Today in Baseball History: October 30th

2007 On October 30, 2007, the New York Yankees name Joe Girardi their manager. Girardi, who earned three World Series rings as a catcher with the Yankees in the 1990s, replaces Joe Torre, who had declined the team"s contract offer.

1945 On October 30, 1945, Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey signs Jackie Robinson to a minor league contract with the team's Triple-A affiliate at Montreal. Robinson will play the entire 1946 season with the Montreal Royals before earning a promotion to Brooklyn in 1947.

1916 On October 30, 1916, future Hall of Famer Leon Day was born in Alexandria, Virginia. Although Day would never play in the major leagues because of the color line, he became a star pitcher for the Newark Eagles of the Negro leagues and gained election to the Hall of Fame in 1995.