1934 | Right-hander Dizzy Dean publicly predicts that he and his brother, fellow right-hander Paul Dean, will lead the St. Louis Cardinals to the NL pennant in the upcoming season. The brothers combined to win 49 games for the Cardinals, who indeed won the 1934 World Series.

1938 | Right-hander Grover Cleveland Alexander is elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 80.9% of the vote.

1947 | The Detroit Tigers sell first baseman Hank Greenberg to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Greenberg will play one season with Pittsburgh before retiring.

1952 | Charles A. Comiskey Jr. resigns as general manager of the Chicago White Sox after requesting and being denied a raise.

1969 | Ted Williams is named the manager of the Washington Senators. The team will go 86-76 in Williams’ first season, the best record in franchise history.

1973 | The Boston Red Sox sign Orlando Cepeda, becoming the first team to sign a player specifically to fill the designated hitter role, which will be new across the league beginning with the 1973 season.

1995 | Former MLB umpire Ron Luciano, who spent 11 years as an AL umpire and wrote several books about his time in the game, dies from an apparent suicide at age 57.

1997 | Yokohama DeNA BayStars (and future Seattle Mariners) right-hander Kazuhiro Sasaki is injured in a bar fight and requires 11 stitches to his forehead.

2005 | Outfielder Carlos Beltran agrees to a seven-year, $119 million contract to join the New York Mets.

2012 | Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish agrees to a six-year, $60 million deal to join the Texas Rangers.

2015 | Right-hander Max Scherzer agrees to a seven-year, $210 million deal to join the Washington Nationals.

2017 | First baseman Jeff Bagwell, outfielder Tim Raines, and catcher Iván Rodríguez are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 86.2%, 86.0%, and 76.0% of the vote, respectively.

2018 | MLB announces the implementation of the 20-second pitch clock and a limit on the number of mound visits permitted in an effort to speed up the game.

2022 | Brandon Gomes is named general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

1900 | Boston Beaneaters catcher Marty Bergen kills his wife and two children with an axe, then takes his own life. Bergen was reportedly depressed following his son’s death the previous April.

1934 | Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis denies outfielder Shoeless Joe Jackson’s request for reinstatement.

1937 | Second baseman Nap Lajoie, outfielder Tris Speaker, and right-hander Cy Young are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 83.6%, 82.1%, and 76.1% of the vote, respectively.

1938 | Larry MacPhail is named the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

1945 | Cardinals outfielder Stan Musial enlists in the U.S. Army.

1972 | Left-hander Sandy Koufax, catcher Yogi Berra, and right-hander Early Wynn are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 86.9%, 85.6%, and 76.0% of the vote, respectively.

1977 | Infielder Ernie Banks is elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 83.8% of the vote.

1978 | Third baseman Eddie Matthews is elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 79.4% of the vote.

1983 | Ozzie Smith signs a three-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, becoming the first shortstop to earn $1 million a season.

2000 | MLB owners approve the sale of the Cleveland Indians to Larry Dolan for $320 million.

2012 | Indians right-hander Fausto Carmona is arrested on charges of using a false identity when leaving the United States. It turns out Carmona’s real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia, and he is really three years older than believed.

2013 | Earl Weaver dies at age 82. Stan Musial passes away later the same day at age 92.

2021 | Don Sutton passes away at age 75.

2021 | Outfielder George Springer agrees to a six-year, $150 million contract to join the Toronto Blue Jays.

2021 | Jared Porter is fired by the New York Mets after it is discovered he had sent several lewd messages to a female reporter. He had been hired as the Mets’ general manager just a month earlier.

2024 | Left-hander Josh Hader agrees to a five-year, $95 million contract to join the Houston Astros.

2025 | Left-hander Tanner Scott agrees to a four-year, $72 million contract to join the Los Angeles Dodgers.

1871 | The first franchise in the yet-to-be-formed National Association of Professional Baseball Players (also known as the National Association; one of the first pro leagues organized around the sport ran from 1871 to 1875) is born with the founding of the Boston Red Stockings. The team will be managed by Harry Wright, who founded and managed the original Cincinnati Red Stockings (the first pro team).

1916 | The New York Giants purchase outfielder Edd Rousch from the Newark Peppers of the now-defunct Federal League.

1947 | Negro Leagues legend Josh Gibson dies from a brain tumor at age 35.

1966 | Outfielder Ted Williams is elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 93.4% of the vote.

1970 | Shortstop Lou Boudreau is elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 77.3% of the vote.

1984 | First baseman Pete Rose agrees to a one-year deal with the Montreal Expos. He will appear in 95 games for Montreal before being traded back to the Cincinnati Reds, where he will become player-manager.

1997 | Curt Flood, whose challenge of baseball’s reserve clause ultimately led to the implementation of free agency, dies at age 59.

2000 | All 30 MLB teams turn over their Internet rights to the league, allowing for the launch of MLB.com. Revenues generated from the league’s online efforts are split equally among the 30 clubs.

2006 | President George Bush grants permission for Cuba to participate in the World Baseball Classic.

2006 | Theo Epstein resumes his role as general manager of the Boston Red Sox, less than three months after resigning.

2022 | League officials put an end to a proposed idea to have the Rays split the season between Tampa Bay and Montreal.

2025 | Outfielder Anthony Santander agrees to a five-year, $92.5 million deal to join the Toronto Blue Jays.

1921 | Kenesaw Mountain Landis officially signs his initial contract to become the sport’s first commissioner. It is a seven-year contract that will pay Landis $350,000.

1938 | Joe DiMaggio rejects the Yankees’ one-year, $25,000 offer. He is seeking a raise to $45,000 and will hold out until April 20, two days after the season begins.

1947 | Left-hander Carl Hubbell, second baseman Frankie Frisch, catcher Mickey Cochrane, and left-hander Lefty Grove are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 87.0%, 84.5%, 76.9%, and 76.4% of the vote, respectively.

1953 | Right-hander Dizzy Dean and outfielder Al Simmons are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 79.2% and 75.4% of the vote, respectively.

1969 | Stan Musial and Roy Campanella are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 93.2% and 79.4% of the vote, respectively.

1987 | Left-hander Vida Blue agrees to terms to return to the Oakland Athletics, but will instead announce his retirement a month later.

1993 | Charlie Gehringer dies at the age of 89, one month after suffering a stroke.

2005 | Right-hander Roger Clemens agrees to a one-year, $18 million contract to join the Houston Astros.

2009 | Jeff Kent announces his retirement.

2011 | The Toronto Blue Jays trade outfielder Vernon Wells to the Los Angeles Angels for outfielder Juan Rivera and catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli.

2020 | Shortstop Derek Jeter and outfielder Larry Walker are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 99.7% and 76.6% of the vote, respectively.

2025 | Outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, left-hander CC Sabathia, and left-hander Billy Wagner are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 99.7%, 86.8%, and 82.5% of the vote, respectively.

1904 | 28-year-old William H. Yawkey purchases the Detroit Tigers for $50,000.

1913 | The New York Giants give the newly-renamed Yankees permission to use the Polo Grounds for the upcoming season. The Highlanders elect to rebrand after their lease on the Hilltop grounds expires.

1929 | The Yankees announce plans to put numbers on the back of their uniforms, becoming the first team to do so. Initially, the team issues numbers based on the player’s spot in the batting order, which is why Babe Ruth wore No. 3 and Lou Gehrig wore No. 4.

1976 | Right-hander Robin Roberts and Bob Lemon are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 86.9% and 78.6% of the vote, respectively.

1997 | Don Mattingly announces his retirement.

2003 | First baseman/designated hitter David Ortiz signs with the Boston Red Sox after being non-tendered by the Minnesota Twins.

2014 | Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka agrees to a seven-year, $155 million deal to join the New York Yankees.

2019 | Right-handers Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay, and Mike Mussina, along with designated hitter Edgar Martínez, are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 100.0%, 85.4%, 76.7%, and 85.4% of the vote, respectively.

2021 | Hank Aaron passes away at age 86.

1912 | Japan’s Imperial Army announces plans to send a baseball team to the Philippines to play with American soldiers.

1921 | The Boston Braves trade shortstop Rabbit Maranville to the Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Billy Southworth, outfielder Fred Nicholson, infielder Walter Barbare, and $15,000.

1932 | The Brooklyn Dodgers purchase Hack Wilson from the St. Louis Cardinals for $45,000.

1962 | Right-hander Bob Feller and infielder Jackie Robinson are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 93.8% and 77.5% of the vote, respectively.

1967 | Stan Musial is named the general manager of the Cardinals.

1968 | Outfielder Joe Medwick is elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 84.8% of the vote.

1975 | Outfielder Ralph Kiner is elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 75.4% of the vote.

1979 | Outfielder Willie Mays is elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 94.7% of the vote.

1981 | The Boston Red Sox trade outfielder Fred Lynn and right-hander Steve Renko to the California Angels for right-hander Jim Dorsey, outfielder Joe Rudi, and left-hander Frank Tanana.

1992 | A group calling itself “The Baseball Club of Seattle”, led by Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi, announces plans to purchase the Mariners.

2010 | A group led by Nolan Ryan purchases the Texas Rangers from Tom Hicks for more than $500 million.

2015 | Ernie Banks passes away at age 83.

2024 | Third baseman Adrian Beltré, first baseman Todd Helton, and catcher Joe Mauer are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 95.1%, 79.7%, and 76.1% of the vote, respectively.

1939 | First baseman George Sisler, second baseman Eddie Collins, and right fielder Willie Keeler are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 85.8%, 77.7%, and 75.5% of the vote, respectively.

1950 | Jackie Robinson signs a contract that will pay him $50,000 for the upcoming season, making him the highest-paid player in Dodgers history.

1973 | Left-hander Warren Spahn is elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 83.2% of the vote.

1980 | Fred Wilpon and Nelson Doubleday head a group of investors who purchase the New York Mets for $21.1 million.

2000 | Yankees infielder D’Angelo Jimenez breaks his neck in a car accident in the Dominican Republic. He’ll miss the coming season, but would return to play seven more seasons before retiring.

2012 | More than 20 bids are made to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are put up for sale following owner Frank McCourt’s costly divorce settlement.

2012 | First baseman Prince Fielder agrees to a nine-year, $214 million contract to join the Detroit Tigers.

2018 | Third baseman/left fielder Chipper Jones, outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, first baseman Jim Thome, and right-hander Trevor Hoffman are elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 97.2%, 92.9%, 89.8%, and 79.9% of the vote, respectively.

2023 | Third baseman Scott Rolen is elected to the Hall of Fame, receiving 76.3% of the vote.