This Date in Baseball

"I don't always swing at strikes. I swing at the ball when it looks big." -BILL
'MOOSE' SKOWRON, Yankee first baseman

1948 National League president Ford Frick steps in and pays $350 for funeral services, including the cost of a coffin, for the unclaimed body of Hack Wilson. The former slugger, who had died probably of alcohol abuse a few days earlier in a Baltimore hospital, is identified only as a white male.
1962 Batting champ Pete Runnels (.376) is traded by the Red Sox to Colt .45s for outfielder Roman Mejias. The Texas native will only hit .252 in Houston next season and will retire in May of 1964.

1962 The Dodgers trade pitcher Stan Williams (14-12, 4.46) for Yankee first baseman Bill Skowron (.270, 23, 80). In Game 2 of the World Series 'Moose' will home against his former teammates.
1975 Red Sox center fielder Fred Lynn (.331, 21, 105) becomes the first rookie ever to be named the league's MVP. The Boston freshman also wins Rookie of the Year honors.
1986 The Yankees trade prospects including Doug Drabek to the Pirates (a future Cy Young winner) for veterans Rick Rhoden, Cecilio Guante and Pat Clements.
2002 Prior to playing two regular-season games against the A's to open the major league season in Japan, the Mariners will face the Seibu Lions and Yomiuri Giants in exhibition contests on March 22 and 23.
2003 Hoping to add punch to their outfield, the A's trade catcher Ramon Hernandez and disgruntled flychaser Terrence Long to the Padres for outfielder Mark Kotsay. The deal will be delayed until Kotsay's back gets a clean bill of health.
2004 Receiving 21 of the 28 first-place votes, Vladimir Guerrero (.337, 39, 126) wins the 2004 American League's MVP Award. The 28-year old former Expo outfielder signed as free agent with the Angels, after the Mets refused to guarantee his salary based on advice from their medical staff.

2005 Closer B.J. Ryan, who saved 36 games last season for the Orioles agrees to a $47 million, five-year deal with the Blue Jays. The thirty-year old southpaw’s contract calls for the largest amount of money ever given to a reliever.