1901 Baltimore manager John McGraw signs Tokohoma, a Cherokee Indian. Tokohoma turns out to be really a black second baseman named Charlie Grant.
1933 During an exhibition game in L.A., a significant earthquake sends the Cubs and Giants scurrying to second base until the tremors stop.
1933 After a six year absence, Rogers Hornsby returns to the Cardinals as a player. The 'Rajah' was fired as the Cubs' manager last August.
1953 Braves' owner Lou Perini proposes a ban on any major league franchise shift to an existing minor league city until October 1st.
1953 The Dodgers defeat the A's, 4-2, in the first game played in Holman Stadium, their Grapefruit League ballpark at the team's spring training complex in Vero Beach, better known as Dodgertown. Fifty-five years later Carl Erskine, the game's starting pitcher, will return to play the national anthem on his harmonica as an 81-year old at the club's last game at the storied facility.
1957 Representative Emanuel Celler, whose congressional committee has investigated baseball, calls Commissioner Ford Frick a czar.
1958 American League batters this season will be required to wear batting helmets.
2001 Preston Wilson signs a $32 million, five-year contract with Florida. The 26-year old Marlin center fielder, the franchise's first 30-30 player, was obtained from the Mets in the Mike Piazza deal.
2004 In the first game to be played at Petco Park, the San Diego Padres' new home, establishes a new record for the best attended game in college baseball history as 40,106 fans watch Tony Gwynn's San Diego State Aztecs beat University of Hawaii, 4-0. The previous mark of 27,673 was established in 2002 when state rivals LSU and Tulane met in theNew Orlean's Superdome.
2006 First baseman Nick Johnson (.289, 15, 74) and the Nationals agree to a $16.5 million, three-year contract extension. The 27-year first baseman, who signed a $3.2 million, one-year deal in January to avoid arbitration, has often been injured since making his big league debut with the Yankees five years ago.
