Today in MLB History, March 26

With baseball season underway, and the hockey season winding down, the 'Crease' will soon be making the transition from hockey to baseball, and to start the transition is a new addition "Today in MLB History"


1936: Tigers sign Hank Greenberg for $20,000 and Red Ruffing comes to terms with the Yankees for $12,000.

1951: During a spring exhibition game against the University outfielder Southern California at Bovard Field, Mickey Mantle hits a home run which is estimated to travel 650 feet. The rookie's performance, which includes a single, triple and another homer, is one of the highlights of the Yankees' first ever West Coast trip.

1957: Yankee manager Casey Stengel is arrested and is released on $50 bail after he allegedly curses at and kicks a newspaper photographer during an exhibition game in St. Petersburg.

1974: The Red Sox release future Hall of Famers Orlando Cepeda and Luis Aparicio as well as pitcher Bobby Bolin.

1977: After thirteen years in Boston, infielder Rico Petrocelli is released by the Red Sox.

1981: The Phillies trade Bob Walk to the Braves for outfielder Gary Matthews.

2000: In 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.

2002: Miller Park's retractable roof will only be used on a limited basis at the start of season as engineers try to eliminate persistent noise coming from the year-old roof.

2003: Three days prior to Opening Day, the YES Network claims Cablevision has pulled out of a proposed deal signed 17 days ago which would have provided televised Yankee games nearly three million cable subscribers in the NYC metropolitan area. According to a YES Network press release, the giant cable company failed to sign a finalized version of the hand-written document that both parties exchanged on March 12, but Cablevision president ,James L. Dolan, said when YES sent him a revised typewritten draft on two days later, the document contained alterations that he found unacceptable.

2006: The insurance claim filed by the Astros in January to get back approximately $15.6 million of Jeff Bagwell's $17 million guaranteed contract is denied by the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company. The insurers cite no adverse change in 37-year old first baseman's condition between the end of last season and the Jan. 31, 2006 policy.