THIS DATE IN BASEBALL

1908 – The Mills Commission determines that Abner Doubleday originated the game of baseball. In its final report, the seven-man commission states that: “The first scheme for playing baseball, according to the best evidence obtainable to date, was devised by Abner Doubleday at Cooperstown, NY, in 1839.” 1968 — Tony Conigliaro returns to the Boston Red Sox with vision trouble. He will miss the entire season, a consequence of his beaning last year.

1976 — The Oakland Athletics trade two key members from their recent World Series championship teams, sending outfielder Reggie Jackson and pitcher Ken Holtzman along with minor-leaguer Bill VanBommell to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for outfielder Don Baylor and pitchers Mike Torrez and Paul Mitchell.

1992 — Philadelphia acquires Curt Schilling from Houston in exchange for Jason Grimsley. Schilling will play nine seasons with the Philliies, becoming the team’s ace, while Grimsley will never throw a pitch in an Astros uniform. 1995 — The longest strike in major-league history comes to an end. Having the first 23 days of themajor-league season canceled and 252 games of the previous season lost, the owners accept the players’ March 31st unconditional offer to return to work. The strike had begun on Aug. 12, 1994.

1996 — Detroit Tigers first baseman Cecil Fielder steals the first base of his 11-year major-league career. His theft of second base comes in the 1,097th game that Fielder has played, establishing the longest duration a player had gone without a stolen base.

1996 — On Opening Day, Derek Jeter hits a home run off Dennis Martinez in New York’s 7-1 victory over the Indians at Jacobs Field. The 22 year-old infielder becomes the first Yankee rookie to play shortstop at the start of the season since 1962.

1997 — For the first time in MLB history, the salary of one player is more than the payroll of an entire team. The White Sox will pay Albert Belle $10 million for the season which is $928,333 more than the entire Pittsburgh Pirates payroll.

2001 — For the first time in major-league history, a Japanese-born position player participates in a regular-season game. Ichiro Suzuki, hitless in his first three at-bats, singles in the seventh inning to ignite a two-run rally and bunts for a hit in the eighth in his Mariner debut at Safeco Field.

2006 — White Sox newcomer Jim Thome hits a two-run home run after a nearly three-hour rain delay and the defending World Series champions beat the Cleveland Indians 10–4 in the major-league opener.