2001
» In what is believed to be a first of its kind test, umpire Mike Everitt meets with the Milwaukee Brewers to test out baseball's new strike zone.
2000
» The Padres obtain OF Al Martin from the Pirates for OF John Vander Wal, and pitchers Jim Sak and Geraldo Padua. San Diego also signs pitcher Matt Clement to a four year agreement.
1998
» A series of killer tornadoes sweeps through Florida, narrowly missing the Houston Astros clubhouse, and the homes of several players, in Kissimmee. A campground behind Osceola County Stadium, the Astros training base, is destroyed, and seven people are killed by one of the twisters.
1996
» The Rules Committee announces that the strike zone will be larger, dropping it from the top of the knees to the hollow below the knees. The change comes out of a series of recommendations to help speed up play.
1995
» Former National League MVP Kevin Mitchell signs with the Daiei Hawks of the Japanese League.
1988
» A committee of Chicago aldermen vote 7-2 to allow the Cubs to install lights and play up to 18 night games a year at Wrigley Field. The Cubs had feared losing the 1990 All-Star Game, as well as future playoff and World Series games, if lights were not installed.
1987
» Just three days after training camp opens, an extremely frail Dick Howser abandons his attempt to come back from a brain tumor and gives up his position as Royals manager. Billy Gardner is named his successor.
1986
» Despite losing his arbitration case, Boston's Wade Boggs receives the largest salary ever awarded through that process, $1.35 million.
1979
» The Phillies trade five players to the Cubs for 2B Manny Trillo, OF Greg Gross, and C Dave Rader. Chicago gets Barry Foote, Jerry Martin, Ted Sizemore, and two minor leaguers.
1976
» ML owners announce that spring training will not open until a new labor contract is agreed upon.
1974
» The Angels send veteran Vada Pinson to Kansas City for minor leaguer Barry Raziano and cash. Pinson will call it quits at the end of the 1975 season, having rung up 2757 hits, the most ever for a player not in the Hall of Fame.
1964
» Charlie Finley gives in to American League pressure and signs a 4-year lease with the municipal government to keep the A's in Kansas City. Finley wanted two years. His exasperated AL colleagues voted 9-1 that KC's offer was reasonable.
The San Francisco Giants sign P Masanori Murakami, 3B Tatsuhico Tanaka, and C Hiroshi Takahashi -- the first Japanese ever to play for American teams. All three are assigned to the Magic Valley Cowboys (Pioneer League).
1960
» Demolition of Ebbets Field begins. Lucy Monroe sings the National Anthem, and Roy Campanella is given an urn of dirt from behind home plate.
1954
» The Cards purchase Vic Raschi from the Yankees for $85,000.
1940
» The A's waive Lynn Nelson to Detroit. Nelson was the A's top winner last year with 10 victories, but he'll go 1–1 with Detroit before bowing out.
1934
» Casey Stengel, who had been a Dodger coach, signs a 2-year contract to manage Brooklyn. He replaces Max Carey.
1921
» The Pirates obtain vet SS Rabbit Maranville from Boston. They give up OF Billy Southworth, OF Fred Nicholson, IF Walter Barbare, and $15,000.
1918
» Barney Dreyfuss of the Rules Committee launches a campaign to ban the spitter. He will succeed next year.
1888
» James "Pud" Galvin signs with Pittsburgh for $3,000, including $1,000 in advance. The club offered him $3,500 with no advance money, but Galvin needs the $1,000 to tide him over the winter.