Cliff Lee, a native of Benton, AR, was suspended by Major League Baseball on Wednesday following an ejection from Monday’s game between Lee’s Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Lee was ejected from the game in the bottom of the 3rd inning after throwing a pitch over Arizona’s Chris Snyder’s head. Earlier in the game, Snyder collided with Lee at home plate, causing the pitch thrown later to be presumed intentional.

The suspension was the second of Lee’s career. In 2004, he was given a 6-game suspension for supposedly throwing a pitched at Ken Griffey Jr. Lee has decided to appeal MLB’s decision.

Seattle Mariners’ pitcher Cliff Lee was ejected from Monday’s spring training game which he started against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Lee, a native of Benton, AR and University of Arkansas alumni, was thrown out of the game in the bottom of the 3rd inning after throwing a pitch over Arizona’s Chris Snyder’s head. Earlier in the game, Snyder collided with Lee at home plate, causing the pitch thrown later to be presumed intentional.

Lee left the game after only 2.2 innings, during which he surrendered 4 runs. The only time Lee has been ejected in a major league game came in 2004 after nearly hitting Ken Griffey Jr with a pitch.

Willie Davis, an 18-season major league veteran during the ’60s and ’70s, died on Tuesday, March 9th. He was a three-time Gold Glove outfielder primarily for the Los Angeles Dodgers, as well as a two-time All-Star selection.

Davis was born in Mineral Spring, AR. He was signed by Los Angeles in 1958 and made his major league debut in 1960. He continued to play with the Dodgers until 1974 when he was traded to Montreal. In the remaining 6 seasons of his career, he played with Texas, St. Louis, San Diego and California.

Over the course of his career, he hit .279 with 182 homeruns and 398 stolen bases. He is still second all-time among Arkansas born players in triples, RBIs and stolen bases.

Texarkana, AR native Dustin Moseley was invited to the New York Yankees 2010 spring training on Tuesday. Previously, he had been a free agent after he was not offered a contract by the Los Angeles Angels.

Moseley, an Arkansas High School product, spent most of the 2009 season on the disabled list due to a hip injury. He started the season for the Angels as a starting pitcher and went 1-0 with a 4.30 ERA in 3 games before being added to the disable list.

Moseley, 28, was one of 5 players invited to spring training by the Yankees. He was originally drafted by Cincinnati as the 34th overall player selected in the 2000 MLB Draft.

Sammy Drake, major league infielder from 1960-1962, died on Wednesday, January 27th at age 75. He and his brother Solly were both natives of Little Rock, AR and together they were the first African-American brother combo in the majors.

Drake began his major league career in 1955 with Macon of the South Atlantic League. Five years later, he made his major league debut with the Chicago, playing parts of two seasons with the Cubs. He was then drafted by the Mets from the Cubs, where he played a career-high 25 games and recorded his only 7 big league RBIs.

Over his three-year career, Drake hit .153, playing second, third and right field. In addition, He was the third African-American from Arkansas to reach the big leagues.

Travis Wood got one final award for his excellent 2009 season on Thurday when he was named the Minor League Baseball AA start of the year.

Wood, who was born in Little Rock and went to high school Bryant, AR, split 2009 between the AA Carolina Mudcats and the AAA Louisville Bats. With the Mudcats, he went 9-3 with a 1.21 ERA, best of any pitcher in AA baseball. In 8 games with Louisville, Wood went 4-2 with a 3.14 ERA.

Among Wood’s other awards won include being named to the Topps AA All-Star Team, the Southern League mid-season and post-season all-star teams, as well as the Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher.

Texarkana, AR native Dustin Moseley was not offered a contract by the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, forcing the right hander to become a free agent.

Moseley, an Arkansas High School product, spent most of the 2009 season on the disabled list due to a hip injury. He started the season for the Angels as a starting pitcher and went 1-0 with a 4.30 ERA in 3 games before being added to the disable list.

Moseley was one of three players to not be offered a contract by Los Angeles, along with former Arkansas Travelers Jose Arredondo and Matthew Brown.