Wally Yonamine dies of cancer. Yonamine was the first American to play in Nippon Pro Baseball after World War II and later was the first American to manage in NPB. Yonamine was also the first Japanese-American to play in the National Football League, doing so in 1947, four years before he would become a pioneer in Japan.

ByTom

Wally Yonamine dies of cancer. Yonamine was the first American to play in Nippon Pro Baseball after World War II and later was the first American to manage in NPB. Yonamine was also the first Japanese-American to play in the National Football League, doing so in 1947, four years before he would become a pioneer in Japan.

Some notable names make their spring training debuts. 2010 amateur draft #1 pick Bryce Harper fans twice in a Nationals win over the Mets. Miguel Cabrera makes his first appearance since his drunk driving arrest and goes 0 for 2 with a walk in a Tigers victory.

ByTom

Some notable names make their spring training debuts. 2010 amateur draft #1 pick Bryce Harper fans twice in a Nationals win over the Mets. Miguel Cabrera makes his first appearance since his drunk driving arrest and goes 0 for 2 with a walk in a Tigers victory.

The U.S. government places a plaque at Jackie Robinson’s former apartment in Montreal

The U.S. government places a plaque at Jackie Robinson’s former apartment in Montreal

ByTom

The U.S. government places a plaque at Jackie Robinson’s former apartment in Montreal as a tribute to the Canadian city for their exemplary treatment of the future Hall of Fame infielder. The season before he broke the color barrier, the Dodger farmhand led the hometown Royals to the 1946 International League championship with a .349 batting average and earned the circuit’s Most Valuable Player for his outstanding performance with the team.

Duke Snider Montreal Royals
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The “Duke of Flatbush”, Hall of Famer Duke Snider dies in Escondido, CA 

ByThis Day in Baseball

The “Duke of Flatbush”, Hall of Famer Duke Snider dies in Escondido, CA at age 84. Snider was a power-hitting centerfielder for the great Brooklyn Dodgers teams of the 1950s and is immortalized in Terry Cashman’s song “Willie, Mickey and the Duke”.

2011 – Major League Baseball names former manager Joe Torre as executive vice-president for baseball operations, replacing Bob Watson who retired after last season. Torre will be in charge of supervising umpires and meting out discipline for on-field incidents.

ByTom

2011 – Major League Baseball names former manager Joe Torre as executive vice-president for baseball operations, replacing Bob Watson who retired after last season. Torre will be in charge of supervising umpires and meting out discipline for on-field incidents.

Major League Baseball announces that three of its most experienced umpires have decided to retire, Jerry Crawford,Mike Reilly and Chuck Meriwether.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Major League Baseball announces that three of its most experienced umpires have decided to retire. They are Jerry Crawford, who umpired his first game in 1977, making him the majors’ longest-serving official, and was head of the Umpires Union, along with Mike Reilly and Chuck Meriwether. To replace them, Scott Barry and Brian Knight, both with major league umpiring experience as fill-ins, are added to the umpiring staff. Three other veterans retired before the 2010 season, and four new umpires were brought on at the time as the cadre is undergoing a renewal.

Miguel Cabrera returns to the Tigers training camp, one week after his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving
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Miguel Cabrera returns to the Tigers training camp, one week after his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving

ByTom

1B Miguel Cabrera returns to the Tigers training camp, one week after his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving. He apologizes to teammates, team management, family and fans for the incident and has agreed to enter a treatment program. MLB officials warn him that “any future alcohol-related incidents could involve more serious consequences”.

2011 – The first injury reports come out of spring training, with the Cardinals getting the worst news. Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright, runner-up for the Cy Young Award last season, has a “significant injury” to his pitching elbow and will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire season. Also out indefinitely is Dodgers P Vicente Padilla who will undergo surgery on his forearm tomorrow. Finally, Brewers starting C Jonathan Lucroy fractures the little finger of his throwing hand during drills and will be out from four to six weeks.

ByTom

2011 – The first injury reports come out of spring training, with the Cardinals getting the worst news. Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright, runner-up for the Cy Young Award last season, has a “significant injury” to his pitching elbow and will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire season. Also out indefinitely is Dodgers P Vicente Padilla who will undergo surgery on his forearm tomorrow. Finally, Brewers starting C Jonathan Lucroy fractures the little finger of his throwing hand during drills and will be out from four to six weeks.

Seven new members of the College Baseball Hall of Fame are announced, including four former Golden Spikes Award winners (Oddibe McDowell, Tim Wallach, Terry Francona and Dave Magadan). Also inducted are 1950s All-American Dick Groat and longtime coaches Prez Jones and Bill Wilhelm.

ByTom

Seven new members of the College Baseball Hall of Fame are announced, including four former Golden Spikes Award winners (Oddibe McDowell, Tim Wallach, Terry Francona and Dave Magadan). Also inducted are 1950s All-American Dick Groat and longtime coaches Prez Jones and Bill Wilhelm.