- 1885 - The ''New York Clipper'' reports that Paul Hines cancels his Washington Monument ball-drop exhibition. "The experiment of trying to catch a ball thrown from the top of the Washington Monument has proved to be a failure. The ball reaches the ground with such great speed that it indents the ground almost as much as a heavy cannon ball would dropped from a proportionate height. The fact is that, independently of the difficulty of judging the ball balling from such a height, the speed is too great to allow of any one holding it when it nears the ground."
- 1922 - Benny Kauff 's suit for an injunction to restrain the decision to keep him out of baseball is rejected by the appellate court. Kauff was acquitted of auto theft in 1921, but Commissioner Landis still barred him from baseball, stating, "That acquittal was one of the worst miscarriages of justice that ever came under my observation."
- 1939 - The New York Yankees elect Ed Barrow as president. Barrow replaces Jacob Ruppert , who died four days earlier. Barrow will remain as the Yankees president until 1945, when the team is bought by Dan Topping and Del Webb.
- 1979 - Danny O'Brien signs a contract as president and chief executive officer of the Seattle Mariners , nine days after resigning as the Rangers GM .
- 1983 - Bob Horner agrees to a 4-year contract with the Atlanta Braves that will pay him up to $6 million, including $400,000 in bonuses if he keeps his weight below 215 pounds.
- 2005 :
- ---With the Houston Astros offering $13.5 million, Roger Clemens asks for $22 million in salary arbitration. The amount, which would make Clemens the richest paid pitcher in major league history, surpasses the previous record amount submitted for arbitration of $18.5 million by New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter in 2001.
- ---Former major leaguer Ray Cunningham celebrates his 100th birthday. The oldest living player, who made his debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1931, played in 14 games during two seasons hitting .154 in 26 Plate Appearances .
- 2006 :
- --- Third Baseman Joe Crede and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a one-year contract worth $2,675,000 and avoided salary arbitration.
- ---The Texas Rangers and All-Star First Baseman Mark Teixeira agreed on a two-year, $15.4 million contract, avoiding salary arbitration this year and next. Texas also agreed with Catcher Rod Barajas to a $3.2 million, one-year contract.
- --- New York Mets Pitcher Víctor Zambrano agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract, a raise of $900,000.
- ---Pitcher John Lackey agreed to a $3.76 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels , bypassing salary arbitration.
- --- Second Baseman Marcus Giles and the Atlanta Braves avoided arbitration, agreeing to a $3.85 million, one-year contract.
- --- Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Oliver Pérez avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $1.9 million.
- ---The Cleveland Indians and Reliever David Riske avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.8 million contract.
- ---After witnessing an exodus of leading players, the Florida Marlins secured the services of ace Starting Pitcher Dontrelle Willis on a one-year deal worth a reported $4.35 million.
- ---The Houston Astros and slick-fielding Shortstop Adam Everett avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $1.9 million, one-year contract.
- --- Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher Mark Hendrickson agreed to a $1.95 million, one-year contract, avoiding arbitration.
- --- Austin Kearns avoided salary arbitration with the Cincinnati Reds by agreeing to a $1.85 million, one-year contract.
- ---The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to one-year contracts with new first baseman Lyle Overbay and pitcher Scott Downs , avoiding salary arbitration with both players.
- ---Team USA unveiled an All-Star line-up for the World Baseball Classic , with a roster that includes Slugger Barry Bonds and future Hall Of Fame pitcher Roger Clemens .
- 1878 - Harry Bay , outfielder (d. 1952 )
- 1905 - Ray Cunningham , infielder (d. 2005 )
- 1911 - Hank Leiber , All-Star outfielder (d. 1993 )
- 1915 - Luman Harris , player and manager (d. 1996 )
- 1915 - Mayo Smith , manager (d. 1977 )
- 1935 - Dick Brown , catcher (d. 1970 )
- 1917 - Jocko Thompson , pitcher (d. 1988 )
- 1931 - Don Zimmer , All-Star infielder and manager
- 1944 - Denny Doyle , infielder
- 1952 - Pete LaCock , infielder
- 1952 - Darrell Porter , All-Star catcher (d. 2002 )
- 1953 - Mark Littell , pitcher
- 1954 - Jerry Turner , outfielder
- 1960 - Chili Davis , All-Star outfielder/designated hitter
- 1964 - Jeff Tabaka , catcher
- 1971 - Tyler Houston , infielder/catcher
- 1972 - Walt McKeel , catcher
- 1975 - Brad Fullmer , infielder/designated hitter
- 1975 - Scott Mullen , pitcher
- 1977 - Rob Bell , pitcher
- 1978 - Mark Malaska , pitcher
|
