This Date in Phillies History: January 25

Historic Events in Philadelphia Baseball History for January 25

January 25, 2012 — The Philadelphia Phillies acquired pitcher Jeremy Horst from Cincinnati for infielder Wilson Valdez. Horst made 60 relief appearances for the Phillies over two seasons with a combined ERA of 3.45. Valdez played in 77 games for the Reds in 2012, which would be his last season in the majors.

Elsewhere…

January 25, 2015 – Rob Manfred takes over for Bud Selig as Commissioner of Baseball.

Philadelphia Baseball Birthdays for January 25

Mel Roach (born 1933): Roach was an infielder/outfielder who reached the major leagues in 1953 and played eight seasons. He spent two years (1955/1956) serving in the military. The Phillies acquired him from Cleveland for Tony Curry and Ken Lehman prior to the 1962 season. He retired in April of ’64.
Ted Kazanski (born 1934): Signed by the Phillies as a promising high school shortstop, Kazanski debuted with Philadelphia in 1953 and played 417 games over six MLB seasons with the Phillies. He was best known for his defense and versatility.
Anderson Machado (born 1981): A Venezuelan shortstop, Machado was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies in 1998 and played through the Phillies’ minor league affiliates (Gulf Coast League, Piedmont Boll Weevils, Clearwater, Reading) before making his MLB debut with Philadelphia in 2003, playing in just one game. He played 23 more games with Cincinnati and Colorado.

A DEEPER DIVE… Rob Manfred

Rob Manfred is a lawyer, longtime baseball executive, and the 10th Commissioner of Major League Baseball, a position he has held since January 25, 2015, after being chosen by the sport’s team owners in 2014. His career spans labor relations, economics, and executive leadership in America’s pastime, with a tenure marked by major rule changes, business evolution, and significant controversy.

Manfred’s journey to MLB’s top job began far from stadiums. He grew up near Cooperstown, New York, and after earning his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was articles editor of the Harvard Law Review. After law school he clerked for a federal judge and then joined the labor and employment section of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius — a firm that would long serve as Major League Baseball’s legal counsel.

In 1987, Manfred began working with MLB in a legal capacity, helping the owners during collective bargaining efforts. During the strike of 1994–95, he served as outside counsel representing owners. He joined MLB full time in 1998 as Executive Vice President of Economics and League Affairs, where he handled labor relations, collective bargaining negotiations with the MLB Players Association (MLBPA), and played a key role in negotiating MLB’s first comprehensive drug testing agreement. Over subsequent Collective Bargaining Agreements (2002, 2006, 2011), he became one of baseball’s most influential labor negotiators.

By 2013, Commissioner Bud Selig appointed Manfred as Chief Operating Officer, giving him broad oversight of baseball operations, league governance, and business functions. This put him squarely in line to succeed Selig upon his retirement.

Selection as Commissioner

On August 14, 2014, MLB club owners elected Manfred unanimously to be the next Commissioner, choosing him over other industry executives, including Red Sox chairman Tom Werner. Owners cited his deep institutional knowledge, legal acumen, and ability to guide the sport’s economic and operational aspects as reasons they backed him to lead baseball into the future. He officially took office on January 25, 2015.

Accomplishments Under Manfred

Rule changes and pace-of-play initiatives: Manfred has overseen many on-field rule innovations designed to make baseball more engaging and faster. These have included pitch clocks, limits on defensive shifts, and automatic extra–innings runners in some seasons, all aimed at shortening game times and increasing action. Attendance and pace metrics have improved in some seasons, with MLB posting shorter average game lengths and rising attendance figures.

Business modernization and digital growth: Manfred has driven league business integration under initiatives like One Baseball — centralizing sponsorships, media, and commercial efforts — and was instrumental in the sale of a stake in MLBAM’s technology arm, BAMTech, to Disney, generating significant revenue. He also emphasizes technology and analytics as part of baseball’s engagement strategy.

Youth and international outreach: Manfred launched programs such as PLAY BALL to boost youth participation, and has prioritized international growth through events like the World Baseball Classic and regular-season games in foreign markets. MLB also marked its first regular-season games in South Korea and increased global exhibitions.

Historical recognition: In a landmark decision under his leadership, MLB officially recognized Negro Leagues statistics and records as part of its historical record, expanding the legacy of previously overlooked players.

Controversies and Criticisms

Despite achievements, Manfred’s tenure has not been without substantial criticism:

Astros sign-stealing scandal: Perhaps the most controversial moment came with MLB’s investigation into the Houston Astros’ illegal use of technology to steal signs during the 2017–18 seasons. Manfred’s decision to discipline the organization — fining the franchise and removing personnel — but not punish individual players drew widespread backlash from fans, media, and many in the sport, who argued harsher individual sanctions were warranted. Critics say this decision damaged the sport’s integrity. One of the players involved in the scandal was outfielder Carlos Beltran, who was elected to the Hall of Fame last week.

Labor strife and economic proposals: While Manfred has avoided canceled seasons so far, MLB experienced a 101-day lockout in 2021 due to collective bargaining tensions, and ongoing disputes over revenue sharing, payroll structures, and a possible salary cap continue to strain relations between management and the players’ union. Debate over these issues persists into the 2026 CBA negotiations.

Fan discontent: Some fans and commentators argue that rule changes, while aimed at entertainment, have altered the traditional character of baseball. Others bemoan perceptions that Manfred prioritizes business interests and owners’ wealth over the fans’ experience or competitive balance. Public remarks, like downplaying the World Series trophy’s symbolism, have become flashpoints in the court of public opinion.

Broadcast and revenue strategies: Manfred’s push to centralize broadcast rights and restructure media deals has faced resistance from local networks and raised concerns about impacts on teams’ regional revenue streams and fan access.

Legacy and Outlook

Now in his third term, extended through 2029, Manfred’s legacy may ultimately be defined by his ability to balance innovation with tradition, grow the game globally, and manage labor and economic shifts without fracturing baseball’s broad coalition of fans, clubs, and players. His tenure has blended commercial growth with contentious moments that reflect the evolving challenges of leading a century-old sport into the 21st century.

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