Quote:
Originally Posted by Merkle923
Other than post-strike/lockout years (1990 certainly and maybe 1995, can't recall) the last year carrying the three "extra" men was 1967.
As an example of the affect this had on rosters/ghosts, the Cubs opened the year with two pitchers, Tom Mandile and Alonso Olivares, who never appeared in a big league game. And the veteran catcher Chris Cannizzaro opened the same season with the Tigers, a team for which he never played.
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Actually, I have a March or April 1968 Baseball Digest that details rule changes at the start of the season and it does mention that the 28 man roster to start the season would no longer be in effect in 1968. However, who knows when the 28 man season-opening roster practice began. My guess is around 1953 or 1954.