Today in Baseball History
March 20th

1934 Babe Didrickson, a renown female athlete, pitches the first inning of a Philadelphia A’s exhibition game. The founder of the LPGA gives up no hits and walks only one Dodger.

1937 In one of the biggest trades in Negro League history, Josh Gibson and Judy Johnson are traded to the Homestead Grays for $25,000 and two journeymen.

1943 Longtime favorite A’s outfielder, Bob Johnson is traded to the Senators for Bob Estalella and Jimmy Pofahl.

1953 U.S. Senator Edwin C. Johnson proposes a bill which will ban broadcasts of major league games in minor league territories. The justice department outlawed this practice in 1949.

1958 The Phillies obtain Yankee first baseman Joe Collins, but he decides to retire rather than report to the City of Brotherly Love.

1961 The Yankees announce the team will oppose any plan that would enable the new National League expansion franchise to use Yankee Stadium. This decision leaves the Polo Grounds as the only viable option for the new team.

1973 In an exhibition game played in Puerto Rico, Willie Mays, subbing for manager Yogi Berra, pilots the Mets to an 8-3 win over the Pirates.

1973 In a special election, the BBWAA select (393 out 424 votes) the late Roberto Clemente to be a member of the Hall of Fame. The usual five year rule had been previously waived by the organization’s board of directors.

1989 The office of baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth announces MLB is conducting an inquiry into “serious allegations” concerning Reds’ manager Pete Rose and gambling.

2002 The Commissioner’s office announces MLB will continue the practice that began after the September 11 attacks of singing ‘God Bless America’ during the seventh-inning stretch in each team’s first homestand. In addition, an American flag patches will be worn on the jackets of all 30 major league teams this season and special logos will be used on Opening Day, Memorial Day weekend and the Fourth of July with Canadian versions designed for the Blue Jays and Expos.

2006 At San Diego’s Petco Park, Japan, managed by all-time international home-run king, Sadaharu Oh, captures the first World Baseball Classic crown beating Cuba, 10-6. The 16 team tournament, which will take place again in the year 2009 ends with just two major leaguers still in the game .

2006 In his first appearance in a Nationals uniform, Alfonso Soriano refuses to play the outfield in an exhibition game against the Dodgers. The one-time All star second baseman, who was listed on Frank Robinson’s lineup to start in left field, could be placed on the disqualified list for his insubordination preventing him from getting paid his $10 million salary and accruing service time which is used to determine a player’s free agent status.

2008 Behind the strong pitching of Brad Penny, the Dodgers make their Cactus League debut, beating the White Sox in Phoenix, 8-2. The outing, which takes place where he made his professional debut, earns the right-hander the Opening Day start against the Giants.

Today in Baseball History
March 16th

1900 – At an A.L. meeting in Chicago, Ban Johnson announces that an A.L. team will be placed in the Windy City to ensure the stability of the league. Other franchises are in Kansas City, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland, and Buffalo. In an agreement with Chicago N.L. officials, the A.L. club will be situated on the south side of the city and will be permitted to use the nickname White Stockings, formerly used by the N.L. team. However, the White Stockings will not be able to use the word Chicago in their official name.

1907 After watching Ty Cobb quarrel with a black grounds keeper and with teammate Charlie Schmidt, Tiger manager Hugh Jennings tries to deal him to the Indians for outfielder Elmer Flick. The Tribe’s manager Napoleon Lajoie turns down the deal for the ‘Georgia Peach’.

1932 Babe Ruth signs a deal for $75,000 and a percentage of the exhibition gate. Legend has it the Bambino signed a blank contract with the amount filled in later by Yankee owner Jacob Ruppert.

1953 In an effort to oust him from the league, the AL owners reject Bill Veeck’s request to move the St. Louis Browns to Baltimore.

1961 The state of New York approves a bond issue for the construction of a 55,000-seat stadium on the site of the 1939-40 World Fair in Queens Flushing Meadow area. The ballpark will be named Shea Stadium to honor William Shea, a lawyer who was instrumental in bringing the National League back to New York.

1985 – Denny McLain, winner of the A.L. Cy Young Award in 1968, is convicted of racketeering, extortion, and cocaine possession in Tampa, Florida. He will serve 29 months of a 23-year sentence before an appeals court overturns the decision.

1994 Former Padres pitcher Eric Show dies of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 37.

2001 Slammin’ Sammy Sosa signs a four-year contract extension keeping the Cub right fielder in the Windy City until 2006. The prolific home run hitter has average nearly sixty home runs (179HRs/3 years) for the last three season.

2006 At Angel Stadium in front of 38,284 enthusiastic fans, Oliver Perez and seven relievers combined to lead Mexico to a stunning defeat of Roger Clemens and the United States , 2-1. The second round loss eliminates Team USA from the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

2006 Roy Halladay (12-4, 2.41) agrees to a $40 million, three-year contract extension which could keep the ‘Doc’ with the Blue Jays through the 2010. The 2003 American League Cy Young winner’s season was cut short when his leg was broken as a result of being drilled by a line drive hit by Ranger Kevin Mench.

One of the most moving Baseball speeches of all time.

As a first baseman for the New York Yankees baseball team, Lou Gehrig played in 2,130 consecutive games from 1925 to 1939, setting a major league record and had a career batting average of .340. He once hit four home runs in a game.

On July 4, 1939, he stood before 60,000 fans at Yankee Stadium and confirmed what everyone seemed to know, that the “Pride of the Yankees” had been dealt a terrible blow, diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (now often called Lou Gehrig’s disease), a rare disease that causes spinal paralysis.

Less than two years later, on June 2, 1941, he died in Riverdale, N.Y.

Lou Gehrig's Farewell speech

See All Lou Gehrig Posters and Prints

Today in Baseball History
March 15th

1960 The Southern Association announces the New Orleans Pelicans, for the first time since 1901, will not be part of the Double-A circuit. The franchise, a major league affiliate of the Yankees in 1958, will be replaced by the Little Rock Travelers.

1971 Bernie Gera, a thirty-nine year old New York housewife, files a civil right suit against MLB after her contract to umpire in the New York-Penn League is voided after six days without an explanation.

1974 In Yuma, Arizona, Ron Bryant, a twenty-four game winner for the Giants last year, is hurt in a pool accident during spring training. The promising southpaw’s record will drop to 3-15 this season, and the Redlands, California native’s career will end in 1975 after a brief 0-1 stint with St. Louis.

1975 The Dodgers sign their once arch-nemesis Juan Marichal as a free agent. After two-regular season outings, that includes a loss to Cincinnati, the former San Francisco superstar and future Hall of Famer will retire in mid-April.

1977 In a nine-player spring training trade with Pittsburgh, the A’s send Phil Garner, Chris Batton and Tommy Helms to the Pirates for Tony Armas, Mitchell Page and four pitchers, including Doc Medich and Dave Giusti.

1999 The Yankees name Don Zimmer as the interim skipper of the club. The team’s bench coach will fill for Joe Torre, while the manager receives treatments for prostate cancer.

2000 In spring training action, Red Sox star Pedro Martinez and five relievers combined on a perfect exhibition game beating the Blue Jays, 5-0.

2008 In front of 12,224 fans, a near sellout at the new Olympic venue in Beijing, the Dodgers and the Padres played to a 3-3 tie in the first major league game ever to take place in mainland China. In the seventh inning, the crowd hears “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, but not knowing the lyrics just listen without singing.

2008 Five days after unilaterally renewing his contract for the upcoming season, the Pirates sign Ian Snell (9-12, 3.76) to three-year deal reported to be worth $8 million. The 26-year old right-hander, eligible for salary arbitration after 2009 season, has compiled a 24-26 record with the struggling ball club over the past three seasons.

March 15th Birthdays
Bobby Bonds 1946
Mickey Hatcher 1955
Mike Pagliarulo 1960

Today in Baseball History
March 14th

1953 Joseph Darst, mayor of St. Louis, vows to fight losing the hometown Browns to Baltimore.

1954 In an exhibition game against the Red Sox, Hank Aaron gets three hits in his first start as a Brave.

1961 The Mets lure former Yankee general manager George Weiss out of retirement to become the club’s first president. The iron-fisted executive had been the Yankees’ general manager from 1947 to 1960.

1995 The NLRB announces it will charge major league baseball owners with two counts of unfair labor practices.

2003 Able to maintain the organization’s “long standing philosophy”, which lets Cablevision customers choose whether or not to receive paid programming” , the cable giant agrees one-year interim deal to offer YES Network to New York Yankees fans for a fee ending a bitter and costly yearlong feud. The arrangement makes YES a premium channel instead of basic cable channel which the new network had previously mandated and would have made every subscriber pay for the channel regardless of the viewer’s choice.

2003 Vladimir Guerrero is suspended for three regular-season games and Marlin starter Brad Penny for five due to igniting an exhibition game bench-clearing brawl earlier in the week . After being hit in the chest by Marlins’ starter first inning pitch, the Expo All-star outfielder, with his bat in his left hand swung his right fist around Matt Treanor, the Florida catcher trying to restrain him, missing Penny, who retaliated with punch which also missed its mark.

2003 The Brewers’ TV/radio play-by-play announcer, Bob Uecker is chosen for induction into the broadcasters’ wing of the Hall of Fame as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award. The 68-year-old former back-up catcher, who joined the Milwaukee broadcast crew in 1971, is best known for the humor he has brought to the game through his starring role in the cult movie Major League and the beer commercial in which the phrase“Must be in the front row!’ has become a familiar cry in ballparks around the country.

2003 Dependent on passing a physical, free agent Kenny Lofton agrees to a one-year pact to play the Pirates this season. The 35-year-old leadoff man would most likely start in center moving Brian Giles to left field with left fielder Reggie Sanders going to right.

2006 Terry Francona agrees a two-year contract extension keeping the skipper at the helm through 2008. The Red Sox manager replaced Grady Little in December 2003 and promptly brought Boston to its first World Championship in 86 years

2006 Washington D.C. officials unveil the designs for a new home for the Nationals scheduled to be opened in 2008 , The glass-and-steel 41,000-seat ballpark, will feature pale stone chosen to complement the well-known skyline of the nation’s capital.

2008 Randy Wolf, the Padres’ new left-hander starter, struggles in 6-2 spring training loss to the Brewers in Peoria, Arizonia. The pitcher’s brother, Jim, isn’t much help as the home plate umpire, an occurrence which isn’t allowed during a regular-season game and is the only time it has ever happened, as the San Diego hurler gives up three runs in four innings.

Baseball Birthday March 14th:

Kirby Puckett 1961

It was the first game of the 1955 World Series between the Dodgers and the Yankees. Trailing 4-6 at the top of the eighth inning with two outs, Jackie Robinson risks 270 feet of progress on the base paths with a daring steal of home, beating Whitey Ford’s pitch to the plate. Years later catcher Yogi Berra still maintained Robinson was out.

Baseball Hall-of-Famer Jackie Robinson was not only gifted with incredible athletic skill; he also had the amazing courage to challenge the racial status quo. Robinson changed history by becoming the first 20th-century African-American to compete in the majors, win the MVP award and be recognized by the Hall of Fame. Playing for the Dodgers, he suffered brutal scorn to eventually break down the walls of segregation on the field.

In an earlier game back in 1952, Photographer Nat Fein captured this classic photo of Jackie Robinson stealing home against the Chicago Cubs.

See All Jackie Robinson Prints

Today in Baseball History
March 13th

1915 Dodger manager Wilbert Robinson, thinking he is going to catch a baseball dropped from a plane, is surprised and splattered when the sphere turns out to be a grapefruit.

1937 Lou Gehrig signs with the Yankees for $38,000 and $750 signing bonus

1944 It’s True, Cy Young’s middle name is not Tucumseh, as generally accepted, but the middle initial T really stands for True.

1953 Braves’ owner Lou Perini announces he will seek permission from the National League to move his franchise from Boston to Milwaukee. The day will become known as ‘Black Friday’ in Beantown.

1954 During an exhibition game against the Yankees, recently acquired Brave Bobby Thomson breaks his ankle in three places and will be sidelined until July 14.. The ’51 National League playoff hero is replaced by a promising prospect named Hank Aaron.

1960 The Chicago White Sox become the first team to feature road uniforms with the players’ names on the back. The innovation by Sox owner Bill Veeck makes it easier for American League fans to identify the visiting Pale Hose.

1986 In a Royal pre-season game, Hal McRae (age 39) and his son Brian (age 18) play together against the Phillies. Kansas City manager Dick Howser refers to the event as the ‘Big Mac Attack’.

1997 In their first ever minor league spring training game, the Rays defeated Philadelphia, 6-0. John Kaufman, Tom Bergan, Matt Williams, and Jamie Ybarra combine to throw a no-hitter in the exhibition contest against the major league team.

2001 Throwing 22 strikes out of 29 pitches over two innings of shutout ball in his surprise start against the Mets at Roger Dean Stadium, Rick Ankiel makes his first appearance since the 2000 playoffs in which he loss his control throwing seven wild pitches in three postseason appearances.

2006 Three pitches into the top of the seventh inning, the stadium lights at Tradition Field partially fail. With fifty percent of the lights not functioning, the exhibition game is ended, after a 15-minute delay, with the Mets leading the Nationals, 10-4.

2006 Cal Ripken Jr., Kent Hrbek and others share humorous anecdotes during a lighthearted ceremony at the Metrodome honoring the memory of Kirby Puckett. A crowd of 15,000 Twins fans pay their final respect to their beloved Hall of Fame outfielder who died last week at age 45 following a stroke suffered the day before at his home in Arizona.

2008 Joining the ranks of Garth Brooks and Tom Selleck as celebrities who have appeared in an spring exhibition game, Billy Crystal strikes out in the first inning as the Yankees’ leadoff batter. The comedian, who sign a one-day contract with the Bronx Bombers, wears the number sixty in honor of his 60th birthday which is tomorrow.

2008 The pitching-poor Cardinals bolster their rotation by agreeing to a preliminary one-year deal with Kyle Lohse (9-12, 4.62). The 29-year old right-hander, who pitched the Reds and Phillies last season, will make $4.25 million hurling for the Redbirds.

2009 Pat Burrell takes out ads in two of Philadelphia’s largest newspapers to thank Phillies fans for their support during his nine years with the team. The 32-year old slugging outfielder signed a free-agent deal in the off-season with the Rays, the club the Phils beat in last season’s World Series.

Baseball Birthdays
March 13th
Hank Greenburg 1911

How to Play Baseball is a cartoon released by Walt Disney Animation Studios in September of 1942, produced at the request of Samuel Goldwyn and first shown to accompany the 1942 feature film The Pride of the Yankees.

Goofy takes the time to demonstrate America’s national pastime, then plays a game – one in which he plays all the bases.

The short describes the basics of baseball in humorous terms; the equipment, uniforms, positions, and pitches, as well as the mannerisms of the players.

It then switches to a game in progress, a deciding game in the World Series between the fictional Blue Sox and Gray Sox. The Blue Sox are up three runs and working a no-hitter when the Grays rally in the bottom of the ninth. In a series of events the Grays load the bases, leading to a base clearing hit.

The game is tied, but the play at the plate is too close to call for the umpire, and it then ends in an argument. The narrator then concludes the short praising the values of what makes baseball America’s sport.

Hitting a baseball is one of the hardest things to do in all of sports. Hit a baseball with tips from a swing mechanics analyst and hitting coach in this free video on baseball statistics and tips.

Jamie Cevallas helps batters work on improving their hitting mechanics through video analysis, unique training tools and dynamic training sessions.

The best way to develop greater batting strength for baseball is by going to the gym and working out the arms, core and legs. Gain greater batting strength for better bat velocity through overall body exercises with tips from a baseball instructor in this video on baseball tips and tricks.

Mickey Hiter played baseball at Lipscomb University and is a professional baseball instructor.