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On This Day in Baseball History: May 16
Sources Lahman People + MLB StatsAPI74 debuts72 transactions
Every major-league debut, final game, transaction, birth and death recorded for May 16, newest first. Player names link to career pages where one exists, and each season links onward to that year’s awards and postseason archives.
Debuts74
Final games65
Transactions72
Born52
Died27
| Year | Move | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Athletics traded RHP Kyle Robinson to Pittsburgh Pirates for 2B Alika Williams. 2026 transaction archive |  |  |
| 2026 | Athletics traded CF Junior Perez to Chicago White Sox for LHP Jackson Nove. 2026 transaction archive |  | |
| 2026 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent RHP Lou Trivino to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent LHP Kirby Snead to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - | |
| 2026 | Los Angeles Angels signed free agent C Austin Wynns to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Atlanta Braves signed free agent LHP Austin Gomber to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Baltimore Orioles signed free agent LF Tommy Pham to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Liam Hendriks to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Colorado Rockies signed free agent C Jose Zarraga to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Colorado Rockies signed free agent RHP Dalvin Marte to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - | |
| 2026 | Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP Alexander Pichardo to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent SS Lizandro Rodriguez to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | San Francisco Giants signed free agent 3B Drew Ellis to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | New York Yankees traded LHP Rob Zastryzny to Milwaukee Brewers for cash. 2025 transaction archive |  |  |
| 2025 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Kenta Maeda to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - | |
| 2025 | Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent RHP Daniel De La Cruz to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - | |
| 2025 | Minnesota Twins signed free agent RHP Eston Stull to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent C Rey Cruz to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - | |
| 2025 | Baltimore Orioles signed free agent Deimer Rodriguez to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - | |
| 2024 | Minnesota Twins signed free agent SS Kevin Maitan to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - | |
| 2024 | Houston Astros traded RHP Brandon Bielak to Oakland Athletics for cash. 2024 transaction archive | |  |
| 2024 | Pittsburgh Pirates traded RHP Roansy Contreras to Los Angeles Angels for cash. 2024 transaction archive | | |
| 2024 | New York Mets signed free agent RHP Henry Henry to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2024 | Tampa Bay Rays signed free agent RHP Derrick Edington to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2024 | New York Mets signed free agent RHP Emilio Obispo to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - | |
| 2024 | New York Mets signed free agent RHP Deivy Paulino to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - | |
| 2023 | Washington Nationals signed free agent RHP Tyler Beck to a minor league contract. 2023 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2023 | Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent RHP Francis Reyes to a minor league contract. 2023 transaction archive | - | |
| 2022 | Seattle Mariners traded RHP Yohan Ramirez to Cleveland Guardians. 2022 transaction archive |  |  |
| 2022 | Miami Marlins signed free agent LHP Patrick Murphy to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2022 | Oakland Athletics signed free agent RHP Jorge Juan to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - | |
| 2022 | San Francisco Giants signed free agent RHP Spencer Bivens to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - | |
| 2022 | Atlanta Braves signed free agent RHP Wellington Guzman to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - | |
| 2022 | Detroit Tigers signed free agent RHP Andres Ramos to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2022 | Houston Astros signed free agent C Andrews Sosa to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - | |
| 2022 | Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent C July Vittini to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Arizona Diamondbacks traded 3B Wyatt Mathisen to Tampa Bay Rays for cash. 2021 transaction archive |  | |
| 2021 | Tampa Bay Rays signed free agent LHP Adam Conley to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Houston Astros signed free agent RHP Daniel Procopio to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Atlanta Braves signed free agent C Jonathan Lucroy to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | Boston Red Sox signed free agent RHP Dylan Thompson to a minor league contract. 2019 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2019 | San Francisco Giants traded C Erik Kratz to Tampa Bay Rays for Player To Be Named Later. 2019 transaction archive | | |
| 2018 | Cleveland Indians signed free agent RHP Matt Belisle to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP Logan Bawcom to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Angels signed free agent RHP Eduardo Rivera to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Angels signed free agent C Andres Gonzalez to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Angels signed free agent RHP Dario Beltre to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Boston Red Sox signed free agent RHP Josh Smith to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | New York Mets signed free agent RHP Neil Ramirez. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent RHP Hai-Cheng Gong to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | Texas Rangers signed free agent CF Drew Stubbs to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2017 | Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent C Jarrod Saltalamacchia to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | Washington Nationals signed free agent RHP Tyler Skulina to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | New York Yankees signed RHP Kaleb Ort. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2016 | Arizona Diamondbacks traded CF Jason Bourgeois to Chicago White Sox for cash. 2016 transaction archive | | |
| 2016 | Oakland Athletics signed free agent OF Alex Glenn to a minor league contract. 2016 transaction archive | - | |
| 2016 | Minnesota Twins signed free agent OF Robbie Grossman to a minor league contract. 2016 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP Jeff Bennett to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Atlanta Braves signed free agent OF Brandon Boggs to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent SS Addison Maruszak to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent IF Alex Liddi to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | New York Mets signed free agent RHP Matt Fox to a minor league contract. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | Oakland Athletics signed free agent RHP Erik Arnesen to a minor league contract. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | Miami Marlins signed free agent RHP Adam Reifer to a minor league contract. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | New York Yankees signed free agent C Jerry Seitz to a minor league contract. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2012 | Tampa Bay Rays signed free agent 1B Ryan Garko to a minor league contract. 2012 transaction archive | - | |
| 2012 | Philadelphia Phillies traded LF Rich Thompson to Tampa Bay Rays. 2012 transaction archive | | |
| 2012 | Baltimore Orioles signed free agent OF Paolo Pezzarossi to a minor league contract. 2012 transaction archive | - | |
| 2011 | Seattle Mariners released LF Milton Bradley. 2011 transaction archive | - | |
| 2011 | Toronto Blue Jays traded OF Adam Calderone to Detroit Tigers. 2011 transaction archive | | |
| 2011 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent C Liam Bedford. 2011 transaction archive | - | |
| 2011 | Kansas City Royals signed free agent RHP Jose Veras to a minor league contract. 2011 transaction archive | - |  |
| Year | Player |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Luis Garcia |
| 1997 | Richie Palacios |
| 1996 | Donny Sands |
| 1996 | Sean Bouchard |
| 1995 | Freddy Fermin |
| 1995 | Gabe Klobosits |
| 1994 | Heath Fillmyer |
| 1994 | Michael Petersen |
| 1993 | Jake Jewell |
| 1993 | Luis Sardinas |
| 1992 | Williams Jerez |
| 1991 | Dietrich Enns |
| 1989 | Drew Maggi |
| 1987 | Tyler Cloyd |
| 1984 | Brandon Mann |
| 1984 | Jensen Lewis |
| 1984 | Rafael Martin |
| 1983 | Steven Register |
| 1982 | Eugenio Velez |
| 1978 | Nick Bierbrodt |
| 1977 | Ivanon Coffie |
| 1974 | Jerrod Riggan |
| 1970 | Jim Mecir |
| 1969 | Mike Heathcott |
| 1967 | Doug Brocail |
| 1967 | Frank Seminara |
| 1959 | Bob Patterson |
| 1959 | Mitch Webster |
| 1957 | Mark Funderburk |
| 1956 | Tack Wilson |
| 1955 | Jack Morris |
| 1953 | Rick Rhoden |
| 1951 | Mike Potter |
| 1949 | Rick Reuschel |
| 1933 | Bob Bruce |
| 1931 | Ben Johnson |
| 1928 | Billy Martin |
| 1926 | Rube Walker |
| 1920 | Dave Philley |
| 1919 | Stubby Overmire |
| 1917 | George Jumonville |
| 1904 | Abe White |
| 1902 | Howard Fitzgerald |
| 1902 | Watson Clark |
| 1896 | Red Ostergard |
| 1895 | Colonel Snover |
| 1894 | Paddy Smith |
| 1886 | Clarence Lehr |
| 1875 | George Barclay |
| 1872 | John O'Connell |
| 1866 | Billy Hart |
| 1858 | Alex Voss |
| Year | Player | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Frankie Libran | 65 |
| 2012 | Kevin Hickey | 56 |
| 2012 | Thad Tillotson | 71 |
| 1998 | Rufino Linares | 47 |
| 1990 | John Pezzullo | 79 |
| 1985 | Johnny Broaca | 75 |
| 1983 | Mel Wright | 55 |
| 1981 | Jim Finigan | 52 |
| 1981 | Tommy Mee | 91 |
| 1980 | Cap Peterson | 37 |
| 1978 | Mike Wilson | 81 |
| 1970 | Dutch Ruether | 76 |
| 1968 | Bill Brandt | 53 |
| 1964 | Buzz Arlett | 65 |
| 1963 | Don Hankins | 61 |
| 1961 | Dick Harley | 86 |
| 1953 | Jim Wallace | 71 |
| 1952 | Sal Campfield | 84 |
| 1941 | Art Williams | 63 |
| 1939 | Hal Kime | 41 |
| 1935 | Mark McGrillis | 62 |
| 1935 | Pete Weckbecker | 70 |
| 1927 | Pat Murphy | 70 |
| 1924 | Candy Cummings | 75 |
| 1919 | Germany Schaefer | 43 |
| 1918 | Patsy Tebeau | 53 |
| 1903 | Chicken Wolf | 41 |
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 16.
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.