The Indians place starting 1B Russell Branyan on the 15-day disabled list with a herniated disk in his lower back. Matt LaPorta will fill in for him in the interim.
2006 – Infielder Tony Graffanino is claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals, returning to the team that traded him to the Boston Red Sox eight months ago.
The insurance claim filed by the Astros in January to get back approximately $15.6 million of Jeff Bagwell’s $17 million guaranteed contract is denied by the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company. The insurers cite no adverse change in the 37 year-old first baseman’s condition between the end of last season and the Jan. 31, 2006 policy.
2003 – Three days prior to Opening Day, the YES Network claims Cablevision has pulled out of a proposed deal signed 17 days ago which would have provided televised New York Yankees games to nearly three million cable subscribers in the New York City metropolitan area. According to a YES press release, the giant cable television company failed to sign a finalized version of the hand-written document that both parties exchanged on March 12th, but Cablevision president, James L. Dolan, said when YES sent him a revised typewritten draft on two days later, the document contained alterations that he found unacceptable.
The commissioner’s office announces teams will pay tribute to the U.S. Armed Forces during the seventh-inning stretch of all home openers by having `God Bless America’ performed. Although the song has been part of all games since the September 11th terrorist attacks, it will be heard only in major league ballparks at the home openers, Sunday, and holidays games.
2001 – The New York Yankees send Glenallen Hill to the Anaheim Angels for Darren Blakely, and the San Diego Padres trade Matt Clement to the Florida Marlins in exchange for Mark Kotsay.
2000 – The Philadelphia Phillies purchase second baseman Mickey Morandini from the Montreal Expos.
1999 – The Baltimore Orioles make the first visit to Cuba by major leaguers since 1959, and defeat a team of Cuban amateurs by a score of 3 – 2 in 11 innings. Pitcher Jose Contreras hurls eight innings of two-hit, 10-strikeout ball in relief for the Cubans, while catcher Charles Johnson hits a two-run home run and DH Harold Baines drives in the winning run for the Orioles. The two teams will play a rematch at Camden Yards in Baltimore on May 3rd.
1996 – Kirby Puckett is taken to the Ft. Myers Hospital after he awakes with his vision affected by a career-threatening malady. He has a black dot in front of his left eye and his vision is diagnosed as 20/200. Puckett, who hit .360 in spring training, will undergo surgery on April 17th.
1991 – Methodist College defeats Maryville, 43 – 0, to set an NCAA record for runs in a game. The previous record of 42 had been set by King’s College in 1902. Methodist scores 15 runs in the 1st inning, and strokes 34 hits in the contest, including seven by Brandon Bridgers.