1928 – National League President John Heydler becomes the first person to propose a baseball rule change calling for a 10th man, or a designated hitter, to bat in place of the pitcher. The NL will vote in favor of the proposal, but the American League will turn it down.
1928 – The National League buys George Magerkurth from the Pacific Coast League for $2,000. This is the highest price paid for a new umpire.
1928 – The St. Louis Cardinals sign Billy Southworth as their new manager, replacing Bill McKechnie who goes down to Triple-A Rochester.
1928 – In one of their most important acquisitions ever, Cleveland Indians general manager Billy Evans sends $40,000 and two players to the San Francisco Seals (Pacific Coast League) for outfielder Earl Averill. A future Hall of Famer, Averill will play 11 years in Cleveland.
On November 9, 1928, the “Boston Daily Globe” reports that Massachusetts passed a referendum allowing baseball to be played on Sundays. At the time, only one state still barred Sunday baseball Pennsylvania. On the right side, April 15,1929, the first Sunday baseball game is played at Braves Field in Boston before a crowd of about…
Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly approve a referendum that will allow professional sports to be played on Sundays on a local option basis within the commonwealth. After admitting to using $200,000 of his funds, Braves’ owner Judge Emil Fuch will plead nolo contendere to spending money to influence the outcome of the election, resulting in the team being fined $1,000 in Municipal Court.
1928 – The Boston Braves trade National League batting champion Rogers Hornsby to the Chicago Cubs for $200,000 and players Freddie Maguire (IF), Percy Jones (P), Lou Legett (C), Socks Seibold and P Bruce Cunningham. The hard-hitting Hornsby, who posted a .387 batting average with 21 home runs for the Braves, will enjoy another spectacular season in 1929 for his new club. He will compile a .380 average with 39 home runs and 149 RBI. Braves owner-president Emil Fuchs also decides to be his own manager. Under Fuchs, the Braves will finish 56-98, good for last place. He will be the last manager with no professional playing experience until Ted Turner’s one game on May 11, 1977.
November 6, 1928: Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly approved the state-wide referendum amending the state’s “Blue Laws” to allow professional baseball on Sunday; the referendum prohibits professional baseball within 1,000 feet of a house of worship, delaying Sunday games at Fenway Park until that provision is changed in 1932. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Play by Play, Box Scores,…
Voters in Cleveland approve a bond issue to build a giant municipal stadium near the lakefront to attract events for the 1932 Olympics.
Voters in Massachusetts approve Sunday baseball in Boston, provided that Braves Field is more than 1,000 feet from a church. This leaves Pennsylvania as the only state with no Sunday baseball in the major leagues.
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