
| 2006 | Merv Connors | 91 |
| 2001 | Bert Hodges | 83 |
| 1996 | Dutch McCall | 75 |
| 1994 | Harvey Haddix | 68 |
| 1987 | Elmer Miller | 83 |
| 1980 | Harvey Russell | 92 |
| 1980 | Herb Cobb | 75 |
| 1961 | Ray Nelson | 85 |
| 1961 | Schoolboy Rowe | 50 |
| 1959 | Harley Dillinger | 64 |
| 1952 | Art Evans | 40 |
| 1948 | Howdy Caton | 53 |
| 1944 | Harry Daubert | 51 |
| 1943 | John Titus | 66 |
| 1942 | Harry Pearce | 52 |
| 1930 | Charlie Flanagan | 38 |
| 1924 | Joseph Wiley | 66 |
| 1919 | Jim O'Rourke | 68 |
| 1900 | Henry Kessler | 48 |
About these records
Every dated event on this page is read directly from the source tables: debuts, final games, birth dates and death dates from the SABR / Sean Lahman baseball database (2025 edition, People table), used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, and transactions from the official MLB StatsAPI transactions archive captured through 2026-10-22. Nothing is inferred: a record appears here only when the source carries a complete month and day for January 8.
Honesty notes: the staged People table records complete dates or none, and no partial dates had to be excluded. Missing dates are not unknowns everywhere: an empty death date means the player is living (10,918 rows), an empty final-game date means no end date is recorded (1,932 rows), and 398 rows have no birth date. Early records reach back to the 1870s; 19th-century dates reflect the best retrospective research in the source and are shown exactly as recorded. Award winners and postseason series are staged by season with no calendar day in the source, so they are linked from each season above instead of being dated here. The transaction window covers 2011 to 2026 only. Player names link to career pages for every player who has one.
See the sources page for every dataset behind Legends Deck.