TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

Hey Folks!

Welcome to March 26 in baseball history — a day that gave us contract signings, a demolition, a highway named after a legend, and one of the most quietly significant moments in the history of civil rights in America. We also say goodbye today to four men who gave everything they had to this game — George Sisler, Jerry Moses, Jim Wynn, and Marius Russo. Each one of them left something behind worth remembering. Today's game of the day takes us back to April 7, 1977 — the Toronto Blue Jays play their very first game in franchise history, the American League approved their sale for $7 million to Labatt's Brewing Company on this day in 1976.

March 26, 1974, the Boston Red Sox release two future Hall of Famers. Designated hitter Orlando Cepeda and shortstop Luis Aparicio are both given their unconditional releases. Aparicio, who elects to retire, finishes his career with 2,677 hits and 506 stolen bases and will enter the Hall of Fame in 1984. The sore-kneed Cepeda will eventually with the Kansas City Royals, where he will complete his major league career in 1974. Cepeda will win election to the Hall of Fame in 1999

The most feared base stealer in the American League during the late 1950s and early 1960s, Luis Aparicio led his circuit in thefts a record nine straight seasons. The 1956 Rookie of the Year, Aparicio was largely responsible for bringing the stolen base back into favor in the American League. On the White Sox he teamed with Nellie Fox to form one of the finest double play duos in history. In 1959, he led the AL with 56 steals, which was the most in 16 years, helping the ChiSox garner the pennant. Finished second in MVP voting to teammate Nellie Fox, the only time, as far as I know, that a double play duo did so and the pair was close off the field as well, with Aparicio naming his son after Fox. One source claims that Luis Aparicio and Nellie Fox, both of small stature, had a pre-game habit involving their height, or lack thereof. It's said that the two infielders would race from the dugout and the furst one to reach second base got to stand on the bag during the National Anthem, so as to appear taller.

He became the first player since the 1920s to steal 50 bases four times. Traded to the Baltimore Orioles before the 1963 season, he set a franchise record with 57 steals in 1964, he joined Jerry Adair and Brooks Robinson in one of the best defensive infields ever and helped them to a title in 1966. "Little Looey" won nine Gold Gloves in three different decades and played on 13 All Star Teams.

Aparicio was traded back to the White Sox after the 1967 season and had his best offensive season in 1970, hitting .313/.372/.404. On September 25, 1970, he broke former White Sox Luke Appling's record of games played at shortstop with his 2,219th game. On December 1, 1970 Aparicio was traded to the Boston Red Sox. In 1972, Aparicio fell down rounding third base in the next-to-last game of the season, costing the Red Sox a chance at victory. His slip caused the Sox to miss the playoffs by half a game, since they ended up playing one less game than the AL East Champion Detroit Tigers. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn had ruled that no games canceled due to the April strike would be made up, and this left the Sox a half game out with an 85-70 record when the season was over.

At the time of his retirement, Aparicio was the all-time leader in games played (2,583), assists (2,581) and double plays (1,553) by shortstops. Both his assists and double plays records were broken by Ozzie Smith while Omar Vizquel broke his games played record. When Luis retired, he was seventh all-time in stolen bases with 506.

Hits Leaders, American League (1961-1971)
Brooks Robinson... 1,845
Carl Yastrzemski... 1,832
Luis Aparicio... 1,669
Al Kaline... 1,495
Harmon Killebrew... 1,479

Luis was born April 29, 1934 in Maracaibo, Zulia Venezuela the son of the great Venezuelan shortstop Luís Aparicio Sr. and nephew of Ernesto Aparicio. He made the Venezuelan national team for the 1953 Amateur World Series he hit .350 with 6 runs and 7 RBI for the Silver Medal winners. His father had played for the national team just two years prior. On November 18, 1953, in one of the most memorable moments in Venezuelan baseball history, his father announced his retirement and gave his glove to his son, who was playing his first game in his hometown of Maracaibo. He is a legend and the named an award after him: Luis Aparicio Award is given annually to a Venezuelan player in Major League Baseball Johan Santana, Jose Altuve, Miguel Cabrera, and Ronald Acuña Jr. are the only players to win the Luis Aparicio Award more than once, with Cabrera having won the award five times. A bronze statue of Luis Aparicio, lives in Maracaibo, Zulia. Venezuela.

BTW - Congrats to the 2026 WBC Champions!

In January 1984, during a winter league game played at Pan Am Stadium in Caracas, Venezuela, the announcement was made that native son Luis Aparicio had been elected to the Hall of Fame. The 10,000 fans attending the game erupted in a deafening applause that lasted several minutes. Shortly, several scattered groups throughout the stadium began singing the Venezuelan national anthem. Soon, everyone in the stands was singing, and play was stopped on the field. Players on both teams stood at attention and faced the flag pole in center field.

March 26, 1936 — Hank Greenberg signs with the Detroit Tigers to a $20,000 contract, and Red Ruffing accepts $12,000 from the New York Yankees.

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.

March 26, 1963 - On an all-or-nothing day for the Dodgers' Sandy Koufax, he gives up long balls to Roberto Clemente and Donn Clendenon, but strikes out 9 Pirates batters in 7 innings, and also gives up six runs. Sandy's performance probably looks pretty good to Pirate skipper Danny Murtaugh, whose own staff gives up 19 runs, but it doesn't prepare fans for the four-year run on which Brooklyn's late-blooming bonus baby is about to embark.

March 26, 1974, the Boston Red Sox release two future Hall of Famers. Designated hitter Orlando Cepeda and shortstop Luis Aparicio are both given their unconditional releases. Aparicio, who elects to retire, finishes his career with 2,677 hits and 506 stolen bases and will enter the Hall of Fame in 1984. The sore-kneed Cepeda will eventually with the Kansas City Royals, where he will complete his major league career in 1974. Cepeda will win election to the Hall of Fame in 1999.

March 26, 1976, the American League approves the sale of the Toronto Blue Jays to the Labatts Brewing Company. Labatts agreed to buy the team for $7 million.

March 26, 1977 -- Infielder Rico Petrocelli is released by the Boston Red Sox after a 13-season career for his only major league club. Petrocelli retires with 210 home runs and two All-Star appearances.

March 26, 1984 -- Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball's color line playing for the Dodgers in 1947, is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously by President Reagan. Rachel Robinson, on behalf of her late husband, accepts the award, the highest civilian honor given in the United States.

March 26, 2000 - In just 17.6 seconds, the Kingdome is demolished into a mound of rubble over 65 feet high thanks to 21.6 miles of detonation cord and 5,800 holes filled with gelatin dynamite.

March 26 , 1991 -- State Senators pass a bill to rename a part of State Highway 288 the "Nolan Ryan Expressway". The highway passes near the Astrodome on its way through Ryan's boyhood hometown of Alvin.

Passed away James (Jim) Sherman Wynn on March 26, 2020. Originally a shortstop, Wynn was drafted by his hometown Cincinnati Reds, but was swiped from their organization in the free agent draft by the Houston Colt .45s in 1962. In virtual obscurity, Wynn was switched to center field, played 11 seasons for Houston, and had several tremendous seasons. The cavernous dimensions of the Astrodome masked his raw power, and the immense value of his patience at the plate (he drew as many as 90 walks in eight different seasons), excellent defense, and stellar baserunning ability was somewhat lost as he played for mediocre teams most of his career. Dubbed the "Toy Cannon" because of his powerful swing from a small frame, Wynn clubbed nearly 300 homers in his career.

TRIVIA

TRIVIA: In 1969 Jim Wynn set the NL record for base on balls with 148, who’s record did he break? Then who broke his and in what year?

IF you think you know the answer and bonus points for how many respond with details and if you are right I will give you a shut out! No Googling!

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 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA: Who was the catcher when Bill Mazeroski hit his World Series Winning Homerun?

Answer:

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