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On This Day in Baseball History: May 5
Sources Lahman People + MLB StatsAPI99 debuts70 transactions
Every major-league debut, final game, transaction, birth and death recorded for May 5, newest first. Player names link to career pages where one exists, and each season links onward to that year’s awards and postseason archives.
Debuts99
Final games85
Transactions70
Born56
Died24
| Year | Move | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Detroit Tigers signed free agent 3B Paul DeJong to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Philadelphia Phillies traded RHP Trevor Richards to Chicago White Sox for cash. 2026 transaction archive |  |  |
| 2026 | Los Angeles Angels signed free agent LHP Joey Lucchesi to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Washington Nationals signed free agent RHP Max Kranick. Right elbow surgery recovery. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | San Francisco Giants signed free agent LHP Moises Soto to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Colorado Rockies signed free agent LHP Maique Basanta to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Los Angeles Angels signed free agent C Diego Avila to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - | |
| 2026 | New York Mets signed free agent RHP Guillo Zuñiga to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Atlanta Braves signed free agent LHP Austin Cox. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent RHP Spencer Turnbull. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent RHP José Ureña. 2025 transaction archive | - | |
| 2025 | Milwaukee Brewers traded RHP Evan McKendry to Chicago White Sox for cash. 2025 transaction archive | |  |
| 2025 | Milwaukee Brewers traded RHP John Holobetz to Boston Red Sox. PTBNL from 4/7 Quinn Priester trade. 2025 transaction archive | |  |
| 2025 | Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent C Michael Pérez to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Houston Astros signed free agent OF Edwilmin Matos to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Houston Astros signed free agent RHP Cody Tucker to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - | |
| 2024 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Carlo Reyes to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2023 | Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent SS Kevin Vicuña to a minor league contract. 2023 transaction archive | - | |
| 2023 | Philadelphia Phillies traded LHP Nick Allgeyer to Houston Astros for cash. 2023 transaction archive | | |
| 2023 | Texas Rangers traded RHP Zack Littell to Boston Red Sox. 2023 transaction archive |  | |
| 2023 | Tampa Bay Rays signed free agent OF Jackson Lancaster to a minor league contract. 2023 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2023 | New York Yankees signed free agent CF Jose Castro to a minor league contract. 2023 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2023 | Miami Marlins signed free agent RHP Zach Willeman to a minor league contract. 2023 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2023 | Oakland Athletics signed free agent OF Frandy Duran to a minor league contract. 2023 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2022 | Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent LHP Derek Holland to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - | |
| 2022 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent CF Chris Sharpe to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - | |
| 2022 | Baltimore Orioles signed free agent RHP Yeiber Cartaya to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2021 | San Francisco Giants traded CF Skye Bolt to Oakland Athletics for cash. 2021 transaction archive | | |
| 2021 | Chicago White Sox signed free agent CF Brian Goodwin to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Los Angeles Angels signed free agent C Francisco Arcia to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Colorado Rockies signed free agent RHP Frank Duncan to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Oakland Athletics signed free agent RHP Dairon De Jesus to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent 2B D.J. Burt to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent SS Ruben Tejada to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | Chicago White Sox signed free agent LHP Justin Nicolino to a minor league contract. 2019 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent C Travis d'Arnaud. 2019 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2018 | Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent RHP Clay Buchholz to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Milwaukee Brewers traded RHP Oliver Drake to Cleveland Indians for cash. 2018 transaction archive | |  |
| 2018 | Atlanta Braves traded C Tanner Murphy to San Francisco Giants. 2018 transaction archive | | |
| 2018 | Minnesota Twins traded RHP Max Cordy to Los Angeles Angels. 2018 transaction archive |  | |
| 2018 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent C Pablo Aliendo to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent CF Rafael Herrera to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent C Malcom Quintero to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | Cleveland Indians traded RHP Yoiber Marquina to New York Yankees. 2017 transaction archive | | |
| 2017 | Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent RF Michael Choice to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Edward Vasquez to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent SS Rochest Cruz to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | New York Yankees signed free agent RHP Daison Manzano to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | Colorado Rockies signed free agent RHP Juan Mejia to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Benjamin Rodriguez to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent C Leonicio Ventura to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | Miami Marlins signed free agent CF Chad Hinshaw to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | San Francisco Giants signed free agent RHP Will LaMarche to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | San Francisco Giants signed free agent RHP Vic Black to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2016 | Minnesota Twins signed free agent LHP Nick Greenwood to a minor league contract. 2016 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | Miami Marlins released C Jarrod Saltalamacchia. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | Tampa Bay Rays signed free agent RHP Grant Balfour to a minor league contract. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP P.J. Walters to a minor league contract. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | Colorado Rockies signed free agent RHP Jefry Valdez to a minor league contract. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent 2B Nathan Sopena to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2014 | New York Yankees signed free agent LHP Nik Turley to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Seattle Mariners signed free agent RHP Carlos Hernandez to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2014 | New York Yankees signed free agent LF Carlos Vidal to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Boston Red Sox signed free agent RHP Marcos Lantigua to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent LHP Greg Smith to a minor league contract. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2011 | New York Mets signed free agent RHP Brian Sweeney to a minor league contract. 2011 transaction archive | - | |
| 2011 | Detroit Tigers signed free agent RF Ryan Hamme to a minor league contract. 2011 transaction archive | - | |
| 2011 | San Francisco Giants signed free agent LHP Geno Espineli to a minor league contract. 2011 transaction archive | - | |
| 2011 | Texas Rangers signed RHP Richelson Pena. 2011 transaction archive | - | |
| 2011 | Los Angeles Dodgers signed LHP Willie Canelo. 2011 transaction archive | - | |
| Year | Player |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Philip Abner |
| 1998 | Eduardo Salazar |
| 1997 | Joel Peguero |
| 1997 | Logan Gilbert |
| 1996 | Alejo Lopez |
| 1995 | Brian Serven |
| 1994 | Beau Sulser |
| 1993 | Tyler Cyr |
| 1991 | Austin Adams |
| 1991 | James Pazos |
| 1981 | Chris Duncan |
| 1980 | Chad Bentz |
| 1977 | Tom Gregorio |
| 1976 | Keith Ginter |
| 1971 | Mike Redmond |
| 1970 | Juan Acevedo |
| 1969 | Hideki Irabu |
| 1967 | Charles Nagy |
| 1966 | Reggie Williams |
| 1962 | Ramon Peña |
| 1958 | Dave Gumpert |
| 1956 | Ron Oester |
| 1953 | Gary Christenson |
| 1947 | Larry Hisle |
| 1945 | Jimmy Rosario |
| 1943 | John Donaldson |
| 1941 | Tommy Helms |
| 1935 | Jose Pagan |
| 1934 | Don Buddin |
| 1933 | Joe McClain |
| 1932 | Chuck Locke |
| 1930 | Harley Grossman |
| 1925 | Bob Cerv |
| 1925 | Johnny Rutherford |
| 1923 | Jim Kirby |
| 1918 | John Leovich |
| 1917 | George Dockins |
| 1917 | Lennie Merullo |
| 1908 | Tony Freitas |
| 1905 | Jack Ryan |
| 1891 | Bruno Haas |
| 1891 | Jack McCandless |
| 1889 | Dick Wright |
| 1887 | Henri Rondeau |
| 1884 | Charles Bender |
| 1883 | Gene Curtis |
| 1882 | Lee Quillin |
| 1882 | Pat Paige |
| 1880 | Andy Oyler |
| 1871 | Jimmy Bannon |
| 1867 | Tom Vickery |
| 1863 | Paul Cook |
| 1860 | Jim Reilly |
| 1858 | Bill Watkins |
| 1857 | Lee Richmond |
| 1852 | Henry Kohler |
| Year | Player | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ray Newman | 77 |
| 2021 | Del Crandall | 91 |
| 2021 | Gerry Schoen | 74 |
| 2018 | Roy Wright | 84 |
| 2012 | Don Leshnock | 65 |
| 2008 | Cal Howe | 83 |
| 1994 | Tony DePhillips | 81 |
| 1989 | Joe Batchelder | 90 |
| 1979 | Virgil Cheeves | 78 |
| 1977 | Bill Marshall | 66 |
| 1974 | Tom McNamara | 78 |
| 1974 | Vito Tamulis | 62 |
| 1973 | Bert Griffith | 77 |
| 1969 | Eddie Cicotte | 84 |
| 1959 | Verne Clemons | 67 |
| 1956 | John Godwin | 79 |
| 1947 | Ty LaForest | 30 |
| 1940 | Bill Wise | 79 |
| 1936 | Bill Anderson | 71 |
| 1936 | Lou Sylvester | 81 |
| 1933 | Steve Dunn | 74 |
| 1931 | John Riddle | - |
| 1907 | Sam Moffet | 50 |
| 1892 | Peter Connell | - |
About these records
Every dated event on this page is read directly from the source tables: debuts, final games, birth dates and death dates from the SABR / Sean Lahman baseball database (2025 edition, People table), used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, and transactions from the official MLB StatsAPI transactions archive captured through 2026-10-22. Nothing is inferred: a record appears here only when the source carries a complete month and day for May 5.
Honesty notes: the staged People table records complete dates or none, and no partial dates had to be excluded. Missing dates are not unknowns everywhere: an empty death date means the player is living (10,918 rows), an empty final-game date means no end date is recorded (1,932 rows), and 398 rows have no birth date. Early records reach back to the 1870s; 19th-century dates reflect the best retrospective research in the source and are shown exactly as recorded. Award winners and postseason series are staged by season with no calendar day in the source, so they are linked from each season above instead of being dated here. The transaction window covers 2011 to 2026 only. Player names link to career pages for every player who has one.
See the sources page for every dataset behind Legends Deck.