On This Date in Baseball: March 17

1886 - The Sporting News, the weekly that will become "The Baseball Paper of the World," publishes its first issue.

1936 -Much-heralded rookie Joe DiMaggio makes his debut with the New York Yankees, collecting four hits including a triple. The day is marred when the St. Louis Cardinals win 8 - 7.

1966 - Pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale play hardball when negotiating with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The duo signs movie contracts showing they are serious about retiring from baseball if their salary demands are not met.
2005 - During more than 11 hours of the Committee on Government Reform hearing concerning major league player use of steroids, Mark McGwire refuses to talk about the past and does not deny taking performance enhancing drugs. Other players testifying included Curt Schilling, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, and former big leaguer Jose Canseco, whose recent book prompted the congressional hearing. Palmeiro is later found guilty of steroid usage.

On This Date in Baseball: September 30

1927 - Babe Ruth hit his 60th home run of the season. 60 would stand as the record for 34 years until Roger Maris hit 61 in 1961.

1934 - Dizzy Dean beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-0, for his 30th victory of the year as the St. Louis Cardinals clinched the National League pennant. The only pitcher to reach 30 wins in a season since Dizzy was Denny McClain in 1968.


1972 - Roberto Clemente doubled for his 3,000th and last hit. He was killed in a plane crash during the offseason.

1988 - Orel Hershiser of the Los Angeles Dodgers broke Don Drysdale's record of 58 consecutive scoreless innings.