– Outfielder Joe DiMaggio signs with the New York Yankees for $100,000, the first six-figure contract in Major League history. February 9 – A federal appeals court orders the $300,000 suit against Major League Baseball by Mexican League jumper Danny Gardella back to a lower court for trial. February 20 – The first Caribbean Series ever was inaugurated with a doubleheader at Havana, Cuba. In the first game, Indios de Mayagüez of Puerto Rico faced Spur Cola Colonites of Panama, while the Cuban host team Alacranes del Almendares faced Cervecería Caracas of Venezuela in the night cap. The Cuban club would win the best-of-six-days Series with a perfect 6–0 record, followed by Venezuela (3–3), Panama (2–4) and Puerto Rico (1–5). March March 1 – The St. Louis Browns, owners of Sportsman's Park, move to evict the St. Louis Cardinals in order to gain a rental increase. March 2 – Joe DiMaggio leaves the New York Yankees' spring training camp to have an ailing right heel examined at Johns Hopkins Hospital. DiMaggio is told that no surgery is needed and he returns to Florida, but the heel will continue to bother him. The star is hitting just 7-for-31 in the Grapefruit League. March 8 – Max Lanier and Fred Martin, late of the Mexican League, file a $2.5 million suit against Major League Baseball. A federal judge on April one will deny their right to be reinstated. April April 8 – Dissension rumors surround the NL title-holder Boston Braves after manager Billy Southworth calls a closed meeting of the club in a South Carolina hotel. April 18 – On Opening Day, the Philadelphia Phillies win 4–0 over the Boston Braves at Braves Field, and the Washington Senators defeat the Philadelphia Athletics 3–2 at Griffith Stadium. April 19: At pregame ceremonies marking the season opener in Yankee Stadium, a granite monument to the late Babe Ruth is unveiled in center field. Plaques honoring Lou Gehrig and Miller Huggins are also presented. Mrs. Babe Ruth, Mayor William O'Dwyer, and Governor Thomas E. Dewey are at the game. In Brooklyn, the Dodgers pay tribute to Jack "Shorty" Laurice, the "number one" fan and leader of the Ebbets Field "Sym-phony" band. Laurice died in 1948. Before 53,000 at Tiger Stadium, Detroit Tigers rookie Johnny Groth homers twice in his first three at-bats against the Chicago White Sox. April 20 – Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Willie