mel ott

This Day In Baseball March 2

March

The history of sports is both vast and rich, thanks to the existence of so many different events and the longevity associated with them. With so much history to cull through, We offer the opportunity to look back and see what memorable things happened or milestones were reached on March 2 in baseball history.

Notable Events and Chronology for March 2

1874 – At the fourth meeting of the National Association of Professional Baseball Players in Boston, the batter’s box is officially adopted. It is also decided that expulsion will be the penalty for any player betting on his own team and any player betting on any other team will forfeit his pay.

1886 – The American Association meets and overrules president Denny McKnight (also owner of the Pittsburgh Alleghenys club) and suspends second baseman Sam Barkley for signing with Pittsburgh before the dispute over his sale is settled. The AA adopts new rules. The number of balls needed for a walk is reduced from seven to six; the pitcher’s box is one foot deeper, giving the pitcher seven feet behind the 50-foot front line in which to execute his delivery; stolen bases are adopted as an official statistic, although the definition is rather vague initially.

1888 – The National League meets in New York and abolishes all discounts from the 50-cent minimum admission price. Despite the demands of the Brotherhood and the fact that the rule is practically a dead letter, the NL refuses to drop its $2,000 salary limit rule. The schedule committee recommends that the season go to 140 games from the current 126.

1899 – At the National League meeting in New York, an attempt to expel the St. Louis Browns, who had a 39-111 record in 1898, fails by a 7-4 margin. It is also decided that no club may hold more than 18 players on its reserve list. St. Louis will play as the “Perfectos” in the upcoming season.

JimmyCollins

Jimmy Collins, the choice of Connie Mack as the best all-time third baseman, switches leagues but not cities.

Mel Ott is born listen to his World Series At Bats vs Lefty Gomez

Mel Ott is born listen to his World Series At Bats vs Lefty Gomez

Babe Ruth becomes the highest paid player in major league history when the Yankees announce the Bambino will earn $70,000 per season for the next three years

Babe Ruth becomes the highest paid player in major league history when the Yankees announce the Bambino will earn $70,000 per season for the next three years

Frenchy Bordagaray

Stanley (Frenchy) Bordagaray Shows up with mustache and a beard

In Havana, Cuba, the Brooklyn Dodgers complete a three-game sweep of their rival New York Giants. During the regular 1940 season the Giants held a 16-6 advantage over Brooklyn.

In Havana, Cuba, the Brooklyn Dodgers complete a three-game sweep of their rival New York Giants. During the regular 1940 season the Giants held a 16-6 advantage over Brooklyn.

DiMaggio leaves spring training injured will only play half season

DiMaggio leaves spring training injured will only play half season

The Historic Pitching Performances of Tom Seaver and Gary Gentry in 1970

Commissioner Spike Eckert voids the contract recently signed by collegiate star Tom Seaver

Arizona State left-hander Eddie Bane pitches a perfect game against Cal State Northridge.

Arizona State left-hander Eddie Bane pitches a perfect game against Cal State Northridge.

Los Angeles Dodgers re-acquire second baseman Ted Sizemore from the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Willie Crawford

Los Angeles Dodgers re-acquire second baseman Ted Sizemore from the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Willie Crawford

1976 – The Los Angeles Dodgers re-acquire second baseman Ted Sizemore from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for outfielder Willie Crawford. Sizemore had started his major league career with the Dodgers in 1969, when he won the NL Rookie of the Year Award, and was later traded to the Cardinals as part of a package for slugger Richie Allen.

"When he punched Keith Hernandez in spring training last season, it was the only time that Darryl Strawberry hit the cutoff man."

“When he punched Keith Hernandez in spring training last season, it was the only time that Darryl Strawberry hit the cutoff man.”

Marge Schott settles a salary dispute with outfielder Kal Daniels by flipping a coin

Marge Schott settles a salary dispute with outfielder Kal Daniels by flipping a coin

1992 – The highest-paid player tag now belongs to Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs. The All-Star second baseman signs a four-year contract extension worth $7.1 million per season.

Astros’ broadcaster Milo Hamilton is named the annual Ford C. Frick Award winner for major contributions to baseball

1996 – At St. Petersburg’s Al Lang Field, two Japanese umpires work a game with two U.S. umpires. Osamu Ino is behind the plate as the Pirates whip the Cardinals, 11 – 2. “I thought they (the Japanese) did a good job,” comments Pirates manager Jim Leyland. “And even if they didn’t, you couldn’t argue with them.” In Dunedin, fellow Central League umpires Samio Murakoshi and Toshio Azuma are part of a four-man crew that works the Phillies’ 12 – 2 victory over the Blue Jays. Meanwhile, four umpires from the majors are on a nine-day tour of Nippon Pro Baseball.

Players Orlando Cepeda and Smokey Joe Williams, manager Frank Selee, and umpire Nestor Chylak are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.

In a Capitol Rotunda ceremony, with legislators from both the House and Senate and baseball commissioner Bud Selig in attendance, President George W. Bush awards the nation’s highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, posthumously to Jackie Robinson’s widow. Rachel, the widow of the courageous ball player, accepts the award for her late husband, who died in 1972.

With hundreds of Red Sox Nation citizens in attendance on the south lawn, President George W. Bush praises the team spirit and winning style of the 2004 World Champions during a White House ceremony. Fall Classic hero and Bush supporter Curt Schilling gives the former owner of the Texas Rangers a white baseball jersey emblazoned with the forty-third Chief Executive's name and the number 43.

With hundreds of Red Sox Nation citizens in attendance on the south lawn, President George W. Bush praises the team spirit and winning style of the 2004 World Champions during a White House ceremony. Fall Classic hero and Bush supporter Curt Schilling gives the former owner of the Texas Rangers a white baseball jersey emblazoned with the forty-third Chief Executive’s name and the number 43.

In the Washington Nationals’ first game since moving from Montreal, pitcher Tony Armas, Jr. tosses two hitless innings and Jose Guillen hits a two-run home run as the Nationals post a 5 – 3 triumph over the Mets in the Grapefruit League opener for both teams. The Expos played their first regular-season game against the Mets in 1969 and their last game against the Mets on October 3, 2004. In the first regular-season game between these franchises, Tom Seaver started for the Mets at Shea Stadium and Coco Laboy powered the Expos to an 11 – 10 victory. In their last meeting, Tom Glavine started for the Mets at Shea Stadium and Todd Zeile hit a home run to deal the Expos an 8 – 1 defeat. Wearing their regular-season home uniforms instead of the traditional batting practice spring training jerseys, the Nationals defeat Glavine this time.

Thirty-two years after his death, Jackie Robinson receives the Congressional Gold Medal in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, the highest honor Congress can bestow. The medal is accepted by Rachel Robinson, his widow. Baseball is represented in a way by former Texas Rangers executive George W. Bush. Robinson joins Roberto Clemente, Joe Louis and Jesse Owens as the only athletes among about 300 Gold Medal recipients. Following the ceremony, the Boston Red Sox are honored at the White House for winning the 2004 World Series.

Barry Bonds' Reality TV Show chronicling the slugger during his pursuit of Hank Aaron's career home run record will debut April 4th on ESPN2, the television network announces.

Barry Bonds’ Reality TV Show chronicling the slugger during his pursuit of Hank Aaron’s career home run record will debut April 4th on ESPN2, the television network announces.

Bret Boone retires at the New York Mets training camp, the culmination of a swift decline for a player who was one of baseball’s best second basemen only a few years ago.

Raúl Ibañez and the Seattle Mariners finalize an $11 million, two-year contract extension that runs through 2008.

At the Red Sox’s spring training in Fort Myers, FL, knuckleballer Tim Wakefield meets one of his greatest fans, 18-year-old Eri Yoshida of Japan. The 5′ 1″ righthander taught herself to throw the knuckleball by mimicking Wakefield in her backyard and is on a quest to become the first female player in Nippon Pro Baseball. She is still undecided as to whether she will pitch this season in the Japanese minor leagues, or accept a contract offer from the Chico Outlaws of the independent Golden Baseball League.

OF Rocco Baldelli is back with the Tampa Bay Rays, not as a player but as a special assistant to general manager Andrew Friedman. He is unable to play this season because of a shoulder injury, the latest in a long string of physical ailments that have derailed what once was a very promising career. At 28, he is not yet ready to call it quits, but is preparing a fall-back in case he cannot return to the playing field. He will retire definitely after playing in only a handful of games at the end of this season.

A fight breaks out in the Cubs dugout between P Carlos Silva and 3B Aramis Ramirez after a dreadful performance in the 1st inning of a Cactus League game against the Brewers, when the Cubs commit a slew of mistakes and fall behind 6 – 0. The fight reminds everyone of a similar occurrence in June of last season, when P Carlos Zambrano and 1B Derrek Lee came to blows in the dugout.

Projected Astros starting catcher Jason Castro tears a ligament in his knee while trying to avoid a tag in a spring training game against Detroit. He will miss the entire season.

The Indians send P Aaron Laffey to Seattle in return for OF Matt Lawson.

Major League Baseball confirms that starting this year, the postseason will be expanded from 8 to 10 teams, with an extra wild card team in each league. The two wild card teams in each league will play one game to determine which one will then face the team with the league’s best record in the Division Series.

The College Baseball Hall of Fame names its new class of inductees, consisting of players Lou Brock, Nomar Garciaparra, Brad Wilkerson and Tim Jorgensen, and coaches Ed Cheff, Frank Sancet and Wayne Graham.

NFL quarterback Russell Wilson at the Yankees’ camp

2019 – The Phillies introduce their new marquee player in free agent OF Bryce Harper, just signed to a record-breaking 13-year deal worth $330 million.

Mike Trout calls out Rob Manfred after lockout mess: ‘I want to play'

Mike Trout calls out Rob Manfred after lockout mess: ‘I want to play’

Major League Baseball Birthdays on March 2 

Todays Major League Debuts On  

Major League Baseball Debuts – To see all the Famous Debuts in baseball history check out the famous debut page

 

 

Todays Major League Final Games 

 

Major League Baseball – Famous LASTS! Check them all out here!

Major League Baseball Deaths On March 2

Major League Baseball Birthdays, Debuts, Final Games and Deaths, on **DATE** 

Todays Birthdays  – – – Check out all the famous Birthdays HERE

 

Major League Baseball Debuts – To see all the Famous Debuts in baseball history check out the famous debut page

 

Major League Baseball – Famous LASTS! Check them all out here!

 

Todays Passings  – – – Check out all the passing here!