In Play Magazine
1948 At Ebbets Field No. 2, the Dodgers play their first exhibition game at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, which will remain the team's home for 61 years. Amidst much fanfare, including Governor Millard Caldwell throwing the ceremonial first pitch, Jackie Robinson homers in the first inning as Brooklyn beats its top farm club, the Montreal Royals, 5-4.
1958 Indians Gene Woodling, Dick Williams and Bud Daley are traded to the Orioles for Larry Doby and Don Ferrarese.
1961 The Pacific Coast League's proposal to use a designated hitter for the pitcher is rejected by the Professional Baseball Rules Committee by a vote of 8-1. The first use of the DH will occur in the American League in 1973.
1968 The AmericanLeague's new franchise in Seattle chooses Pilots as its nickname.
1982 Rangers trade outfielder/first baseman Al Oliver to the Expos for outfielder/third baseman Larry Parrish and minor league first baseman Dave Hostetler.
1984 On a televised episode of ABC’s Sports Beat, Howard Cossell informs interviewee Roger Maris of the Yankees' plan to retire the slugger's number 9 at the Old Timers game ceremonies in July. The former Bronx Bomber’s reaction is at first is disbelief, followed by a genuine pleasure for being recognized for his achievements during his seven years with the team.
1993 Bill White, the first black to serve as a league president, resigns from his National League post. The former Cardinal first baseman will remain at the job until March of 1994.
1994 The Mets trade hard-luck right hander Anthony Young to the Cubs for shortstop Jose Vizcaino. A-Yo holds the major league record for the most consecutive losses by a pitcher.
1994 The White Sox assign NBA superstar Michael Jordan to Birmingham Barons of the Class AA Southern League.
1995 A crowd of 47,536 fans flock to the first baseball game ever played at Coors Field. Due the strike, the exhibition game is played replacement players with the Rockies beating the Yankees, 4-1
1996 For the first time in history, the major league season opens in March with Mariners beating the White Sox in 12 innings, 3-2.
1998 In the longest scoreless opener in National League history pinch-hitter Alberto Castillo's single with two outs and the bases loaded gives the Mets a 1-0, 14-inning victory over the Phillies.The longest Opening Day game in major league history occurred in 1926 when the Senators blanked the Philadelphia A's in 15 innings, 1-0 .
1998 At Atlanta's Turner Field, all -time home run leader and fan favorite, Hank Aaron, helps to mark Milwaukee's historic return to the National League with a rare on-the-field appearance.
1998 In front of a sellout crowd of 47,484 at Bank One Ballpark, the Arizona Diamondback lose to the Rockies, 9-2. The seven run difference matches the '62 Mets and the '77 Mariners for the most-lopsided lost by an expansion team in their first game.
1998 The Tigers spoil the Devil Rays major league debut beating the American League's newest team, 6-2 at Tropicana Field in Tampa.
1998 With a rare on-the-field appearance, Hank Aaron helps to mark Milwaukee's historic return to the Senior Circuit as the Brewers play their inaugural game as a National League team losing to the Braves at Turner Field, 2-1. Milwaukee is the first team since the inception of the American League in 1901 to switch leagues.
2003 On Opening Day for most of the clubs, MLB.com, the web site of major league baseball, has more than 10 million hits setting a new record. The previous mark was set last season on the final day of online voting for All-Star game starters when 3.6 million visitors were attracted to the site.
2003 Substituting for his son, a former lefty first baseman at Yale, George Bush, throws the Great American Ball Park's ceremonial first pitch as the Reds make their debut in their new ballpark. The former president and the sell-out crowd of 42,263 flag-waving fans enjoy the patriotic pre-game ceremonies and then watch the Pirates rout Cincinnati, 10-1.
2003 At Shea Stadium, the Mets Opening Day lineup includes the first regular starting double play combination in major league history featuring natives from Puerto Rico. Second baseman Roberto Alomar and shortstop Rey Sanchez combine to make two twin killings as the Cubs drub New York, 15-2.
2004 With a 12-1 of the Devil Rays in Tokyo, Kevin Brown becomes the second pitcher in history to have defeated all of the thirty major league teams. The 39-year old right-hander joins Al Leiter who accomplished the feat last season pitching for the Mets.
2005 The Orioles and MLB agree on a deal which will allow Nationals games to be televised. A joint venture backed by MLB will allow fans in the Baltimore-Washington area to enjoy telecasts of both franchises and will ensure the Orioles fans in the nation’s capitol will still have an opportunity to watch their ‘Birds’.
2007 In the MLB's inaugural Civil Rights game, the Cardinals beat the Indians at AutoZone Park in Memphis, 5-1. The exhibition game, planned to be an annual event, is designed to celebrate and honor baseball's historical role in the nation's civil rights movement.
2008 On Opening Day, the Reds pay tribute to Joe Nuxhall by wearing the number 41 on their uniforms. The team’s beloved broadcaster, who spent over 60 years with the organization, including his major debut as a 15-year old hurler, died during the off-season at the age of 79.
2008 Outside of Wrigley Field, the Cubs unveil a statue of Ernie Banks done by Lou Cella. The typographical error on the base of the statue, "Lets play two", is quickly corrected when the sculptor comes down to the ballpark two days later and carves the needed apostrophe.
2009 The Tigers unexpectedly release Gary Shefield despite having $14 million left on the $28 million, two-year contract extension given to the DH/outfielder after being acquired from the Yankees in a trade for prospects. The 40-year old nine-time All-Star needs to hit one more dinger to become the 25th major league player to hit 500 career home runs.
