Gene Michael was the general manager of the Yankees when Derek Jeter was drafted into their organization in 1992, the sixth player taken in that year’s June draft, but he didn’t know much about the young shortstop. In fact, the first and most vivid recollection he has of Jeter stemmed from a telephone call he received from a former player.

Tim Cullen, a major league second baseman who retired in 1972, was working for the owner of the minor league team Jeter was playing for in Greensboro, N.C. in 1993, his second year as a professional player.

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Seeing the flurry of trade activity earlier this week, I had to check the calendar to make sure it wasn’t July 31, the day of the nonwaiver trading deadline. It could be Groundhog Day, Major League Baseball version.

But no, it was the 31st all right, but the 31st of August, not July. Nevertheless it was a deadline day, the deadline for players to be on teams that wanted them eligible for post-season games.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were particularly busy rearranging their roster.

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These were the standings of the top four teams in the National League Central after games of July 22:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . W . . . . L . . . GB

St. Louis ………. 51 …… 46 …… —
Chicago ……….. 48 …… 45 …… 1
Houston ………. 49 …… 46 …… 1
Milwaukee …… 48 …… 47 …… 2

With the teams bunched so closely, it promised to be one of the most scintillating, intriguing races in recent seasons.

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