[Snapolit1]

Was reading a news article about Mel Ott Night, which was held by the NY Giants in August 1940. Referenced that the Dodgers were having a Freddie Fitzsimmons night the following week. Was this a common practice back in the day to honor a player with a huge ceremony (gifts, etc.) when they were still active and years before they retired?
I bet if the Angels did this next week for Mike Trout people would be complaining that something like this would never happened back in the golden days and that it somehow reflects badly on the team and player.