Today in MLB History, March 31st

1958: Indians Gene Woodling, Dick Williams and Bud Daley are traded to the Orioles for Larry Doby and Don Ferrarese.

1959: The Pacific Coast League proposal to use a designated hitter is voted down by the Professional Baseball Rules Committee. Prompted by the Cubs' college of coaches, the committee also rules each team must name a manager 30 minutes prior to the game.

1968: The AL's new franchise in Seattle chooses Pilots as its nickname.

1982: Rangers trade outfielder/first baseman Al Oliver to the Expos for outfielder/third baseman Larry Parrish and minor league first baseman Dave Hostetler.

1993: Bill White, the first black to serve as a league president, resigns from his NL post. The former Cardinal first baseman will remain at the job until March of 1994.

1994: Mets trade hard-luck righthander Anthony Young to the Cubs for shortstop Jose Vizcaino. Young holds the major league record for the most consecutive losses by a pitcher.....The White Sox assign NBA superstar Michael Jordan to Birmingham Barons of the Class AA Southern League.

1996 For the first time in history, the major league season opens in March with Mariners beating the White Sox in 12 innings, 3-2.

1998 In front of a sellout crowd of 47,484 at Bank One Ballpark, the Arizona Diamondback lose to the Rockies, 9-2. The seven run difference matches the '62 Mets and the '77 Mariners for the most-lopsided lost by an expansion team in their first game.....The Brewers play their inaugural game as a National League team and lose to the Braves at Turner Field, 2-1. Milwaukee is the first team since the inception of the American League in 1901 to switch leagues. All-time home run leader and fan favorite, Hank Aaron, helps to mark Milwaukee's historic return to the National League with a rare on-the-field appearance.

2005 The Orioles and MLB agree on a deal which will allow Nationals games to be televised. A joint venture backed by MLB will allow fans in the Baltimore-Washington area to enjoy telecasts of both franchises and will ensure the Orioles fans in the nation’s capitol will still have an opportunity to watch their ‘Birds’.