Events
edit- 1881 - Jim O'Rourke signs with the Buffalo Bisons. He boasts that the contract is for $2,000, Buffalo puts the figure at $1,300.
- 1917 - The Chicago White Sox acquire first baseman Chick Gandil from the Cleveland Indians for $3,500.
- 1933 - Tom Yawkey buys the Boston Red Sox from Bob Quinn.
- 1946 - Back from the military, Ted Williams hits the first spring training pitch he sees for a home run.
- 1972 - The St. Louis Cardinals trade Steve Carlton to the Philadelphia Phillies for Rick Wise.
- 1973 - Players and owners come to terms on a three-year collective bargaining agreement. The new deal allows teams to open up spring training on March 1. Among the provisions of the agreement are a $15,000 minimum salary, salary arbitration, and the '10 and five' trade rule, which permits a player with 10 years in the major leagues, the last five of which are with his current team, to veto any trade involving him.
- 1975 - The Baltimore Orioles trade Boog Powell to the Cleveland Indians for Dave Duncan and a minor leaguer.
- 1987 - Commissioner of Baseball Peter Ueberroth bans LaMarr Hoyt from major league baseball during the 1987 season due to multiple drug-related incidents during the past year.
- 1994 - The Veterans Committee elects Phil Rizzuto to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- 1998 - Jack McDowell signs a one-year contract with the Anaheim Angels.
- 1999 - The Arizona Diamondbacks acquire second baseman Tony Womack from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for two players.
- 2003 - Joe Carter is selected to be inducted into Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
- 2009 - Joe Borowski announces his retirement.
Births
edit- 1854 - Ed Cogswell, infielder (d. 1888)
- 1856 - Jim Britt, pitcher (d. 1923)
- 1863 - Hezekiah Allen, catcher (d. 1916)
- 1875 - Johnny Kling, catcher, manager (d. 1947)
- 1884 - Bob Bescher, outfielder (d. 1942)
- 1889 - Dave Morey, pitcher (d. 1986)
- 1889 - Elmer Rieger, pitcher (d. 1959)
- 1897 - Bob Vines, pitcher (d. 1982)
- 1900 - Joe Burns, catcher (d. 1986)
- 1908 - Al Hollingsworth, pitcher (d. 1996)
- 1911 - Roy Weir, pitcher (d. 1989)
- 1912 - Jim Hayes, pitcher (d. 1993)
- 1915 - Roy Weatherly, outfielder (d. 1991)
- 1919 - Monte Irvin, outfielder; All-Star, Hall of Famer
- 1921 - Andy Pafko, outfielder; All-Star
- 1924 - Jack Lohrke, infielder
- 1929 - Syd Thrift, general manager (d. 2006)
- 1931 - Jim Dunn, pitcher (d. 1999)
- 1936 - Jerry Reinsdorf, owner
- 1939 - Denny Lemaster, pitcher; All-Star
- 1940 - Danny Cater, infielder
- 1940 - Ron Santo, infielder; All-Star
- 1941 - Dave Vineyard, pitcher
- 1944 - Stump Merrill, manager
- 1951 - César Cedeño, outfielder; All-Star
- 1954 - Bob Brenly, catcher, manager; All-Star
- 1956 - Kevin Hickey, pitcher
- 1956 - Ed Lynch, pitcher
- 1959 - Ken Dayley, pitcher
- 1961 - Dana Kiecker, pitcher
- 1963 - Larry Arndt, infielder
- 1963 - Paul O'Neill, outfielder; All-Star
- 1964 - Rich Rowland, catcher
- 1968 - David Hulse, outfielder
- 1969 - Huck Flener, pitcher
- 1969 - Les Norman, outfielder
- 1974 - Shannon Stewart, outfielder
- 1979 - Josh Labandeira, infielder
Deaths
edit- 1916 - Art Allison, outfielder (b. 1849)
- 1926 - Otto Hess, pitcher (b. 1878)
- 1934 - John McGraw, infielder, manager; Hall of Famer (b. 1873)
- 1937 - George Darby, pitcher (b. 1869)
- 1951 - Cyclone Joe Williams, Hall of Famer (b. 1885)
- 1956 - Jack Lewis, infielder (b. 1884)
- 1962 - Tink Turner, pitcher (b. 1890)
- 1963 - Bill Hughes, pitcher (b. 1896)
- 1966 - Garland Braxton, pitcher (b. 1900)
- 1969 - Russ Wrightstone, infielder (b. 1893)
- 1981 - Frank McCrea, catcher (b. 1896)
- 1986 - George Susce, catcher (b. 1907)
- 1997 - Cal Abrams, outfielder (b. 1924)
- 1998 - Joe Gallagher, outfielder (b. 1914)
- 2001 - Bitsy Mott, infielder (b. 1918)
- 2005 - Don LeJohn, infielder (b. 1934)