1996 – At Tampa’s Legends Field, Yankees infielder Tony Fernandez fractures his right elbow in an exhibition game against the Astros, and is placed on the 60-day disabled list.
1996 – In a Grapefruit League game at Clearwater’s Jack Russell Stadium, the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians meet for the first time in their history, with the Indians prevailing, 8 – 2.
1996 – Houston sends lefthander Billy Wagner to the minors, intent on converting him to a starting pitcher. By year’s end, he is in the Astros bullpen, winning two games and saving nine in 37 appearances.
1996 – The Veterans Committee elects four new members for the Hall of Fame, and just misses naming a fifth. The group elected includes fiery manager Earl Weaver, who had a .583 winning percentage in 17 seasons managing the Baltimore Orioles; pitcher Jim Bunning, who won 100 games in both leagues, including no-hitters in each circuit, one of them a perfect game; 19th-century manager Ned Hanlon, who won five National League pennants with the Baltimore Orioles (3) and Brooklyn (2), and Bill Foster, the top left-handed pitcher in the Negro Leagues. Nellie Fox receives the necessary 75% of the Committee’s votes, but the rules allow just one modern player elected, and Bunning has more votes.
1996 – At St. Petersburg’s Al Lang Field, two Japanese umpires work a game with two U.S. umpires. Osamu Ino is behind the plate as the Pirates whip the Cardinals, 11 – 2. “I thought they (the Japanese) did a good job,” comments Pirates manager Jim Leyland. “And even if they didn’t, you couldn’t argue with them.” In Dunedin, fellow Central League umpires Samio Murakoshi and Toshio Azuma are part of a four-man crew that works the Phillies’ 12 – 2 victory over the Blue Jays. Meanwhile, four umpires from the majors are on a nine-day tour of Nippon Pro Baseball.
1996 – The Yankees christen Legends Field, their new $30 million, 31-acre complex in Tampa. The field has the exact dimensions of Yankee Stadium. On hand to see Phil Rizzuto toss out the first ball are former Yankees Whitey Ford, Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry and Chris Chambliss, who then watch the new Yankees beat the American League Champions Cleveland Indians, 5 – 2.
Major League Baseball’s rules committee increases the size of the strike zone
The Yankees officially sign Dwight Gooden, who didn’t play last season as a result of being suspended for drugs, to a one-year deal with two option years. The complicated contract, necessitated by the hurler’s past addictions, calls for a salary of $1M in 1996, then $2M in 1997 and $3M in 1998, and requires the 31 year-old right-hander to be tested for drugs three times a week while participating in a 12-step program.
1996 – General Mills announces a special edition Wheaties cereal box honoring Negro League superstars Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and Cool Papa Bell.
1996 – Kevin McClatchy and his group of investors purchase the Pirates from the Pittsburgh Associates.
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