On March 30, 1978 — The Boston Red Sox acquire pitcher Dennis Eckersley and catcher Fred Kendall from the Cleveland Indians for pitchers Rick Wise and Mike Paxton, catcher Bo Diaz and infielder Ted Cox. Eckersley will win 20 games this year. Eckersley, will also finish 4th and 7th respectively in the Cy Young race…
On March 28, 1978, The Oakland A’s release veteran first baseman Dick Allen, ending his 15-year career. The Wampum, Pennsylvania native finishes his stormy relationship with major league baseball with 351 HRs, 1,192 RBIs, and a .292 batting average. The highlight of Allen’s career occurred in 1972, when he earned the MVP Award with the…
1978 – Oakland Athletics owner Charley Finley cancels the deal that would have sent the team to Denver, Colorado, under the sponsorship of oil magnate Marvin Davis. Objecting to some of the details, Finley decides to call off negotiations.
March 25, 1978: Red Sox rookie pitcher Bobby Sprowl was shot in the right arm while sleeping in his Winter Haven hotel room; the shot came through the wall from the adjacent room and kicked off a bad season for Sprowl who was shelled by the Yankees during the “Boston Massacre” on September 10 he…
1978 – The New York Mets trade popular shortstop Bud Harrelson to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor leaguer Fred Andrews.
1978 – The San Diego Padres fire manager Alvin Dark, replacing him with pitching coach Roger Craig. Dark becomes the second manager ever fired during spring training. Phil Cavarretta, fired by the Chicago Cubs in 1954, was the other.
On March 17, 1978, the Cincinnati Reds wear special green uniforms to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day. Although the Reds will never use the uniforms in regular-season play. The good luck of the Irish works and the Reds beat the New York Yankees, 9 – 2. The St. Louis Cardinals, among other teams, will be next…
On March 16, 1978, high-priced free agent Andy Messersmith separates his shoulder in an exhibition game for the New York Yankees. A 20-game winner both for the Angels and Dodgers, Messersmith will never win a game for the Yankees. He will pitch one more season in 1979 before retiring. Messersmith will however leave an impact…
On March 15, 1978, the Oakland A’s trade star pitcher Vida Blue to the San Francisco Giants for seven players and nearly $400,000 in cash. In exchange for Blue, the A’s acquire catcher Gary Alexander, infielder Mario Guerrero, outfielder Gary Thomasson, and pitchers Dave Heaverlo, Phil Huffman, John Henry Johnson, and Alan Wirth….
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