50 Greatest Decisions in Baseball History

The baseball season truly starts each year with the winter meetings and a bevy of free-agent signings. From there, the June amateur draft, July trade deadline, August waiver deadline and all the moves in between help shape a big league franchise on a yearly basis.

Every move made by a baseball organization is with one singular goal in mind, and that is winning the World Series, and I have taken that into account as the main factor when compiling the following list.

Excluded from this list are deals where teams hit on a trade involving prospects such as the Jeff Bagwell or John Smoltz trade, with my reasoning being that these are more luck than good decision-making.

Also excluded are amateur free-agent signings, since the player generally decides which team to sign with, so the team has little control over the decision.

So here are the 50 best decisions in baseball history, from big-time trades that turned a contender into a World Series champ, to a draft pick that turned out to be a franchise cornerstone and everything in between. We'll start, however, with some of the smarter rule changes in MLB history.

MLB Moves the Pitchers Mound Back from 50' to 60'6" in 1893

We'll start off with some league-wide great decisions before moving onto great decisions by individual teams, and what better place to start than with the decision that ushered in a new era of offense?

There is little question that the dead-ball era was so low scoring in large part because of inferior equipment, but the distance from the rubber to home plate also played a big role in limited offense, and moving the mound back certainly helped the batter.

The greatest example of the effects this rule change had were with Hall of Fame pitcher Amos Rusie. In 1892 he struck out 304 batters for his third consecutive 300-strikeout season. However, after the rule change that total dropped to just 208, 195 and 201 over the next three seasons. Those numbers were good enough to lead the league, however, as a change favoring the hitters had clearly been made.

MLB Adds Cork Center to Official Baseball in 1910

Continuing on the trend of making the game more offensive-minded, a cushioned cork center was added to the official baseball in 1910 in order to make the ball carry better off the bat.

By 1912, the balls were in full use league-wide, and average runs per game had climbed from 3.6 to 4.5 in just two years.

MLB Begins Removing Dirty or Doctored Balls from Play in 1921

While this was another rule change that brought about increased offensive production, it was brought about for a much different reason, as it took a tragedy to institute this rule change.

In August of 1920, Yankees pitcher beaned the Indians Ray Chapman in the head with a pitch and killed him. Chapman did not even attempt to get out of the way of the pitch because he was unable to see the ball, which had become very dirty and discolored.

This was before batting helmets were instituted, and they wouldn't be until nearly 30 years later, but this was a step in the right direction towards better protecting the players.

MLB Institutes the Rule 4 Draft in 1965

Until 1977, teams had free reign over signing amateur talent at any point in the season, and teams often found themselves in a bidding war with other teams over top players.

This was the main reason for instituting a draft, with the perfect example coming the year before the first draft took place. University of Wisconsin outfielder Rick Reichardt was highly sought-after by a number of teams, and he eventually signed for a bonus of $205,000.

The following season, Rick Monday was taken first overall in the first draft, and he signed for a bonus of just $104,000. It would not be until 1979 that a drafted player received a bonus higher than the one Reichardt landed.

So all in all, it was a way to protect teams from overpaying for amateur talent and bidding themselves through the roof.

MLB Lowers the Pitchers Mound Five Inches in 1969

The 1968 baseball season is known by many as the year when Bob Gibson turned in perhaps the most dominant single-season pitching performance in baseball history.

With a line of 22-9, 1.12 ERA, 268 Ks Gibson took home both the NL Cy Young and NL MVP awards, and many point to this incredibly dominant performance as the reason why baseball decided to lower the pitching mound the following season.

Regardless as to why, the mounds were dropped, and offenses benefited as the average runs per game climbed from 3.4 to 4.1, and home runs per game jumped from 0.6 to 0.8.

MLB Makes Helmets Mandatory for All Batters in 1971

Despite the fact that a player was hit in the head and killed in 1920, it took until 1971 for Major League Baseball to make batting helmets a mandatory part of the game.

The first team to make helmets mandatory was the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1952, but it was still not common practice throughout the league. Many players wore a plastic insert inside of their hats when batting, but that offered far less protection.

While it became a rule in 1971, players were grandfathered in if they decided against wearing helmets, and Tigers All-Star Norm Cash may have been the best example of a player who continued the old-school approach.

In 1979, Bob Montgomery became the last player to play without wearing a helmet.

MLB Introduces the DH, National League Remains Without One in 1973

Prior to the 1973 season, the American League decided to try out the designated hitter rule for the coming season, allowing a team to pick a player to hit in place of the pitcher.

This rule change made for a much more offense-friendly game in the American League, and effectively divided the National League and American League into two different styles of baseball.

While the AL is more high scoring, the NL is a much more strategy-based league. For instance, you will rarely if ever see a double-switch in the AL, and pinch-hitting in general is a rarity.

So while the rule change meant for more run scoring in the AL, it created a clear divide between the leagues and took away much of the thinking and strategy that make the game great in the NL.

MLB Removes Reserve Clause, Free Agency Begins in 1976

While this can largely be attributed to Curt Flood of the St. Louis Cardinals for his defiance in 1969, there will be more on that later. For now, let's look at when free agency officially began in baseball.

From the beginning of professional baseball until 1975, players were bound to one team for their entire time in the big leagues unless they were traded, thanks to a reserve clause in their contract that allowed their team to renew a player's contract each year for as long as they played.

However, in 1975, pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally played without a contract, arguing that if they did not have a contract it could not be renewed. This held up, and they were granted free agency the following season.

With that, the reserve clause was no more, and the players union and the owners laid out the ground rules for free agency prior to the 1976 season.

MLB Expands Playoffs to Wild-Card Format in 1994

Following the 1993 season, a year in which the MLB had added two franchises in the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins, the decision was made to move to an expanded playoff format.

Teams were split from two divisions into three, and the playoff system was adopted as we know it today. This allowed for twice as many playoff teams, and allowed for much more parity down the stretch with the wild-card spot up for grabs.

So far, it has proven worthwhile, as the 1997 Marlins, 2002 Angels, 2003 Marlins and 2004 Red Sox all won the World Series as the wild card. Beyond that, five other teams have reached the World Series and lost as the Wild Card.

In recent years, there has been talk of expanding the playoffs even further, with the dominance of the AL East being sighted as the reason why, as it seems as though the AL Wild Card will inevitably come from that division.

MLB Begins Testing for PEDs in 2003

This would have been a far better decision if the date were something like 1980 as opposed to 2003, but this one falls into the better-late-than-never category.

Throughout the 1990s and much of the 2000s, baseball higher-ups turned a blind eye to the increasing home run totals and the clearly juiced-up players that were hitting them.

It took the release of a book by Jose Canseco and a legal report by George Mitchell before baseball truly realized the problem it had on its hands with performance-enhancing drugs.

Now, former stars like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and many others have tarnished not only their own legacies, but the game itself as they have sullied the record books.

The next step is blood testing for HGH, and that will be a hot button issue when the next labor talks roll around, but for now baseball seems to have moved from under the shadow of the steroid era.

MLB Adds Limited Instant Replay in 2008

This is a rule that still needs some tweaking, but it is a move in the right direction towards keeping bad calls from changing the outcome of a game.

At the present, replays may only be used to determine if a hit was a home run, and if a ball was fair or foul. These were clearly the two easiest and most detrimental calls to get wrong, but many believe they should expand the replay rules.

The most pressing need for replay would be on plays at home plate, while certain plays on the bases may also be worth reviewing. How much better off would everyone involved have been if Jim Joyce had just been able to replay the call at first base that cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game last season?

Perhaps only allowing for expanded replay in the ninth inning would be the next step to take. Regardless, it seems as though expanded replay is not a matter of if, but a matter of when at this point.

Bert Blyleven Finally Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame

Now onto the great individual player and team decisions throughout baseball history, and we'll start with one that happened just within the past year.

It took until his 14th year on the ballot, but Bert Blyleven was finally inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this year, and the only thing to say to that is: It's about time.

With 287 career victories, a solid 3.31 ERA and the fifth-highest strikeout total in baseball history at 3,701, it is a wonder it took voters this long to honor the right-hander.

Critics point to his lack of accolades, and the fact that he won 20 games only once, while also noting that he was never the best pitcher in baseball at any point in his career. However, he pitched for some awful Twins teams, and did so in an era dominated by some of the best pitchers to ever play the game, and he was right there in the same class as those guys.

Braves Name Leo Mazzone Pitching Coach

Rarely in baseball does an assistant coach receive any attention, but during the Atlanta Braves' great run of the 1990s, pitching coach Leo Mazzone received as much attention as anyone on the team.

Hired in 1979 by the Braves, Mazzone worked his way through the organization to eventually be named pitching coach in June of 1990. Really, how much difference does a pitching coach make though?

J.C. Bradbury wrote a book titled The Baseball Economist in which he took a statistical look at every pitcher that pitched at least one year under Mazzone and one year elsewhere. His findings showed that, on average, pitchers' ERAs dropped 0.64 upon teaming up with Mazzone, and rose 0.78 upon leaving.

So while guys like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz certainly helped, it can't be overstated the role that Mazzone played in the Braves' 14 straight division titles.

Padres Select Tony Gwynn in the Third Round of the 1981 Draft

In the history of baseball, there have been few hitters with the contact skills and offensive production that Tony Gwynn displayed for 20 seasons as a member of the Padres.

Over 10,232 career plate appearances, Gwynn only struck out 434 times or once every 23 times he stepped to the plate. That played a big part in his .338 career average and 3,141 career hits.

He would win a staggering eight NL batting titles in his career, and while the Padres were never able to win it all, it was no fault of Gwynn's as he is among the best homegrown talents in baseball history.

Cubs Sign Andre Dawson as a Free Agent

The story of how Dawson came to play for the Cubs has become somewhat of a legend at this point, and regardless of whether or not it is true, it still makes for a great story.

After struggling to attract any offers in the offseason, largely because of collusion on the part of the owners that season, it is said that Dawson and his agent came to Cubs owner Dallas Green with a signed, blank contract and told him he would play for whatever the Cubs offered him.

That ended up being $500,000, with a $250,000 bonus if he managed to start the All-Star Game and won the MVP. And wouldn't you know it, that is exactly what he did.

Despite playing for a 76-85, last-place team that season, Dawson's stat line of .287 BA, 49 HRs and 137 RBI was enough for him to be named MVP. He led the league in HR and RBI, while taking home the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger as well.

Dodgers Select Mike Piazza in the 62nd Round of the 1988 MLB Draft

Drafted as a favor to his dad and to Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, Piazza was the 1,390th player selected in the 1988 draft, and the odds were certainly stacked against him from the get-go.

After a pair of adequate seasons to begin his pro career, Piazza broke out with a 29-HR, 80-RBI season in 1991 at High Single-A. The next season he was even better, earning a big league call-up, and by 1993 he was the Dodgers everyday catcher.

His big league career started with a bang, as he hit .318 BA, 35 HRs and 112 RBI to win NL Rookie of the Year, and Piazza quickly became the top offensive catcher in baseball. His career line of .308 BA, 427 HRs and 1,335 RBI should make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer—not bad for a 62nd-round pick.

Rick Monday Decides To Be a Hero

Rick Monday had a solid MLB career, but he will always be remembered for two things: He was the first overall pick in the first-ever MLB draft, and he saved an American flag from being burned on the field at Dodgers Stadium.

On April 25th, 1976, two protesters ran onto the field during a Cubs-Dodgers game, and attempted to set fire to an American flag that they had brought with them out in left field.

Monday, playing center field, saw what was going on and sprinted over, grabbing the flag off the ground before it was ignited. The two were arrested, and Monday received a standing ovation from the Dodgers fans in his next at bat, while the scoreboard read "Rick Monday...you made a great play."

Dave Winfield Chooses Baseball

While there have been some terrific athletes that have come through the major leagues over the years, Dave Winfield may top the list as the most impressive athlete to ever play the game.

Coming out of college, Winfield was drafted by four professional teams in three sports, by the San Diego Padres, Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Utah Stars (ABA) and Minnesota Vikings (NFL).

Making things more impressive, the Padres drafted the Minnesota All-American fourth overall to be a pitcher. Despite that, he was signed and immediately promoted to the big league club to play right field.

He held his own, hitting .277 BA, three HRs and 12 RBI in 56 games, and by the next season he was one of the team's best hitters. He would only get better too, and over the course of his 22-year career he put together a line of ..283 BA, 465 HR and 1,833 RBI.

Braves Sign Terry Pendleton as a Free Agent

The Braves were one of the worst teams in baseball in 1990, losing 97 games, with manager Russ Nixon being fired midseason and replaced by Bobby Cox.

Looking to head back towards respectability in 1991, the team signed a handful of free agents, with the most notable being Cardinals third baseman Terry Pendleton, who they inked to a four-year, $10.2 million contract.

This move raised more than a few eyebrows, as Pendleton was coming off a terrible season in which he hit just .230 BA, six HRs and 58 RBI. However, he quickly turned things around in his first season in Atlanta as he won the NL batting title with a line of .319 BA, 22 HRs and 86 RBI.

That played a big part in the Braves going from worst to first, and earned Pendleton the NL MVP. He was productive over the length of the contract, before giving way to Chipper Jones after the four years was up.

Astros Trade for Carlos Beltran

While most big deals are made in July as the trade deadline approaches, the Astros found themselves sitting at 38-34 in fourth place in the NL Central on June 24th, 2004 and decided to make a splash.

In a three-team deal, the Astros picked up Royals center fielder Carlos Beltran in exchange for top catching prospect John Buck and flame-throwing reliever Octavio Dotel.

It worked to perfection, as Beltran hit 23 home runs and stole 28 bases in 90 games with the Astros, and the team got hot when it mattered most with a 20-7 record in September to propel them into the playoffs.

Then Beltran took his game to another level, hitting .433 BA, eight HRs and 14 RBI in 12 playoff games and while the Astros fell to the Cardinals in the NLCS, it was by no fault of Beltran.

Dodgers Trade for Manny Ramirez

As part of a three-team deal that landed the Red Sox Jason Bay, Boston shipped the talented but easily distracted Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers.

While he was putting together a decent season for the Red Sox at the time of the trade with a line of .299 BA, 20 HRs and 68 RBI through 100 games, he took his game to an entirely different level upon landing in Los Angeles.

In 53 games, and over 187 at-bats, Ramirez hit .396 BA, 17 HRs and 53 RBI as he carried the Dodgers to the playoffs and finished fourth in NL MVP voting despite only spending a third of the season in that league.

This trade would be higher, but his impressive performance convinced the Dodgers to re-sign him to a two-year, $45 million contract that would no doubt crack the list of worst decisions in baseball history.

Twins Pass on Mark Prior, Select Joe Mauer First Overall in 2001 MLB Draft

Coming off one of the most dominant seasons in college baseball history, many believed the Twins would take USC ace Mark Prior with the first overall pick in the 2001 draft.

However, they instead opted to take high school catcher and big-time football recruit Joe Mauer with the top pick, as Prior fell to the Cubs at second overall.

Prior rose to the big league level quickly, and turned in a phenomenal season in 2003 to help the Cubs make the NLCS, but injury after injury took their toll and he turned out to be a huge flop. Mauer on the other hand has emerged as the best catcher in baseball, winning three batting titles and an AL MVP.

Yankees Trade for Roger Maris

In need of another bat in the middle of the order to help take some of the load off of Mickey Mantle, the Yankees dealt Hank Bauer and Don Larsen to the Athletics for 25-year-old Roger Maris.

Maris was coming off of his first career All-Star appearance, as he hit .273 BA, 16 HRs and 72 RBI in just his second full season in the majors.

He immediately stepped his game up for the Yankees, hitting .283 BA, 39 HRs and 112 RBI to lead the AL in RBI and take home the AL MVP. That didn't compare to what he accomplished the following season though, as he broke baseball's most hallowed record by hitting 61 home runs, earning him his second straight AL MVP.

More importantly, however, the Yankees went on to five World Series in Maris' first five years with the team, winning two titles, thanks in large part to the contributions of their acquired right fielder.

Billy Beane Uses Sabermetrics To Build a Team

Perhaps this is a case of being swept up in the upcoming Moneyball movie, but what Billy Beane did with statistics to help build a winner on a tight budget changed the game, at least to a point.

While scouting has never been an exact science, it was always done in largely the same way, but Beane turned the entire scouting and player assessment business on its head when he began incorporating sabermetrics to build his team.

The rough idea behind it being that rather than looking at a player's cut and dry statistics, a player's value could be better determined using deeper statistical analysis that determined how many wins a player was worth.

While playoff success has eluded him to this point, he has changed the way teams scout and draft and that cannot be overlooked.

Mariners Select Ken Griffey Jr. First Overall in 1987 MLB Draft

While he was never able to bring a title to Seattle, and the team only made the playoffs twice in his time there, the selection of Ken Griffey Jr. first overall in the 1987 draft gave the Mariners an identity.

The Mariners became a team in 1977, but they did not experience their first winning season until 1991 which marked Griffey's third full season in the majors.

They had no superstar, face of the franchise until he came along, and while it didn't always translate to wins, Griffey was the face of the team and of major league baseball for that matter throughout the 1990s,. He goes down as one of the best to ever play the game.

Braves Trade for Fred McGriff

With the Padres looking to shed some payroll at the deadline in 1993, they moved their top hitter Fred McGriff and his $4 million salary to the Braves for a trio of prospects.

Among them was two of the team's top 10 prospects in outfielder Melvin Nieves (39th-ranked prospect in baseball) and pitcher Donnie Elliott, as well as outfielder Vince Moore.

McGriff proved to be exactly what the Braves needed, as he hit .310 BA, 19 HRs and 55 RBI in 68 games with the Braves and the team went 51-17 after the trade. That earned them a playoff spot, but they were bounced in the first round by the Phillies.

The Braves would have McGriff for five seasons, as he hit 130 home runs and made three All-Star teams during his time in Atlanta, helping the team to the playoffs each season, sans the strike-shortened 1994 campaign.

Phillies Trade for Steve Carlton

Carlton had an up-and-down first seven seasons of his career as a member of the Cardinals, so when he followed up a 19-loss season in 1970 with a 20-win season in 1971, the Cardinals decided to sell high and they dealt the 27-year-old lefty to the Phillies for Rick Wise who was coming off a 17-win season of his own.

The Phillies saw what Carlton could be though, and they were rewarded for their faith in him in his first season in Philadelphia, as Carlton broke out winning the pitching Triple Crown with a phenomenal 27-10, 1.97 ERA, 310 Ks line.

That would become the norm, as he was would win 241 games and four NL Cy Young awards in 14 seasons with the Phillies, becoming one of the game's best during the 1970s and one of the best left-handers of all time.

Dave Roberts Steals Second in 2004 ALCS Game 4

Trailing the Yankees 3-0 in the series, and with Mariano Rivera taking the mound looking to protect a 4-3 lead and close out the series, there didn't seem to be much hope for the Red Sox.

However, Rivera walked leadoff hitter Kevin Millar, and speedster Dave Roberts came on to pinch-run. His decision to steal second not only put him in scoring position, but also gave the Red Sox some momentum and hope as the next batter, Bill Mueller, then drove him in with an RBI single.

The Red Sox would win the game in extras and then the next three to pull off the best comeback in baseball history, and it all started with Roberts' steal of second.

Phillies Select Mike Schmidt in the Second Round of the 1971 Draft

Drafted out of Ohio University in the second round of the 1971 draft, Mike Schmidt would be the Phillies' starting third baseman by 1973.

The following season he led the NL in home runs for the first of what would be eight home run titles, as he went on to hit 548 home runs over his 18-year career, emerging as the best player of the 1980s, and consensus selection as the best third baseman of all time.

He helped the Phillies to a World Series win in 1980, and an NL pennant in 1983, with the team making a total of six playoff appearances during his time in Philadelphia.

Cubs Trade for Rick Sutcliffe

In need of some starting pitching to make a legitimate run at the postseason, the Cubs shipped top prospect Joe Carter along with outfielder Mel Hall and two others to the Indians for Rick Sutcliffe and two others.

Fresh off a 17-win season, Sutcliffe was struggling to start the 1984 season with a 5.15 ERA through 15 starts. The change of scenery to Chicago made all the difference in the world though, as he became the best pitcher in baseball.

With a 16-1 record and 2.69 ERA in 20 starts with the Cubs, Sutcliffe single-handedly led the Cubs to the playoffs for the first time since 1945.

Brewers Trade for C.C. Sabathia

When the Brewers found themselves in the hunt for a playoff spot, and in need of a frontline starter to get them there, they pulled the trigger on a huge deal to acquire C.C. Sabathia from the Indians at the 2008 deadline.

Sabathia gave them exactly what they needed, going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts with the team, as the Brewers captured the NL Wild Card. They would be knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by the Phillies.

In return, the Indians received Brewers top hitting prospect Matt LaPorta, outfielder Michael Brantley and a pair of pitching prospects. While LaPorta and Brantley have contributed at the big league level, they have nothing to this point to make the Brewers think twice about the trade.

Cardinals Select Albert Pujols in 13th Round of 1999 MLB Draft

There have been some fantastic players through the years that fell to the later rounds of the MLB draft, but how Albert Pujols was passed up by all 30 teams 12 different times before the Cardinals finally grabbed him is beyond me.

Granted he did not attend a major university, but he clearly had game-changing ability from the onset as he hit .314 BA, 19 HRs and 96 RBI in three minor league stops during his first pro season, reaching Triple-A.

He would make his big league debut the following season, hitting .329 BA, 37 HRs and 130 RBI and winning NL Rookie of the Year. He has since developed into the best hitter in baseball, and in just under 11 seasons he has a career line of .328 BA, 435 HRs and 1,299 RBI as he has put together the best start to a career in baseball history.

Marlins Use Free Agency To Win World Series

In a small market, and as just a fledgling franchise with four years under its belt, the Marlins shocked baseball by winning the World Series in 1997. They were able to ascend the baseball ranks so quickly, thanks almost entirely to free agency.

Before the 1996 season, the team signed pitchers Al Leiter and Kevin Brown as well as outfielder Devon White. The following offseason, they added to their haul by signing outfielder Moises Alou, third baseman Bobby Bonilla and pitcher Alex Fernandez.

The three pitchers combined to go 44-29 in 1997 as the staff's top three starters, while White hit leadoff, Bonilla cleanup and Alou sixth. The team had the perfect mix of veteran talent and young up-and-comers and they put it all together for a World Series title.

Dodgers Select Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes and Ron Cey in 1968 Draft

The Dodgers of the 1970s and early 1980s were one of the better teams in baseball, as they won the World Series in 1981 and captured three other NL pennants in the 1970s.

That was in large part to their infield of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey. Of that group, three of them were taken in the 1968 draft, as that draft would set the tone for the franchise's future.

Garvey and Cey were both taken in the June secondary draft, while Lopes was taken in the January secondary draft.

By 1973, all three players were part of the everyday lineup, and they would be staples for roughly a decade, as the Dodgers did what every team hopes and managed to turn homegrown players into centerpieces of their organization.

Reds Select Johnny Bench in the Second Round of the 1965 Draft

While it is hard to pinpoint which draft picks should make this list—as some didn't necessarily contribute to the team that drafted them, and others had great careers for the team that selected them but never helped win a title—this one was an easy choice.

Taken in the second round, just one year before legendary bust and former catcher Steve Chilcott would be taken first overall, Bench was destined for greatness from the first time he stepped on the pro field.

He spent just two seasons in the minor leagues, unheard of nowadays for a high school catching prospect, and was the Reds' starting catcher by the age of 20.

He won the NL Rookie of the Year that season, hitting .275 BA, 15 HRs and 82 RBI, and he would only get better. As the muscle of the Big Red Machine, Bench goes down as arguably the best overall catcher to ever play the game.

Twins Sign Jack Morris as a Free Agent

After 14 years and 198 wins with the Tigers, Jack Morris hit free agency prior to the 1991 season, and at the age of 36 there were not many teams looking to sign the veteran to a long-term deal.

He eventually settled on a one-year, $3.7 million deal with the Twins. The team was coming off an 88-loss season, and while they had some nice pieces, they had no true ace to anchor their staff, a role Morris would be asked to fill, and he did that and then some.

Morris posted an 18-12 record during the regular season, as he and 23-year-old Scott Erickson (20-8) helped turn the rotation into a strength, and the Twins won their division.

Morris was not finished helping the team though, as he won two games in the ALCS, then another two in the World Series, the biggest of all coming in Game 7 when he pitched 10 shutout innings to give the Twins the title.

Diamondbacks Sign Randy Johnson, Trade for Curt Schilling

It has been proven time and again that if a team hopes to win the World Series, they need a pair of ace-caliber pitchers fronting their rotation throughout the playoffs, and the Diamondbacks certainly had that in Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.

The Diamondbacks took the first step towards achieving that when they signed Johnson as a free agent prior to the 1999 season. He would win the Cy Young in 1999 and 2000, but the team lost in the NLDS in '99, and failed to make the postseason in 2000.

However, they took the second step at the deadline in 2000, trading four players to the Phillies to acquire Schilling. In their two full seasons together, the duo combined for 85 wins and finished No. 1 and No. 2 in NL Cy Young voting both seasons.

More importantly, however, they led the team to a World Series title over the heavily favored New York Yankees in 2001, as the pair had a hand in all four of the series wins.

Reds Move Pete Rose to Third Base

When the Reds got off to a slow start in 1975, managed Sparky Anderson decided to shake things up, moving outfielder Pete Rose to third base, a position he had not played at since 1966, and had never played regularly.

That allowed the Reds to move George Foster into the starting lineup, and while Rose's defense wasn't great, it was more than offset by Foster's contributions with the bat.

Foster would immediately become one of the team's most productive run producers with his top-tier power, and the Reds went on to win the 1975 and 1976 World Series, after having not been to the series since 1972 prior to the move.

Yankees Select Derek Jeter in the First Round of the 1992 Draft

While his body of work is not quite complete, it is safe to say that Derek Jeter will go down as one of the best shortstops to ever play the game, and he has achieved living-legend status at this point in his career.

It doesn't hurt that he plays in the bright lights of New York, but he has shown time and again that he is one of the most clutch hitters in history, and his postseason line of .309 BA, 20 HRs and 57 RBI with 185 hits is Hall of Fame-worthy in itself.

The Yankees took him sixth overall in the 1992 draft out of high school, and he was the starting shortstop and AL Rookie of the Year by 1996, as he helped the Yankees begin their dynasty of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Curt Flood Refuses To Be Traded

In the offseason following the 1969 season, the Cardinals sent Gold Glove outfielder Curt Flood to the Phillies for a trio of players. However, Flood refused the trade, forfeiting his contract, as he demanded that he be made a free agent.

MLB commissioner Bowie Kuhn declined to do so, and Flood sued Major League Baseball. The case made it all the way to the Supreme Court where it was struck down.

Flood sat out the entire 1970 season, before the Phillies traded his rights to the Senators where he would play one more year before retiring. Official free agency did not begin in the big leagues until 1975, but Flood's refusal was the first step towards free agency as we know it today.

Braves Sign Greg Maddux as a Free Agent

The Cubs drafted right-hander Greg Maddux in the second round of the 1984 MLB draft, and by 1986 he was in the big leagues. By the time he hit free agency after the 1992 season, he had a 95-75 career record with a 3.35 ERA.

Not only that, but he was coming of his best season to date in 1992, going 20-11 with a 2.18 ERA to win the NL Cy Young. However, that was not enough for the Cubs to lock him up, as negotiations fell off and the Cubs instead signed the trio of Candy Maldonado, Jose Guzman and Dan Plesac.

Hotly pursued by the Yankees, Maddux eventually signed a five-year, $28 million deal with the Braves where he would go on to pitch 11 seasons, going 194-88 with a 2.63 ERA and winning three more NL Cy Young awards.

Red Sox Sign David Ortiz as a Free Agent

After a season in which he hit just .203 against left-handed pitching and only .240 with runners in scoring position, the Twins were looking to move DH David Ortiz before the 2003 season began.

While those peripherals don't look good, he did finish the season with a respectable line of .272 BA, 20 HRs and 75 RBI. Despite that, there were no takers for Ortiz on the trade market, and the team instead released him on December 16th, 2002.

With starting DH Brian Daubach departing in free agency, the Red Sox took a chance on Ortiz with a one-year, $1.25 million contract.

He rewarded them with a .288-BA, 31-HR, 101-RBI season, and he would go on to be instrumental in the team's 2004 and 2007 World Series titles, developing into one of the best clutch hitters in all of baseball.

Reds Trade for Joe Morgan

Following a 79-83 season, the Reds decided to shake things up and they dealt star slugger Lee May to the Astros for a five players.

In the deal the Reds got a starting right fielder in Cesar Geronimo, starting third baseman in Denis Menke and No. 1 starter in Jack Billingham for the 1972 season.

However, the real haul of the trade was second baseman Joe Morgan, who would immediately raise his game to another level upon arriving in Cincinnati, making the All-Star team eight straight seasons and winning two NL MVP awards as the catalyst of the Big Red Machine.

Yankees Sign Reggie Jackson as a Free Agent

One of the first superstar players to hit free agency, Jackson left the Oakland Athletics for the New York Yankees when he signed a five-year, $2.9 million contract prior to the 1977 season.

He would make a splash immediately, hitting .286 BA, 32 HRs and 110 RBI during the regular season to help the Yankees win their division.

His contributions didn't stop there, however, as he turned in perhaps the greatest World Series performance in baseball history with his three home runs in the clinching Game 6 of the series, earning him the nickname Mr. October.

Blue Jays Trade for Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar

After finishing 86-76 in 1990, despite having one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball, the Blue Jays decided it was time for an overhaul of their lineup in the offseason leading up to the 1991 season.

With top prospect John Olerud ready to contribute, the Jays traded their starting first baseman and top hitter Fred McGriff, along with another steady performer in Tony Fernandez, to the Padres.

In return, they received a 23-year-old second baseman in Roberto Alomar who was fresh off his first All-Star appearance, and an established slugger to help fill the hole in the middle of the lineup left by McGriff in Joe Carter.

It worked to perfection, as Olerud hit .256 BA, 17 HRs and 68 RBI as the starting first baseman and only improved over the years.

Alomar blossomed into a superstar, and Carter continued to produce at a high level, eventually hitting the biggest home run in franchise history.

Tommy Lasorda Uses Kirk Gibson as a Pinch-Hitter in 1988 World Series

With the A's leading 4-3 heading into the the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, they turned to their All-World closer Dennis Eckersley to slam the door in the ninth inning. After getting two quick outs, Eck walked pinch-hitter Mike Davis, and the Dodgers turned to Kirk Gibson to pinch-hit for the pitcher's spot.

Supposedly unavailable with two bad knees, Gibson hobbled up to the plate as the Dodgers' last chance. After fouling off a number of pitches, he managed to work a full count, and he finally got a pitch he could handle, sending a slider into the right field bleachers and setting the tone for the rest of the series, which the Dodgers would win in five games.

The footage of Gibson hobbling around the bases and pumping his fist is baseball legend, and Jack Buck's line, "I don't believe what I just saw!" is as much a part of history as the home run itself.

Orioles Trade for Frank Robinson

Prior to the 1966 season, Reds owner Bill DeWitt made the decision to part with his 30-year-old superstar Frank Robinson in an effort to bolster his pitching staff, picking up Orioles ace Milt Pappas in the deal.

The trade was met with immediate outrage from the Reds fanbase, and in an attempt to justify the move, DeWitt said that Robinson was "an old 30."

Robinson immediately made DeWitt eat his words, as he took home the AL Triple Crown with a line of .316 BA, 49 HRs and 122 RBI in his first season in Baltimore, leading the team to a World Series crown and winning AL MVP in the process.

He went on to play six seasons with the Orioles, hitting .300 BA, 179 HRs and 545 RBI over that span as the team won three more AL pennants and one more World Series title.

Yankees Stick with Lou Gehrig over Wally Pipp

The date was June 2nd, 1925 and Yankees first baseman Wally Pipp was a scratch from the lineup due to a headache. Taking his place was 22-year-old Lou Gehrig.

Gehrig would go 3-for-5 with a double in the game, and that was enough to get him in the starting lineup for the next game, and then the next 2,128 after that.

Pipp was gone by the next season, making just 17 more at-bats in all of 1925, while Gehrig would go on to help the Yankees to six World Series titles as the best first baseman in baseball history.

Yankees Purchase Babe Ruth from the Red Sox

With a batting line of .322 BA, 29 HRs and 114 RBI, and a pitching record of 9-5 with a 2.97 ERA over 133.1 innings, Babe Ruth's 1919 season was one for the ages, as there has never been a player with a more complete game than Ruth.

Whether it was Ruth asking for his salary to be doubled to $20,000 in 1920, or whether the stories that Red Sox owner Harry Frazee was trying to finance a theatrical production were in fact true, for one reason or another Ruth was put on the trade block following that incredible year.

The White Sox offered up $60,000 and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson for Ruth, but Frazee declined and instead took the Yankees' deal and the full $100,000 that he was seeking.

Thus, the Curse of the Bambino was born, as the Red Sox would go without a World Series until the curse was broken in 2004. Meanwhile, the Yankees became baseball's most revered franchise and piled up titles with Ruth leading the way.

Dodgers Owner Branch Rickey Signs Jackie Robinson

While baseball fans are quick to put an asterisk next to anything achieved during the steroid era, and rightfully so, the same issue can be taken with anything achieved prior to 1947. Until that time, baseball was segregated, and many of the best players in the world were not allowed to play Major League Baseball.

Negro League greats like Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Cool Pappa Bell and countless others have their place in baseball history, but who knows where they would rank in the record books if baseball had been integrated from the onset?

Instead, it took until 1947, when Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey inked former UCLA multi-sport star Jackie Robinson to a contract, effectively breaking the color barrier in baseball. Robinson put up fantastic numbers, but there is no way to measure the impact his courage had on making the transition easier for African-American players to come.