The Main Event

Bobby Muñoz (born 1968) – A right-handed pitcher, Munoz was acquired from the Yankees along with Ricky Jordan for Terry Mulholland in February of 1994. He pitched in Philadelphia from 1994 to 1997 with a mark of 8-15, 4.84.

John Kruk had developed a reputation around the clubhouse for being both irreverent and surprisingly competitive. Reliever Larry Andersen, a veteran pitcher on that team, recalled long nights at Veterans Stadium when Kruk and others would stick around well after the clubhouse emptied to play wiffle ball on the infield. According to Andersen, it wasn’t unusual for those after-hours games to stretch into the early morning.

Andersen’s recollection was straightforward and vivid. “Sometimes we’d spend the night in the clubhouse, get up, strap ’em on, and go get ’em the next day,” he said, reflecting on that season’s quirky rhythm. “That is, if you could avoid Kruky playing wiffle ball until five in the morning.”

In his telling, Kruk had been told by manager Jim Fregosi that he was going to have the next day, a Sunday, off. Ricky Jordan would play at first base. That was Kruk’s cue to organize an epic wiffle ball game with members of the grounds crew that would stretch into the dawn, long after the bars had emptied. “There may have been some adult beverages involved and we just had a great time playing Wiffle Ball,” said Kruk. “I figured ‘what the hell? I have the day off.'”

Somewhere around dawn, Kruk crashed on a trainer’s table in the Phillies clubhouse to get some sleep. He was still there when players started to file in and as he opened his eyes, he saw Ricky Jordan – his replacement for the day – limp past him. A short while later as Kruk was gathering himself together, Fregosi approached him at his locker. “Ricky hurt his ankle, so you’re going to have to play today,” Fregosi told his first baseman, who was not exactly in shape to play a game.

Rather than confess about how he had spent his night, Kruk dutifully pulled on his uniform and went about getting ready for the game.

“I had three hits that day,” remembered Kruk. “So, it all turned out alright.”

Philadelphia Baseball Events for March 3

  • 1911: Bert Humphries collapsed, and several other players were affected by escaping gas from a stove used to heat the dressing room at Rickwood Park, where the Phillies were training in Birmingham, Alabama.
  • 1983 – Steve Carlton agrees to a four-year, $4.15 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies that will make him the highest-paid pitcher in major league history.

MLB Events for March 3

  • 1988 – Los Angeles Dodgers star Kirk Gibson walks out of training camp after teammate Jesse Orosco plays a practical joke by placing “eyeblack” in his cap. The incident illustrates Gibson’s intensity and no-nonsense approach to the game. Gibson, who returns to camp the next day, will be the National League MVP and help the Dodgers win the World Series this season.
GO DEEPER INTO THE PHILLIES WITH BONUS COVERAGE ON PBN EXTRA INNINGS.

Sign up for a free subscription and get our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox. Or, sign up for a paid subscription ($5 per month/$45 per year) and get deeper coverage of the Phillies and their minor league affiliates.

Philadelphia Baseball Birthdays for March 3

  • Bill Hoffman (born 1918) – Born in Philadelphia, Bill Hoffman was a left-handed pitcher who appeared in three games for the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1939 season. His eight hits and seven walks allowed in six innings (2.500 WHIP) and 13.50 ERA ended his MLB career after just those three games.
  • George Eyrich (born 1925) – Born in Reading, George Eyrich was a right-handed pitcher who appeared in nine games for the Philadelphia Phillies during World War II in 1943, one of the youngest players in the National League that season at age 18. He posted a 3.38 ERA despite allowing 27 hits and nine walks in 18.2 innings.
  • Bobby Locke (born 1934) – A right-handed pitcher who played parts of nine seasons in the major leagues, including 22 appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1962-1964 as a reliever. Posted an ERA of 4.53 with Philadelphia and 4.02 over his career.
  • Gabriel Rincones Jr. (born 2001) – Rincones is a Phillies outfield prospect, who spent the 2025 season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He opened eyes in Spring Training a year ago when he showed off his power swing and ability to get on base. Rincones hit 17-73-.240/.370/.430/.800 last season.

Hall of Fame Players Born on March 3

  • John Ward (born 1860) – An infielder and pitcher, Ward played 17 seasons in the majors with the Providence Grays, New York Giants, Brooklyn Ward’s Wonders, and Brooklyn. As a pitcher he appeared in 293 games – 262 as a starter – and went 164-103, 2.10. Led the majors in ERA (1.51) in 1878, Wins (47), winning percentage (.741), and strikeouts (239) in 1879. As a hitter, Ward hit 26 home runs and drove in 869 runs, while slashing .275/.314/.341/.655.
  • Willie Keeler (born 1872) – Born in Brooklyn, Keeler was a right fielder who played for the New York Giants, Brooklyn, Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Superbas, and New York Yankees over 19 seasons. He hit 33 home runs and drove in 801 with a slash line of: .341/.388/.415/.803 and 495 stolen bases.