1874 – During the fourth gathering of the National Association in Boston, the introduction of the batter’s box is formally approved. Additionally, it is determined that any player found wagering on their own team will face expulsion, while those betting on opposing teams will lose their wages.
1908 – After a two-year investigation, the Mills Commission, formed on the recommendation of Al Spalding and headed by the former N.L. president A. G. Mills, declares that baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, New York, in 1839. Overwhelming evidence to the contrary is ignored, but the designation makes James Fenimore Cooper’s town the most likely site for a Hall of Fame and museum when these establishments are conceived some 30 years later.
1972 – Mets manager Gil Hodges dies of a heart attack at West Palm Beach, Florida, two days shy of his 48th birthday. Yogi Berra is named manager.
1976 – The A’s trade prospective free agents Reggie Jackson and Ken Holtzman, together with a minor league pitcher, to the Orioles for outfielder Don Baylor and pitchers Mike Torrez and Paul Mitchell.
1982 – In an exhibition game against the Padres, A’s pitcher Steve McCatty steps to the plate wielding a 15-inch toy bat on the instructions of manager Billy Martin, who was upset that his club was not allowed to use a designated hitter in spring training games at N.L. parks. Home plate umpire Jim Quick refuses to let McCatty use the bat, and McCatty takes three called strikes.
1995 – The longest strike in major league history, which began on August 12, 1994, concludes. With the first 23 days of this season scrapped and 252 games from the previous season sacrificed, team owners agree to the players’ March 31st offer to resume play without conditions. This return-to-work choice by the players follows a US District Court’s injunction that reinstates the terms and conditions of the lapsed agreement. Teams are set to play an 144-game season.
1996 – Lumbering Tigers slugger Cecil Fielder steals the first base of his career in his 1,097th game. He’ll steal another before season’s end.
1997 – In an unprecedented move within Major League Baseball, the salary of a single player surpasses the entire payroll of another team. The Chicago White Sox are set to compensate Albert Belle with $10 million for the season, exceeding the total payroll of the Pittsburgh Pirates by $928,333.
1997 – Gary Sheffield reaches agreement on a six-year, $61 million contract extension with the Marlins. While this contract marks the highest total dollar amount in baseball history, it ranks third in terms of annual salary. It falls behind Albert Belle’s contract with the White Sox from 1996 to 2000 at $11 million annually and Barry Bonds’ deal with the Giants from 1993 to 1998 at $11,131,157 per year.
2001 – In a groundbreaking moment for Major League Baseball, a Japanese position player takes the field during a regular season game. Seattle Mariners’ outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, despite going hitless in his initial three at-bats, delivers a single in the 7th inning, sparking a two-run rally. He follows this with another single through a bunt in the 8th during his debut at Safeco Field. Remarkably, he later earns both the American League Rookie of the Year and MVP honors for the year.
2001 – During Opening Day, New York Yankees’ pitcher Roger Clemens claims the title of the all-time American League strikeout leader, surpassing Walter Johnson. Kansas City Royals’ infielder Joe Randa becomes his 3,509th strikeout. With this achievement, Clemens ascends to the seventh position in major league history, overtaking Johnson.
2001 – Tony Gwynn becomes the fifth player in National League history to spend 20+ years while playing his entire career with one team. The others are: Cap Anson (1871-1897 Cubs), Mel Ott (1926-1947 Giants), Stan Musial (1941-1944, 1946-1963 Cardinals), and Willie Stargell (1962-1982 Pirates).
2002 – The 6′-11″ Jon Rauch becomes the tallest pitcher to appear in a big league game.
2003 – In the 1st inning, Mike Bordick’s impressive streak of error-free games and total chances as a shortstop comes to an end. Bordick mishandles his second opportunity of the game, setting a new major league record for shortstops with 544 chances and 110 consecutive games without an error.
2003 – The Detroit Tigers make history as the first major league team to introduce four pitchers in their big league debuts within a single game. Rookie starter Jeremy Bonderman, yielding six runs on nine hits over four innings, is succeeded by newcomers Wilfredo Ledezma, Chris Spurling, and Matt Roney in their 8-1 defeat against the Minnesota Twins.
2003 – Todd Zeile hits a home run in his first at-bat for the New York Yankees, becoming the only major leaguer to hit a home run for ten different teams. In addition to homering with the Yankees, Zeile had also hit home run as a member of the Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies, Orioles, Dodgers, Marlins, Rangers, Mets, and Rockies. He will add the Montreal Expos to the list before the end of the year.
2003 – Alex Rodriguez becomes the youngest player in major league history to hit 300 home runs
2008 – Kevin Youkilis establishes the longest errorless streak by a first baseman, playing the field flawlessly for 194 games
2011 – It’s a bad day for Edgar Martinez. First, Ichiro Suzuki breaks his Mariner’s franchise record for hits. And then David Ortiz breaks his Major League record for RBI by a designated hitter.
2017 – Madison Bumgartner becomes the first pitcher to homer twice on Opening Day.
