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 This day in baseball march 5 in baseball history.
- Passed away – Pepper Martin, labeled “The Wild Horse of the Osage” by a Rochester sportswriter for his aggressive play, was the personification of the Cardinals’ Gashouse Gang. He played every facet of the game with passion. His bellyflop slides helped him to lead the NL in stolen bases and score more than 120 runs in each of three seasons. He dashed for every batted ball as if it were the seventh game of the World Series. In lopsided games, he would reportedly throw at batters who bunted instead of throwing them out at first. He got along well with manager Frankie Frisch, although his horseplay could exasperate the skipper.In the 1931 World Series, Martin batted .500, with five extra-base hits and five stolen bases. His career World Series batting average of .418 was the highest among players with 50 or more at-bats until David Ortiz and Pablo Sandoval passed him in 2013 and 2014.
- This Day In Baseball March 5, 1996 — The Veterans Committee elects four new members for the Hall of Fame, and just misses naming a fifth. The group elected includes fiery manager Earl Weaver, who had a .583 winning percentage in 17 seasons managing the Baltimore Orioles; pitcher Jim Bunning, who won 100 games in both leagues, including no-hitters in each circuit, one of them a perfect game; 19th-century manager Ned Hanlon, who won five National League pennants with the Baltimore Orioles (3) and Brooklyn (2), and Bill Foster, the top left-handed pitcher in the Negro Leagues. Nellie Fox receives the necessary 75% of the Committee’s votes, but the rules allow just one modern player elected, and Bunning has more votes.
- This Day In Baseball March 5, 1966, United Steelworkers union official Marvin Miller is named the executive director of the Major League Players Association. Under Miller’s guidance, the players union will make major gains such as salary increases, improvements in pension benefits, and the advent of free agency and salary arbitration.
- This Day In Baseball March 5, 1947, After acquiring Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg in 1947, the Pittsburgh Pirates made a significant change to Forbes Field. To accommodate Greenberg’s powerful hitting, the Pirates altered the left-field dimensions, bringing the fence closer by 30 feet. This section of the ballpark became known as “Greenberg Gardens.”
The modification was intended to increase Greenberg’s home run potential, capitalizing on his renowned slugging ability. Though Greenberg only played one season with the Pirates before retiring, “Greenberg Gardens” left a lasting mark on Forbes Field, symbolizing the team’s effort to adapt to and celebrate the talents of one of baseball’s greatest power hitters.
- This Day In Baseball March 5, 1945 — Bert Shepard, a one-legged veteran of the war, tries out as a pitcher for the Washington Senators. The symbol of wartime baseball, outfielder Pete Gray of the St. Louis Browns, will field and bat with only one arm.
Shepard will make one start in his career pitching 5.1 innings and giving up 3 hits and 1 run. He became a Senators coach the following season. He later went on to be a player/manager in the minors. He was a key participant on the National Amps baseball teams of former servicemen with amputations secondary to war injuries.
- This Day In Baseball March 5, 1922 — New York Yankees star Babe Ruth becomes the highest-paid player in history when he signs a three-year contract that will pay him over $50,000 per season. In 1921, Ruth led the American League with 59 home runs and 171 RBI.
The contract breaks down to $1,000 for each of the 156 weeks of the deal. In November, Yankees owner Colonel Jacob Ruppert has Ruth agree to a contract addendum which limits the slugger’s outrageous off-field behavior that includes the excessive consumption of alcohol and late-night carousing.
He will win his only MVP in 1923, he will avg 41 home runs, a 217 OPS+, and 1.233 OPS during the 3 years and lead NY to 2 World Series appearances, they will win it all in 1923, for the first time in franchise history.
