1941 Recently released from the Cardinals, Paul Dean signs with the Giants. Altough he goes 4-for-4, New York also releases Dizzy's brother.
1951 Tiger player representative Fred Hutchinson asks for the players to have input in the selection of the new commissioner.
1970 Indian Ken Harrelson fractures his leg and will miss most of the season.
1977 A's pitcher Paul Lindblad is sold to the Rangers for $400,000 Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, unlike his previous Oakland A's decision, does not void the deal as not being in the best interest of baseball.
1989 Hoping to replace the injured Dave Winfield, the Yankees trade catcher Joel Skinner and a minor leaguer to the Indians for outfielder Mel Hall. The future Hall of Fame outfielder will miss the entire season due to back surgery.
2002 The Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network (YES) makes its debut as regional cable TV channel. The team-owned network, similar to NESN of the Red Sox, will carry Bronx Bombers games as well as covering New Jersey Nets NBA contests.
2005 After avoiding salary arbitration by signing a one-year $10.5 million deal worth in the off season, Lance Berkman agrees to a six-year, $85 million contract. The three-time All-Star outfielder will be an Astro until 2010 with the club holding the option for an additional year.
2008 The Red Sox players voted to boycott playing in their exhibition game, scheduled to be televised nationally from the City of Palms Park, and tomorrow’s flight to Japan for the season-opening series against the A's. The dispute, which is over coaches not receiving the same $40,000 stipend negotiated by the players union, is resolved within a few hours with the game against the Blue Jays starting an hour later than planned.
