Wrigley Field celebrates its 100th birthday with a party that includes birthday cakes, the presence of many former Chicago Cubs greats such as Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins and Andre Dawson, and everyone dressing up in the style of 1914 when the park was known as “Weeghman Park” and was home to the Chicago Chi-Feds of the long-defunct Federal League. Alumni of the NFL’s Chicago Bears, who played here from 1921 to 1970, also take the field before the game. The Cubs don the uniforms of the Feds, while the visiting Diamondbacks impersonate the Kansas City Packers. The visitors come out on top, 7 – 5, as they score 5 runs against Pedro Strop in the top of the 9th to spoil the party.

Connie Marrero, the oldest living former major league player dies in Havana, Cuba two days shy of his 103rd birthday. Only Chet Hoff had a longer life among all men who have played in the major leagues. Mike Sandlocktakes over the title, at the age of 98.

Jose Fernandez continues to build on last year’s Rookie of the Year season, as he matches a career high with 14 strikeouts over 8 shutout innings in defeating the Braves, 1 – 0. Fernandez allows 3 hits and Steve Cishekadds a perfect 9th inning for the Marlins. Alex Wood is the unlucky loser, as he allows only 4 hits and no walks and strikes out 11 over 8 innings, but a double by Giancarlo Stanton and a single by Casey McGehee in the 4th lead to the game’s only run. The Braves and Marlins combine for 28 strikeouts and no walks; the Elias Sports Bureau reports that this is a record for most Ks without a walk since at least 1900.

2014 – Two days after being acquired in a trade from the Mets, 1B Ike Davis hits a grand slam off the Reds’ Mike Leake in the 4th, although it takes Neil Walker’s run-scoring single in the 9th to end the game and give the Pirates a 6 – 5 win. Davis had earlier hit a slam for New York on April 5th, making him the first player to hit one with two different teams in the month of April.

Ian Kinsler scores from first on a base-on-balls as the result of the Angels committing three errors on the same play in the first inning of the Tigers’ 2-1 victory over the Angels at Comerica Park. The unusual route to home begins when backstop Hank Conger, to thwart Kinsler’s potential theft of second base, throws a called ball four to batter Miguel Cabrera into centerfield, where Mike Trout makes an error on his throw to third trying to nail the base runner now advancing to third, who will score when pitcher Hector Santiago makes an errant toss to the plate.

Frederich Cepeda, outfielder for Sancti Spíritus and a long-time member of the Cuban national team, signs a $1.5 million deal with the Yomiuri Giants. It is part of a new Cuban policy allowing players to play abroad (though not in the US, due to the US embargo forbidding it); fellow national team outfielder Alfredo Despaigne is starting his second season in the Mexican League. Cepeda is only the second Cuban allowed by the government to play in Nippon Pro Baseball, following Omar Linares (2002-2004).

The Rays blast five home runs in a 16 – 1 romp over the Yankees, including #164 of his career for 3B Evan Longoria, moving him past Carlos Pena for the all-time Tampa Bay record. Wil Myers and Ryan Hanigan both homer twice. Chris Archer is the winner over Ivan Nova as IF Dean Anna has to help out on the mound in the 8th, giving up the last two runs.

In the 6th inning of the Brewers’ game at Pittsburgh, Martin Maldonado literally knocks the cover off the ball. He smacks a ground ball to 3B Pedro Alvarez, but the stitches on the baseball come apart and Alvarez is left attempting to throw a ball with a chunk of leather flapping off. Maldonado easily beats the fluttering throw for an infield single. The Brewers win the game, 5 – 3.