Today In Basball History: March

[CrimsonCowboy]

March 1st:

1909: Construction begins on the future Forbes Field, the Pirates home to be.

1954: Ted Williams breaks his collarbone on the first day of Spring Training, causing him to miss the first four weeks of the season.

1967: Commissioner Eckert approves the idea of the BBWAA's to name a Cy Young Award winner from both leagues.

1969: Mickey Mantle announces his retirement.

1993: George Steinbrenner is reinstated two years after accepting a lifetime ban from being involved with the Yankees day-to-day operations. He was banned by Fay Vincent for hiring gambler Howie Spira to spy into the life of outfielder Dave Winfield.

1994: Bill White is named N.L. President.

1995: Using replacement players because of the strike, the Angels defeat the Arizona State Sun Devils 13-5 in an exhibition game. It was the first time since 1912 that replacements were used in a game.

2005: The Braves and Tim Hudson agree to a four year extension worth $47 million.

2012: The Cardinals and Yadier Molina agree to a five year deal worth $75 million.

[CrimsonCowboy]

March 2nd:

1927: Babe Ruth becomes the highest paid player in the history of the game, when he agrees to a three year deal that will pay him $70,000 per season.

1966: Citing a rule that states teams cannot sign a player during their college season, Commissioner Eckert voids the contract the Braves signed to USC pitcher Tom Seaver.

1989: At a Mets photo session, Darryl Strawberry throws a punch at Keith Hernandez. The fight started over comments about salary and production and resulted in Strawberry walking out of camp.

2005: The Washington Nationals beat the Mets 5-3 in their exhibition, the first game since the team moved from Montreal.

2007: Michael Young signs a five year extension with the Rangers worth $80 million.

2012: MLB announces an additional Wild Card team in both leagues and a one game wild card playoff game.

[CrimsonCowboy]

March 3rd:

1953: Citing territorial privilege because of the location of their minor league team, Lou Perini blocks the Browns attempt to move to Milwaukee. Perini, who owned the Braves, moved that team to Milwaukee from Boston soon after.

1984: Peter Uberroth is elected to replace Bowie Kuhn as commissioner.

1988: Kirk Gibson walks out of Dodgers camp for a day after a prank was played on him by teammate Jesse Orosco.

2006: South Korean pitchers Jae-Weong Seo and and Chan Ho Park combine to shut out Taiwan 2-0 in the first ever World Baseball Classic game.

[CrimsonCowboy]

March 4th:

1912: Ground is broken in Brooklyn on the future Ebbets Field.

1948: Stan Musial ends his holdout, signing a deal worth $31,000 with the Cardinals.

1976: A last minute intervention by San Francisco Mayor George Moscone allows the Giants to be sold to Bob Lurie and Bud Herseth for $8 million, keeping the team in the city. The Labbats Brewery Company was going to buy the Giants and move them to Canada.

2004: Commissioner Bud Selig announces every ballpark will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on April 15th, the date in 1947 in which he made his M.L. debut.

[CrimsonCowboy]

March 5th:

1922: Babe Ruth signs a three year deal worth $52,000 per season.

1936: The Cardinals lose an exhibition game in Havana, Cuba. The starting pitcher for the Cuban team was Luis Tiant, Sr., the father of the future major leaguer.

1964: Atlanta mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. says he has a deal with a M.L. team to move to the city if a stadium is ready for the next year.

1966: Marvin Miller, assistant to the President of the United Steelworkers, is named the first full-time president of the Major League Players Association.

1982: Gaylor Perry, three wins shy of 300 for his career, signs a one year deal with the Mariners.

2002: Joe Kerrigan is fired as Red Sox manager. He joins the Cubs Phil Cavarretta in 1954 and the Padres Alvin Dark in 1978 as the only managers to be fired during Spring Training.

2005: A new ownership group led by Lewis Wolfe and John Fisher takes over control of the A's.

[CrimsonCowboy]

March 6th:

1900: Hall of Famer Lefty Grove is born in Lonaconing, Maryland.

1923: The Cardinals announce the players will start wearing numbers on their uniforms corresponding to their place in the batting order.

1940: Hall of Famer Willie Stargell is born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma.

1948: The Dodgers trade Eddie Stanky to the Braves for Bama Rowell and $60,000.

1973: In a Spring Training game against the Pirates, the Twins Larry Hisle becomes the first Designated Hitter in M.L. history.

2001: The hero of the 1960 World Series, Bill Mazeroski is elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee along with former Kansas City Monarchs pitcher Hilton Smith.

2005: Suzyn Waldman makes her Yankees broadcasting debut along side John Sterling for WCBS Radio in New York, making her the first woman to be a color-commentator in M.L. history.

2006: Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett dies at age 45.