As baseball scrambles to start an abbreviated season, the prevailing mood is one of nervous excitement. All of these issues could become moot if there's a major outbreak of the virus within baseball. "Ive seen the reports in Houston how COVIDs going up so Im going to have to really be careful. It will be unusual following new safety protocols that are at times incompatible with human nature on the baseball field. Theyre very focused on that and the staff thats going to be associated with the games once we fire up, Crane said.

2011: Hall of Fame baseball manager Dick Williams, who led the Oakland Athletics to back-to-back World Series titles in 1972 and 1973, dies of ruptured aortic aneurysm at age 82 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Williams also managed for five other teams, leading his squads to three American League pennants and one National League pennant. He is one of seven managers to win pennants in both major leagues and only the second manager to lead three franchises to the World Series. He and Lou Piniella are the only managers in history to lead four teams to seasons of 90 or more wins. He also played for seven different teams between 1951 and 1964.