Bill Singer gets first official save
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Bill Singer gets first official save

ByThis Day in Baseball

On April 7, 1969, Bill Singer of the Los Angeles Dodgers earns the first official save in history. Making his only relief appearance of the season, Singer finishes off Don Drysdale’s 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Thanks to the efforts of sportswriter Jerome Holtzman, the save had become an official statistic during the off-season…

Donn Clendenon ends his retirement and reports to the Montreal Expos

Donn Clendenon ends his retirement and reports to the Montreal Expos

ByThis Day in Baseball

April 3, 1969, first baseman Donn Clendenon ends his retirement and reports to the Montreal Expos. Clendenon will eventually be traded twice during the season, first Clendenon refuses to report to his new team after being traded, along with Jesus Alou to the Astros; the Expos resign their reluctant first baseman. Montreal will send Jack…

The Phillies trade first baseman Bill White to the Cardinals for infielder Jerry Buchek and utility player Jim Hutto. White will retire after one season in St. Louis, eventually becoming the president of the National League, after a stint as a Yankee broadcaster.

ByBaseball

The Phillies trade first baseman Bill White to the Cardinals for infielder Jerry Buchek and utility player Jim Hutto. White will retire after one season in St. Louis, eventually becoming the president of the National League, after a stint as a Yankee broadcaster.

1969 – Veteran utility player Chico Salmon is traded from the expansion Seattle Pilots to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for pitcher Gene Brabender and infielder Gordy Lund. Salmon will play for three consecutive pennant winners in Baltimore from 1969 to 1971, while Brabender will be the Pilots’ top winner in their only season in Seattle.

ByTom

1969 – Veteran utility player Chico Salmon is traded from the expansion Seattle Pilots to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for pitcher Gene Brabender and infielder Gordy Lund. Salmon will play for three consecutive pennant winners in Baltimore from 1969 to 1971, while Brabender will be the Pilots’ top winner in their only season in Seattle.

1969 – The Chicago Cubs purchase Charley Smith from the San Francisco Giants, which had acquired the well-traveled third baseman last December 6th. Smith will reinjure his knee and retire after a few at bats.

ByTom

1969 – The Chicago Cubs purchase Charley Smith from the San Francisco Giants, which had acquired the well-traveled third baseman last December 6th. Smith will reinjure his knee and retire after a few at bats.

1969 – An indemnity of $540,000 is paid to the Pacific Coast League for Major League Baseball’s invasion of San Diego and Seattle as a result of this year’s expansion.

ByTom

1969 – An indemnity of $540,000 is paid to the Pacific Coast League for Major League Baseball’s invasion of San Diego and Seattle as a result of this year’s expansion.

St. Louis Cardinals trade former National League MVP Orlando Cepeda to the Atlanta Braves for catcher/first baseman Joe Torre

St. Louis Cardinals trade former National League MVP Orlando Cepeda to the Atlanta Braves for catcher/first baseman Joe Torre

ByThis Day in Baseball

1969 – The St. Louis Cardinals trade former National League MVP Orlando Cepeda to the Atlanta Braves for catcher/first baseman Joe Torre. The trade will benefit both teams; Cepeda will help the Braves make the playoffs this year and Torre will win the MVP Award in 1971.

Exactly nine days after his splashy spring debut on March 5th, indicative of a full recovery from last season’s right shoulder injury, Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente injures the other shoulder. “Clemente, who played last season with a bruised right shoulder,” writes Charley Feeney in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, “injured his left shoulder when he attempted a diving catch of a foul fly in Friday’s game against the Red Sox in Bradenton.” After waiting 10 days for the shoulder to improve with no results, Clemente will return to Puerto Rico to consult his private trainer/chiropractor, Arturo Garcia.

ByTom

Exactly nine days after his splashy spring debut on March 5th, indicative of a full recovery from last season’s right shoulder injury, Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente injures the other shoulder. “Clemente, who played last season with a bruised right shoulder,” writes Charley Feeney in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, “injured his left shoulder when he attempted a diving catch of a foul fly in Friday’s game against the Red Sox in Bradenton.” After waiting 10 days for the shoulder to improve with no results, Clemente will return to Puerto Rico to consult his private trainer/chiropractor, Arturo Garcia.