2013 â The Yankees lose a big piece of their projected line-up when LF Curtis Granderson suffers a broken forearm after being struck by a pitch by Torontoâs J.A. Happ in the 1st inning of a Grapefruit League game in Tampa, FL. The Yanksâ most prolific home run hitter over the past two seasons is expected to be out for 10 weeks.
1B Miguel Cabrera returns to the Tigers training camp, one week after his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving. He apologizes to teammates, team management, family and fans for the incident and has agreed to enter a treatment program. MLB officials warn him that âany future alcohol-related incidents could involve more serious consequencesâ.
Major League Baseball announces that three of its most experienced umpires have decided to retire. They are Jerry Crawford, who umpired his first game in 1977, making him the majorsâ longest-serving official, and was head of the Umpires Union, along with Mike Reilly and Chuck Meriwether. To replace them, Scott Barry and Brian Knight, both with major league umpiring experience as fill-ins, are added to the umpiring staff. Three other veterans retired before the 2010 season, and four new umpires were brought on at the time as the cadre is undergoing a renewal.
2010 â The Rangers get some bad news as All-Star OF Josh Hamilton, whose 2009 season was curtailed by a string of injuries after a breakthrough 2008 campaign, leaves the first workout of spring training with a bruised left shoulder. Hamilton injures himself diving to catch a pop-up. However, he will recover to become the American League MVP.
A Kansas man, who sat six rows behind the third-base dugout, files a lawsuit against the Royals as a result of being hit in the eye by a hot dog thrown by Sluggerrr, the teamâs mascot. The suit is seeking $25,000 in damages for injuries caused by the flying frank, which includes a detached retina and the development of cataracts in the left eye.
2006Â â Itâs normally not news when a player shows up for spring training but thatâs not true this time for Jeff Bagwell. The first baseman arrives with a $15.6 million dollar insurance tag on his head if he canât play. Bagwell insists heâll play despite an arthritic right shoulder that required surgery the previous year. He fields grounders and hits in light drills the first day and talks briefly with owner Drayton McLane.Â
2004 â Nolan Ryan returns to the Astros organization under a five-year personal services contract. Ryan and his sons own one team in the Astros farm system and plan to add another one in 2005 when the AAA affiliate moves to Round Rock, TX and the AA squad moves to Corpus Christi.Â
2003 â In the wake of Steve Bechlerâs death, Commissioner Bud Selig decides to ban the use of ephedra in the minor leagues. Players on the current 40-man major league rosters, which would have included the 23-year old Oriole pitcher who died on February 23rd, are not prohibited to use the supplement because, as union members, they are already covered by the drug-testing rules of the new collective bargaining agreement, which bans only drugs of abuse and certain illegal steroids.
2000 â The National Labor Relations Board certifies the results of the November election that kicked out the Major League Umpires Association and replaced it with the newly-formed World Umpires Association. About 50 of the 71 major league umpires have joined the new union. The decision ends Richie Phillipsâ 21-year reign as union chief.
  On February 24, 1990, former Boston Red Sox slugger Tony Conigliaro dies at the age of 45. Conigliaro, who succumbs to pneumonia and kidney failure, had suffered a massive heart attack in 1982. Conigliaro appeared headed for stardom he was the youngest American League player ever to reach 100 career home runs in the 1960s before beingâŠ
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!