This day in baseball
Posted: March 26, 2018 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, history, Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees, sports, University of Southern California Leave a commentDuring an exhibition game against the University of Southern California on March 25, 1951, rookie Mickey Mantle hit a home run that traveled an estimated 650 feet. In addition to the monstrous homer, Mantle also collected a single, triple, and another homer.
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This day in baseball: Luck of the draw
Posted: April 3, 2014 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, New York Mets, sports, Tom Seaver, University of Southern California, William Eckert 3 CommentsIn 1966, University of Southern California pitcher Tom Seaver signed a contract with Atlanta’s Richmond farm team. Baseball Commissioner William Eckert voided the contract, however, due to Seaver’s having played two exhibition games already with USC. Unfortunately for Seaver, signing a professional contract also left him ineligible to play any longer at the collegiate level. When Seaver’s father threatened a lawsuit on his son’s behalf, a special draft was held, in which three Major League teams offered to match Richmond’s $40,000 contract. The Indians, Phillies, and Mets all participated in the draft, where one team would be drawn from a hat. The Mets won Seaver’s contract, and on April 3, 1966, Tom Seaver signed with New York with a reported $50,000 bonus.
Sports Illustrated
