On March 28, 1976, media sources report a potential blockbuster trade between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. According to the rumor, the deal will send Tom Seaver to the Dodgers in exchange for another future Hall of Famer, Don Sutton. Mets fans respond negatively to the proposed deal, perhaps influencing management to…
1970 – In this first (and last?) “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial All-Star Baseball Classic”, solo home runs by Ron Fairly of Montreal and Ron Santo of the Chicago Cubs, plus a three-run 8th-inning brings the East a 5 – 1 victory over the West. A crowd of 31,694 watches the charity game in Dodger Stadium. Proceeds go to the late Dr. King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference and a memorial center planned for Atlanta. For this initial charity game, former New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio manages the East, and ex-Dodger Roy Campanella, confined to a wheelchair since a 1958 auto accident, directs the fortunes of the West. Jim “Mudcat” Grant of Oakland sings the National Anthem in the pre-game program, and then becomes the victim of a four-hit uprising in the 8th inning that insures the outcome. Al Kaline of Detroit beats out an infield hit to open the frame and moves to second as Tommie Agee drives Hank Aaron to the left field wall. Kaline races home on Lou Brock’s double to left. Brock scores on Roberto Clemente’s double and Clemente comes home on Ken McMullen’s single.
1969 – The Chicago Cubs purchase Charley Smith from the San Francisco Giants, which had acquired the well-traveled third baseman last December 6th. Smith will reinjure his knee and retire after a few at bats.
1961 – In their first meeting since Pittsburgh’s dramatic World Series win over New York, the Bucs, behind would-be World Series goat Bob Friend, beat up the banged-up Bombers, 9 – 2. The game’s first run comes in the bottom of the 2nd on Roberto Clemente’s bases-empty bomb over the left-field fence. Pittsburgh goes up 3 – 0 in the 3rd on Dick Stuart’s two-run shot, likewise to left field. By the 7th, the Bucs have built their lead to 8 – 0 before New York can push across its initial tally. Today’s win boosts the Bucs’ Grapefruit League-leading record to 13-5, while miring New York ever more deeply in the preseason cellar.
1958 – Slugger Chuck Klein dies in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the age of 53. Klein batted .320 with 300 home runs and 1201 RBI over a 17-year career. His most productive season came in 1933, when he won the National League Triple Crown. Klein will be elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1980.
On March 28, 1947, Hall of Fame second baseman Johnny Evers dies at the age of 65, in Albany, New York. Known as “The Crab,” Known as “the Crab,” Evers won the National League MVP Award in 1914 and stole 324 bases over an 18-year career. In 1946, Evers was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other…
1940 – During a 10 – 1 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Chicago White Sox second baseman Jackie Hayes catches a piece of cinder in his eye. The eye will become infected and though he finishes the season, he loses the sight in the eye. In 1943, Hayes will lose the sight in both eyes.
Leo Durocher at spring training in Hot Springs, Arkansas – 1939.
1937 – Trying to see if a new “dead ball” is better than the existing one, the new sphere is tried in a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Senators. The Sox outslug the Nats, 13 – 12, as Joe Cronin drives in six runs. Last week, the ball was used in a game between the New York Giants and Boston Bees with much the same result. On April 12th, the Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates will test the new ball, with the Sox winning, 9 – 6, though the longest hit is a double.
1934 – Rabbit Maranville breaks his left leg while sliding home on a double steal in an exhibition game against the New York Yankees. The Boston Braves veteran is out for the season and will play just 23 games next year. He had broken his right leg earlier in spring training of 1926.
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