Pitcher Nelson Briles, who was part of two World Series championships with the Cardinals and Pirates, dies at age 61 in Orlando, Florida, after suffering a heart attack at a Pirates alumni golf tournament.
2003 – The New York Mets sign veteran pitcher David Cone to a minor league contract. Cone, who compiled an 80-48 record with the Mets from 1987 to 1992, is coming out of retirement hoping to win the fifth spot in the starting rotation.
2002 – The Boston Red Sox sign 43-year-old Rickey Henderson to a minor league contract. Last season with the San Diego Padres, Henderson had his 3000th career hit and broke the major league all-time records for walks and runs.
1997 – Houston wins and loses their arbitration case with Darryl Kile. The inconsistent pitcher asks for a salary $1.27 million dollars more than what the Astros offer. The club prevails but, under the instruction of new Astro manager Larry Dierker and pitching coach Vern Ruhle, Kile goes on to have an outstanding year only to shun Houston and leave as a free agent after the season.
1996 – The St. Louis Cardinals complete a long-rumored swap, acquiring closer Dennis Eckersley from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league reliever Steve Montgomery. Eckersley replaces Tom Henke, who announced last month he was retiring. The Cardinals also announce that they are laying nearly three acres of grass over the field at Busch Stadium, replacing the artificial turf that has been used for 26 years. The grass turf will be ready for the April 8th opener against Montreal.
Los Angeles Dodgers sign Japanese pitching star Hideo Nomo
1987 – Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Morris is awarded a $1.85 million salary by arbitrator Richard Bloch, the highest amount awarded to date through the salary arbitration process.
New York Yankees re-acquire catcher Ron Hassey from the Chicago White Sox
1974 – James (Cool Papa) Bell is elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues. Known for his legendary footspeed, Bell joins Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard and Monte Irvin, as Negro Leagues greats selected to the Hall.
A day after his 27th birthday, Paul Edmondson and his girlfriend are killed in an automobile accident in San Barbara, California when his automobile skids on a rain-slicked U.S. Route 101 and crashes into oncoming traffic. The White Sox had hoped their sophomore right-hander would become the fourth starter in the team’s rotation, after compiling a misleading 1-6 record last season.
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