4/22/1984: Darryl Motley of the Royals opened a game in Cleveland with a home run. The Indians were ahead, 6-1, when the game was rained out with two out in the bottom of the fourth inning.
1984 – In only his second start since August 1982, Montreal Expos pitcher David Palmer throws five perfect innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 4 – 0 victory stopped by rain.
After committing a two-out error in the bottom of the eighth inning to allow the eventual winning run to score in the Yankees’ 7-6 loss to the Rangers at Arlington Stadium, New York shortstop Bobby Meacham is sent to the minors after the fourth game of the season on the orders of owner George Steinbrenner. The move, which stuns manager Yogi Berra, will prove to be a precursor to the ‘Boss’ firing him next season after the team drops ten of its first sixteen decisions.
After rain washed out yesterday’s opener at Royals Stadium, Yul Brynner tosses out the first ball and Kansas City opens with a 4 – 2 win over the Yankees. The threat of snow holds the crowd to just 10,006. Starter Bud Black, with relief help from Dan Quisenberry, tops Ron Guidry, still winless in Openers. Onix Concepción hits Guidry’s first pitch of the game for a home run, while Dave Winfield has a two-run homer for the Yankees.
Arbitrator Richard Bloch rules that the Royals’ Willie Wilson and the Mets’ Jerry Martin can return to action on May 15th, the day their year-long suspensions for cocaine abuse are first due to be reviewed.
1984 – The New York Yankees trade one of the key members of their last World Championship teams when they dispatch Graig Nettles to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Dennis Rasmussen and a player to be named. Nettles, who had angered Yankees owner George Steinbrenner by criticizing him in a book, will hit 20 home runs and help the Padres reach the 1984 World Series.
Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball’s color line playing for the Dodgers in 1947, is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously by President Reagan. Rachel Robinson, on behalf of her late husband, accepts the award, the highest civilian honor given in the United States.
1984 – Astros purchase infielder Alan Bannister from Cleveland. In nine games that season with Houston, Bannister would bat .200 before a trade to the Rangers.
After vetoing a trade to Oakland, two-time All-Star Dusty Baker is waived by the Dodgers. The 35 year-old outfielder will sign as a free agent, hitting .294 in 100 games, with the Giants, before ending his career with the A’s, the team he had refused to play for when dealt last season.
Pete Rose wins a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and is awarded a $36,083 tax refund for 1978.