Baseball History -- March 29

Complete entry for March 29 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entries:

2000
The Cubs open the major league season in the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, by defeating the Mets, 5-3, in the first big league game ever played outside of North America. Jon Lieber gets the victory and new ace Mike Hampton takes the loss. Shane Andrews hits the first home run of the new millennium. Mark Grace and Mike Piazza also homer.

Technically, the new millennium didn't start until 2001, but it can slide for this purpose.

1973
Orange baseballs, the brainchild of Oakland owner Charlie Finley, are used in the A's 11–5 exhibition loss to the Indians.

Never liked this idea.

Picture taken from this post at Where Have You Gone, Johnny Grubb? on the Designated Runner, another of Charley O's ideas.

1954

After the Cubs go 5–15 in spring training, Phil Cavarretta gives Cubs owner Phil Wrigley an honest assessment of the team's chances, and is fired for his "defeatist attitude." He's the first manager to be given the gate during spring training. Stan Hack replaces him. Cavarretta is right; the Cubs will drop to 7th.

A defeatist attitude in a Cub manager? Who'd a thunk it? The lesson here is, of course, never be honest, kids.