Seasonal Trivia Question

[Copperfields]

Who was the first player in MLB history to reject a trade by taking advantage of the 5-and-10 rule (a player with 10 years in the majors and 5 years with his current team)?

After this player exercised his 5-and-10 rights, the rule was given a nickname, which is what qualifies this trivia question as "seasonal".

David

[Copperfields]

No takers on this one?

If I can think of a clue, I'll post it. Otherwise I'll provide the answer in a couple days - January 7.

David

[Paul]

Hmm, this is a tricky one, so I will take it from a deductive point of view.

I am guessing that this portion of the CBA was negotiated sometime in the mid to late 80s. He was probably an above average player on a not so good team who was making above average coin.

I don't have a lot of good guesses here, so I'm going to go with my first instinct: Dave Winfield. Don't know if he meets the 10-5 criteria with the Yankees, but he's my best suspect right now.

[Copperfields]

Paul said:

I am guessing that this portion of the CBA was negotiated sometime in the mid to late 80s.

Paul,
Winfield was a good guess, and nicely reasoned above, but incorrect. However, there is a connection of sorts.

Winfield's rookie season was 1973 - which is the year in which this veto took place.

Your speculation about the player being above average (though on the downside of his career) on a not so good team was spot-on. I can't say for sure, but given that he was a former multiple-time All-Star, I imagine he was making a decent salary for the day.

The player vetoed the trade from an NL team to an AL team, but a while later accepted a deal to a different AL team. He played one year for that team before calling it quits for good.

Also, remember my original post included the following clue:

After this player exercised his 5-and-10 rights, the rule was given a nickname, which is what qualifies this trivia question as "seasonal".

Good luck,
David

[Demreb]

OK, here's my guess.

If correct, I was unaware this player vetoed a previous trade. But all the other clues fall into place.

Downside of All-Star career, playing for less than stellar team, went from NL to AL - playing only one more year, and "seasonal".

My guess is Ron Santo ("Santa")

[Copperfields]

Demreb said:

My guess is Ron Santo

We have a winner!

Why am I not surprised that it was the CFCL's Trivia Master to finally get this one? You know, when I set the forum up, I almost named it The Rebels' Den (or something like that) rather than just "Trivia".

Anyway, Santo it was. In early December of 1973 the Cubs tried to trade Ronnie to the California Angels. He rejected that deal, and the 5-10 rule reportedly became known as the "Santo Clause."

Congrats, Rich.