Florida Marlins starting pitcher A.J. Burnett ruptures a ligament in his right thumb during a fielding practice drill. He won’t make his first major league appearance of the year until July 20th.
In a three-team deal, the Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, and Montreal Expos all exchange first basemen. Toronto trades David Segui to Texas, the Rangers then send Lee Stevens to the Expos, and Montreal then swaps Brad Fullmer to the Blue Jays to complete the circle.
1999 – National League Rookie of the Year Kerry Wood suffers a ligament tear in his right elbow. It will require surgery that will keep him out of action until 2000.
1994 – A poll conducted for the city of Houston at the request of Astros owner Drayton McLane shows 56 percent disapprove of building a downtown domed stadium primarily for the NFL Oilers and the NBA Rockets. Only 24% approve. Among those who disapprove, 49% say a new park is simply “not needed”. Mayor Bob Lanier backs away from supporting the proposed stadium, which sets the scene for the Oilers’ later move to Nashville, TN and the creation of a baseball-only downtown facility for the Astros.
1994 – Eric Show, who won 100 games pitching for the San Diego Padres, dies at age 37 of unknown causes at Rancho L’Abri Drug and Alcohol treatment center near San Diego, California.
The Pittsburgh Pirates trade pitcher John Smiley to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for pitcher Denny Neagle and outfielder Midre Cummings.
Anaheim Angels pitcher Matt Keough is hit in the head by a batted ball during an exhibition game in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is taken to the hospital and undergoes emergency surgery to remove a blood clot. The injury will put an end to his comeback attempt.
1985 – Denny McLain, winner of the American League Cy Young Award in 1968, is convicted of racketeering, extortion, and cocaine possession in Tampa, Florida. McLain will serve 29 months of a 23-year sentence before an appeals court overturns the decision.
On March 16, 1978, high-priced free agent Andy Messersmith separates his shoulder in an exhibition game for the New York Yankees. A 20-game winner both for the Angels and Dodgers, Messersmith will never win a game for the Yankees. He will pitch one more season in 1979 before retiring. Messersmith will however leave an impact…
On March 16, 1972, Oakland A’s holdout Vida Blue announces that he has rejected the team’s latest contract offer and will retire to work for a company that makes toilet fixtures. The “retirement” won’t last long. The “retirement” won’t last long, as Blue will eventually come to terms with Oakland and begin his season in…
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