The History of Baseball

March 22, 2002. Dante Bichette, 38 years old, announces his retirement after a disappointing spring trying to make the Los Angeles Dodgers roster as a bench player.

March 20, 1973. The legendary Roberto Clemente becomes the very first Hispanic American to gain election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

March 17, 1946. Jackie Robinson makes his debut for the Montreal Royals of the International League.

March 12, 1973. St. Louis Cardinals legend and Hall of Fame member Frankie Frisch dies in Wilmington, Delaware, at the age of 74.

On this day in 1963, 21-year-old Cincinnati Reds Pete Rose plays in his first spring training game going 2-for-2 against the Chicago White Sox.

On this day in 2010, All-Star, World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Willie Davis dies at age 69 in Burbank, California.

On this day in 1999, New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio dies at 84 after a battle with lung cancer.

On this day in 1914, George Herman Ruth Jr. hit his first home run as a professional baseball player and gained his nickname "Babe" in Fayetteville.

On this day in 2006, Minnesota Twins legend and Hall of Fame outfielder Kirby Puckett dies in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the age of 45, a day after suffering a massive stroke.

On this day in 1922, New York Yankees star Babe Ruth becomes highest-paid player in history when he signs a three-year, $50,000+ per season.

On this day in 1994, basketball legend Michael Jordan comes to bat for the very first time in a Chicago White Sox uniform during a spring training game. A weak hit to Texas Rangers pitcher Darren Oliver who easily tags out the former National Basketball Association star.

The 2016 Toronto Blue Jays finished 2nd in the AL East, 4 games behind the Boston Red Sox with a record of 89-73. In the postseason, they lost the AL Championship Series 4-1 to Cleveland Indians. Popular players were Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnación, Troy Tulowitzki & Russell Martin.

On this day in 1983, thirty-eight-year-old Steve Carlton signs biggest contract in history for a MLB pitcher; a $4.15 million, four-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, making him the highest-paid pitcher in major league history.

On this day in 1992, Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs signs a four-year, 30 million extension becoming the highest-paid player in Major League Baseball.

On this day in 1969, New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle announces his retirement at age 37, finishing his 18-season career with 536 home runs and a .298 batting average.

On this day in 1975, the New York Mets purchase 26-year-old first baseman/outfielder/slugger Dave Kingman from the San Francisco Giants after being drafted by the team as their first pick in the initial round of the secondary phase of the 1970 amateur draft.

On this day in 2011, the legendary Duke of Flatbush, Hall of Famer Duke Snider dies in Escondido, CA at age 84.

On this day in 1935, the New York Yankees release longtime star outfielder Babe Ruth. He then signed a $20,000 contract with the National League's Boston Braves.

On this day, 55 years ago, the St. Louis Cardinals traded future Hall of Famer Steve Carlton to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for right-hander Rick Wise.