<— FEBRUARY 28     MARCH 1 —>

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1836 Dickey Pearce

Brooklyn guy – one of the true baseball pioneers in that he created the shortstop position.  Was a member of some great teams before the leagues began – in the 1860s he was among the best players in the game playing on a team good enough to end the Cincinnati Red Stockings winning streak in 1870.  He lasted long enough to get time in the National Association and National League, and even managed the first NA franchise in St. Louis.

1856 Sadie Houck
1892 Ed Appleton
1896 Roy Parker
1896 Ralph Miller
1904 Pepper Martin
1904 Nish Williams
1924 Al Rosen
1944 Steve Mingori
1952 Al Autry
1956 Jerry Fry
1960 Bill Long
1976 Terrence Long
1992 Gerardo Concepcion
1992 Stefan Crichton
1996 Bligh Madris

OBITUARIES:

1920 Ernie Courtney

Courtney spent some time with Buffalo, helping George Stallings win a pennant in the minors.  He also spent four seasons with the Phillies from 1905 to 1908 – and a couple years before that as a major league wanderer…  Courtney was twelve years removed from his major league days when heart disease took him while living in Buffalo,  A newspaper two months later said he left a modest $2000 estate to his wife…

“Ernie Courtney Dies of Heart Disease,” Buffalo Times, March 1, 1920: 16.
“‘Ernie’ Courtney Leaves Wife Small Estate,” Buffalo Times, May 10, 1920: 4.

YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!!!

1972 Henry Aaron signs a three year deal worth $600,000 with the Atlanta Braves, making him the first $200,000 per year player.

TRANSACTION WIRE:

1988 Montreal signs amateur free agent pitcher Miguel Batista.

1992 New York sends Alan Mills to the Orioles for two players to be named later (Francisco De La Rosa and minor leaguer Mark Carper).

2016 Texas signs free agent infielder/outfielder Ian Desmond.