The Wearing of the Green” tradition in which MLB teams don the color on Saint Patrick’s Day began on this date in 1978 when the Cincinnati Reds took the field against the New York Yankees wearing green uniforms. The players didn’t know about the switch until the new uniforms arrived at their lockers an hour before game time. Happy St. Patricks day! It’s almost time for Spring baseball to start (Finally! It’s been such a long winter here in Michigan).  “Liathróid a imirt!” That means “Play Ball!” in the Irish or Gaelic language. Have you purchased all of the equipment you need for the Spring Season? 

It’s fun to look back and see how the rules of baseball and equipment that is used has changed throughout the years. Not only has baseball equipment changed dramatically, but we’ve also seen rules drastically change as well. In the late 1870s, it took nine balls outside the strike zone to earn a walk. In 1880, the figure was lowered to eight balls; it slid down to six in 1884; five in 1887; and the current four-ball rule came into play in 1889. In 1887, baseball experimented with a “four strikes and you’re out” rule. This rule lasted only one season. The newest rule this year is the creation of…