the Astros and Rangers spar in a two-game series at the Astrodome as part of their in-state rivalry

ByThis Day in Baseball

1994 – Both teams train in Florida, yet the Astros and Rangers spar in a two-game series at the Astrodome as part of their in-state rivalry. Tony Eusebio is the hero in a 6-5 victory, driving in Luis Gonzalez with an eighth-inning double. Astro nemesis Will Clark delivers the game-winner for the Rangers the following day. It’s the first Dome visit for new Houston manager Terry Collins. Afterwards, both teams fly back to Florida. 

A sold-out Joe Robbie Stadium plays host to the Yankees and the Orioles exhibition game, which draws 67,654 fans, a spring training attendance record
|

A sold-out Joe Robbie Stadium plays host to the Yankees and the Orioles exhibition game, which draws 67,654 fans, a spring training attendance record

ByThis Day in Baseball

A sold-out Joe Robbie Stadium plays host to the Yankees and the Orioles exhibition game, which draws 67,654 fans, a spring training attendance record. The two-day series between the AL East rivals is part of South Florida’s efforts to be awarded a National League expansion team.

3/22/89 Benches clear twice and six players are ejected as the Phillies and Pirates get into a spring training brawl. Gotta love spring training fights.
|

Phillies and Pirates have a Bench clearing brawl in spring training

ByThis Day in Baseball

    On March 22, 1989, Benches clear twice and six players are ejected as the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates get into a spring training brawl. “It was sort of fun,” said manager Nick Leyva. “I didn’t see any good punches, but we had a few real good pileups. The only problem was we…

Kirk Gibson walks out of spring training
|

Kirk Gibson walks out of spring training

ByThis Day in Baseball

    On March 3, 1988, Los Angeles Dodgers star Kirk Gibson walks out of training camp after teammate Jesse Orosco plays a practical joke by placing “eyeblack” in his cap. The incident illustrates Gibson’s intensity and no-nonsense approach to the game. Gibson, who returns to camp the next day, will help the Dodgers win…

Carney Lansford is credited with an unusual two-run inside-the-park homer in the A’s 5-3 victory

Carney Lansford is credited with an unusual two-run inside-the-park homer in the A’s 5-3 victory

ByTom

During a Cactus League contest, Carney Lansford is credited with an unusual two-run inside-the-park homer in the A’s 5-3 victory over the Indians in Phoenix. The infielder circles the bases in the fourth inning when Mel Hall’s shirt gets stuck on the fence, preventing the outfielder from playing the ball, that is just barely out of reach, while his teammate, shortstop Julio Franco, closest to the play, is so incapacitated with laughter he is unable to help.

Shortstop Dickie Thon impresses as he comes back from the beaning that ended his 1984 season

ByThis Day in Baseball

1985 – Shortstop Dickie Thon impresses as he comes back from the beaning that ended his 1984 season in the opening week. He swats a double off the wall in a 3-1 victory over the Dodgers and turns a thrilling double play behind Bob Knepper. Thon explains his injured eye socket seems healthy once again.

valenzuela_fernando
|

Fernando Valenzuela ends his holdout and reports to the Dodgers spring training camp in Vero Beach, Florida

ByThis Day in Baseball

1982 – Pitcher Fernando Valenzuela ends his holdout and reports to the Dodgers spring training camp in Vero Beach, Florida. In 1981, Valenzuela captured the National League Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards after winning 13 games with a 2.48 ERA and 180 strikeouts during the strike-shortened season. After earning just $42,500 in his rookie season, Valenzuela had asked for a raise to $1 million this year. The Dodgers unilaterally renewed his contract for a reported $350,000 instead.

An under the radar transaction would have a big impact on the NL East race. On March 15th, Montreal traded a player to be named later and cash to the San Francisco Giants for catcher John Tamargo. On September 29th, Tamargo's pinch-hit 3-run homer in the bottom of the 9th would win the game for the Expos and give them a half-game lead over the Phillies with just 5 games to play. The Phillies would eventually win the division in Montreal on the next to last game of the season thanks to Mike Schmidt's 11th inning homer.
|

An under the radar transaction would have a big impact on the NL East race. On March 15th, Montreal traded a player to be named later and cash to the San Francisco Giants for catcher John Tamargo

ByJ

    An under-the-radar transaction would have a big impact on the NL East race.   On March 15th, Montreal traded a player to be named later and cash to the San Francisco Giants for catcher John Tamargo. On September 29th, Tamargo’s pinch-hit 3-run homer in the bottom of the 9th would win the game…

Red Sox rookie pitcher Bobby Sprowl was shot in the right arm while sleeping in his Winter Haven hotel room
|

Red Sox rookie pitcher Bobby Sprowl was shot in the right arm while sleeping in his Winter Haven hotel room

ByThis Day in Baseball

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…

Joe Coleman was knocked unconscious by a line drive
|

Joe Coleman was knocked unconscious by a line drive

ByThis Day in Baseball

    March 27, 1971 Joe Coleman was knocked unconscious by a line drive off the bat of St. Louis Cardinal Ted Simmons during a spring training game. He missed the first three weeks of the season, but still finished with a 20-9 win- loss record. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other Resources & Links   [et_pb_signup provider=”getresponse” getresponse_list=”Thomas…