1961 – Rumors swirl that legendary manager Leo Durocher, currently a coach with the Dodgers, would be named the first manager of the new Houston franchise. Reports of phone conversations between Durocher and General Manager Gabe Paul are true but nothing materializes beyond that. Durocher would eventally lead the club in 1972 after several years as skipper of the Cubs.
1960 – Pittsburgh’s defensive wizards Roberto Clemente and Bill Mazeroski, future Hall of Famers both, strut their stuff in a spring scrimmage with Milwaukee. Red Thisted of the Milwaukee Sentinel reports: “Mazeroski, a slim-jim in comparison with the weight he was carrying around a year ago, made Danny Murtaugh look good in the 2nd inning when he skipped far out on the right field grass for a back-handed stab of Eddie Haas’ hopper and got his man… Roberto Clemente robbed Bill Bruton of a triple with a startling grab in right center in the 4th.”
Due to political unrest in the area, the Orioles-Reds series scheduled to be played in Havana is moved to Miami. Cincinnati, which has a farm team in Cuba, wanted the exhibition games to stay on the island, but Baltimore’s team president Lee MacPhail feared for his players’ safety.
1960 – Commissioner Ford Frick says he will not allow the planned Continental League to pool players in the Western Carolinas League, as it would violate existing major-minor league agreements.
1960 – All-Star catcher Sammy White announces he will retire rather than report to the Cleveland Indians, where he was traded by the Boston Red Sox. Out in 1960, White will return to play his final two seasons with the Milwaukee Braves and Philadelphia Phillies in 1961 and 1962.
1969 – A plane crash in Maracaibo, Venezuela kills 155 passengers including highly touted prospect Nestor (Latigo) Chavez, en route to the San Francisco Giants spring training camp. The 21-year-old pitcher, who posted a 1-0 mark in his rookie season with the Giants, was 12-5 with Double-A Waterbury in the Eastern League in 1967, including seven shutouts. Also on board were minor leaguer Carlos Santeliz and Venezuelan League executive Antonio Herrera Gutiérrez.
1960 – The Boston Red Sox send catcher Sammy White and outfielder Jim Marshall to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for catcher Russ Nixon. The trade is later canceled when White retires.
1960 – The New Orleans Pelicans cease operation as a member of the Southern Association, and the Little Rock Travelers replace them.
On March 14, 1960, future Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett is born in Chicago, Illinois. Puckett will make his major league debut in 1984, when he hits .296 for the Minnesota Twins. Over a 12-year career, Puckett will bat .318 with 207 home runs and 1,085 RBIs, helping the Twins to two World Championships. He…
On March 13, 1960, the Chicago White Sox unveil an important uniform innovation. Much to the chagrin of other owners and most of his players. The White Sox’ road uniforms feature players’ names on the backs of the jerseys, in an exhibition game against Cincinnati in Tampa marking the first time that players’ names will…
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