Bancroft, Jake Beckley, Chick Hafey, Harry Hooper, Joe Kelley, and Rube Marquard, and executive George Weiss. February 9 – Former Negro leagues pitcher Satchel Paige is nominated for the Hall of Fame. On June 10, the Hall's new Veterans Committee will formally select Paige for induction. February 10 – The Los Angeles Dodgers acquire pitcher Al Downing from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for outfielder Andy Kosco. Downing would later be a part of history as the pitcher who surrendered Hank Aaron's 714th career home run, which broke the all-time record set by Babe Ruth. March–April March 6 – Charlie Finley persuaded American League president Joe Cronin to have a preseason game in which a walk was allowed on three pitches rather than four. The Athletics bested the Milwaukee Brewers by a 13–9 tally. Nineteen total walks were issued in the game, and a collective six home runs were hit. April 5 – The St. Louis Cardinals return first baseman Cecil Cooper to the Boston Red Sox. The Cardinals had selected Cooper in the Rule 5 draft in November 1970. April 10: The Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Montreal Expos, 4–1, in the first game played at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium. Willie Stargell hits three home runs, including his 200th career homer. Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants becomes the first player to hit a home run in each of his team's first four games of a season. The shot comes off Jerry Reuss in the third inning of Giants' 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Memorial Stadium. Mays had also homered in each of the first three games of the season, against the San Diego Padres. April 16 – The Atlanta Braves sign free agent pitcher Luis Tiant. April 27 – Hank Aaron becomes the third player in Major League history to hit his 600th home run. May–June May 6 – Commissioner Bowie Kuhn signs Major League Baseball to a $72 million television contract with NBC. May 15 – Billy Williams hits the 300th home run of his career during a 6–4 win over the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field. The milestone homer was hit off Tom Phoebus. Luis Tiant, signed by the Braves just one month earlier, is released by Atlanta. Two days later, he signs with the Boston Red Sox, for whom he'd have multiple 20 win seasons for. May 17: Johnny Bench hits