APRIL 8, 1947
In an exhibition game played against the Indians in Sheffield‚ Alabama, second-year player Whitey Lockman breaks his leg sliding into second base trying to break up a double play. With the exception of two appearances as a pinch hitter, the Giants sophomore outfielder will miss all of the season. (Nationalpastime.com)
APRIL 3, 1901
Although he tried to return the money, Christy Matthewson is accused by Connie Mack of reneging on his contract with Philadelphia. In January, ‘Big Six’ after meeting with the A’s manager, received a signing bonus, committing himself to play for the 1901 season with the American League team, but then used the offer as leverage to get a richer contract from the Giants.(Nationalpastime.com)
APRIL 2, 1952
In Denver, Giants’ Monte Irvin breaks his ankle sliding into third base during an exhibition game against Cleveland. The future Hall of Fame outfielder will appear in only 46 games this season, mostly as a pinch-hitter, batting .310. (Nationalpastime.com)
| The Giants sign their skipper John McGraw to a five-year contract for $200,000. The deal makes Mugsy, who will lead the New York to 10 National League pennants and three World Series championships during his 31-year tenure with the team, the highest-paid figure in major league baseball. (Nationalpastime.com) |
MARCH 8, 1946
The first spring training game ever to be played in Arizona takes place at Tucson’s Hi Corbett Field. The Indians, behind the pitching of Bob Lemon, beat the Giants, 3-1, in the inaugural Cactus League contest. (Nationalpastime.com)
In the first trade under the peace treaty between the American and National Leagues, the Tigers swap second baseman Kid Gleason to the Giants for Heinie Smith, the team’s part-time manager. New York immediately sends its newest infielder to the Phillies, where he will hit .250 during the final six years of his career.(Nationalpastime.com)
High winds tear off the grandstand roof of Manhattan’s Southeast Diamond, but the one-year-old ballpark will be ready for the Gothams’ National League home opener on May 1st. The team, renamed the Giants next season, will win their first dozen games at the repaired facility at 5th Avenue and 110th Street, commonly called Polo Grounds because the sport of kings took place at the site in the 1870s. (Nationalpastime.com)
Giants’ manager John McGraw reluctantly grants Slim Sallee’s wish and sells him to the Reds, but the team will reacquire the southpaw late next season, selecting off him waivers from Cincinnati. During his five seasons with New York, ‘Scatter’ compiles a 42-23 (.646) record and an ERA of 2.26. (Nationalpastime.com)
Manhattan Borough President Hulan Jack announces plans for a new 110,000-seat stadium with the intention of keeping the the Giants in the Big Apple. The proposed $75 million ballpark, planned to span the New York Central railroad tracks, will prove too costly to build, and will become a significant reason why owner’s Horace Stoneham’s decided to relocate the team to the West Coast. (Nationalpastime.com)
FEBRUARY 26, 1957
The Giants trade right-hander Hoyt Wilhelm to the Cardinals for their former all-star first baseman/outfielder Whitey Lockman. The knuckleballer will win only one of five decisions for the Redbirds before being selected off waivers by Cleveland in September, and New York’s newest infielder will spend two seasons with his old club hitting .246 in 225 games over that span.
(Nationalpastime.com)
