Bob Quinn gives up his post as general manager of the Boston Braves
Bob Quinn gives up his post as general manager of the Boston Braves
Babe Phelps, a reluctant traveler and still unsigned, will not fly with Dodgers
1941 – The entire Brooklyn Dodgers squad leaves New York to train in Havana, Cuba for most of the spring. Babe Phelps, a reluctant traveler and still unsigned, will leave the team in Miami, FL, rather than take a boat, and return to Maryland.
Cleveland Indians sign former Washington Senators star Sam Rice
Cleveland Indians sign former Washington Senators star Sam Rice
major leagues agrees to allot $50,000 to develop a national championship program for amateur players
major leagues agrees to allot $50,000 to develop a national championship program for amateur players
Dave Fultz, president of the Players Fraternity, calls off a strike set to begin within the week
1917 – Dave Fultz, president of the Players Fraternity, calls off a strike set to begin within the week. One of demands of the union is to abolish the ten-day clause, in which a team ceases to pay an injured player after he has been out of action for ten days. Organized Baseball officially severs relations with the union, leaving the players without representation.
New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies come up with an idea for a new style of uniform
New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies come up with an idea for a new style of uniform
New cork-centered ball is introduced
A cork-centered ball is introduced, and the number of .300 hitters will jump from eight in 1910 to 27 this season in the American League. The league’s earned run average will go from from 2.53 to 3.34.
The Birth of the Pirates: A Legacy Forged in Dispute
The National Board of Control “reluctantly” awards 3 disputed players (Lou Bierbauer‚ Harry Stovey‚ and Connie Mack) to the NL clubs that signed them despite the prior claims of the AA. Philadelphia (AA)‚ assumed that with the disbanding of the Players League‚ Lou Bierbauer would return to play with them. They call the signing of the 2B by Pittsburgh a Piratical” move‚ and the nickname “Pirates” will stick.
Cubs sell current NL batting champ Mike King Kelly to the Beaneaters
For a record price of $10,000, the Cubs, then known as the White Stockings, sell current National League batting champ and future Hall of Famer Mike King Kelly to the Beaneaters. The popular box office draw, who will earn his nickname King while playing in Boston, will continue to be productive, hitting .311 for a three-year span during his first tenure with the team.
National Colored Base Ball League is organized
The National Colored Base Ball League, the first attempt at a professional Negro League, is organized at a meeting in Baltimore, MD. Eight clubs are represented: Lord Baltimores (Baltimore), Resolutes (Boston, MA), Browns (Cincinnati, OH), Falls City (Louisville, KY), Gorhams (New York, NY), Pythians (Philadelphia, PA), Keystones (Pittsburgh, PA) and Capital City Club (Washington, DC). Two weeks after being launched, the league will fail from lack of attendance.
