Template:Today in Baseball/February 19

February 17: Today's featured birthday is that of Jim Bowie, who turns 60.

• 1946 - Danny Gardella becomes the first major leaguer to jump to the Mexican League, lured by the wealth of Jorge Pasquel. Several prominent big-leaguers will follow but will generally be overshadowed by the league's Negro League and Cuban stars.
• 1951 - The Nishi-Nihon Pirates and Nishitetsu Clippers merge to form the Nishitetsu Lions.
• 1953 - After his Panther jet is hit by enemy fire in Korea, Ted Williams (pictured) crash-lands the plane successfully.
• 1970 - Bowie Kuhn suspends Denny McLain for three months due to McLain's involvement with a bookie.
• 1983 - Fernando Valenzuela becomes the first player ever to earn a $1 million salary through arbitration.
• 2019 - Manny Machado signs the biggest free agent contract in history, agreeing to a ten-year deal worth $300 million with the San Diego Padres.

Recent days: February 18 – February 17 – February 16