ANDY PETTITTE

David Ortiz, Ryan Howard, Tim Lincecum and Alex Rodriguez are among 13 first-time candidates on the Hall of Fame ballot of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, joining 17 holdovers.

FILE - In this May 7, 2019, file photo, a new official Pacific Coast League baseball, left, is seen beside a baseball from the previous year in Papillion, Neb. Major League Baseball has reorganized its minor leagues in a 120-team regional alignment, MLB announced, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)NEW YORK – Major League Baseball will experiment with several rule changes in the minor leagues this season, including an automated strike zone, restrictions on defensive positioning and larger bases. In all Low-A leagues, pitchers will be limited to two step offs or pickoff attempts per plate appearance with at least one runner on base. The coronavirus pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor league season and is expected to delay the start of the 2021 schedule until around the first week of May.

FILE - In this Oct. 8, 1960 file photo, New York Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford throws against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third World Series game at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo, File)Reaction to the death of Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford, the ace of the mighty New York Yankees teams in the 1950s and ’60s. Obviously, a great pitcher. They never say Whitey Ford. It’s Whitey Ford.

NEW YORK – Mark Newman, a key front office executive for the New York Yankees during their run of five World Series titles from 1996 through 2009, was found dead Saturday at his home in Tampa, Florida. The Yankees said it was not clear whether he died Friday or Saturday. Newman was omnipresent for two decades at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa, Florida, his portly frame easily recognizable from a distance. “He was very passionate about all the guys in the minor league system,” Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner said in a statement. “He would come to the Dominican Republic and watch me during tryouts,” Yankees catcher Gary Sánchez said in a statement.

For Mariano Rivera, it was the culmination of a storied career, dreams of being the next Pel long since forgotten. Rivera was the first player unanimously voted into the Hall by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. A two-time Cy Young Award winner, Halladay amassed a 203-105 record in a 16-year career with Toronto and Philadelphia. Mussina, who pitched for 18 major league seasons, posted a record of 270-153 and was a seven-time Gold Glove winner. The late Frank Robinson and Willie McCovey were honored with a moment of silence before Mussina was introduced to start the ceremony.

1996: Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves becomes the youngest player to homer in a World Series, with the 19-year-old hitting a homer off New York Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte in the second inning of Game 1. He would also connect later in the game for another home run in the 12-1 Atlanta victory. Hide Caption