“In memory of Shannon Stone and dedicated to all fans who love the game.” – Inscription on statue honoring a fan who died last season at the stadium while attending a game last season. Six year-old Cooper Stone helps to unveil the statue depicting him and his dad holding hands and having a conversation wearing their baseball caps in front of a gate at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Bruce Greene’s sculpture pays tribute to his father, who died last season while attending a game with him, as a result of falling twenty feet, onto the concrete behind the scoreboard in left field, after reaching for a ball thrown into the stands by Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton.

ByBaseball

“In memory of Shannon Stone and dedicated to all fans who love the game.” – Inscription on statue honoring a fan who died last season at the stadium while attending a game last season. Six year-old Cooper Stone helps to unveil the statue depicting him and his dad holding hands and having a conversation wearing their baseball caps in front of a gate at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Bruce Greene’s sculpture pays tribute to his father, who died last season while attending a game with him, as a result of falling twenty feet, onto the concrete behind the scoreboard in left field, after reaching for a ball thrown into the stands by Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton.

2012 – The Miami Marlins inaugurate a new name and a new ballpark, Marlins Park, but lose, 4 – 1, to the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of the National League season. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali delivers the ceremonial first pitch. Kyle Lohse dowses the home fans’ enthusiasm by holding the Marlins hitless until the 7th to earn the win, while World Series hero David Freese drives in two runs with a single in the top of the 1st.

ByBaseball

2012 – The Miami Marlins inaugurate a new name and a new ballpark, Marlins Park, but lose, 4 – 1, to the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of the National League season. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali delivers the ceremonial first pitch. Kyle Lohse dowses the home fans’ enthusiasm by holding the Marlins hitless until the 7th to earn the win, while World Series hero David Freese drives in two runs with a single in the top of the 1st.

Joey Votto and the Reds agree to the longest guaranteed contract in major league history, a $251.5 million, 12-year deal. The dollar amount, second only to A-Rod’s $275 million and $252 million pacts with the Rangers and Yankees, easily surpasses Ken Griffey Jr.’s $116.5 million, nine-year signing in 2000 as the richest in franchise history.

ByBaseball

Joey Votto and the Reds agree to the longest guaranteed contract in major league history, a $251.5 million, 12-year deal. The dollar amount, second only to A-Rod’s $275 million and $252 million pacts with the Rangers and Yankees, easily surpasses Ken Griffey Jr.’s $116.5 million, nine-year signing in 2000 as the richest in franchise history.

2012 – Two young stars sign huge long-term contracts. 1B Joey Votto inks a 10-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds worth $225 million, while pitcher Matt Cain agrees to a 6-year contract with the San Francisco Giants for $127 million.

ByBaseball

2012 – Two young stars sign huge long-term contracts. 1B Joey Votto inks a 10-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds worth $225 million, while pitcher Matt Cain agrees to a 6-year contract with the San Francisco Giants for $127 million.

Matt Cain, the longest-tenured Giant, comes to terms with the team on a five-year extension that will keep the 6’5″ Tennessean with San Francisco until 2017. The 27 year-old right-hander has been the workhorse of the staff, averaging 32 starts in each of the last six seasons.

ByBaseball

Matt Cain, the longest-tenured Giant, comes to terms with the team on a five-year extension that will keep the 6’5″ Tennessean with San Francisco until 2017. The 27 year-old right-hander has been the workhorse of the staff, averaging 32 starts in each of the last six seasons.

Indians P Ubaldo Jimenez starts a bench-clearing brawl when he plucks former teammate Troy Tulowitzki in the elbow in the 1st inning of a Cactus League game. The Rockies are convinced the gesture is intentional, as there is some bad blood between the two, dating back to Jimenez criticizing his former team for not offering him a long-term contract last year, and Tulowitzki replying through the media that “there’s a certain point in this game where you go play and you shut your mouth.” Tulowitzki is taken out of the game, but x-rays on his elbow are negative. For his part, Jimenez will receive a five-game suspension.

ByBaseball

Indians P Ubaldo Jimenez starts a bench-clearing brawl when he plucks former teammate Troy Tulowitzki in the elbow in the 1st inning of a Cactus League game. The Rockies are convinced the gesture is intentional, as there is some bad blood between the two, dating back to Jimenez criticizing his former team for not offering him a long-term contract last year, and Tulowitzki replying through the media that “there’s a certain point in this game where you go play and you shut your mouth.” Tulowitzki is taken out of the game, but x-rays on his elbow are negative. For his part, Jimenez will receive a five-game suspension.

The Cardinals’ Lance Berkman plays an April Fools prank on teammate Adam Wainwright

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Cardinals’ Lance Berkman plays an April Fools prank on teammate Adam Wainwright. Before the 3rd inning of a Grapefruit League game, Wainwright’s white Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck is driven on the warning track at Roger Dean Stadium as the public address announcer states that it will be given away to a lucky fan. A stunned Wainwright watches from the bench as the supposed prize winners, a father and his son, climb into the bed of the truck when it stops in front of the home dugout and Berkman, who is driving, pokes his head out of the window, waves to everyone, and drives away.

The Reds trade 3B Juan Francisco, once a top prospect but now out of minor league options, to the Braves­ in return for minor league P J.J. Hoover after he fails to make the team out of spring training.

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The Reds trade 3B Juan Francisco, once a top prospect but now out of minor league options, to the Braves­ in return for minor league P J.J. Hoover after he fails to make the team out of spring training.

The German Bundesliga season begins, with the Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg winning the opener, 7 – 1, over the Mainz Athletics. Former Phillies farmhand Mike Bolsenbroek allows one hit and fans 11 for the win, while Chris Howard hits a two-run homer.

ByTom

The German Bundesliga season begins, with the Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg winning the opener, 7 – 1, over the Mainz Athletics. Former Phillies farmhand Mike Bolsenbroek allows one hit and fans 11 for the win, while Chris Howard hits a two-run homer.

The Athletics’ Tom Milone pitches 6 perfect innings in a Cactus League game against the A’s AAA affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats. Reliever Andrew Carignan walks a pair of batters in the 7th, but gives up no hits, and the game is then called on account of rain, giving Oakland a 9 – 0 no-hit victory. Sacramento’s Jarrod Parker, who is auditioning for the A’s fifth starter job, is a lot less impressive than his counterpart, giving up 6 runs in 2 innings.

ByTom

The Athletics’ Tom Milone pitches 6 perfect innings in a Cactus League game against the A’s AAA affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats. Reliever Andrew Carignan walks a pair of batters in the 7th, but gives up no hits, and the game is then called on account of rain, giving Oakland a 9 – 0 no-hit victory. Sacramento’s Jarrod Parker, who is auditioning for the A’s fifth starter job, is a lot less impressive than his counterpart, giving up 6 runs in 2 innings.