Former major leaguer Heinie Zimmerman dies in New York, NY at the age of 82. The one-time Triple Crown winner was banned from baseball in 1919 for his alleged involvement in fixing games. Later research will show that he had not in fact led the National League in RBI in 1912, and the Triple Crown banner will also be stripped away from him.
On March 13, 1969 Willie McCovey ended his holdout Thursday when he signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants, believed to call for $85,000 this season. The slugging first baseman indicated that the second year of the pact was flexible and terms could be revised upward if he has another outstanding…
1969 – In addition to this year’s lower mound and tightened strike zone, Major League Baseball tries an experimental ball with 10% more resiliency for a spring training game between the Mets and Tigers in Lakeland, Florida. It has an all-rubber center instead of a cork and rubber core, and the seams are higher than the regular ball. Mets pitcher Don Cardwell surrenders three home runs in the 4th inning to Dick McAuliffe, Norm Cash, and Gates Brown in the Tigers’ 7 – 4 victory. Tomorrow, in Phoenix, Arizona, the same ball is used in the Giants’ 13 – 1 win over the Angels, with Bobby Bonds hitting the only two homers off George Brunet. The players agree the ball is definitely livelier and sounds louder coming off the bat.
1969 – After Donn Clendenon “retires” and refuses to report to spring training, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn rules that Montreal can keep both Rusty Staub and Clendenon, insisting that Houston will have to settle for further compensation rather than voiding the trade.
1969 – A prodigious pre-season poke promises great things from Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente, seemingly recovered from last season’s right shoulder injury. “Clemente, who didn’t put on a uniform until last Monday,” writes Bill Christine in the Pittsburgh Press, “hit a 400-foot home run on his second plate appearance in the final intrasquad game.” Clemente drives a 3-and-2 pitch over the left field wall to lead his team to a 2 – 1 victory. “I’m glad to see his shoulder isn’t bothering him this spring,’ says manager Larry Shepard of Clemente’s 400-foot drive.” But on March 14th, after his dramatic display of right shoulder recuperation, shoulder number two will fall prey to Clemente’s relentless pursuit of a Boston batter’s foul pop in a meaningless exhibition contest.
1969 – New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle announces his retirement. Mantle, who slumped to a .237 batting average in 1968, finishes his 18-season career with 536 home runs and a .298 average, numbers that would have certainly been higher if not for persistent knee injuries. The Yankees offer Mantle a coaching position on manager Ralph Houk’s staff.
On February 26, 1969, Boston Red Sox star and American League batting champion Carl Yastrzemski becomes the highest-paid player in league history. Yaz signs a one-year deal worth $115,000. In 1968, Yaz batted a league-leading .301 and also paced the AL with 119 walks. He will reward the Red Sox by hitting 40 homeruns and…
1969 – A pension plan for Major League Baseball is agreed on, with players to receive $5.45 million per year. They also get a percentage of television revenues, a reduction in the years necessary to qualify for a pension from five to four (retroactive to 1959), and a lowered minimum age for drawing a pension from 50 to 45.
Hall of Famer Ted Williams makes a return to baseball by signing a five-year contract to manage the Washington Senator
On February 4, 1969, 42-year-old Bowie Kuhn is named commissioner, succeeding Spike Eckert. Kuhn receives a one-year contract paying him $100,000. Major league owners turned to Kuhn after failing to agree on either of two other candidates, Mike Burke of the New York Yankees and Charles Feeney of the San Francisco Giants. The early favorite,…
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