On March 19 in Baseball History...

    1941 - Recently released from the Cardinals, Paul Dean signs with the Giants. Although 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.

    1957 - In what is believed to be the largest offer for a player to date, the Indians reject Boston's bid of $1 million for Herb Score. Cleveland General Manager Hank Greenberg says that the team is interested in building for the future, not in selling its best ballplayers. Six weeks later Score is struck in the eye by Gil McDougald's liner.

    1960 - Red Sox catcher Sammy White announces he will retire rather than report to Cleveland, where he had been traded.

    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.

    1984 - Denny McLain, the last major league pitcher to achieve a 30-win season, is indicted on various charges of racketeering, loan-sharking, extortion, and coc@ine possession.

    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 a 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 deal 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.

    2014 - The San Francisco Giants released Mark Teahen.



    Baseball Birthdays on March 19...

    1868 - Smith, Skyrocket
    1871 - McGinnity, Joe
    1874 - Evans, Roy
    1881 - Maharg, Billy
    1884 - Engle, Clyde
    1884 - Messenger, Bobby
    1887 - Covington, Tex
    1891 - Schauer, Rube
    1894 - Wambsganss, Bill
    1894 - Torkelson, Red
    1897 - Bowman, Elmer
    1908 - Walker, Gee
    1915 - Gonzales, Joe
    1927 - Ashburn, Richie
    1931 - Smith, Paul
    1935 - Brickell, Fritz
    1940 - Smith, Pete
    1947 - Mangual, Angel
    1947 - Rose, Don
    1947 - Jestadt, Garry
    1948 - Powell, Paul
    1953 - Corcoran, Tim
    1955 - Norris, Mike
    1962 - Calderon, Ivan
    1963 - Jackson, Chuck
    1964 - Hamilton, Jeff
    1966 - Scruggs, Tony
    1968 - Young, Pete
    1971 - Cromer, D.T.
    1974 - Coppinger, Rocky
    1974 - LaRue, Jason
    1975 - Whiteley, Shad
    1977 - Ross, David
    1981 - Castillo, Jose
    1981 - Clarke, Darren
    1982 - Powell, Landon
    1984 - Downs, Matt
    1988 - Kershaw, Clayton


    Baseball Deaths on March 19...

    1902 - Burns, Tom
    1926 - Hutchison, Bill
    1928 - Lovett, Tom
    1931 - Gannon, Joe
    1934 - Jansen, Ray
    1937 - Williams, Otto
    1944 - Dunn, Joe
    1944 - Kelly, John
    1949 - Eagan, Truck
    1954 - Fahey, Frank
    1954 - Babb, Charlie
    1955 - Hovlik, Ed
    1955 - Stultz, George
    1968 - Almeida, Rafael
    1969 - Swindell, Josh
    1972 - Hinkle, Gordie
    1973 - Leverenz, Walt
    1974 - Greene, June
    1974 - Murray, Tony
    1976 - Gallia, Bert
    1981 - Beck, Zinn
    1989 - Malay, Joe
    2000 - Williams, Dewey
    2003 - Buzas, Joe
    2011 - McAvoy, Tim
    2011 - Rush, Bob
    2017 - McDonald, Dave
    2018 - LeMay, Dick