2000
» Hall of Fame OF Frank Robinson is hired by major league baseball to handle on-field disciplinary matters. Previously, such matters were handled by the individual league offices.
1999
» The Diamondbacks acquire 2B Tony Womack from the Pirates in exchange for OF Paul Weichard and a player to be named.
1998
» Free agent P Jack McDowell signs a 1-year contract with the Anaheim Angels.
1994
» The veterans committee elects Phil Rizzuto and Leo Durocher to baseball's Hall of Fame.
1987
» In the wake of three drug-related incidents over the past 12 months, LaMarr Hoyt is banished from baseball for the 1987 season by Commissioner Ueberroth. On June 16th an arbitrator will reduce Hoyt's suspension to 60 days and order the Padres to reinstate him.
1981
» The Executive Board of the Players' Association votes unanimously to strike on May 29th if the issue of free-agent compensation remains unresolved. That deadline will be extended briefly, however, when the Players' Association's unfair labor practices complaint is heard by the National Labor Relations Board.
1978
» Abandoning the earlier Vida Blue deal, the Reds trade Dave Revering and cash to the A's for P Doug Bair. Blue will go across the Bay next month.
1975
» The Orioles trade 1B Boog Powell and P Don Hood to the Indians for C Dave Duncan and a minor league OF.
1973
» A new 3-year Basic Agreement is reached between players and owners, and spring training is slated to start March 1st. Among the provisions of the agreement are a $15,000 minimum salary, salary arbitration, and the "10 and 5" trade rule, which permits a player with 10 years in the ML, the last five of which are with his current team, to veto any trade involving him.
1972
» The Cardinals trade P Steve Carlton to the Phillies for P Rick Wise. Carlton will go on to win 241 games and four Cy Young Awards for the Phils.
1969
» A pension plan for baseball is agreed on, with players to get $5.45 million per year. They also get a reduction in the years necessary to qualify for a pension from five to 4, retroactive to 1959; a percentage of television revenues; lowered minimum age for drawing a pension from 50 to 45; and other benefits.
1957
» The U.S. Supreme Court decides 6-3 that baseball is the only professional sport exempt from antitrust laws. The issue arises when pro football seeks similar protection from the laws.
1946
» Ted Williams, back from the service, hits the first spring training pitch he sees for a home run.
The Chicago White Sox hand out the first media guide to beat writers. Just 17 pages long, it is the creation of Marsh Samuel, according to historian Peggy Beck. The project intrigues Bill Veeck, owner of the Cleveland Indians, who hires Samuel away from the Sox to create a guide for the Tribe.
1941
» The days after the start of spring training, the Yankees sell Babe Dahlgren, the man who took over 1B from Lou Gehrig in 1939, to the Braves. The deal is questioned since no replacement seems apparent. McCarthy claims they would have won another pennant had not Dahlgren made a costly error at first late in the season.
1934
» John McGraw, in ill health since his retirement as Giants manager early in the 1932 season, dies of uremia at his home in New Rochelle, NY, at age 60. His last public appearance had been the 1933 All-Star Game as the National League manager. McGraw managed for 33 years.
1933
» Multimillionaire sportsman Tom Yawkey buys the Boston Red Sox from the broke Robert Quinn. Young Tom's father, William Austin, was negotiating to buy the Tigers when he died and William Yawkey completed the deal. William Yawkey then adopted young Tom, who took on the Yawkey name and now uses his inheritance to buy the Red Sox. Yawkey intends to rebuild Fenway to boost attendance, which skidded to 182,150 last season. He also hires Eddie Collins as vice-president and GM.
1925
» John McGraw arrives in Florida and is installed as president of a real estate development near Bradenton called Pennant Park. With streets named for early Giants heroes, and lots offered for $2,500 to $5,000, McGraw hires a fleet of salesmen and heads north. NY newspapers run a series of full-page ads featuring a picture of John McGraw with the bold caption "You've followed me in baseball, now follow me in real estate." A year later, the boom will go bust, washed away by two hurricanes. McGraw will incur a loss of $100,000 after paying off close friends, players, and other investors, and will be hounded by creditors.
1917
» The White Sox purchase Chick Gandil from Cleveland for $3,500.
1905
» While most clubs go south or stay close to home, the Cubs go to Santa Monica, CA, for spring training.
1899
» The National League Committee on Rules recommends that umpires be given authority to fine unruly players $10 for a first offense.
1889
» The Tourists play their final game in Italy, with the All Americas winning, 7–4 in Florence.
1882
» Providence players and their opponents will be expected to parade down the streets of Providence in full uniform, accompanied by a brass band, on game days in order to encourage attendance.
1881
» Jim O'Rourke signs with Buffalo. He boasts that the contract is for $2,000, but the Buffalo Courier puts the figure at $1,300.
1880
» Yale chooses not to join the American Collegiate Baseball Association because of professional players on other teams.