Since this is the season for turkeys and such, it is only fitting to include the story in which a Minor League owner traded a turkey for a player. That owner was none other than Chattanooga's own Joe Engel.
The website Mental Floss magazine (online) has ranked legendary former Lookouts' owner Joe Engel's trade of a turkey for a shortstop as No. 2 in their list of strangest trades made in baseball.
The article, "Six of Baseball�s Strangest Trades," had this to say about the trade of Johnny Jones for a turkey.
"Chattanooga Lookouts owner Joe Engel was a publicity hound and his promotions were headline-grabbers (he once gave away a house during a game).
But perhaps his most unusual stunt was when he traded shortstop Johnny Jones to Charlotte. In return, Engel received a 25-pound turkey, which he prepared for the media. After trying the turkey, Engel declared that Charlotte had won the trade because the turkey was tough. Maybe if that turkey had been juicy, Chattanooga would have come out ahead."
The rest of the rankings appear below.
1. Harry Chiti for Harry Chiti
At the beginning of the 1962 season, the Cleveland Indians dealt catcher Chiti to the New York Mets for cash and a player to be named later. In June, the two teams decided on the player: Harry Chiti, Essentially, Chiti was traded for himself and cash.
3. Marilyn Peterson for Susan Kekich
In the '70s, Yankees pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson literally switched wives. The ladies moved into their new partners� houses, bringing the kids and even the dogs with them.
4. Joe Gordon for Jimmy Dykes
As GM of various baseball teams, Frank Lane built up a reputation as being quick to the trigger on any trade. His most unusual trade came in midseason in 1960, when he traded his manager, Joe Gordon, to Detroit in exchange for Tigers manager Jimmy Dykes. The move was mostly a stunt (allegedly), but was stopped by the commissioner of baseball.
5. John Odom for ten bats
After the Calgary Vipers realized that their new pickup John Odom wasn�t going to be able to play for them, they dealt the pitcher to the Laredo Broncos in exchange for ten maple bats. Odom took the high road, using the ridiculous trade as motivation to get better.
6. Dave Winfield for dinner
The Minnesota Twins dealt Winfield to Cleveland for a player to be named later at the trading deadline in 1994. But, two weeks later, before Winfield could play for the Indians, a strike ended the season. Winfield never played for the Indians and a player was never named. To settle the trade, executives from Minnesota and Cleveland decided to go out for dinner and the Indians picked up the check.
Manager Cal Ermer selling cokes alongside Joe Engel.