1997 – Malley’s Chocolates announces the introduction of the Chipper Jones Candy Bar. On a team full of marketable stars, the 24-year-old Atlanta Braves third baseman is the first member to get his own candy bar.
1997 – New manager Larry Dierker finds out he doesn’t get the final say on his own roster. Dierker wants to keep righthander Donne Wall on the pitching staff but Wall is sent to the minors in favor of Chris Holt. Wall returns when Sid Fernandez goes on the disabled list after only one start, yet pitches just eight games while Holt and Ramon Garcia fill the void in the Astros rotation.
1997 – The Florida Marlins acquire outfielder Cliff Floyd from the Montreal Expos in exchange for pitcher Dustin Hermanson and outfielder Joe Orsulak. The emergence of young super-prospect Vladimir Guerrero has made Floyd expendable.
The Kansas City Royals release Bob Hamelin, the 1994 American League Rookie of the Year. The 29-year-old Hamelin never lived up to his first year, when he smacked 24 home runs in a strike-shortened season. The Detroit Tigers will sign Hamelin to a minor-league contract.
In a trade reflecting current baseball economics, the Atlanta Braves send right fielder David Justice and center fielder Marquis Grissom to the Cleveland Indians for center fielder Kenny Lofton and relief pitcher Alan Embree. Atlanta and Cleveland faced each other in the 1995 World Series. The swap of the two Gold Glove center fielders and the three-time All-Star Justice reduces the Braves’ payroll by an estimated $6.8 million. Both players have several years left on their contracts, while Lofton, considered the best leadoff hitter in major league baseball, is in the last year of his.
The New York Mets, loaded with middle infielders, add two more, acquiring shortstop Manny Alexander and third baseman Scott McClain from the Baltimore Orioles. The Mets give up hard-throwing reliever Hector Ramirez in exchange.
At spring training, Cincinnati Reds catcher Joe Oliver tears a ligament in his thumb making a tag at home plate, and will need surgery to repair it. Oliver will be out of action until May.
The pitching-poor Detroit Tigers release pitcher Jason Grimsley, who posted a 5-7 record with a 6.84 ERA with the California Angels last season, but was 0-3 this spring training.
In an exhibition game, Chicago White Sox third baseman Robin Ventura dislocates his right ankle and suffers a compound fracture in his lower leg. He will be out of action until July 24th.
March 13, 1987 The Philadelphia Phillies sign free agent catcher Lance Parrish. Prior to joining the Phils, he was a 6X All-Star, won 5 Silver Slugger Awards, and won 3 Gold Glove Awards (all with the Detroit Tigers). He is a huge disappointment with the Phillies (and the fans let him know it for those who…
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