On March 16, 1972 — Hall of Fame third baseman Pie Traynor dies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the age of 72. Traynor batted .320 over a 17-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, with a career-high .366 in 1930.
1967 – In one of the highest-scoring spring training games ever, the Boston Red Sox tally 10 earned runs in the 9th inning to upend the New York Mets, 23 – 18. Boston outhits the Mets 23 to 17 and Jim Lonborg is the eventual winner over Jack Hamilton.
The state of New York approves a bond issue for the construction of a 55,000-seat stadium on the site of the 1939-40 World’s Fair in the Queens Flushing Meadow area. The ballpark will be named Shea Stadium to honor William Shea, a lawyer who was instrumental in bringing the National League back to New York.
1960 – The Boston Red Sox send catcher Sammy White and outfielder Jim Marshall to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for catcher Russ Nixon. The trade is later canceled when White retires.
1969 – A plane crash in Maracaibo, Venezuela kills 155 passengers including highly touted prospect Nestor (Latigo) Chavez, en route to the San Francisco Giants spring training camp. The 21-year-old pitcher, who posted a 1-0 mark in his rookie season with the Giants, was 12-5 with Double-A Waterbury in the Eastern League in 1967, including seven shutouts. Also on board were minor leaguer Carlos Santeliz and Venezuelan League executive Antonio Herrera Gutiérrez.
1956 – Two Triples and one Triple Play, courtesy of Roberto Clemente and Eddie O’Brien respectively. These, along with the first home runs of the spring for Frank Thomas and Jack Shepard, are the highlights of Pittsburgh’s exhibition win over Detroit, a somewhat slovenly 10 – 5 affair. For sheer novelty, O’Brien’s spectacularly unsuccessful 6th-inning sacrifice attempt is hard to top. Les Biederman of the Pittsburgh Press reports: “O’Brien tried to bunt but popped the ball to pitcher Bill Black, who threw to first and the relay went to second base in time for the first triple play of the exhibition season.” Going from the ridiculous to the sublime, there’s Clemente, who, in Fort Myers as in Forbes Field, has quickly established himself as the fan favorite. By far the most incendiary of today’s highlights are Clemente’s two two-run triples. “Clemente brought down the house when he twice tripled with two aboard,” writes Biederman, “and the 1,289 fans gave him the glad hand.”
1954 – The Baltimore Orioles purchase first baseman Eddie Waitkus from the Philadelphia Phillies.
1953 – American League owners turn down a bid made by Bill Veeck to move the St. Louis Browns to Baltimore, MD. Spearheaded by Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith, the vote is 6-2 against. Some observers speculate that the rejection is meant to force Veeck into selling his majority interest in the franchise. The next day, Veeck announces his willingness to sell the Browns for just under $2.5 million. The vote only delays the move by a year, however.
1937 – In an exhibition match, the Mexico City Agriculture team blanks the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1st inning before caving in and losing, 34 – 5. Ace Parker and Indian Bob Johnson pole home runs for the Athletics.
1932 – In St. Petersburg training camp, Babe Ruth signs a one-year contract for $75,000 and a percentage of the exhibition gate. Legend has it the Bambino signed a blank contract with the amount filled in later by New York Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert.
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