Today In 1933: Babe Ruth meets 102-year-old Charles W. Eldridge, a member of the "Three Quarter Century Club", at New York #Yankees spring training camp in St. Petersburg, Florida!
"You've got to have an attitude if you're going to go far in this game." ~ Baseball legend Bob Gibson
MARCH 26 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS ************************************** 1958 Chris Codiroli 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, Yanks) 1968 Shane Reynolds, pitcher (Houston Astros) 1971 Jesús Taváres outfielder, 1993-98 (Florida Marlins, and 2 other teams), 1981 Josh Wilson ***************************************
This Day in Baseball History March 26th1936 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. Greenberg Ruffing 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. 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, and Aparicio hit 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 by Labatt's Breweries (45%) that eventually purchases the team for $7 million. At first, the decision appears 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, spending 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. Gary Matthews Bob Dernier 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. 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. ************************************ 180,514
Baseball legend Minnie Miñoso proudly poses with his new Cadillac at Chicago #WhiteSox spring training camp!
MARCH 27 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS ************************************** 1878 Miller Huggins Hall of Fame manager (World Series 1923, 27, 28; 6 x AL pennants NY Yankees) 1897 Effa Manley HOF executive (co-owner NgL Newark Eagles) 1946 Bill Sudakis 1950 Vic Harris 1967 Jaime Navarro pitcher (Chicago Cubs 1979 Michael Cuddyer (Minnesota Twins) 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 ***************************************
This Day in Baseball History March 27th 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 existed since 1890, the Orphans, also known as the Colts and White Stockings, will not officially adopt the Cubs as its new name until 1907. 1902 Chicago Daily News 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.
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. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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.
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 clubs in the Junior Circuit. 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. 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.
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. 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. ************************************ 180,695 180,853
MARCH 28 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS ************************************** 1919 Vic Raschi pitcher (4 × MLB All-Star; 6 × World Series; AL strikeout leader 1951; NY Yankees Vic Raschi, Allie Reynolds & Eddie Lopat 1969 Craig Paquette, infielder (Mets, KC Royals) 1981 Edwar Ramirez Pitcher Yankees, Rays ***************************************
