  On March 13, 1969 Willie McCovey ended his holdout Thursday when he signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants, believed to call for $85,000 this season. The slugging first baseman indicated that the second year of the pact was flexible and terms could be revised upward if he has another outstandingâŠ
1969 â In addition to this yearâs 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 Tigersâ 7 â 4 victory. Tomorrow, in Phoenix, Arizona, the same ball is used in the Giantsâ 13 â 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.
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