1st As Pittsburgh’s training camp opens, Roberto Clemente is absent and suffering from malaria. He will report to camp a month late and struggle until mid-May.
7th Tigers manager Chuck Dressen suffers a mild coronary occlusion. He will be sidelined until May 19th. Coach Bob Swift will be acting manager.
17th Jackie Robinson is signed as a member of the ABC-TV baseball broadcast team, becoming the first black to receive a network position broadcasting baseball. ABC provides the first-ever nationwide baseball coverage with weekly Saturday broadcasts on a regional basis.
19th Cubs radio announcer Jack Quinlan is killed in Arizona when he loses control of his car and slams into the back of a truck. Quinlan was returning from a golf outing.
25th Pittsburgh 2B Bill Mazeroski suffers a broken bone in his right foot. He will not start until May.
30th The Yankees sell P Stan Williams to the Indians.
