BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

In 1968, Bob Gibson went 22-9 with a 1.12 ERA. Five of the nine losses were 1-0 games.
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Pittsburgh #Pirates coach Honus Wagner gives some batting tips at spring training camp in Muncie, Indiana! WWII travel restrictions kept teams close to home. (March 1943)
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MARCH 25 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS
1909 Dutch Leonard pitcher (MLB All Star 1940, 43, 44, 45, 51; Brooklyn Dodgers, Washington Senators, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs)


1955 Lee Mazzilli utility (MLB All Star 1979, NY Mets; World Series 1986, Pittsburgh Pirates), manager (Baltimore Orioles) and coach (World Series 2000, NY Yankees


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


1969 Dan Wilson catcher, 1992-2005 (Seattle Mariners: Cincinnati Reds)

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Ty Cobb and Nap Lajoie in a Chalmers
during their race for the 1910 batting title.


1914 Babe Ruth makes the first start of his professional career, defeating the world champion Philadelphia A’s, 6-2, in an exhibition game played in Wilmington (NC). The 19-year-old left-hander tosses a complete game for the International League's Baltimore Orioles, allowing 13 hits and four walks in the Port City’s newly constructed Sunset Park.


Remembering the Day the Bambino Came to the Port City


1917 The Giants sign their skipper John McGraw to a five-year contract for $200,000. The deal makes Mugsy, who will lead the New York to 10 National League pennants and three World Series championships during his 31-year tenure with the team, the highest-paid figure in major league baseball.
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 league team. The Orleans Pelicans' hurler pitches two scoreless innings against the Indians and lines out in her only at-bat.
(Ed. Note: Earlier this week, Babe Didrikson pitched for the A's against the Dodgers and the Cardinals with the Red Sox as her opponents.-LP)

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 The Cardinals trade Sam Jones, who will become a first-time All-Star with his new club, to the Giants for first baseman/outfielder Bill White and third baseman Ray Jablonski. The 33-year-old right-hander, called Toothpick Sam by his teammates, will be a distant runner-up to Early Wynn for the Cy Young Award this season, posting a 21-15 record and a league-leading ERA of 2.83 for San Francisco.
(Ed. Note: The Redbirds' new first baseman will become a perennial All-Star and Gold Glover during his eight-year tenure in St. Louis before becoming the first black play-by-play broadcaster for a major-league team and the first black president of a major sports league. - LP)




1959 Jay Publishing SF Giants Picture Pack


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.
(Ed. Note: The ninth-place club will finish 59-103 with Lou Klein (12-18) and Charlie Metro (43-69) taking over the reins after the team's slow start.- LP)

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.


Chicago Tribune: No Lights at Wrigley Field, Judge Rules


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 be 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 Atlanta $5.8 million in salaries 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 At the corner of Carnegie and Ontario Avenues, Cleveland's Brilliant Electric Sign Co. installs the brand new Progressive Field sign on the ballpark once known as Jacob Field since 1994. Progressive, a major insurance corporation headquartered in nearby Mayfield, agreed to pay the team $57.6 million for the naming rights for 16 years.
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.

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MARCH 26 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS
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1925 Ben Mondor, Canadian baseball executive who was International League Executive of the Year 1978, 99 Pawtucket Red Sox

1958 Chris Codiroli baseball


1962 Kevin Seitzer, MLB baseball infielder, 1986-97, 2X All-Star (Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, and 2 other teams)


1968 Jose Vizcaino, MLB infielder (NY Mets)


1968 Shane Reynolds, pitcher (Houston Astros)


1971 Jesús Taváres outfielder, 1993-98 (Florida Marlins, and 2 other teams),


1981 Josh Wilson

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Today in Baseball History
March 26th
1936 Two future Hall of Famers sign modest contracts with their respective teams. The Tigers ink 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.

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1951 During a spring exhibition game against the University of Southern California at Bovard Field, Mickey Mantle, batting left-handed, hit a home run off Tom Lovrich, estimated to have traveled 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.

The home run that launched the myth of Mickey Mantle

1957 The police arrest Yankee manager Casey Stengel and 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.
After playing well for the team last season, the Red Sox drop two future Hall of Famers, releasing designated hitter Orlando Cepeda (1999) and infielder Luis Aparicio (1984). Cepeda was considered one of the best DHs in the American League with 86 RBIs, 20 home runs, and a .289 average, with Aparicio hitting a respectable .271 in 132 games, the best mark among shortstops in the league.

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1976 The American League votes to expand to Toronto, awarding the franchise to a group led by Labatt's Breweries (45%) that eventually purchases the team for $7 million. At first, the decision appeared in peril when President Gerald Ford attempted 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, spending his career entirely with Boston, playing a vital role in the team's 1967 and 1975 American League pennants.

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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.

1984 President Ronald Reagan awards Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball's color line playing for the Dodgers in 1947, the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. On behalf of her late husband, Rachel Robinson accepts the award, the highest civilian honor given in the United States.



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.

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2000 The demolition of Kingdome takes 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.

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Ruth & Gehrig


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18 yr old Rookie Rusty Staub during 1963 Spring Training with the Houston Colt 45s


Most Opening Day starts by a Tiger shortstop - Alan Trammell (16)




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BaseballHistoryNut
@nut_history
·
12m
They want to "crown" Griffey Jr. the "inventor" of the wearing of backwards baseball hats in #MLB - I say the honour should actually go to Christy Mathewson. Check out this pic of the 1912 NY Giants. Mathewson is rocking the backward hat.

 

3/27 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS
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1878 Miller Huggins Hall of Fame manager (World Series 1923, 27, 28; 6 x AL pennants NY Yankees), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 1929)


1897 Effa Manley HOF executive (co-owner NgL Newark Eagles), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1981)



1932 Wes Covington (Philadelphia Phillies), born in Laurinburg, North Carolina (d. 2011)


1946 Bill Sudakis born in Joliet, Illinois


1950 Vic Harris born in Los Angeles, California


1967 Jaime Navarro pitcher (Chicago Cubs), born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico


1979 Michael Cuddyer (Minnesota Twins), born in Norfolk, Virginia


1987 Buster Posey catcher (World Series 2010, 12, 14 SF Giants; 7 x MLB All Star; NL MVP 2012; NL Rookie of the Year 2010), born in Leesburg, Georgia


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FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1902 A Chicago Daily News headline reads, 'Manager of the Cubs is in Doubt Only on Two Positions,' marking the first time the team's nickname has appeared in print. Although the moniker has been around since 1890, the Orphans, also known as the Colts and White Stockings, will not officially adopt the Cubs as its new name until 1907.

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1935 In the bottom of the ninth inning, Russell Hinaga singles off future Hall of Fame Russian-born pitcher Victor Starffin, giving the San Jose Asahi, a hometown Japanese American semi-pro team, a 3-2 victory over the powerful Tokyo Giants. The visitors, who will avenge their loss to the 'Morning Suns,' next year, are touring the United States to promote the formation of a Japanese professional league, which they plan to establish in the Land of the Rising Sun next season.
San Jose Asahi

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1967 Giants' right-hander Juan Marichal ends his 29-day holdout when he becomes the third $100,000 major league pitcher in history, joining Dodger hurlers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. The 'Dominican Dandy' also reported to spring training late last season but proceeded to win his first ten games en route to a 25-6 record.

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1973 Twins' right-hander Jim Perry becomes the first player to use the '10 and 5 rule' when he okays his trade to the Tigers for minor league pitcher Dan Fife and cash. During his one season with Detroit, Gaylord's brother will post a 14-13 (.519) record and an ERA of 4.03 in 35 appearances.

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1973 Hoping to make the team in spring training, right-hander Denny McLain is released by the Braves, ending his career two days before his 29th birthday. During his ten-year major league tenure, the former 30-game winner compiled a 131-92 career record with an ERA of 3.39.

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1981 Boston's Gold Glove catcher Carlton Fisk is declared a free agent by major league baseball, much to the chagrin of the Fenway Faithful. The 33-year-old backstop can now negotiate with other teams for his services because he received his contract from the Red Sox two days after the deadline.

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1987 The Mets trade backup catcher Ed Hearn, right-hander Rick A. Anderson, and pitching prospect Mauro Gozzo to the Royals for David Cone and minor leaguer Chris Jelic. The 24-year-old right-hander, who will compile an 80-48 (.625) record during his first six seasons in New York, posts a 5-6 mark this season, with Hearn appearing in only 15 games for Kansas City.

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1989 The April 3 issue of Sports Illustrated, available on newsstands today, features a six-page article by Craig Neff and Lieber that exposes Pete Rose's gambling activities. The piece entitled Rose's Grim Vigil alleges 'Charlie Hustle' bet from the Riverfront Stadium dugout using hand gestures with an associate.


1992 The Brewers deal Gary Sheffield to the Padres for pitcher Ricky Bones and minor leaguers Jose Valentin and Matt Mieske. Sheffield, Milwaukee's first-round pick (sixth overall) in the 1986 draft, will hit .330 for his new team this season, winning the National League batting crown.

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2002 After being told he would not be an everyday player, the Expos give 37-year-old Jose Canseco his unconditional release. The 1986 Rookie of the Year and 1988 MVP of the American League ends his 17-year career with 462 home runs while batting .266, playing with five different clubs in the Junior Circuit.
Canseco's pursuit of 500 HRs sidetracked
Associated Press JUPITER, Fla. -- Jose Canseco will pursue his dream of 500 home runs with a team other than the Montreal Expos.

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Canseco was given his release by the Expos on Wednesday after being told he would not be an everyday player.
Canseco, 37, hit .200 with three home runs and five RBIs in 14 spring training games.
The former AL MVP has 462 home runs, putting him 22nd on the career list. But Expos manager Frank Robinson plans to use other young players in the outfield.
"We had sat down together last week -- Jose and I -- and he had shared with me his feelings about what he felt like he could do for this ballclub, and under what conditions he could do that," Robinson said.
"I told Jose today that he would not be an everyday player here. And he had indicated that he didn't think he could be as a productive for us," he said.
Robinson said the Expos offered to let him play as a regular at Triple-A, but Canseco declined.
"He took it very well, and he took it like a real pro. He understood and certainly made it a little easier for me," Robinson said.
"When you're dealing with the veteran players, it may be the end of their careers, you never know, when they don't make it," he said.
Canseco signed a minor league contract with Montreal last month, and new Expos general manager Omar Minaya hoped he'd found a power hitter for the middle of the lineup.
At the time, Canseco said he felt healthy enough to play a full season in the outfield. An AL player his entire career, he has been in the field only 13 times in the last three years.
As a DH last year, he hit .258 with 16 homers and 49 RBIs in 256 at-bats for the Chicago White Sox.

Canseco was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1986 with Oakland. He also has played for Texas, Boston, Toronto, Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees.
Canseco is a six-time All-Star. He won the MVP award in 1988, the year he became the first player in major league history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season.

 

2002 The Cubs, in need of a closer due to Tom Gordon's muscle tear, trade righties Julian Tavarez (10-9, 4.52) and Jose Cueto, southpaw Dontrelle Willis, and catcher Ryan Jorgensen to the Marlins for Antonio Alfonseca (4-4, 28 saves) and right-hander Matt Clement (9-10, 5.05). Willis, next season's National League Rookie of the Year, will become a 20-game winner for the Fish in 2005.

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2008 At the start of spring training, Hideki Matsui, planning to wed in a few weeks, a fact unknown to the Bronx Bombers, makes a wager with some of his teammates about who would be the first to get married. A surprised Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu agree to pay off the bet after learning the Yankee slugger pulled a fast one on them by getting 'hitched' in New York on the club's off-day yesterday.

2009 In a Kansai Independent League game played at the Osaka Dome, knuckleballer Eri Yoshida makes her debut, becoming Japan's first female professional baseball player. On Opening Day, the 17-year-old faces two batters, walking one and striking out the other, in the ninth inning of the Kobe 9 Cruise's 5-0 victory over the hometown Gold Villicanes.

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2011 Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka will make a $1 million contribution to the Red Sox Foundation for earthquake and tsunami victims in his native Japan. The team's official charity has raised more than $1.3 million in response to the March 11 disaster, including personal donations from other Japanese players, Hideki Okajima, Junichi Tazawa, and Itsuki Shoda.
Matsuzaka donates $1 million to Japan.

2011 The Nationals deal Nyjer Morgan to the Brewers for minor league infielder Cutter Dykstra and cash. Washington sends the light-hitting fleet-footed outfielder to Milwaukee to obtain the Class A minor league third baseman, the son of former major leaguer Lenny Dykstra.

2012 Embattled owner Frank McCourt agrees to sell the Dodgers to a group that includes former LA Lakers star Magic Johnson and former baseball executive Stan Kasten for $2 billion, the highest amount ever paid for a team in the history of professional sports. The sale price far exceeds the $1.47 billion Malcolm Glazer paid for the English soccer team Manchester United in 2005.

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Red Schoendienst serving breakfast to Dick Groat, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson and Bill White.

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Fans arrive for the Grand Opening of Yankee Stadium - The House That Ruth Built! (1923)
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