On this date in Giants history—Feb. 9

There are just 9 days remaining until pitchers and catchers report to spring training and 54 days until Opening Day.

On this date in Giants history…

1895: New York Giants owner Andrew Freedman institutes reserved grandstand seats to attract businessmen.

1901: Giants and Pirates outfielder Tom O’Brien, 28, dies in Phoenix, Ariz. A popular player with the Giants, O’Brien played for Pirates in 1900, then accompanied the Giants and Superbas later that the fall on a trip to Cuba for a series of exhibition games. On the boat trip over, he was told that if he drank enough sea water he’d be sick, but would then be cured of any sea sickness. Both O’Brien and Kid Gleason became violently ill following the prescription, but O’Brien was so affected that all his internal organs were damaged, and he never recovered.

1916: The National League votes down a proposal by the Giants, Braves, and Cubs to increase club player limit from 21 to 22. (The Reds want a decrease to 20.)

1927: The Giants send versatile George “High Pockets” Kelly, along with cash, to the Reds for truculent holdout outfielder Edd Roush. The Giants sent Roush to the Reds in 1916.

1961: Willie Mays signs for $85,000, currently the biggest contract in Major League Baseball.

1981: At the age of thirty-seven, Joe Morgan (pictured in print, above) inks a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants.

(Entries courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com)