2003 – Federal judge James Holderman gives the Chicago Cubs and the owners of rooftop bleachers which provide fans a view of Wrigley Field a year to settle their dispute. The team believes the seating provided above the field on the rooftops directly competes with the club for ticket sales and the surrounding neighbors, in turn, have not been sympathetic to team’s expansion plans.
2003 – Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino announces four senators, Edward M. Kennedy, John F. Kerry, John McCain, and Tom Daschle, will file legislation nominating Jackie Robinson for the Congressional Gold Medal.
2003 – Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. joins his father Cal Sr. by becoming the 40th member of the Orioles Hall of Fame. Ripken Jr. is elected in his first year of eligibility by a unanimous vote of the media covering the team. The formal ceremony will be take place on September 6th, which marks the eighth anniversary of the night he broke the 56-year-old record of 2,130 consecutive games played set by Lou Gehrig.
In his first year of eligibility by a unanimous vote of the media covering the team, Cal Ripken Jr. joins his dad by becoming the 40th member of the Orioles Hall of Fame. The formal ceremony will take place on September 6, 2003, which marks the eighth anniversary of the night the Baltimore infielder broke Lou Gehrig’s record consecutive games streak of 2,130 games at Camden Yards.
2003 – Slugger Daryle Ward is traded to Los Angeles for minor league pitcher Ruddy Lugo, younger brother of infielder Julio Lugo. Ward teases fans with his home run potential but management loses patience after a five-year run where he swats 49 homers and bats .269 in 418 games.
Free agent and former Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez signs a one-year deal worth $10 million to play in his hometown with the Florida Marlins. The Miami resident, who is a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner, will be replacing Charles Johnson who was traded to the Colorado Rockies during the off-season.
Despite his ban from the Hall of Fame, Pete Rose is nominated for induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Rose banged out his 4,000th career hit, a double off pitcher Jerry Koosman, as a member of the 1984 Montreal Expos squad. Rose was named by the chairman of the newly-formed Canadian Baseball League, Tony Riviera.
Gold Glove outfielder Torii Hunter, who hit .289 with 29 home runs and 94 RBI in 2002, agrees to a four-year, $32 million deal to stay with the Minnesota Twins.
2002 – The Mets sign free agent shortstop Rey Sanchez to a contract.
2002 – The Texas Rangers sign free agent P Esteban Yan to a contract.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!