On March 25 in Baseball History...

    1910 - Hugh Chalmers, the president of the Chalmers Motor Car Company of Detroit, announces his Model 30, one of the most luxurious autos of its day, will be awarded to the player with the highest batting average this season. The prize will lead to controversy when Cleveland infielder Nap Lajoie beats out seven bunts, thanks to the Browns' Red Corriden purposely playing deep at third base, to go 8-for-9 on the last day of the season raising his average to .384 in an attempt to surpass Ty Cobb for the batting title.

    1935 - The Cubs sell Pat Malone to the Yankees. The right-hander will go 12-4 in 1936, but will post only a 19-13 record in his three years with the Bronx Bombers.

    1945 - Tryouts are granted to pitcher Terris McDuffie and first baseman Dave Thomas when a group of blacks appear at the Dodger offices in Brooklyn. The two players will work out at Ebbets Field in front of Branch Rickey on April 7.

    1959 - Infielder Bill White, along with third baseman Ray Jablonski, is traded to the Cardinals by the Giants in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Don Choate and left-hander Sam Jones. Although southpaw "Sudden Sam' will have three solid seasons in San Francisco, including a 20-win season, the Redbirds' new first baseman will become a perennial all-star and gold glover during his eight-year tenure in St. Louis.

    1962 - Elvin Tappe is named as the Cubs first head coach of the season in the team's college of coaches plan. Chicago hasn't had a manager since 1960.

    1963 - The Reds sell journey man pitcher Johnny Klippstein to the Phillies. After going 7-7 over two seasons with Philadelphia, the 37-year old box salesman will help the Twins win the pennant in 1965 posting a 9-3 record.

    1981 - Phillies trade Bob Walk to the Braves for outfielder Gary Matthews. The team's new center fielder will play outstanding defense along with three solid seasons at the plate for Philadelphia while Atlanta's new right-hander will compile a 12-13 record with a 4.85 during his three-year tenure with the club.

    1985 - It's bad news for the Cubs when a judge rules laws banning night games are constitutional. The Cubs brought suit after having to give up a home playoff game last season due to the lack of lights at Wrigley.

    1989 - The Pirates and Indians swap shortstops with Jay Bell going to the Steel City and Felix Fermin joining the Tribe. Pittsburgh's new slick infielder will serve as the team's starting shortstop for the next eight seasons.

    1997 - The Indians send Kenny Lofton (.317, 14, 67) and Alan Embree (3-1, 2.79) to the Braves for Marquis Grissom (.262, 10, 57) and David Justice (.337, 30, 88). The deal saves $5.8 million in salaries for Atlanta and helps the team to sign hurlers Greg Maddux ($57.5 million, five-year) and Tom Glavine ($34 million, four-year).

    2006 - Acknowledging he may never play again, Jeff Bagwell announces he will start the season on the disabled list and will seek consultation to find out if removing bone spurs from his shoulder would be beneficial in prolonging his career. The 37-year old first baseman must stay on the injured list all season for the Astros to collect $15.6 million of the $17 million guaranteed contract from an insurance claim filed in January.


    2008 - At the Tokyo Dome in Japan, the Red Sox beat the A's, 6-5, in the earliest major league opener ever played. Manny Ramirez's tenth inning double gives the victory to Hideki Okajima, who used to pitch in this stadium for the hometown Yomiuri Giants.

    2008 - Miguel Cabrera (.320, 34, 119), acquired by the Tigers in a trade at the winter meetings with the Marlins, agrees to $152.3 million, eight-year deal to play with the team. The All-Star third baseman had previously agreed to an $11.3 million, one-year contract in January.

    2013 - The Milwaukee Brewers signed Kyle Lohse as a free agent.

    2014 - The Minnesota Twins signed Matt Guerrier as a free agent.

    2016 - The Minnesota Twins released Ryan Sweeney.

    2016 - The Houston Astros released Neal Cotts.



    Baseball Birthdays on March 25...

    1856 - Powell, Martin
    1861 - Scanlan, Patrick
    1862 - Gagus, Charlie
    1863 - Smith, Fred
    1866 - McKeon, Larry
    1866 - Lyons, Harry
    1868 - Dwyer, Frank
    1874 - Carney, Bill
    1875 - Riddlemoser, Dorsey
    1879 - Walsh, John
    1881 - Charles, Chappy
    1883 - Brown, Elmer
    1884 - Lavender, Jimmy
    1886 - Walsh, Jimmy
    1887 - Milan, Clyde
    1891 - McLarry, Polly
    1900 - Miller, Russ
    1901 - Grigsby, Denver
    1909 - Leonard, Dutch
    1913 - Maynard, Buster
    1915 - Hartje, Chris
    1919 - Evans, Bill
    1920 - Lowry, Sam
    1922 - Bowers, Billy
    1930 - Minarcin, Rudy
    1932 - Craddock, Walt
    1932 - Held, Woodie
    1933 - Chittum, Nelson
    1938 - Koch, Alan
    1944 - Britton, Jim
    1945 - Ellis, Jim
    1948 - Nagy, Mike
    1955 - Mazzilli, Lee
    1962 - Kunkel, Jeff
    1965 - Kutzler, Jerry
    1966 - Glavine, Tom
    1967 - Barnes, Brian
    1969 - Sanders, Scott
    1969 - Fryman, Travis
    1969 - Menhart, Paul
    1969 - Helfand, Eric
    1969 - Schullstrom, Erik
    1969 - Wilson, Dan
    1972 - Battle, Howard
    1975 - Mejia, Miguel
    1977 - Jodie, Brett
    1980 - Cotts, Neal
    1987 - Ryu, Hyun-Jin
    1987 - Yates, Kirby
    1990 - Arruebarrena, Erisbel
    1991 - Zunino, Mike
    1993 - Maton, Phil



    Baseball Deaths on March 25...

    1897 - Quarles, Bill
    1904 - Arundel, Harry
    1906 - Cassidy, Joe
    1921 - Arndt, Harry
    1928 - Smoot, Homer
    1929 - Meeker, Roy
    1930 - Krieg, Bill
    1933 - Donovan, Tom
    1936 - Hagan, Art
    1939 - Chaplin, Tiny
    1941 - Hickey, Eddie
    1946 - Schumann, Hack
    1949 - Riley, Jim
    1950 - Tebeau, Pu$$y
    1951 - Collins, Eddie
    1951 - Daub, Dan
    1953 - Griesenbeck, Tim
    1958 - Shaw, Al
    1966 - Morrisette, Bill
    1981 - Morgan, Red
    1985 - Wood, Joe
    1985 - Barclay, Curt
    1986 - Grant, George
    2005 - Zupo, Frank
    2009 - Blanchard, Johnny
    2013 - Sleater, Lou
    2015 - Slayback, Bill
    2017 - Faszholz, Jack