From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Events

• 1954 - Boston Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams breaks his collarbone in his first spring training practice and will be out until May 15.
• 1962 - The Detroit Tigers sign University of Detroit basketball star Dave DeBusschere.
• 1963 - The New York Mets purchase veteran outfielder Duke Snider from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• 1969 - Mickey Mantle retires.
  • The Seattle Pilots trade Lou Piniella to the Kansas City Royals for two prospects.
• 1970 - An ownership group headed up by automobile dealer Bud Selig buys the Seattle Pilots for $10.8 million.
• 1982 - The New York Mets trade Lee Mazzilli to the Texas Rangers for Ron Darling and Walt Terrell.
• 1985 - The April 1 issue of Sports Illustrated contains an April Fool's Day article by George Plimpton about a New York Mets pitching prospect named Sidd Finch, whose fastball has been timed at 168 miles per hour.
• 1987 - The Pittsburgh Pirates trade Tony Peña to the St. Louis Cardinals for Mike LaValliere, Andy Van Slyke, and Mike Dunne.
• 1988 - For the first time since 1956, the Veterans Committee does not elect anyone to the Baseball Hall of Fame, passing over Phil Rizzuto, Leo Durocher, Joe Gordon, and Gil Hodges.
• 1996 - Longtime umpire John McSherry collapses and dies from a heart attack on Opening Day at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium.
• 2008 - The New York Yankees set a MLB record by winning their 11th straight home opener.
• 2008 - The South Coast League suspends its operations after only one season of play.

Births

• 1856 - Ed Kennedy, outfielder (d. 1905)
• 1857 - Dan Cronin, infielder/outfielder (d. 1885)
• 1858 - Fred Mann, outfielder (d. 1916)
• 1858 - John Russ, pitcher/outfielder (d. 1912)
• 1860 - Wes Curry, pitcher (d. 1933)
• 1884 - Hugo Bezdek, manager (d. 1952)
• 1892 - Claude Cooper, outfielder (d. 1974)
• 1904 - Jack Cummings, catcher (d. 1962)
• 1911 - Bob Brown, pitcher (d. 1990)
• 1912 - Jake Wade, pitcher (d. 2006)
• 1913 - Buster Bray, outfielder (d. 1982)
• 1914 - George Bradley, outfielder (d. 1982)
• 1915 - Jeff Heath, outfielder; All-Star (d. 1975)
• 1916 - George Staller, outfielder (d. 1992)
• 1921 - Red Murff, pitcher (d. 2008)
• 1929 - Bo Schembechler, executive (d. 2006)
• 1934 - Rod Kanehl, infielder (d. 2004)
• 1935 - Tom Qualters, pitcher
• 1936 - Ron Perranoski, pitcher
• 1936 - Ted Sadowski, pitcher (d. 1993)
• 1939 - Phil Niekro, pitcher; All-Star, Hall of Famer
• 1944 - Rusty Staub, outfielder; All-Star
• 1948 - Willie Montanez, infielder; All-Star
• 1952 - Mike Bacsik, pitcher
• 1953 - Larry Murray, outfielder
• 1957 - Manny Castillo, infielder
• 1958 - Mike Kinnunen, pitcher
• 1962 - Rich Amaral, outfielder
• 1968 - Masumi Kuwata, pitcher
• 1969 - Frank Castillo, pitcher
• 1970 - Matt Herges, pitcher

Deaths

• 1914 - Rube Waddell, pitcher; Hall of Famer (b. 1876)
• 1922 - Leech Maskrey, outfielder (b. 1854)
• 1922 - Harry Smith, catcher (b. 1890)
• 1926 - Al Martin, infielder/outfielder (b. 1847)
• 1928 - Marr Phillips, infielder (b. 1857)
• 1934 - Barney Gilligan, catcher (b. 1856)
• 1943 - Pat Deasley, catcher (b. 1857)
• 1946 - George Strief, infielder (b. 1856)
• 1947 - Mike Lynch, outfielder (b. 1875)
• 1948 - Heinie Jantzen, outfielder (b. 1890)
• 1964 - Casey Hageman, pitcher (b. 1887)
• 1965 - Ernie Walker, outfielder (b. 1890)
• 1966 - John Sullivan, outfielder (b. 1890)
• 1991 - Frankie Gustine, infielder; All-Star (b. 1920)
• 1996 - John McSherry, umpire (b. 1944)
• 2001 - Jo-Jo Moore, outfielder; All-Star (b. 1908)
• 2007 - Herb Carneal, announcer (b. 1923)
• 2007 - Lou Limmer, infielder (b. 1925)