This Day in Baseball History
2001 - Rangers sign Chan Ho Park to 5-year, $65-million deal
The last-place Texas Rangers secure the top free agent available in the winter, agreeing to terms with right-hander Chan Ho Park in an effort to bolster their struggling pitching staff.
Park's contract - five years and $65 million - places him sixth among baseball's highest-paid pitchers.
The Korean native makes the move to Texas after establishing himself as one of the top pitchers in the game over several seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Park's 2001 campaign set career highs in starts (35), strikeouts (218) and innings pitched (234).
He joins a Rangers club desperate to pair solid starting pitching with a lineup that includes superstar Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro. Left-hander Doug Davis had the lowest ERA on the staff the previous season at 4.45.
"(Park's) the ace we've been looking for," Palmeiro says during Park's introductory press conference.
The signing, however, turns out to be a disaster.
Park compiles a 22-23 record and 5.79 ERA across parts of four injury-plagued seasons with the Rangers, making just 68 starts in Texas before getting traded to the San Diego Padres in 2005. The Rangers finish last in consecutive seasons following the acquisition.
Birthdays
1862 - Connie Mack
1944 - Steve Carlton
1948 - Steve Garvey
1955 - Lonnie Smith
1987 - Zach Britton