With hundreds of onlookers, including a man covered in ivy, singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game, the foul ball made famous by Steve Bartman in the 2003 NLCS playoffs is blown up at Harry Caray’s restaurant in Chicago. The infamous ball’s demise is executed by Cubs’ die-hard fan Michael Lantieri, an Oscar Award winner who has worked on similar special effects in the movies Jurassic Park and Back to the Future.
2004 – Nolan Ryan returns to the Astros organization under a five-year personal services contract. Ryan and his sons own one team in the Astros farm system and plan to add another one in 2005 when the AAA affiliate moves to Round Rock, TX and the AA squad moves to Corpus Christi.
New York Yankees acquire the highest-paid player in baseball – Alex Rodriguez
2004 – Avoiding an arbitration hearing, the St. Louis Cardinals and Albert Pujols agree to a $100 million, seven-year deal. The 24-year slugging 1B/OF, who hit .359 with 43 home runs and 124 RBI in 2003, was the runner up to Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants in National League MVP voting.
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