1954 – Boston Red Sox star Ted Williams fractures his collarbone on the first day of spring training. The injury occurs as Williams dives for a ball hit by teammate Hoot Evers. As a result, the injury will force Williams to miss Opening Day and will keep him out of Boston lineup until May 15th.
March 1, 1952 Billy Cox, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson pose for the media during Spring Training, 1952. For the photo sleuths here, yes, they wore those left-arm patches during the 1951 regular season, but also them the following spring training.
To get a rental increase from their Sportsman’s Park’s tenants, the Browns move to evict the Cardinals. The Redbirds accuse the owners of breaking the lease, and as the season approaches, it is uncertain where the National League team will play its home games.
Father Vincent Powell announces the diocese’s Catholic Youth Organization will no longer participate in the Dodgers’ Knothole Club, stating the church cannot continue to have their youngsters associated with the team’s manager, Leo Durocher. The monsignor, who has been the director of the local CYO since 1940, believes the Brooklyn skipper “represents an example in complete contradiction” to the faith’s moral teachings.
In anticipation of the signing of the team’s first black players, Bill Veeck, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, sets up a spring training camp there for the Cleveland Indians. Arizona is chosen because of its relatively tolerant racial climate. During the season, Veeck will sign the American League’s first black player, Larry Doby, who will train at the camp. The New York Giants also set up camp in Arizona, while the Brooklyn Dodgers move their training camp from Florida to Havana, Cuba.
New managers in spring training camps are Billy Herman with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Muddy Ruel with the St. Louis Browns, Bucky Harris with the New York Yankees, and Johnny Neun with the Cincinnati Reds. Neun ended 1946 as manager of the Yankees after both Joe McCarthy and Bill Dickey quit.
BAINBRIDGE, Md., March 1 (AP) – Stan Musial, 1943 batting king and most valuable player in the National League, was discharged from the Navy today and immediately left the separation center for his Donora (Pa.) home via the hitch-hike route. Musial said he was so anxious to get home and spend about a week there…
On March 1, 1944, future Hall of Fame catcher Rick Ferrell is traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Washington Senators for outfielder Gene “Rowdy” Moore and cash. Ferrell will hit .277 for Washington in 1944. future Hall of Fame catcher Rick Ferrell is traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Washington Senators…
1942 – Major league owners decide not to allow furloughed players in the military to play for their clubs if based near a game site.
A federal judge rules in favor of Grace Comiskey, who became owner of the Chicago White Sox after the death of her husband John Louis Comiskey in 1939, helping her keep control of the team. The widow needed to go to court because the First National Bank of Chicago, the trustee of the estate, wanted to sell the team because there was no specific instruction in her spouse’s will that she should take control of the franchise.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!