1969 – Veteran utility player Chico Salmon is traded from the expansion Seattle Pilots to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for pitcher Gene Brabender and infielder Gordy Lund. Salmon will play for three consecutive pennant winners in Baltimore from 1969 to 1971, while Brabender will be the Pilots’ top winner in their only season in Seattle.

ByTom

1969 – Veteran utility player Chico Salmon is traded from the expansion Seattle Pilots to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for pitcher Gene Brabender and infielder Gordy Lund. Salmon will play for three consecutive pennant winners in Baltimore from 1969 to 1971, while Brabender will be the Pilots’ top winner in their only season in Seattle.

1969 – The Chicago Cubs purchase Charley Smith from the San Francisco Giants, which had acquired the well-traveled third baseman last December 6th. Smith will reinjure his knee and retire after a few at bats.

ByTom

1969 – The Chicago Cubs purchase Charley Smith from the San Francisco Giants, which had acquired the well-traveled third baseman last December 6th. Smith will reinjure his knee and retire after a few at bats.

1969 – An indemnity of $540,000 is paid to the Pacific Coast League for Major League Baseball’s invasion of San Diego and Seattle as a result of this year’s expansion.

ByTom

1969 – An indemnity of $540,000 is paid to the Pacific Coast League for Major League Baseball’s invasion of San Diego and Seattle as a result of this year’s expansion.

St. Louis Cardinals trade former National League MVP Orlando Cepeda to the Atlanta Braves for catcher/first baseman Joe Torre

St. Louis Cardinals trade former National League MVP Orlando Cepeda to the Atlanta Braves for catcher/first baseman Joe Torre

ByThis Day in Baseball

1969 – The St. Louis Cardinals trade former National League MVP Orlando Cepeda to the Atlanta Braves for catcher/first baseman Joe Torre. The trade will benefit both teams; Cepeda will help the Braves make the playoffs this year and Torre will win the MVP Award in 1971.

Former major leaguer Heinie Zimmerman dies in New York, NY at the age of 82

ByTom

Former major leaguer Heinie Zimmerman dies in New York, NY at the age of 82. The one-time Triple Crown winner was banned from baseball in 1919 for his alleged involvement in fixing games. Later research will show that he had not in fact led the National League in RBI in 1912, and the Triple Crown banner will also be stripped away from him.

Exactly nine days after his splashy spring debut on March 5th, indicative of a full recovery from last season’s right shoulder injury, Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente injures the other shoulder. “Clemente, who played last season with a bruised right shoulder,” writes Charley Feeney in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, “injured his left shoulder when he attempted a diving catch of a foul fly in Friday’s game against the Red Sox in Bradenton.” After waiting 10 days for the shoulder to improve with no results, Clemente will return to Puerto Rico to consult his private trainer/chiropractor, Arturo Garcia.

ByTom

Exactly nine days after his splashy spring debut on March 5th, indicative of a full recovery from last season’s right shoulder injury, Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente injures the other shoulder. “Clemente, who played last season with a bruised right shoulder,” writes Charley Feeney in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, “injured his left shoulder when he attempted a diving catch of a foul fly in Friday’s game against the Red Sox in Bradenton.” After waiting 10 days for the shoulder to improve with no results, Clemente will return to Puerto Rico to consult his private trainer/chiropractor, Arturo Garcia.

Bowie Kuhn

MLB lowered mound and tightened strike zone and tries an experimental ball 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1969 – In addition to this year’s lower mound and tightened strike zone, Major League Baseball tries an experimental ball with 10% more resiliency for a spring training game between the Mets and Tigers in Lakeland, Florida. It has an all-rubber center instead of a cork and rubber core, and the seams are higher than the regular ball. Mets pitcher Don Cardwell surrenders three home runs in the 4th inning to Dick McAuliffe, Norm Cash, and Gates Brown in the Tigers’ 7 – 4 victory. Tomorrow, in Phoenix, Arizona, the same ball is used in the Giants’ 13 – 1 win over the Angels, with Bobby Bonds hitting the only two homers off George Brunet. The players agree the ball is definitely livelier and sounds louder coming off the bat.

After Donn Clendenon “retires” and refuses to report to spring training, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn rules that Montreal can keep both Rusty Staub and Clendenon, insisting that Houston will have to settle for further compensation rather than voiding the trade. 
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After Donn Clendenon “retires” and refuses to report to spring training, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn rules that Montreal can keep both Rusty Staub and Clendenon, insisting that Houston will have to settle for further compensation rather than voiding the trade. 

ByTom

1969 – After Donn Clendenon “retires” and refuses to report to spring training, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn rules that Montreal can keep both Rusty Staub and Clendenon, insisting that Houston will have to settle for further compensation rather than voiding the trade. 

1969 – A prodigious pre-season poke promises great things from Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente, seemingly recovered from last season’s right shoulder injury. “Clemente, who didn’t put on a uniform until last Monday,” writes Bill Christine in the Pittsburgh Press, “hit a 400-foot home run on his second plate appearance in the final intrasquad game.” Clemente drives a 3-and-2 pitch over the left field wall to lead his team to a 2 – 1 victory. “I’m glad to see his shoulder isn’t bothering him this spring,’ says manager Larry Shepard of Clemente’s 400-foot drive.” But on March 14th, after his dramatic display of right shoulder recuperation, shoulder number two will fall prey to Clemente’s relentless pursuit of a Boston batter’s foul pop in a meaningless exhibition contest.

ByTom

1969 – A prodigious pre-season poke promises great things from Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente, seemingly recovered from last season’s right shoulder injury. “Clemente, who didn’t put on a uniform until last Monday,” writes Bill Christine in the Pittsburgh Press, “hit a 400-foot home run on his second plate appearance in the final intrasquad game.” Clemente drives a 3-and-2 pitch over the left field wall to lead his team to a 2 – 1 victory. “I’m glad to see his shoulder isn’t bothering him this spring,’ says manager Larry Shepard of Clemente’s 400-foot drive.” But on March 14th, after his dramatic display of right shoulder recuperation, shoulder number two will fall prey to Clemente’s relentless pursuit of a Boston batter’s foul pop in a meaningless exhibition contest.