February 4, 2003: The Red Sox claim right-handed pitcher Bronson Arroyo on waivers from the Pittsburg Pirates; Arroyo would pitch three seasons in Boston, winning 14 games in 2006, before being traded to the Reds for the immortal Wily Mo Pena, and he will start 30 or more games each year for Cincinnati over the next 8 seasons. [...]

February 3, 2006: The Red Sox sign slick-fielding shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who has spent the past eight seasons with Florida Marlins, to a one-year contract; Gonzalez replaces Edgar Renteria who only lasted one year in Boston before being shipped to Atlanta, but Gonzalez will be gone in 2007 as Boston searches for more offense from shortstop. [...]

February 2, 1948: Red Sox All-Star left fielder Ted Williams, who spent the last four days fishing in the Florida Keys, returns to Boston to visit his five-day-old daughter Barbara; Williams absence during the birth of his first child sets off a fire-storm in the Boston newspapers, but Williams tells reporters he will return to the Keys, "It's too cold here [...]

February 1, 2003: Red Sox President Larry Lucchino pushes the US Congress to award Jackie Robinson the Congressional Gold Medal and announces that the nomination will be filed by Senators Kennedy, Kerry, McCain and Daschle; Jackie's widow Rachel Robinson is ultimately presented with the Gold Medal by then President George Bush on March 3, 2005. [...]

March 20, 1915: The Boston Braves break ground on Commonwealth Avenue to begin construction of Braves Field, which will be the home of the Braves until 1952; the Braves will play their home games at three year-old Fenway Park until the park, with a capacity of over 40,000, opens on August 18th and is acclaimed as "The World's Greatest Ballpark." [...]