Classic Baseball Daily Highlights

April 3, 1987, the Chicago Cubs trade Dennis Eckersley for 3 minor league players to the Oakland A's. At one time trading "The Eck" would have been big news! However, at the time the Eck was a struggling pitcher heading towards the end of his effectiveness.  Unknown to Oakland or Chicago the Eck had already taken incredible steps to turn his life around.  Here is the story of the trade...

Happy Birthday, Luke Appling!   Born in High Point, North Carolina on April 2, 1907, Lucius Benjamin Appling moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his family as a child. After graduating from Fulton High School, where he played baseball and football, Appling attended Oglethorpe College in Georgia for two years. Appling starred on the university's baseball team, while also playing fullback on the foot...

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On March 29, 1867 — Denton True “Cy” Young is born in Gilmore, a tiny village near Newcomerstown, Ohio. Young will earn his nickname for his cyclone-like pitching motion and he will win (and lose) more games than any pitcher in major league history with a 511-316 record and a 2.63 ERA over 22 seasons. Young will win 20 or more games 15 times, and top the 30-win mark five times. He will be elected...

On March 28, 1913, the St. Louis Browns make an unusual “trade,” sending infielder Clyde “Buzzy” Wares to the Montgomery Rebels a minor league team in exchange for the rental of a stadium. The Montgomery Rebels will allow the Browns to use their stadium during spring training-rent free. he Southern Association Class-A team will return the 26 year-old infielder to St. Louis later in the season. He...

On March 27, 1879 —– Miller Huggins is born in Cincinnati, Ohio. A second baseman adept at getting on base, Huggins will lead the National League in walks four times, score 100 or more runs three times, and regularly collect 30 or more stolen bases and an on-base percentage near .400. He will start as a player-manager with the St. Louis Cardinals before heading to the New York Yankees in 1918. Hug...

On March 26, 1951 —– In an exhibition game at the University of Southern California, Mickey Mantle propels a home run estimated at 654 to 660 feet. The shot clears Bovard Field and then goes the width of a practice football field before landing. Mantle has two homers, a bases-loaded triple, and drives in seven runs as the Yankees flunk the Trojans, 15 – 1. Listen to Mickey talk New York, Hank Aaro...

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On March 21, 1975, Hall of Fame outfielder Joe “Ducky” Medwick dies in Saint Petersburg, Florida at the age of 63. As one of the feared hitters on the famed “Gashouse Gang,” Medwick clubbed 205 home runs and batted .324 over a 17-year career. Medwick gained election to the Hall of Fame in 1968. Listen to the hall of fame interview conducted on February 2 1968 - https://collection.baseballhall.org/...

On March 20, 1973 — Roberto Clemente becomes the first Hispanic American to gain election to the Hall of Fame. The Baseball Writers Association of America announces the results of a special ballot, with Clemente receiving 393 of 424 votes. Clemente died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve. In light of his tragic death, the Hall’s Board of Directors waived the five-year waiting period that is normal...

On March 19, 1927 --- Don Richard (Richie) Ashburn is born in Tilden, Nebraska. A five-time All-Star, Ashburn will be a solid center fielder and a solid hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies. He will hit over .300 during 9 of his 15 major league seasons, twice capturing the National League batting title and conclude his career with a .308 lifetime average. Following his playing career, he will call...

March 17, 1918: A young Babe Ruth, still primarily a pitcher, slugs a pair of home runs during a spring training game at Whittington Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The second long ball is thought to be the first 500-plus foot blast in baseball history. The Herculean shot—hit off Brooklyn Robins hurler Norman Plitt—soared far over the fence in deep right-center, coming to rest in the middle of an i...

On March 16, 1907 -- After watching Ty Cobb quarrel with a black groundskeeper and with teammate Charlie Schmidt, Tiger manager Hugh Jennings was tired of dealing with Cobb's abrasive behavior and tries to deal him to the Cleveland Naps for outfielder Elmer Flick. The Naps turned down a trade with the Tigers which would have exchanged Flick for the 21-year-old Cobb. They countered with Bunk Co...

March 14, 2003 — Milwaukee Brewers TV/Radio play-by-play announcer Bob Uecker is chosen for induction into the broadcasters’ wing of the Hall of Fame as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award. The 68-year-old former back-up catcher, who joined the Milwaukee broadcast crew in 1971, is best known for the humor he has brought to the game through his starring role in the cult movie Major League and...

March 12, 1956  in Portland, OR . . . One of the most talented and complete players of the 1980s, Dale Murphy won two Most Valuable Player Awards and clubbed 398 homers while maintaining a squeeky-clean image. He was one of the most respected and popular stars of his era. He led the National League in homers, RBI, and slugging twice each. Though he declined rapidly late in his career, in his prime...

Big John Mize won four National League home run titles, a batting title and three RBI crowns. He was revered by fans in St. Louis and New York, where he ended his career by playing on five World Series champions in his last seasons as a Yankee. In the 1952 Fall Classic against the Dodgers he belted homer sin games three, four and five, batting .400 with six RBI. Mentioned in this episode: Classic...

Robert Arthur Elson  (March 22, 1904 – March 10, 1981 [1] ) was a pioneering American  sportscaster  who was the voice of the  Chicago White Sox  for all or parts of four decades. Known as "The 'Ol Commander", he broadcast an estimated 5,000 major league baseball games. In his prime, was among the leading play-by-play men in the game. In 1979, he received the  Ford C. Frick Award  from...

Born:  March 9, 1942 in Pueblo Nuevo, Cuba, Surrounded by superstars, Bert Campaneris was a key contributor to the great Oakland teams with his competitive spirit and superb play. His memorable debut with the Kansas City A's (July 23, 1964) included two home runs, one off the first major league pitch ever thrown to him. Bert became only the third player in big league history to hit two homers...

March 8, 1939 in Newark, NJ Pitcher, author, philosopher, and pundit, March 8, 1939 in Newark, NJ Pitcher, author, philosopher, and pundit, Jim Bouton bore little resemblance to the vast majority of players who performed in the major leagues before he joined the New York Yankees in 1962. One of the new breed of ballplayers that began entering the game during the 1960s, Bouton was not as hardened o...

On March 7, 1902 — Hall of Famer James (Pud) Galvin dies at the age of 45. Galvin won 361 games over a 14-year career, placing him in a tie for sixth on the all-time list for most wins. In 1883 and 1884, Galvin won a combined 92 games. In 1884 his WAR was over 17+ which ranks 3rd highest all-time. Galvin will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1965 and later it will be uncovered he was the first...

Enos Slaughter Mentioned in this episode: Classic Baseball Broadcasts Classic Baseball Broadcasts Mentioned in this episode: New CBB Podcast Intro Post Roll March 26

March 5, 1996 — The Veterans Committee elects four new members for the Hall of Fame, and just misses naming a fifth. The group elected includes fiery manager  Earl Weaver , who had a .583 winning percentage in 17 seasons managing the Baltimore Orioles; pitcher  Jim Bunning , who won 100 games in both leagues, including no-hitters in each circuit, one of them a perfect game; 19th-century manager Ne...

Born:  March 4, 1897 in San Francisco, CA, How did a baseball player named  Lefty O’Doul  become so popular in his native San Francisco that a bridge was named after him? The answer is complicated but legendary in the Bay Area. O’Doul began as a pitcher for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League, working his way to the big leagues for brief stretches, but an arm injury forced him to c...

March 3, 1987, former Negro Leagues standout Ray Dandridge is elected to the Hall of Fame. Known for his power hitting ability and slick-fielding at third base, Dandridge starred for a number of Negro Leagues teams in the 1930s and 40s. He was the only player elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee. Mentioned in this episode: Classic Baseball Broadcasts Mentioned in this epis...

Today we celebrate Mel Ott's birthday. We have 5 World Series At Bats and 3 homeruns. Oddly Ott played in 3 World series and homered in the final game in each series, bur didnt hit any in the other games.  On March 2, 1909, future Hall of Famer, Mel Ott is born in Gretna, Louisiana. Known as “Master Melvin,” Ott will make his major league debut with the New York Giants as a 17-year-old boy won...