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On This Day in Baseball History: May 21
Sources Lahman People + MLB StatsAPI60 debuts62 transactions
Every major-league debut, final game, transaction, birth and death recorded for May 21, newest first. Player names link to career pages where one exists, and each season links onward to that year’s awards and postseason archives.
Debuts60
Final games65
Transactions62
Born58
Died26
| Year | Move | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Houston Astros signed free agent RHP Andrew Marrero to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Cincinnati Reds traded RF Rece Hinds to Miami Marlins for RHP Zach McCambley. 2026 transaction archive |  |  |
| 2026 | Cleveland Guardians signed free agent SS Luis Rodriguez to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent RHP Drake Fellows to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Detroit Tigers signed free agent SS Yohandy Cruz to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | San Francisco Giants signed free agent SS Jonathan Valle to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Baltimore Orioles signed free agent RHP Andrew Herbert to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2026 | Baltimore Orioles signed free agent LHP Stephen Still to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - | |
| 2026 | Los Angeles Angels signed free agent RHP Alex Faedo to a minor league contract. 2026 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Boston Red Sox signed free agent RHP Erickson Ettien to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Kansas City Royals signed free agent IF Angelmis De La Cruz to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Texas Rangers signed free agent RHP Victor Lopez to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Colorado Rockies signed free agent OF David Lee to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2025 | Baltimore Orioles signed free agent RHP Carlos Virla to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - | |
| 2025 | San Francisco Giants signed free agent RHP Josue Perez to a minor league contract. 2025 transaction archive | - | |
| 2024 | Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent RHP Oscar Echegarreta, to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2024 | Miami Marlins signed free agent RHP Melvin Cuevas to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - | |
| 2024 | Miami Marlins signed free agent IF Diwarys Encarnacion to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - | |
| 2024 | Miami Marlins signed free agent RHP Albert Ortiz to a minor league contract. 2024 transaction archive | - | |
| 2023 | Texas Rangers signed free agent RHP Tyler Zombro to a minor league contract. 2023 transaction archive | - | |
| 2023 | Colorado Rockies signed free agent LHP Ben Braymer to a minor league contract. 2023 transaction archive | - | |
| 2023 | Boston Red Sox released RHP Ryan Brasier. 2023 transaction archive | - | |
| 2022 | Los Angeles Angels signed free agent LHP Grant Dayton to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - | |
| 2022 | Seattle Mariners signed free agent LF Justin Upton. 2022 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2022 | Seattle Mariners signed free agent C Andrew Knapp to a minor league contract. 2022 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Tampa Bay Rays traded SS Willy Adames and RHP Trevor Richards to Milwaukee Brewers for RHP J.P. Feyereisen and RHP Drew Rasmussen. 2021 transaction archive |  |  |
| 2021 | Seattle Mariners signed free agent LHP Williams Jerez to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2021 | Miami Marlins signed free agent SS Zack Kone to a minor league contract. 2021 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | Seattle Mariners signed free agent RHP Anthony Bass. 2019 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | Minnesota Twins released RHP Addison Reed. 2019 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2019 | Houston Astros signed free agent RHP Luis Vega to a minor league contract. 2019 transaction archive | - | |
| 2019 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Luis Valenzuela to a minor league contract. 2019 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2018 | Chicago White Sox signed free agent OF Michael Saunders to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2018 | Miami Marlins released RHP Junichi Tazawa. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | Detroit Tigers signed free agent LHP Kevin Chapman to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2018 | New York Yankees signed free agent SS Dionys Vallejo to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2018 | New York Yankees signed free agent RHP Randy Vasquez to a minor league contract. 2018 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | Seattle Mariners signed free agent LF Keury De La Cruz to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2017 | Miami Marlins signed free agent RHP Evan Beal to a minor league contract. 2017 transaction archive | - | |
| 2016 | New York Yankees signed free agent LHP Neal Cotts to a minor league contract. 2016 transaction archive | - | |
| 2015 | Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent OF Alex Hassan to a minor league contract. 2015 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2015 | Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent RHP Ariel Hernandez to a minor league contract. 2015 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Boston Red Sox signed free agent Stephen Drew. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Chicago White Sox released 2B Jeff Keppinger. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent OF Chris Swauger to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2014 | Chicago White Sox signed free agent LHP Juan Rodriguez to a minor league contract. 2014 transaction archive | - | |
| 2013 | San Diego Padres signed free agent RHP Coby Cowgill to a minor league contract. 2013 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2013 | Cleveland Indians signed free agent C Wagner Ramirez to a minor league contract. 2013 transaction archive | - | |
| 2012 | Atlanta Braves traded 3B Drew Sutton to Pittsburgh Pirates for cash. 2012 transaction archive |  |  |
| 2012 | St. Louis Cardinals signed free agent LF Luis Montanez to a minor league contract. 2012 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2012 | Atlanta Braves signed free agent LHP Ian Thomas to a minor league contract. 2012 transaction archive | - | |
| 2012 | Pittsburgh Pirates traded 3B Drew Sutton to Tampa Bay Rays for cash. 2012 transaction archive | | |
| 2012 | Atlanta Braves signed free agent 2B Lance Zawadzki to a minor league contract. 2012 transaction archive | - | |
| 2012 | Houston Astros signed free agent RHP Armando Galarraga to a minor league contract. 2012 transaction archive | - | |
| 2012 | Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent RHP Felix Paulino to a minor league contract. 2012 transaction archive | - | |
| 2012 | Chicago White Sox signed free agent LHP Carlos Diaz to a minor league contract. 2012 transaction archive | - | |
| 2012 | Baltimore Orioles signed RHP Eric Beaulac. 2012 transaction archive | - | |
| 2012 | Texas Rangers signed free agent C Jesus Gonzalez to a minor league contract. 2012 transaction archive | - | |
| 2011 | Arizona Diamondbacks released 1B Russell Branyan. 2011 transaction archive | - | |
| 2011 | Oakland Athletics signed free agent LHP Lenny DiNardo to a minor league contract. 2011 transaction archive | - |  |
| 2011 | Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent RHP Robert Ray to a minor league contract. 2011 transaction archive | - | |
| 2011 | Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP Luis Meza to a minor league contract. 2011 transaction archive | - |  |
| Year | Player |
|---|---|
| 1999 | Rodolfo Castro |
| 1999 | Tyler Freeman |
| 1995 | Jose Alvarado |
| 1993 | Joe Ross |
| 1991 | Jacob Turner |
| 1991 | Joe Hudson |
| 1991 | Joey Rickard |
| 1991 | Williams Perez |
| 1987 | Allan Dykstra |
| 1986 | Matt Wieters |
| 1985 | Andrew Miller |
| 1982 | Ed Lucas |
| 1981 | Josh Hamilton |
| 1978 | Ricardo Rodriguez |
| 1976 | Rocky Biddle |
| 1976 | Travis Harper |
| 1974 | Mark Quinn |
| 1973 | Tommy Davis |
| 1971 | Chris Widger |
| 1970 | Bryce Florie |
| 1970 | Tom Martin |
| 1968 | Greg O'Halloran |
| 1968 | Steve Pegues |
| 1963 | Jose Roman |
| 1961 | Greg Tabor |
| 1960 | Kent Hrbek |
| 1958 | Paul Runge |
| 1955 | Eddie Milner |
| 1950 | Bob Molinaro |
| 1950 | Hank Webb |
| 1941 | Bobby Cox |
| 1936 | Barry Latman |
| 1934 | Moe Thacker |
| 1932 | Earl Hersh |
| 1930 | Rudy Regalado |
| 1927 | El Tappe |
| 1926 | Elmer Sexauer |
| 1924 | Ed FitzGerald |
| 1918 | Neb Stewart |
| 1918 | Stan Goletz |
| 1912 | Monty Stratton |
| 1911 | Irv Stein |
| 1910 | Larry Rosenthal |
| 1909 | Dick Ward |
| 1909 | Mace Brown |
| 1906 | Hank Johnson |
| 1902 | Earl Averill |
| 1900 | Sam Langford |
| 1893 | Harry Juul |
| 1891 | Bunny Hearn |
| 1891 | Doc Ayers |
| 1884 | Carl Spongberg |
| 1883 | Eddie Grant |
| 1881 | Charlie Loudenslager |
| 1877 | Sam Brown |
| 1874 | Sandy McDougal |
| 1867 | Fred Clement |
| 1859 | Fred Dunlap |
| Year | Player | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hank Foiles | 94 |
| 2022 | Gordie Windhorn | 88 |
| 2019 | Freddie Velazquez | 81 |
| 2015 | Fred Gladding | 78 |
| 2014 | Johnny Gray | 87 |
| 2013 | Cot Deal | 90 |
| 2011 | Jim Pyburn | 78 |
| 2002 | Bob Poser | 92 |
| 2001 | Mel Hoderlein | 77 |
| 1985 | Archie McKain | 74 |
| 1985 | Grover Powell | 44 |
| 1980 | Frank Croucher | 65 |
| 1976 | John Karst | 82 |
| 1973 | Herm Wehmeier | 46 |
| 1970 | Jack Farmer | 77 |
| 1970 | Les Fusselman | 49 |
| 1969 | Dennis Burns | 70 |
| 1961 | Ben Koehler | 84 |
| 1960 | George Cochran | 71 |
| 1959 | Carter Elliott | 65 |
| 1938 | Sam Childs | 76 |
| 1937 | Jack McAdams | 50 |
| 1933 | Charlie Osterhout | - |
| 1892 | Hub Collins | 28 |
| 1891 | Jim Whitney | 33 |
| 1886 | David Lenz | 35 |
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 21.
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.