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17 Fact(s) Found
| 1900 | Instead of unpaid alimony, Mary H. Vanderbeck takes possession of the American League franchise in Detroit. Her ex-husband George Vanderbeck, who decided to build Bennett Park at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues, the Tigers' home for the next 104 seasons, will later regain control of the team. |
| 1916 | During their annual meeting at the Hotel Wolcott in New York, the American League owners endorse a new major league draft concept proposed by Dodger president Charles Ebbets. The approved plan gives second-division clubs the first pick of the available minor leaguers each season. |
| 1937 |
The Yankees purchase Red Sox first baseman Babe Dahlgren, who will replace Lou Gehrig at first base in 1939, ending the Iron Horse's consecutive game streak at 2,130 games. During his four-year tenure with the Bronx Bombers, the California native compiles a .248 batting average before being bought by the Braves before the 1941 season.
 Yankees first baseman Babe Dahlgren Play Ball cards, published by Bowman Gum |
| 1943 |
Without notifying the Yankees, 28-year-old Joe DiMaggio waives his draft deferment and enlists in the U.S. Army Air Force, not playing for the team again until 1946. Although the Bronx Bomber outfielder asked for no special treatment, he will spend most of his time out of harm's way by playing baseball in California and Hawaii.
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| 1954 |
"Realization that you now count your years at the four score mark reminds me, with something of a shock, that it was fifty years ago that I used to follow your batting average with the keenest of interest." - DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, 34th President of the U.S., congratulating Honus Wagner on his birthday. President Dwight Eisenhower sends a letter labeled "personal and confidential" to Honus Wagner, wishing the former Pirates' shortstop a happy 80th birthday. The Hall of Fame infielder was Ike's boyhood hero growing up in Abilene (KS). |
| 1964 |
White Sox shortstop Luke Appling, although he received only two Baseball Hall of Fame votes when he first appeared on the ballot in 1953, is elected to the Hall of Fame by BBWAA, named on 189 of the 201 ballots cast (94%) to defeat Red Ruffing a run-off election. This selection method, used intermittently from 1947 to 1967, occurred when the writers did not select anyone on their initial ballot and then listed the top 20-30 players on a second ballot, with only the top vote-getter chosen for induction.
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| 1976 |
 Future National League Cy Young Award winner Mike Scott pitches a perfect game for Pepperdine against California Lutheran University. The Mets select the right-hander, who will throw a no-hitter for the Astros, in the second round in the June draft.
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| 1987 | Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly wins his $1.975 million arbitration case. The award breaks the record for the most substantial sum ever given to a player, established just four days ago by Jack Morris. |
| 1990 | Herb Raybourn, the Yankee director of Latin American operations, signs amateur free-agent Mariano Rivera, an athletic 20-year-old with an effortless pitching motion but a less-than-average fastball, to a modest $3,000 contract. The future all-time major league saves leader has no formal training as a pitcher, having hurled for the first time two weeks before being scouted at the team's tryout camp in Panama City. |
| 1995 | Unwilling to be part of an inferior product placed on the field and as a show of support for his players, Tigers skipper Sparky Anderson is suspended without pay when he refuses to manage replacement players in spring training during the work stoppage. The popular pilot will resume his duties when the strike ends but will 'retire,' believed by some not to be voluntary, at the end of the season. |
| 2003 | Avoiding arbitration, the Braves and 36-year-old righty Greg Maddux (16-6, 2.62) agree to the largest one-year contract in major league history. The $14.75 million deal for the four-time Cy Young Award winner eclipses the $12 million given to David Cone by the Yankees in 2000. |
| 2003 | After his body temperature soars to 108 degrees, Orioles pitching prospect Steve Belcher dies of multi-organ failure following a spring training workout in Fort Lauderdale. The use of ephedrine, the dietary supplement linked to heatstroke and heart attacks, may have led to the 23-year-old expectant father's death. |
| 2006 | White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen apologizes for his comments published in Sports Illustrated that criticized Alex Rodriguez's indecision concerning the country the Yankee All-Star would represent in the World Baseball Classic. At first, A-Rod, born in the United States, revealed he would play for the Dominican Republic due to his parents' heritage, deciding not to participate before choosing Team USA. |
| 2007 | In a poll conducted by his hometown newspaper, more than half of the respondents thought Carl Pavano would not bounce back with the Yankees this year. The reader poll on myrecordjournal.com revealed that 54.5% believe the Yankee pitcher would not overcome his slow start with the team, while 45.5% stated he would have a comeback season. |
| 2009 | The Marlins announced a contract extension for manager Fredi Gonzalez through 2011. The South Florida native, who became the third skipper in franchise history to compile a winning campaign, guiding the club to an 84-77 record, was named The Sporting News Manager of the Year last season. |
| 2011 | Jose Bautista and the Blue Jays agree on a $64-million, five-year contract extension. Last season's major league leader with 54 home runs, the 30-year-old third baseman/outfielder set a record for the most significant increase in round-trippers for a single season in baseball history, hitting 41 more homers than his total of 13 in 2009. |
| 2021 | After playing 143 major league games, Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres agree to a $340 million, 14-year extension. The 22-year-old shortstop's deal, which includes a full no-trade clause, ranks as the third-richest contract in baseball history, trailing only the money made by Angels' Mike Trout and Mookie Betts of the Dodgers. |
17 Fact(s) Found