BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

​

 

​

 

​

 

​

 

3/25
BIRTHDAYS
1909 Dutch Leonard pitcher (MLB All Star 1940, 43, 44, 45, 51; Brooklyn Dodgers, Washington Senators, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Cardinals), born in Auburn, Illinois (d. 1983)


1955 Lee Mazzilli, American baseball utility (MLB All Star 1979, NY Mets; World Series 1986, Pittsburgh Pirates), manager (Baltimore Orioles) and coach (World Series 2000, NY Yankees), born in Brooklyn, New York


1966 Tom Glavine HOF pitcher (NL Cy Young Award 1991, 98; World Series MVP 1995; 10 x MLB All Star; Atlanta Braves, NY Mets), born in Concord, Massachusetts


“Tommy’s first Little League coach told me that we would pay to see him play someday,” said Glavine’s father, Fred Glavine, Wednesday afternoon. “We were nervous and not sure if he was going to get in. I don’t believe in anything until it comes true. We usually take everything with a grain of salt. I certainly could have cried when I got the news.”


1969 Dan Wilson, MLB catcher, 1992-2005 (Seattle Mariners: Cincinnati Reds), born in Arlington Heights, Illinois


1969 Scott Sanders, Hannibal MO, pitcher (SLU, San Diego Padres)


1972 Howard Battle (Philadelphia Phillies), born in Biloxi, Mississippi


1975 Miguel Mejia, San Pedro de Macoris, outfielder (St Louis Cardinals)

***********​

 

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1910 Hugh Chalmers, the president of the Chalmers Motor Car Company of Detroit, announces his Model 30, one of the most luxurious autos of its day, will be awarded to the player with the highest batting average this season. Nap Lajoie goes 8-for-9, beating out seven bunts, when Browns' Red Corriden purposely plays deep at third base, raising the Indian infielder's final average to .384 to surpass Ty Cobb for the controversial batting title.

​

1914 Babe Ruth makes the first start of his professional career when he defeats the world champion Philadelphia Athletics, 6-2, in an exhibition game played in Wilmington (NC). The 19-year-old International League left-hander tosses a complete game, allowing 13 hits and four walks.

​

1934 For the third time in six days, track and field Olympian medalist (javelin, hurdles, high jump) Babe Didrikson takes the mound to face a major leaguer team. The Orleans Pelicans' hurler pitches two scoreless innings against the Indians, lining out in her only at-bat.

​

1935 The Cubs sell 32-year-old right-hander Pat Malone to the Yankees. The former 20-game winner (1929, 1930) will go 12-4 in 1936 but will post only a 19-13 record in his three-year tenure with the Bronx Bombers.

​

1945 Tryouts are granted to pitcher Terris McDuffie and first baseman Dave Thomas when a group of blacks appears at the Dodger offices in Brooklyn. The two players will work out at Ebbets Field in front of Branch Rickey on April 7.

​

 

1959 Infielder Bill White and third baseman Ray Jablonski are traded to the Cardinals by the Giants in exchange for pitching prospect Don Choate and right-hander Sam Jones. Although southpaw 'Toothpick Sam' will have three solid seasons in San Francisco, including a 20-win season, the Redbirds' new first baseman will become a perennial All-Star and Gold Glover during his eight-year tenure in St. Louis.

WHITE MGR KEANE & STAN THE MAN
​

1962 The Cubs, who haven't had a manager since 1960, tap Elvin Tappe to be the team's first head coach of the campaign after he posted a 42–54 record last year, the best by far of the four who led the club as members of Chicago's college of coaches. When he gets off to a 4–16 start as the skipper, the 35-year-old veteran returns to the bench, playing 26 games as a backup catcher for the ninth-place team.

1963 The Reds sell journeyman pitcher Johnny Klippstein to the Phillies. After going 7-7 over two seasons with Philadelphia, the 37-year-old box salesman will help the Twins win the pennant in 1965, posting a 9-3 record.

​

 

1981 The Phillies trade Bob Walk to the Braves for outfielder Gary Matthews. The team's new center fielder provides outstanding defense and has three solid seasons at the plate for Philadelphia, with Atlanta's new right-hander compiling a 12-13 record with a 4.85 ERA during his three-year tenure with the club.

​

1985 The news is terrible for the Cubs when Circuit Court Judge Richard L. Curry rules that the existing laws banning night games are constitutional. The Chicago's west-side club brought suit after giving up a home playoff game last season due to Wrigley's lack of lights.

1989 The Pirates and Indians swap shortstops with Jay Bell going to the Steel City and Felix Fermin joining the Tribe. Pittsburgh's new slick infielder will serve as the team's starting shortstop for the next eight seasons, winning a Gold Glove in 1993.

​

 

1997 The Indians send Kenny Lofton (.317, 14, 67) and Alan Embree (3-1, 2.79) to the Braves for Marquis Grissom (.262, 10, 57) and David Justice (.337, 30, 88). The deal saves $5.8 million in salaries for Atlanta and helps the team sign hurlers Greg Maddux ($57.5 million, five-year) and Tom Glavine ($34 million, four-year).

​

2006 Acknowledging he may never play again, Jeff Bagwell announces he will start the season on the disabled list and seek consultation to determine if removing bone spurs from his shoulder would help prolong his career. The 37-year-old first baseman must stay on the injured list all season for the Astros to collect $15.6 million of the $17 million guaranteed contract from an insurance claim filed in January.

​

2008 In Japan's Tokyo Dome, the Red Sox beat the A's, 6-5, in the earliest major league opener ever played. Manny Ramirez's tenth inning double gives Hideki Okajima the victory, who used to pitch in this stadium for the hometown Yomiuri Giants.

​

2008 Miguel Cabrera (.320, 34, 119), acquired by the Tigers in a trade at the winter meetings with the Marlins, agrees to a $152.3 million, eight-year deal to play with the team. The All-Star third baseman, who had previously agreed to an $11.3 million, one-year contract in January, will compile a .326 batting average and hit 270 home runs during the span of the deal.

​

********
65,197

 

Today in Baseball History
Home | Contact | Baseball Almanac | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Advertise | Support​

Search archives: Historical Events Baseball Birthdays Baseball Deaths
On March 25 in Baseball History...

• • 1910 - The Chalmers Auto Company of Detroit offers to award a new car to the batting champion of each league. The National Commission accepts.
  • 1935 - The Yankees purchase pitcher Pat Malone from the Cubs. Malone had led the N.L. in wins in 1929 and 1930.
  • 1959 - Future N.L. President Bill White comes to St. Louis along with third baseman Ray Jablonski from the Giants for pitchers Sam Jones and Don Choate. White will win six consecutive Gold Gloves with the Cardinals plus one more later in Philadelphia.
  • 1985 - An Illinois judge rules that state and city laws effectively banning night baseball at Chicago's Wrigley Field are constitutional. After being forced to give up a home game during the 1984 NLCS, and threatened with playing future postseason games at another stadium in order to accommodate network television's prime-time schedules, the Cubs had sued to overturn the laws.
  • 1997 - Big-money players change places in a big-name trade between the Braves and Indians, who had faced each other in the 1995 World Series. All-Star center fielder Kenny Lofton and reliever Alan Embree are sent to Atlanta in return from 1995 Series hero David Justice and fleet-footed center fielder Marquis Grissom.

Baseball Birthdays on March 25...

• • 1856 - Powell, Martin
  • 1861 - Scanlan, Patrick
  • 1862 - Gagus, Charlie
  • 1863 - Smith, Fred
  • 1866 - McKeon, Larry
  • 1866 - Lyons, Harry
  • 1868 - Dwyer, Frank
  • 1874 - Carney, Bill
  • 1875 - Riddlemoser, Dorsey
  • 1879 - Walsh, John
  • 1881 - Charles, Chappy
  • 1883 - Brown, Elmer
  • 1884 - Lavender, Jimmy
  • 1886 - Walsh, Jimmy
  • 1887 - Milan, Clyde
  • 1891 - McLarry, Polly
  • 1900 - Miller, Russ
  • 1901 - Grigsby, Denver
  • 1909 - Leonard, Dutch
  • 1913 - Maynard, Buster
  • 1915 - Hartje, Chris
  • 1919 - Evans, Bill
  • 1920 - Lowry, Sam
  • 1922 - Bowers, Billy
  • 1930 - Minarcin, Rudy
  • 1932 - Craddock, Walt
  • 1932 - Held, Woodie "Don't forget to swing hard, just in case you hit the ball." - Woodie Held in The Plain Dealer
  • 1933 - Chittum, Nelson
  • 1938 - Koch, Alan
  • 1944 - Britton, Jim
  • 1945 - Ellis, Jim
  • 1948 - Nagy, Mike
  • 1955 - Mazzilli, Lee "You just plain look like a fool if you drop it (a basket catch). There I was throwing the ball back after the catch, only I didn't have any ball to throw." - Lee Mazzilli (1978)
  • 1962 - Kunkel, Jeff
  • 1965 - Kutzler, Jerry
  • 1966 - Glavine, Tom "It surprised me (the trade in 2003), because whenever we needed a big game from (Tom) Glavine, he was right there for us." - Atlanta Braves Catcher Eddie Perez
  • 1967 - Barnes, Brian
  • 1969 - Sanders, Scott
  • 1969 - Fryman, Travis "He (Aurelio Rodriguez) probably had as good a pair of hands on him as anybody, and a great arm—the only two arms I've ever seen like that, (Travis) Fryman and him. This guy was a great third baseman." - Hall of Fame Manager Sparky Anderson
  • 1969 - Menhart, Paul
  • 1969 - Helfand, Eric
  • 1969 - Schullstrom, Erik
  • 1969 - Wilson, Dan
  • 1972 - Battle, Howard
  • 1975 - Mejia, Miguel
  • 1977 - Jodie, Brett

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.​

 

​

 

​

 

​

 

​

 

​

 

3/26
BIRTHDAYS
1925 Ben Mondor, Canadian baseball executive (International League Executive of the Year 1978, 99), born in St-Ignace-du-Lac, Maskinongé, Quebec (d. 2010)

1958 Chris Codiroli born in Oxnard, California


1962 Kevin Seitzer, infielder, 1986-97, 2X All-Star (Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, and 2 other teams), born in Springfield, Illinois


1968 Jose Vizcaino infielder (NY Mets), born in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic


1968 Shane Reynolds pitcher (Houston Astros), born in Bastrop, Louisiana


1971 Jesús Taváres outfielder, 1993-98 (Florida Marlins, and 2 other teams), born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic


1981 Josh Wilson Dallas Baptist born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

***********​

 

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1936 Two future Hall of Famers ink modest contracts with their respective teams. The Tigers sign 25-year-old first baseman Hank Greenberg, who will miss most of the season with an injured wrist, for $20,000, and 31-year-old right-hander Red Ruffing, who will post a 20-12 record, comes to terms with the Yankees for $12,000.

​

1951 During a spring exhibition game against the University of Southern California at Bovard Field, Mickey Mantle, batting left-handed, hits a home run off Tom Lovrich, which is estimated to travel 650 feet. The 19-year-old rookie's performance, which includes a single, triple, and another homer, is one of the highlights of the Yankees' first-ever West Coast trip.

​

1957 The police arrest Yankee manager Casey Stengel then released him on $50 bail after allegedly kicking newspaper photographer Branan Sanders of the St. Petersburg Independent. The alleged altercation occurred in the first inning when the former World War II Associated Press photojournalist came into the Yankee dugout after being told he was obstructing the team's view of their opponents.

​

1960 Due to Cuba's political unrest, Miami becomes the new venue for the Orioles-Reds series, initially scheduled for Havana. Having a farm team on the island, Cincinnati wanted to play the exhibition games as planned, but Baltimore's team president Lee MacPhail feared for his players' safety.

 

1974 "I said that there’d come a time when somebody would take my job away and the time came. That’s the way the ball bounces. I was the same way when I broke in with the White Sox. If I came, someone had to go. Baseball is like life; it goes on no matter what.” - LUIS APARICIO, commenting on his unconditional release by the Red Sox. The Red Sox release future Hall of Famers designated hitter Orlando Cepeda and infielder Luis Aparicio (1984) after playing well for the team last season. Cepeda was considered one of the best DH in the American League with 86 RBIs, 20 home runs, and a .289 average, with Aparicio batting a respectable .271 in 132 games, the best mark among shortstops in the league.

​

1976 The American League votes to expand to Toronto, awarding the franchise to a group led Labatt's Breweries (45%) that eventually purchases the team for $7 million. At first, the decision will appear in peril when President Gerald Ford attempts to pressure MLB to give the expansion franchise to Washington, D.C., a city without a major league team since the expansion Senators moved to Arlington (TX) to become the Rangers following the 1972 season.

1977 The Red Sox releases fan-favorite Rico Petrocelli, a future inductee to the club's Hall of Fame in 1997 who batted .251 and hit 210 home runs during his 13 seasons with Boston. The two-time All-Star infielder calls it quits, ending his career entirely with Boston, playing a vital role in the team's 1967 and 1975 American League pennants.

​

 

1984 In a spring training deal, the Phillies trade outfielders Gary Matthews, Bob Dernier, and right-handed reliever Porfi Altamirano to the Cubs for right-hander Bill Campbell and Mike Diaz, a utility player. The former Philadelphia fly chasers, who will each receive consideration for the MVP award, play a pivotal role in Chicago's first-place finish this season in the National League Eastern Division.

​

1997 The Expos trade Cliff Floyd to Marlins for right-hander Dustin Hermanson and outfielder Joe Orsulak. The presence of Montreal’s highly-touted prospect Vladimir Guerrero made their former fly-catcher expendable after he spent the first four major league seasons with the Canadian team.

​

2000 The demolition Kingdome happens in less than 20 seconds, thanks to 5,800 holes filled with gelatin dynamite ignited by 21.6 miles of detonation cord. The former home of the Mariners, the venue of no-hitters by Randy Johnson (1990 vs. Tigers) and Chris Bosio (1993 vs. Red Sox), is now a 65-foot mound of rubble.

​

********
65,366