Major League Baseball announces that it is suspending spring training and delaying Opening Day

ByThis Day in Baseball

    On March 12, 2020 – Major League Baseball announces that it is suspending spring training and delaying Opening Day, scheduled for March 26th, by two weeks, in light of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe. This follows in the wake of similar announcements by other professional sports leagues such as the NBA, NHL…

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2015 – Outfielder Colby Rasmus surprises the front office by agreeing to a qualifying offer for the 2016 season. Since the collective bargaining feature began, no MLB player had opted for the offer rather than become a full free agent. The Astros offered in anticipation that Rasmus would decline and cost his new team a draft pick to sign him. Instead, the Astros are on the hook for a $16.9 million one-year deal. The Georgia native hit .206 with 15 homers in his final full season before retirement. 

ByTom

2015 – Outfielder Colby Rasmus surprises the front office by agreeing to a qualifying offer for the 2016 season. Since the collective bargaining feature began, no MLB player had opted for the offer rather than become a full free agent. The Astros offered in anticipation that Rasmus would decline and cost his new team a draft pick to sign him. Instead, the Astros are on the hook for a $16.9 million one-year deal. The Georgia native hit .206 with 15 homers in his final full season before retirement. 

2017 – The Brisbane Bandits repeat as Australian Baseball League champions, defeating the Melbourne Aces 2 games to 0 in the finals. Logan Wade is named finals MVP, having gone 4 for 8 with a homer. In game 2 today, Kramer Champlin allows one hit in seven and Ryan Searle closes out the 3-1 win; Thomas Milone scores twice.

ByTom

2017 – The Brisbane Bandits repeat as Australian Baseball League champions, defeating the Melbourne Aces 2 games to 0 in the finals. Logan Wade is named finals MVP, having gone 4 for 8 with a homer. In game 2 today, Kramer Champlin allows one hit in seven and Ryan Searle closes out the 3-1 win; Thomas Milone scores twice.

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ByTom

  On , —   [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Subscribe to This Day In Baseball” subscribe_text=”Get our latest Posts in your in box” subscribe_button=”GO” show_subscribers_total=”0″] This Day In Baseball on Patreon Own this Day and Be Part of Baseball History Sources: Astro Daily

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1998 – Former Expos Sean Berry and Moises Alou lead a 15-0 thrashing in Montreal. Alou homers and drives in five runs while Berry and Richard Hidalgo each deliver four hits. Derek Bell also belts a home run. Sean Bergman is the beneficiary as Houston tallies in six of the nine frames. 

ByTom

1998 – Former Expos Sean Berry and Moises Alou lead a 15-0 thrashing in Montreal. Alou homers and drives in five runs while Berry and Richard Hidalgo each deliver four hits. Derek Bell also belts a home run. Sean Bergman is the beneficiary as Houston tallies in six of the nine frames. 

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1995 – “Play Ball” never sounded so good. The Astros open the strike-delayed season with a 10-2 victory in San Diego. Jeff Bagwell, Derek Bell and Phil Plantier start the campaign with home runs. Doug Drabek works five innings for the win. Although over 41,000 attend, baseball’s attendance plummets as resentment over the strike lingers. 

ByTom

1995 – “Play Ball” never sounded so good. The Astros open the strike-delayed season with a 10-2 victory in San Diego. Jeff Bagwell, Derek Bell and Phil Plantier start the campaign with home runs. Doug Drabek works five innings for the win. Although over 41,000 attend, baseball’s attendance plummets as resentment over the strike lingers. 

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1981 – Bob Knepper tosses his second consecutive shutout, a 1-0 whitewash over Cincinnati. Denny Walling ‘s homer off Mario Soto accounts for the game’s only run. Walling also supplies a defensive gem, an over-the shoulder grab with two men aboard to thwart a Red threat. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1981 – Bob Knepper tosses his second consecutive shutout, a 1-0 whitewash over Cincinnati. Denny Walling ‘s homer off Mario Soto accounts for the game’s only run. Walling also supplies a defensive gem, an over-the shoulder grab with two men aboard to thwart a Red threat. 

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2011 – After 11 seasons as one of the top Astro hitters in history, Lance Berkman returns for the first time as a St. Louis Cardinal. Welcomed with mostly applause, Berkman rips a go-ahead double in the ninth only to see Houston bounce back for a 6-5 triumph. Bill Hall singles through the drawn-in infield for the game-winner. Brett Wallace, Berkman’s heir at first base, has three hits. Despite being last in the NL Central, the 9-14 Astros are just three games out of first. 

ByTom

2011 – After 11 seasons as one of the top Astro hitters in history, Lance Berkman returns for the first time as a St. Louis Cardinal. Welcomed with mostly applause, Berkman rips a go-ahead double in the ninth only to see Houston bounce back for a 6-5 triumph. Bill Hall singles through the drawn-in infield for the game-winner. Brett Wallace, Berkman’s heir at first base, has three hits. Despite being last in the NL Central, the 9-14 Astros are just three games out of first.