This Day In MLB History: December 31
- Updated: December 31, 2015

Image Source: HuffingtonPost.com
It was 43 years ago today that the baseball world was shocked by the sudden and tragic loss of future Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Pirates great, Roberto Clemente. The Puerto Rican native was in a cargo plane when it went down off the coast of his native land just moments after take-off. The plane was carrying relief supplies to the victims of an earthquake in Managua, Nicaragua.
Below are other memorable events that took place on December 31st.
1914 – Colonel Jacob Ruppert & Cap Huston purchase NY Yankees for $460,000.
1918 – Kid Gleason replaces Pants Rowland as White Sox manager.
1972 – Roberto Clemente dies in a plane crash off the coast of Puerto Rico.
1974 – NY Yankees sign Catfish Hunter for five years, for a record $3.75 million.
1991 – Daniel R McCarthy elected NY Yankees managing general partner.
1997 – Orlando Hernandez, half-brother of pitcher Livan Hernandez, defects from Cuba.
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