1942 – Two black players, Jackie Robinson and Nate Moreland, request a tryout with the Chicago White Sox during spring training at Pasadena. Manager Jimmy Dykes allows the two to work out but later dismisses them.
1953 – The Milwaukee Braves become the first franchise shift in baseball since 1903, when Baltimore moved to New York. The Braves have been in Boston for 77 years. Milwaukee assumes Pittsburgh’s place in the Western Division for scheduling purposes and night games. The minor-league Milwaukee Brewers move to Toledo.
1958 – In a move to change their image, the Dodgers announce that clown Emmett Kelly will not perform in 1958.
1962 – Construction begins on the Houston Astrodome.
1981 – Carlton Fisk signs with the White Sox as a free agent.
1984 – White Sox coach Charlie Lau, renowned hitting instructor, dies at age 50 after a long bout with cancer. Lau, whose major league average was .255, earned his fame as the Royals batting coach from 1971-78, where his star pupil was George Brett.
1985 – Commissioner Peter Ueberroth reinstates Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, who had been banned from association with organized baseball by Bowie Kuhn due to their employment by Atlantic City casinos.
1990 – Players and owners reach a new collective bargaining agreement that will end the 32-day lockout of spring training camps. Highlights of the deal include increasing the clubs’ contributions to the players’ pension fund, raising the minimum major league salary to $100,000, and a compromise on salary arbitration that leaves 17 percent of players with between two and three years of major league experience eligible.
