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