Today in Baseball History: March 29th

1995 On March 29, 1995, former major league star Terry Moore dies at the age of 82. An outstanding defensive center fielder, Moore played 11 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals and compiled a .280 lifetime average…

1988 On March 29, 1988, former National League home run king Ted Kluszewski dies at the age of 63. "Big Klu" hit 279 home runs over a 15-year career.

1984 On March 29, 1984, the New York Yankees trade one of the key members of their recent World Championship teams when they dispatch Graig Nettles to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Dennis Rasmussen and a player to be named. Nettles, who had angered Yankee owner George Steinbrenner by criticizing him in his book, will hit 20 home runs and help the Padres reach the 1984 World Series.

1979 On March 29, 1979, former Negro leagues and Cleveland Indians star Luke Easter is murdered at the age of 63 in Euclid, Ohio. Easter starred for the Homestead Grays and several minor league teams before arriving in the major leagues at age 34.

1973 On March 29, 1973, orange baseballs are used for the first time in major league history. The unique baseballs, the invention of Oakland A's owner Charlie Finley, are used in an exhibition game between the A's and the Cleveland Indians. Although Finley pushes for the use of colored baseballs during the regular season, the idea will never come to fruition.

1954 On March 29, 1954, the Chicago Cubs fire manager Phil Cavarretta, who becomes the first skipper to lose his job during spring training. Cavarretta had angered owner Phil Wrigley by downplaying the Cubs' chances of fielding a good team. Wrigley fires Cavarretta for displaying a "defeatist" attitude.