On this date in Giants history—Jan. 28

Happy birthday to former Giants outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo, who turns the big 4-0 today.

There are just 22 days remaining until pitchers and catchers report to spring training and 66 days until Opening Day.

On this date in Giants history…

1949: The New York Giants sign their first black players: Negro League players Monte Irvin (pictured) and Ford Smith. Both men are assigned to the Jersey City Giants (International League). Irvin will star for the Giants, but Smith will never make the major leagues.

1958: The San Francisco Giants trade infielders Gail Harris and Ozzie Virgil to the Detroit Tigers for outfielder Jim Finigan and $25,000. Virgil becomes the first black player in a Tigers uniform.

1962: Edd Roush and Bill McKechnie are added to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee. Roush spent four of his 18 big league seasons with the New York Giants (1916, 1927-’29).

1973: The Hall of Fame Special Veterans Committee selects 19th-century players Mickey Welch and George Kelly, plus umpire Billy Evans, for enshrinement in Cooperstown. Welch spent his entire 13-year career with the Giants, with the first three seasons (1880-’82) as a member of the Troy Trojans.

(Entries courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com)