March 1977

Mar 7 - The Braves file suit against Commissioner Kuhn, challenging the severity of the penalty for tampering charges.

Mar 15 - The Pirates trade outfielders Tony Armas (.333, 1 RBI in 6 AB), OF Mitchell Page and four pitchers, including Rick Langford (0-1, 6.26 ERA in 23 IP), to the A's for 2B Phil Garner (.261, 8 HR, 74 RBI), IF Tommy Helms (.276, 1 HR, 13 RBI in 87 AB) and P Chris Batton.

Mar 17 - Federal Judge Frank McGarr rules in favor of Commissioner Kuhn, saying that the Kuhn acted within his authority in voiding the 1976 player sales engineered by A's owner Charlie Finley.

Mar 21 - Mark Fidrych (19-9, 2.34 ERA), the 1976 Rookie of the Year, rips the cartilage in his left knee and will undergo surgery in ten days.

Mar 26 - The Athletics trade former All-Star OF Claudell Washington (.257, 5 HR, 53 RBI, 37 SB) to the Rangers for P Jim Umbarger (10-12, 3.15 ERA), infielder Rodney Scott (.400 in 10 AB) and cash.

Mar 28 - The Rangers Lenny Randle, angry for having been benched during spring training, attacks 50-year old manager Frank Lucchesi, sending him to the hospital with a shattered cheekbone. Lucchesi helped precipitate the incident by calling the good-natured Randle "a punk."

The Reds swap Joel Youngblood (.193, 1 RBI in 57 AB) to the Cardinals for P Bill Caudill. Tomorrow they'll send Pat Darcy (2-3, 2 Sv, 6.23 ERA in 39 IP) to the Cards for Mike Caldwell (1-7, 2 SV, 4.86 ERA). Darcy will retire before the season starts.

Mar 29 - In a spectacular display, the comet affectionately called "Babe" by it's many supporters, streaks through the night sky - much closer to the earth than any comet has come before. The resulting magnetic disturbance knocks out power and disrupts controllers across North America.