- / Actor . Under MLB "high-school rule", Scouts are barred from doing so prior to graduation. Unfortunately, with an eventual 1-2 career mark, Pettit will prove not to be worth the trouble.
- 1961 - Houston voters approve a bond to finance the construction of a luxury domed stadium, clearing the final hurdle standing between the city and Major League Baseball.
- 1969 :
- ---The National Association approves the use of the Designated Hitter for the International , Eastern , Texas and New York-Pennsylvania leagues. The rules vary slightly for each league. The Texas League will be the first to use the DH, in April.
- ---The to Bat for the Pitcher twice in a game with the pitcher remaining in the game. The pitcher could be used to bat for himself at anytime. An example is a pinch-hitter batting for the pitcher the first time and fourth time; the pitcher could bat the second at bat; another pinch-hitter could bat the third time. A pinch-hitter could play defensively, if he took the field the next half-inning after batting. The pitcher would bat in the replaced player's spot. ''Rule B'' is the DH rule that will eventually be the standard in the AL, except the player could not go in defensively later. ''Rule C'' allows for a Pinch-runner only twice in a game for the pitcher or pinch-hitter in ''Rule A'' or DPH in ''Rule B''. The PR can enter defensively at any time, even though he appeared twice as a runner. The Mets , Giants , and Cardinals say that they will not use the rules, and the Astros and Reds follow suit.
- 1996 - Ken Griffey, Jr. becomes the highest-paid major league player by signing a four-year, $34 million contract.
- 2001 - A story in '' The Wall Street Journal '' quotes players Monte Irvin , Sal Yvars and Al Gettel , three former members of the 1951 New York Giants , as admitting that they stole Catcher s' signs at the Polo Grounds to help the club overtake the 13 1/2-game lead of the Brooklyn Dodgers and win the National League pennant. Except for Yvars, all the participants will deny using the system during the three-game playoff with the Dodgers. According to ''WSJ'' report, Bobby Thomson , whose three-run, ninth-inning Home Run in Game Three of the National League Playoff s won the pennant for the Giants, did not, however, steal a sign before hitting his historic home run. ( --- )
- 2003 - In an effort to secure funding for a major re-design oft he 12-year old 'new' Comiskey Park , the Chicago White Sox announces the ballpark will now be known as U.S. Cellular Field . The 23-year deal with the wireless service provider, which will pay the White Sox $68 million, changes the name used for home by the Southsiders since 1910.
- 2005 - The Seattle Mariners sign Relief Pitcher Jeff Nelson to a minor league contract, his third stint with the club. The reliever previously pitched with the Mariners from 1992-1995 and again from 2001-2003. He is Seattle's all-time record holder for most Games Pitched with 383 and has a 23-20 record with the Mariners.
- 1845 - Bob Ferguson , player and manager (d. 1894 )
- 1861 - Al Buckenberger , manager (d. 1917 )
- 1893 - George Burns , infielder (d. 1978 )
- 1896 - Pinky Hargrave , catcher (d. 1942 )
- 1896 - Charlie Robertson , pitcher (d. 1984 )
- 1919 - Jackie Robinson , Hall of Fame infielder (d. 1972 )
- 1929 - Duke Maas , pitcher (b. 1929 )
- 1931 - Hank Aguirre , All-Star pitcher (d. 1994 )
- 1931 - Ernie Banks , Hall of Fame infielder
- 1947 - Nolan Ryan , Hall of Fame pitcher
- 1949 - Jim Willoughby , pitcher
- 1949 - Fred Kendall , catcher
- 1955 - Ted Power , pitcher
- 1982 - Yuniesky Betancourt , infielder
- 1926 - Lou Bierbauer , infielder (b. 1865 )
- 1942 - Henry Larkin , player and manager (b. 1860 )
- 1942 - Ed Phelps , catcher (b. 1879 )
- 1947 - Johnny Kling , catcher (b. 1875 )
- 1956 - Buck Weaver , infielder (b. 1890 )
- 1963 - Ossie Vitt , player and manager (b. 1890 )
- 1966 - Pat Donahue , catcher (b. 1884 )
- 1971 - Steve Yerkes , infielder (b. 1888 )
- 1999 - Norm Zauchin , infielder (b. 1929 )
- 2002 - Harry Chiti , catcher (b. 1932 )
- 2005 - Bill Voiselle , All-Star pitcher (b. 1919 )
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