In his major league debut, 6′ 11″ pitcher Jon Rauch of the Chicago White Sox throws a perfect 1 1/3 innings in a 7 – 4 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. The Louisville, Kentucky native, who was a member of the 2000 US Olympic baseball team, becomes the tallest pitcher to appear in a major league game.

ByBaseball

In his major league debut, 6′ 11″ pitcher Jon Rauch of the Chicago White Sox throws a perfect 1 1/3 innings in a 7 – 4 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. The Louisville, Kentucky native, who was a member of the 2000 US Olympic baseball team, becomes the tallest pitcher to appear in a major league game.

Cinci Freedom, who evaded capture for ten days after jumping a six-foot fence to avoid slaughter, is excused from her scheduled appearance in the Reds’ traditional Opening Day parade. Before the Reds’ 5-4 walk-off victory over the Cubs at Cinergy Field, the Charolais cow, after receiving a key to the city, is deemed too jumpy to participate in the Findlay Market activities.

ByBaseball

Cinci Freedom, who evaded capture for ten days after jumping a six-foot fence to avoid slaughter, is excused from her scheduled appearance in the Reds’ traditional Opening Day parade. Before the Reds’ 5-4 walk-off victory over the Cubs at Cinergy Field, the Charolais cow, after receiving a key to the city, is deemed too jumpy to participate in the Findlay Market activities.

The Mets, with a 6-2 victory over the Bucs at Shea Stadium, improve their mark for Opening Day victories to 26-15 (.634), a major league record. The New York expansion team didn’t win their first season opener until the ninth year of the franchise’s existence.

ByBaseball

The Mets, with a 6-2 victory over the Bucs at Shea Stadium, improve their mark for Opening Day victories to 26-15 (.634), a major league record. The New York expansion team didn’t win their first season opener until the ninth year of the franchise’s existence.

The night before the exhibition game scheduled to be played at Miller Park, team officials announce that the stadium’s retractable roof will be used only on a limited basis at the start of the season as engineers try to eliminate persistent noise coming from the year-old roof. The problem in the pivot system, located behind and above home plate in the so-called Uecker seats, is not a hazard, according to the engineers who designed the structure.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The night before the exhibition game scheduled to be played at Miller Park, team officials announce that the stadium’s retractable roof will be used only on a limited basis at the start of the season as engineers try to eliminate persistent noise coming from the year-old roof. The problem in the pivot system, located behind and above home plate in the so-called Uecker seats, is not a hazard, according to the engineers who designed the structure.

Rickey Henderson’s makes the Red Sox Opening Day roster

Rickey Henderson’s makes the Red Sox Opening Day roster

ByTom

After the team purchases Rickey Henderson’s contract from Pawtucket, the Red Sox, places future Hall of Fame outfielder on their Opening Day roster. The ‘Man of Steal,’ who joined the exclusive 3,000-hit club on the final day of last season, will begin his 24th year in the majors, appearing with his eighth different club.

Major League baseball announces there will be a minute of silence at 9:11 at every major league team’s first-night game this season to remember September 11th’s tragic events. The song ‘God Bless America’ will continue to be sung during the seventh-inning stretch of all contests.

ByTom

Major League baseball announces there will be a minute of silence at 9:11 at every major league team’s first-night game this season to remember September 11th’s tragic events. The song ‘God Bless America’ will continue to be sung during the seventh-inning stretch of all contests.

Jose Canseco is given his release by the Montreal Expos after being told he would not be an everyday player. Canseco, who needs 38 home runs to reach 500, batted .258 and hit 16 homers for the Chicago White Sox last season while appearing in 76 games, but he will not play in the major leagues again.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Jose Canseco is given his release by the Montreal Expos after being told he would not be an everyday player. Canseco, who needs 38 home runs to reach 500, batted .258 and hit 16 homers for the Chicago White Sox last season while appearing in 76 games, but he will not play in the major leagues again.

The Cubs, in desperate need of a closer due to Tom Gordon’s muscle tear, trade righties Julian Tavarez (10-9, 4.52) and Jose Cueto as well as southpaw Dontrelle Willis and catcher Ryan Jorgensen to the Marlins for Antonio Alfonseca (4-4, 28 saves) and right-hander Matt Clement (9-10, 5.05). Willis, next season’s Rookie of the Year in the National League, will become a twenty-game winner for the Fish in 2005.

ByTom

The Cubs, in desperate need of a closer due to Tom Gordon’s muscle tear, trade righties Julian Tavarez (10-9, 4.52) and Jose Cueto as well as southpaw Dontrelle Willis and catcher Ryan Jorgensen to the Marlins for Antonio Alfonseca (4-4, 28 saves) and right-hander Matt Clement (9-10, 5.05). Willis, next season’s Rookie of the Year in the National League, will become a twenty-game winner for the Fish in 2005.

2002 – 38-year-old Dante Bichette announces his retirement after a poor spring trying to make the Dodgers’ roster as a bench player. A four-time All-Star, Bichette was a .299 hitter with 274 home runs and 1,141 RBI in a 14-season career with five teams.

ByThis Day in Baseball

2002 – 38-year-old Dante Bichette announces his retirement after a poor spring trying to make the Dodgers’ roster as a bench player. A four-time All-Star, Bichette was a .299 hitter with 274 home runs and 1,141 RBI in a 14-season career with five teams.

The Phillies make public the one-day regular-season suspension of Larry Bowa handed down by Major League Baseball vice president for on-field operations Bob Watson. The action comes as a result of the Philadelphia’s manager’s “inappropriate conduct toward the umpire” when he became enraged with the home plate umpire over two close calls on checked swings during an exhibition game against the Indians on March 9.

ByTom

The Phillies make public the one-day regular-season suspension of Larry Bowa handed down by Major League Baseball vice president for on-field operations Bob Watson. The action comes as a result of the Philadelphia’s manager’s “inappropriate conduct toward the umpire” when he became enraged with the home plate umpire over two close calls on checked swings during an exhibition game against the Indians on March 9.