BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

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3/13
BIRTHDAYS
1886 John 'Home Run' Baker HOF third baseman (World Series 1910, 11, 13; AL HR leader 1911–14; AL RBI leader 1912, 13; Philadelphia A's), born in Trappe, Maryland (d. 1963)


1925 Bertha Tickey softball pitcher (Hall of Fame 1973), born in Dinuba, California (d. 2014)


1930 Doug Harvey HOF umpire (NL 1962-92; 5 x World Series; 7 x MLB All-Star games; career total 4,673 games), born in South Gate, California (d. 2018)

1957 Steve Lake, born in Inglewood, California

1963 Mariano Duncan, infielder (NY Yankees), born in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic

1964 Will Clark MLB first baseman (San Francisco Giants), born in New Orleans, Louisiana


1979 Johan Santana pitcher (4 × MLB All-Star; AL Cy Young 2004, 06; Triple Crown 2006; Gold Glove 2007; no-hitter 2012; Minnesota Twins, NY Mets), born in Tovar Municipality, Mérida, Venezuela

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FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1915 "Help me, Lads, I'm covered with my own blood!" - WILBERT ROBINSON, reacting to the fluid dripping down from his chest before quickly realizing it's only grapefruit juice.
Dodger manager Wilbert Robinson, thinking he will catch a baseball dropped from a plane, is surprised and splattered when the sphere turns out to be a grapefruit. Although legend has it that Casey Stengel is behind the prank, the pilot, Ruth Law, a pioneer in American aviation, substituted part of her lunch when she realized she forgot to bring a baseball.

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1944 It's True, Cy Young's middle name is not Tecumseh, as sometimes listed, but the initial T stands for True. The Hall of Fame right-hander's middle name mixup may result from his teammates calling him 'The Chief,' the English word for Tecumseh.

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1953 On the day that will become known as 'Black Friday' in Boston, Lou Perini announces he will seek permission from the National League to move his franchise to Milwaukee, home of the team's top minor-league affiliate. The Braves owner cites low attendance as the reason for relocating the club after being in the New England city for 82 years.

1954 During an exhibition game against the Yankees, recently acquired Brave Bobby Thomson breaks his ankle in three places, sidelining him until July 14. The '51 National League playoff hero is replaced in the Braves' lineup by a promising prospect named Hank Aaron.

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1960 Much to the chagrin of other owners and most of his players, Bill Veeck's White Sox becomes the first team to put the players' names on the back of the jersey, unveiling the new look on their road uniforms in an exhibition game against Cincinnati in Tampa. After the rest of the league's clubs protest the Chicago owner's innovation, the commissioner's office will rule that in addition to displaying traditional numbers, each team will have the option to use monikered uniforms.

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1979 The Tigers and Mets swap relievers, with Detroit sending Ed Glynn to the Big Apple in exchange for Mardie Cornejo, who, after posting a 4-2 record as a rookie last season, will never play in another major league game. The latest addition to the New York bullpen will make 84 appearances, compiling an ERA of 3.53 during the two years with his new club.

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1986 Designated hitter Hal McRae, 39, and Brian, his 18-year-old second baseman son, play in a Royals preseason game against the Phillies at Terry Field to become the first father and son combination to appear as major league teammates. Kansas City manager Dick Howser refers to the pair as a 'Big Mac Attack.'


1987 The Phillies sign Tiger free-agent catcher Lance Parrish to a one-year deal worth $800,000, plus another $200,000 if the 31-year-year-old does not have any problems with his chronic back. The former six-time All-Star backstop, a winner of five Silver Slugger Awards and three Gold Glove Awards playing for the Tigers, proves to be a bust in Philadelphia, batting .230 in his two seasons in the City of Brotherly Love.

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1997 In their first-ever minor league spring training game, the Rays defeated Philadelphia, 6-0. John Kaufman, Tom Bergan, Matt Williams, and Jamie Ybarra combine to throw a no-hitter in the exhibition contest against the major league team.

2001 Rick Ankiel makes his first appearance since last year's playoffs, throwing 22 strikes out of 29 pitches while tossing two innings of shutout ball in his surprise start against the Mets at Roger Dean Stadium. The 21-year-old southpaw starter lost his control at the end of last season, throwing nine wild pitches in three postseason appearances last year.

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2006 Three pitches into the top of the seventh inning, the stadium lights at Tradition Field partially fail. With fifty percent of the lighting not functioning, the exhibition game ends, after a 15-minute delay, with the Mets leading the Nationals, 10-4.

2008 Joining the ranks of Garth Brooks and Tom Selleck as celebrities who have appeared in a spring exhibition game, Billy Crystal strikes out in the first inning as the Yankees' leadoff batter. The comedian, who signed a one-day contract with the Bronx Bombers, wears the number sixty in honor of his 60th birthday tomorrow.


2008 The pitching-poor Cardinals bolster their rotation by agreeing to a preliminary one-year deal with Kyle Lohse (9-12, 4.62). The 29-year-old right-hander, who pitched for the Reds and Phillies last season, will make $4.25 million hurling for the Redbirds.


2009 "Through good times and bad, I never doubted the support that all of you had for my teammates and me...I hope to see you in October." - PAT BURRELL, former Phillies outfielder thanking the Philadelphia fans.
Pat Burrell takes out ads in two of Philadelphia's largest newspapers, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, to thank Phillies fans for their support during his nine years with the team. The 32-year-old slugging 'Pat the Bat' signed a free-agent deal in the off-season with the Rays, the club the Phils beat in last season's World Series.

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On March 13 in Baseball History...

• • 1917 - After hearing that Gabby Street had caught a ball dropped off the Washington Monument, Dodgers manager Wilbert Robinson bragged that he could catch a ball dropped from an airplane, even though he was in his mid-50s and well above his playing weight. But Casey Stengel substituted a grapefruit for the baseball. Robinson circled unsteadily under the descending spheroid and actually got a glove on it before it splattered across his chest. Robinson felt the ooze, thought it was blood, and screamed that he was dying until he tasted the juice. He later conceded that he probably would have been killed if a real baseball had been dropped from the plane.
    
  • 1943 - The major leagues approve an official ball, the insides of which will be made from reclaimed cork and balata, materials not needed in the war effort. Officials insist the ball will have the resiliency of the 1939 ball, but the players will express with dismay that they cannot drive the new ball and point out the dearth of runs and homers in 1942 even with the old ball.
    
  • 1954 - Newly acquired Bobby Thomson of the Braves breaks his ankle sliding into third base in an exhibition game with the Pirates, thus opening the way for Hank Aaron to start in the outfield. Thomson will be out of action until July 14.
    
  • 1960 - The White Sox unveil new road uniforms with the players' names above the number on the back, another innovation by Bill Veeck.

Baseball Birthdays on March 13...

• • 1862 - McGuckin, Joe
  • 1865 - Bartson, Charlie
  • 1868 - Gilbert, Bill
  • 1875 - McFarland, Chappie
  • 1877 - Flood, Tim
  • 1879 - Eason, Mal
  • 1879 - Kelly, John
  • 1882 - Glaze, Ralph
  • 1885 - Block, Bruno
  • 1886 - Baker, Frank
  • 1889 - Smith, Wally
  • 1889 - Lynn, Byrd
  • 1892 - Gharrity, Patsy
  • 1892 - Gaw, Chippy
  • 1895 - Erickson, Eric
  • 1897 - Malone, Lew
  • 1899 - Brannan, Otis
  • 1906 - Powers, Ike
  • 1909 - Kimberlin, Harry
  • 1915 - Clarkson, Buzz
  • 1917 - Walsh, Joe
  • 1918 - Pellagrini, Eddie
  • 1920 - Biscan, Frank
  • 1921 - Rossi, Joe
  • 1922 - Mapes, Cliff
  • 1925 - Martin, Ray
  • 1928 - Greenwood, Bob
  • 1931 - Bessent, Don
  • 1931 - Pascual, Carlos
  • 1936 - Miles, Don
  • 1939 - Luplow, Al
  • 1940 - Kolb, Gary "I dreamed the Pirate plane crashed and I was the only survivor. Then you know what happened? They called up the entire Columbus club and I still didn't play." - Gary Kolb in Sports Illustrated (August 4, 1969, Explaining how it is to be 25th man on a 25-man team)
  • 1942 - Staehle, Marv
  • 1948 - Barber, Steve
  • 1949 - O'Toole, Dennis
  • 1954 - Bass, Randy
  • 1954 - Leach, Terry
  • 1957 - Walker, Duane
  • 1959 - Aguayo, Luis
  • 1962 - Lee, Terry
  • 1962 - Funk, Tom
  • 1963 - Duncan, Mariano "Every Major League Baseball player dreams of playing in the World Series, so for me to play in three was so great. Baseball gave me an opportunity to take care of my family. I am so happy God gave me the opportunity to play baseball." - Mariano Duncan in The New York Daily News (Michael O'Keefe, 03/05/2015, 'Ex-Yankee Mariano Duncan gets stolen World Series rings back for second time, Source)
  • 1964 - Clark, Will "I never go up to the plate without a plan. The plan, however, depends on what you've seen from the pitcher, what his tendencies are, how you're feeling that day, what the game situation is, and what he's most likely to throw at that point in time."
  • 1970 - Fabregas, Jorge
  • 1971 - Sullivan, Scott
  • 1973 - Veras, Dario
  • 1979 - Santana, Johan

Copyright � 2001-2007. All Rights Reserved.
Part of the Baseball Almanac family: 755 Home Runs | Around the Horn | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Today in Baseball History.​

 

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3/14
BIRTHDAYS
(1960-2006) Kirby Pucket HOF centerfielder (10 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1987, 91; ALCS MVP 1991; 6 × Gold Glove Award; Minnesota Twins), born in Chicago, Illinois


1965 Kevin Brown pitcher, born in Mcintyre, Georgia


1981 Bobby Jenks

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FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1954 Hank Aaron, filling in for Bobby Thomson, who broke his ankle yesterday, starts his first game wearing a Braves uniform. The 20-year-old from Mobile (AL) makes such an impression the club offers him a major league contract after he collects three hits, including a home run, in the spring training game against the Red Sox.

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1961 The Mets lure former Yankee general manager George Weiss out of retirement to become the club's first president, reportedly offering the four-time The Sporting News Executive of the Year a five-year deal at $100,000 annually. During the 67-year-old New Haven native's five years in the post, the expansion team will compile a record of 260–547 (.322), finishing last four times.

1993 The Reds announce the Reds president Marge Schott's Saint Bernard is being prohibited access to the Riverfront Stadium field for the season. The mandate to ban Schottzie 02 comes from the MLB's Executive Council, which has received numerous complaints from the players about dogs running on the field.
Amazon Marge Schott Unleashed

1995 The players' union makes it clear if the owners use replacement players during regular-season games and the results count, the strike will continue. The NLRB also announces it will be charging MLB owners with two counts of unfair labor practices.

 

2003 Cablevision, maintaining its "long-standing philosophy," of allowing customers to choose to receive paid programming, agrees to a one-year interim deal to offer YES Network to New York Yankees fans for a fee, ending a bitter and costly yearlong feud. The arrangement makes YES a premium channel instead of a basic cable channel, dropping the new network's previous mandate to make every subscriber pay for it regardless of the viewer's choice.

2003 Baseball suspends Montreal outfielder Vladimir Guerrero for three regular-season games and Marlin starter Brad Penny for five after igniting an exhibition game bench-clearing brawl earlier in the week. After being hit in the chest, the Expo All-Star, with a bat in his left hand, swings his right fist around Florida catcher Matt Treanor, trying to restrain him, missing the starting pitcher, who retaliated with a punch which also missed its mark.

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2003 "Must be in the front row!"- BOB UECKER, a quip from beer commercials that have become a famous cry in ballparks around the country. Bob Uecker, the Brewers' TV/radio play-by-play announcer, is chosen for induction into the broadcasters' wing of the Hall of Fame as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award. The 68-year-old former backup catcher, a member of Milwaukee's broadcast crew since 1971, is best known for the humor he has brought to the game through his starring role in the cult movie Major League and the Miller Lite beer commercials.

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2003 Dependent on passing a physical, free agent Kenny Lofton agrees to a one-year pact to play with the Pirates this season. The 35-year-old leadoff man would most likely start in center, moving Brian Giles to left with left fielder Reggie Sanders going to right field.

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2006 Avoiding a trial scheduled to begin on Opening Day, Major League Baseball settles a lawsuit with an Atlanta-based company that claimed it owned the trademark rights to the name Washington Nationals. MLB sued Bygone Sports LLC, asking the court to declare that the trademark for the name Nationals does not belong to the company because its sole purpose in filing the September 2002 trademark application was to capitalize on the renaming of the team that recently shifted from Montreal to Washington.

2006 Terry Francona agrees to a two-year contract extension keeping the skipper at the helm through 2008. The Red Sox manager replaced Grady Little in December 2003 and promptly brought Boston to its first World Championship in 86 years.

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2006 Washington, D.C. officials unveil the design for the Nationals' new home, scheduled to be opened in 2008. The glass-and-steel 41,000-seat ballpark will feature pale stone chosen to complement the nation's capital's familiar skyline.

2008 The Padres' new left-hander starter, Randy Wolf, struggles in a 6-2 spring training exhibition loss to the Brewers in Peoria, Arizona. The pitcher's brother, Jim, isn't much help as the home plate umpire, an occurrence not allowed during a regular-season game and marking the only time it has ever happened, when the San Diego hurler gives up three runs in four innings.

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Today in Baseball History
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Search archives: Historical Events Baseball Birthdays Baseball Deaths
On March 14 in Baseball History...

• • 1932 - Catcher Ernie Lombardi comes to the Reds along with outfielder Babe Herman and third baseman Wally Gilbert, while infielders Joe Stripp and Tony Cuccinello and catcher Clyde Sukeforth are sent to the Dodgers. Herman bats .324 in one season in Cincinnati following the trade (he will later return to the club for two seasons), but Lombardi makes the trade a steal. Lombardi bats .311 in 10 seasons in Cincinnati, winning a batting title and MVP Award in 1938.
    
  • 1954 - Hank Aaron homers in his first start with the Braves in an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox. The noise of the contact is so loud that Ted Williams runs out of the clubhouse to see who can make that sound with a bat.
    
  • 1956 - Satchel Paige signs with the Birmingham Black Barons (Negro League) at age 50 to both play and manage.
    
  • 1961 - George Weiss is lured from retirement to become president of the New York Mets.

Baseball Birthdays on March 14...

• • 1849 - Nelson, Candy
  • 1855 - Holbert, Bill
  • 1857 - Moffett, Sam
  • 1860 - O'Brien, Billy
  • 1864 - Gilman, Pit
  • 1865 - Sexton, Tom
  • 1867 - Meek, Dad
  • 1869 - Rhines, Billy
  • 1871 - Conroy, Ben
  • 1875 - Murdoch, Wilbur
  • 1878 - Rementer, Butch
  • 1881 - Polchow, Lou
  • 1884 - Daley, Jud
  • 1886 - DeVoy, Walt
  • 1888 - Pernoll, Hub
  • 1891 - Gregg, Dave
  • 1894 - Layden, Gene
  • 1897 - Hitt, Bruce
  • 1900 - McManus, Marty
  • 1905 - Rothrock, Jack
  • 1914 - Marion, Red
  • 1918 - Carter, Arnold
  • 1921 - Kennedy, Bill
  • 1928 - Smith, Earl
  • 1942 - Raudman, Bob
  • 1944 - Miller, John "Young players will get a real long look next spring. STEVE WHITAKER, who was called up last wee, has been pounding the cover off the ball, but will he keep it up? Whitaker is 23. BOBBY MURCER, a 20-year-old shortstop, will get a second chance after spending the season at Toledo. Also in the running are STAN BAHNSEN, 21, a righty hurler who tossed a no-hitter at Toledo; FRANK FERNANDEZ, 23, a catcher, with a good arm; MIKE HEGAN, a 24-year-old first baseman; JOHN MILLER, a 22-year-old first baseman and outfielder, BILL HENRY, 24, a southpaw hurler. Minor League options have run out on Hegan who must make it in 1967 or be set free. If three of this group can make the big jump to the majors, the Yankees will be doing well." - Sports Editor Ray Saul in The Hazelton Standard-Speaker (August 29, 1066
  • 1946 - Law, Ron
  • 1947 - Strahler, Mike
  • 1950 - McKay, Dave
  • 1953 - Ireland, Tim
  • 1956 - Wynegar, Butch "He's (Butch Wynegar) got all the ability to be a great one. He's a switch hitter with power, a good arm, and a good head behind the plate." - Teammate Rod Carew in Santa Maria Times (United Press International, 07/13/1976
  • 1957 - Lake, Steve
  • 1957 - Waller, Ty
  • 1960 - Willard, Jerry
  • 1961 - Puckett, Kirby "There are just certain people in baseball that you feel honored to have played with and against. Kirby Puckett was one of those players. For twelve years, Kirby played the game the way it was meant to be played — with enthusiasm, with class, with all-out energy and, most important, with a smile on his face. For Kirby, baseball was a joy and it made the game fun for everyone around him too." - Brett, George. Puck! Kirby Puckett: Baseball's Last Warrior
  • 1963 - Rochford, Mike
  • 1965 - Brown, Kevin
  • 1969 - Leach, Jalal
  • 1970 - Gates, Brent
  • 1973 - Dodd, Robert
  • 1979 - Nunez, Jose

Copyright � 2001-2007. All Rights Reserved.
Part of the Baseball Almanac family: 755 Home Runs | Around the Horn | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Today in Baseball History.​

 

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