-
Black Sox Scandal
Eight players from the Chicago White Sox were banned from baseball for life for fixing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. This was very scandalous, and was one of the first cases that started baseball fixes, but was unsuccessful. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1157233-200-events-that-defined-shaped-and-changed-major-league-baseball/page/19 -
First MLB All Star Game (1933)
Arch Ward pitched the idea of a Major League Baseball All Star Game to coincide with the 1933 World's Fair. Although, it was expected to be a one-time deal, it was actually really popular. This started the All Star Games. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1157233-200-events-that-defined-shaped-and-changed-major-league-baseball/page/20 -
Lou Gehrig's Speech
Gehrig became the first baseball player to have his number retired. After receiving his gifts, Gehrig gave his famous speech. It was short, succinct and highly emotional. He died from a cancer that was then named after him. This is a monumental day in MLB, and Gehrig is an idol.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1157233-200-events-that-defined-shaped-and-changed-major-league-baseball/page/7 -
Jackie Robinson Breaks the Color Barrier
Robinson's debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers came in 1947. When Robinson debuted with the Dodgers, 26,623 fans showed up to Ebbets Field, an estimated 14,000 of which were black baseball fans. This was important because it was before the civil rights movement, and still a lot of fans came. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1157233-200-events-that-defined-shaped-and-changed-major-league-baseball/page/2 -
Babe Ruth's Final Yankee Stadium Appearance
Ruth attended a celebration at Yankee Stadium on June 13, 1948 that marked the 15th anniversary of the 1923 Yankee team. Less than three weeks later (and two months after his Yankee Stadium appearance) Ruth died in the hospital at age 53. This changed MLB because a legend was gone.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1157233-200-events-that-defined-shaped-and-changed-major-league-baseball/page/22 -
Roberto Clemente Killed in Plane Crash
Clemente boarded a flight on New Years Eve that had engine troubles and was overweight by 4,200 pounds. Less than two minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed into the ocean. This was monumental because MLB lost one of its best players
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1157233-200-events-that-defined-shaped-and-changed-major-league-baseball/page/24 -
Tommy John Has His Surgery
In 1974 Tommy John was an above-average pitcher for the Dodgers. Dr. Frank Jobe performed a radical surgery in which he replaced the ligament in the elbow of John's pitching arm with a tendon from his right forearm. This scared alot of fans because he might've never been able to pitch again, but he was able to. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1157233-200-events-that-defined-shaped-and-changed-major-league-baseball/page/11 -
Sports Illustrated's "Steroids in Baseball" Story
In 2002, SI wrote a piece on the rampant use of steroids in the game, using first-hand admissions of use from Ken Caminiti to support their claims. This started a spark in the interest of the drug in the sport.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1157233-200-events-that-defined-shaped-and-changed-major-league-baseball/page/26 -
Dodgers and Giants Move to California
O'Malley agreed to move to Los Angeles and helped convince the Giants to move to San Francisco to keep their rivalry going. Fans in New York were devastated. Players lived and worked in the offseason in the vicinity of the stadium, and they were a part of everyday life. This was a big change for some MLB fans.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1157233-200-events-that-defined-shaped-and-changed-major-league-baseball/page/13 -
Mazeroski's Home Run Wins World Series
Mazeroski blasted the second pitch he saw off Ralph Terry over the left-center field fence, setting off a wild celebration at Forbes Field. To this day, Mazeroski's blast remains the only walk-off home run in game seven to win a World Series championship. This was important because he set a standard in MLB.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1157233-200-events-that-defined-shaped-and-changed-major-league-baseball/page/6
