May 3 in Tigers and mlb history:

1899: Tom O'Brien of the New York Giants receives perhaps the first intentional walk in major league history. In the 8th inning, with runners on second and third base with one out, Ed Delahanty of the Philadelphia Phillies tells teammate pitcher Jack Fifield to walk O'Brien, who has hit well all day. Then next batter, Fred Hartman, hits into a double play.

1904: Pitcher Charles (Red) Ruffing is born in Granville, Illinois. Ruffing will win 273 games during a 22-year career with the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox. He will gain election to the Hall of Fame in 1967.
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1912: Leading 18 - 5 after eight innings, Philadelphia Athletics pitchers give up a record 9th-inning outburst of 10 runs to the New York Highlanders before Eddie Plank stops them at 18 - 15.

1927: In the first match-up of pitching brothers in major league history, Jesse Barnes defeats his brother Virgil Barnes in the Brooklyn Robins' 7 - 6 victory over the New York Giants.

1936: Joe DiMaggio makes his major league debut for the New York Yankees and has three hits in a 14 - 5 victory over the St. Louis Browns.
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1938: Lefty Grove of the Boston Red Sox defeats the Detroit Tigers, 4 - 3, marking the start of a personal 20-game winning streak at his home field, Fenway Park. Grove will not lose a game there until May 12, 1941.

1939: A gracious Lou Gehrig shakes hands with Babe Dahlgren, his successor as New York Yankees first baseman.

1950: New York Yankees pitcher Vic Raschi, troubled by the new rule that requires a one-second stop before delivery with men on base, balks four times in one game, a club record and two fewer than the single-season record. Nevertheless, Raschi wins, 4 - 3, over the Chicago White Sox. He will finish the season with six balks to tie the since-topped American League mark.

1952: The Cleveland Indians set a record when they use 23 players in a regular game against the Washington Senators, including the first black battery in American League history. Quincy Trouppe is the catcher when pitcher Sam Jones comes to relieve.

1959: Charlie Maxwell of the Detroit Tigers hits four consecutive home runs in a doubleheader sweep of the New York Yankees, 4 - 2 and 8 - 2, at Briggs Stadium. The newspapers called him "Home Run Every Sunday" Charlie 'Paw Paw' Maxwell.
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1961: Another brilliant Warren Spahn performance is spoiled when left fielder Mel Roach's misplay costs the Milwaukee Braves' ace a second no-hitter in a row. Spahn settles for a two-hitter in topping the Dodgers, 4 - 1.

1964: Sadaharu Oh of the Yomiuri Giants hits four home runs against the Hanshin Tigers, tying the Nippon Professional Baseball record for most home runs in a game (held by Yoshiyuki Iwamoto) and tying the major league record held by seven players.

1966: Mickey Lolich pitches a 5-hit complete game shutout. Tigers score 6 runs in the 6th inning and pound the Red Sox 8-0.

1972: Mickey Stanley breaks a 1-1 tie in the 5th inning with a solo home run. Al Kaline triples and Willie Horton homers him home in the 6th and the Tigers go on to a 5-1 win over the Royals to take a half-game lead in the AL East.

1975: Cincinnati Reds manager Sparky Anderson decides to switch Pete Rose from left field to third base, opening a lineup spot for promising slugger George Foster. Over the next four seasons, Foster will average 36 home runs, 117 RBI, and a .302 batting average to help the Reds to two World Championships.

1980: Ferguson Jenkins of the Texas Rangers becomes the fourth pitcher in major league history to win 100 or more games in each league. Jenkins beats the Baltimore Orioles, 3 - 2 at Arlington Stadium, as he joins Cy Young, Jim Bunning and Gaylord Perry in the exclusive club.

1980: Willie McCovey of the San Francisco Giants hits his 521st and final career home runs against Scott Sanderson of the Montreal Expos, helping the Giants to a 3 - 2 win. His shot ties him with Ted Williams on the all-time list.
McCovey entered the Hall of Fame in 1986.
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1983: Tigers beat the Mariners 2-1 on a Lance Parrish home run in the top of the 11th at the Kingdome. Aurelio Lopez gets the win with 4 scoreless innings of relief.
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1984: Tigers' first losing streak of the season! They lose 1-0 to the Red Sox and fall to 19-4. Jack Morris pitches a 5-hit complete game but takes his first loss #Relive84

1995: Rookie third baseman David Bell makes his debut with the Cleveland Indians in a 14 - 7 victory over Detroit.
His appearance represents the third generation of his family to play in the major leagues. David's father, Buddy, and his grandfather, Gus, previously starred in the big leagues. The Bells become the second three-generation family in major league history, joining the Boone family (Ray, Bob, Bret and Aaron). Gus Bell will die four days later.

2009: Carl Crawford steals 6 bases in Tampa Bay's 5 - 3 win over the Red Sox, tying a modern major league record, shared by Eddie Collins (twice), Otis Nixon and Eric Young.

2012: The great Mariano Rivera, baseball's all-time save leader, suffers a torn ligament in his right knee while shagging fly balls during batting practice before the Yankees' game with the Royals. He is carted off the field, and at 42, the injury may well be career-ending, but he will be back to pitch a final season in 2013.

2012: The Detroit Tigers signed Jeff Frazier as a free agent.

2016: The Detroit Tigers traded Bobby Wilson to the Texas Rangers for Chad Bell.

2017: The Detroit Tigers released Jake Brigham.

2017: Sparks continue to fly between the Orioles and Red Sox. The whole ruckus started on April 21st, when Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia was spiked on a hard slide by Manny Machado and had to miss a few games.
On April 23rd, Matt Barnes was ejected for throwing a pitch behind Machado and was handed a four-game suspension.
When the teams meet again at Fenway Park this week, more incidents follow: on May 1st, Orioles CF Adam Jones denounces racial slurs directed at him by spectators, prompting the Red Sox to apologize and take action by banning the offending patron.
But bad blood flows again when Chris Sale throws a fastball at Machado the next day eliciting only a warning.
Major League Baseball warns both teams to be on their best behavior before today's game, but in the 2nd inning, Orioles P Kevin Gausman hits Xander Bogaerts and is tossed, even if the pitch was a curveball. Umpire Sam Holbrook explains that "there needs to be an end to this stuff". For good measure, Jones is tossed out as well in the 5th, but for arguing balls and strikes.
When the dust settles, Boston wins the game, 4 - 2, behind Drew Pomeranz and Craig Kimbrel.

2018: The Mariners announce that they have released 44-year-old OF Ichiro Suzuki, who is hitting .205 with no extra-base hits in 15 games and that he will stay on as a special assistant to the Chairman. He insists it is not the end of his career, as he plans to try out for the team again in 2019. "I'll retire when I start using a cane", as he puts it.

2022: In Houston's 4 - 0 win over the Mariners, Dusty Baker becomes the 12th manager in history to reach the 2,000-win mark.

Tigers players, coaches, and managers birthdays:

Del Baker 1914-1916, coach 1933-1938, manager 1933, 1936, 1937, 1938-1942.

Austin Meadows 2022-2023.

Baseball Reference

FIVE FOR FRIDAY.
Totally Tigers

For the first time in quite awhile, I’m really enjoying watching some of these Tigers play. I’m seeing energy and fight in these kitty cats.
With it being Friday, I have to submit a list of my top 5 players to watch right now. And for the first time, I have more candidates than slots.

I have to scrap Gio Urshela because he’s been on the IL. As well, Mark Canha and Kerry Carpenter who are 2 of the top 3 hitters on the team. Simply because someone else is really raking to the extent that he’s getting national attention.
Here’s the list of my top 5 faves. It can all change next week but right now, I’m enjoying the moment.

How many MLB rotations could Matt Manning crack today?
Once a top-ten pick and prospect, Manning has only seen double-header action for Detroit thus far in 2024.
BYBTB

Here’s a look at five more 2024 MLB draft prospects who may interest the Tigers.
Recent mock drafts have favored outfielder Vance Honeycutt and pitcher Trey Yesavage for the Tigers’ first round pick.
BYBTB

The Detroit Tigers are on another path of defeat.
The Detroit Tigers have started the season 18-13, but it has been their pitching that has been carrying them to this success. The offense has been sputtering all year and will need to step it up if they want to continue to succeed.
MCBTB

Tigers playoff odds on the rise after first month of the season.
The Tigers entered the year seen as pretenders. Where do they stand after their unexpected start?
MCBTB

Tigers select college pitcher Trey Yesavage in MLB Pipeline mock draft.
Detnews

Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Jackson Jobe placed on injured list with hamstring strain.
Freep

Jack Flaherty has quietly become one of MLB’s most pinpoint pitchers.
Mlive

MLB, Nike announce uniform adjustments for 2025 season.
MLB.com

Bally Sports channels pulled off lineup by Comcast.
espn

The adjustment behind Greene's strong stretch.
Tigers official site

Boxscore. F'n Tigers get 7 walks and are 0 for 7 with RISP.

Yankees 2 - Tigers 1: Tigers squander too many chances and get walked off.
Reese Olson and bullpen pitched well, but they wasted multiple chances with the bases loaded earlier in the game and it cost them.
BYBTB

'All or nothing': Tigers blow 1-0 lead in ninth inning, drop opener vs. Yankees.
Detnews

Missed scoring opportunities cost Detroit Tigers in 2-1 loss to New York Yankees.
Freep

Yankees rally to beat Tigers in 9th inning.
Mlive

May 4 in Tigers and mlb history:

1869: The Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first all-professional baseball team, start their first regular season with a 45 - 9 victory over the Great Westerns of Cincinnati.

1871: A National Association contest between the Cleveland Forest Citys and Fort Wayne Kekiongas is officially the first Major League game ever played. Fort Wayne is the winner, 2 - 0, behind a four-hit shutout by pitcher Bobby Mathews. Al Pratt is the losing pitcher. Cleveland's catcher, Deacon White, is 3 for 4, including the first hit (a double) and also is the first to hit into a double play. Bill Lennon becomes the first catcher to throw a runner out trying to steal second base. In the 127 games during the 1871 season, there are a total of four shutouts.

1902: George Mullin, a 5 time 20 game winning excellent Tigers pitcher, makes his big league debut.

1910: Not wanting to offend either club, U.S. President William Howard Taft attends two games in one day. After watching part of a game between the hometown St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds at Robison Field, he travels cross-town to watch the remainder of the game between the St. Louis Browns and Cleveland Naps at Sportsman's Park.

1919: For the first time, Sunday baseball can be played legally in New York, following the passage of the "Sunday Baseball Law", signed by Governor Al Smith on April 19th. 35,000 fans crowd the Polo Grounds to watch the Giants lose to the Phillies, 3 - 1, while at Ebbets Field, the Robins draw 25,000 spectators to their game. Future New York City Mayor and die-hard Giants fan Jimmy Walker is the prime mover behind the law.

1922: Hall of Fame Tigers outfielder Harry Heilmann smacks his only career walk-off homer. It?s a doozy, too. With the Tigers trailing the Browns 5-3 and two on, he hits a three-run shot off Elam Vangilder.

1928: Ty Cobb becomes the second member of the 700-double club, joining Tris Speaker. All these years later only two have joined them; Stan Musial and Pete Rose.

1931: In an effort to put less strain on his leg, Babe Ruth plays first base as Lou Gehrig moves to right field. Gehrig commits a costly error in the outfield helping the Washington Senators beat the Yankees, 7 - 3.

1933: Brooklyn honors Pittsburgh Pirates legend Honus Wagner! (Pictured L-R) Borough President Henry Hesterberg, Wagner and boxing legend Jack Dempsey! #MLB #Baseball #History
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1933: Charlie Gehringer breaks up a no-hitter by the Yankees' Lefty Gomez with a home run in the bottom of the 9th.
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1939: In his first-ever at-bat in the city of Detroit, Boston Red Sox rookie Ted Williams becomes the first player to hit a home run which totally clears the right field seats at Briggs Stadium.

1943: National League President Ford C. Frick demonstrates that the revised balata ball is livelier than the previous year's ball by bouncing it on a carpet in his office. The major leagues have turned to the balata ball because of wartime restrictions on the supplies used to make standard baseballs.

1951: Dick Kryhoski goes 4-for-4 with 3 doubles and a stolen base. Tigers score 5 runs in the 6th and 3 in the 7th to beat the Red Sox 8-4.

1961: Tigers 6 - Senators 0. Don Mossi pitches a 2-hit complete game. Norm Cash finishes 2-for-3, Jake Wood, Al Kaline, & Steve Boros with 2 hits each. Tigers are 12-5, Tied for AL lead.
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1963: The Detroit Tigers purchased Tom Sturdivant from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1963: The Milwaukee Braves purchased Bubba Morton from the Detroit Tigers.

1966: Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants establishes a new National League record for most career home runs when he hits his 512th, surpassing the total of former New York Giants great Mel Ott. Mays' blast against Claude Osteen, which puts him fourth on the all-time list, helps the Giants beat the Dodgers, 6 - 1.


1975: Bob Watson of the Houston Astros races around the bases on Milt May's home run and crosses the plate at Candlestick Park in time to score the one millionth run in major league history, seconds ahead of Dave Concepci?n of the Cincinnati Reds, playing in a different game in another city, to earn the distinction.
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1976: The Illinois Legislature declares today "Rick Monday Day" to honor his patriotic gesture on April 25th of saving an American flag from being burned by two spectators at Dodger Stadium.

1980: Fans at Tiger Stadium feel tremors from an earthquake in Kentucky during a Sunday afternoon game with the A's.

1980: Chicago White Sox first baseman Mike Squires catches the final inning of an 11 - 1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the first left-handed catcher to play in major league baseball since Dale Long in 1958.

1983: The Detroit Tigers returned Bob James to the Montreal Expos as part of a conditional deal.

1984: Lou Whitaker goes 4-for-5, Larry Herndon 3-for-5. Willie Hernandez pitches 4 shutout innings in relief in Tigers 9 - 2 win over indians.
Tigers get their 20th win.
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1996: The Texas Rangers become the first American League team in 79 years to pitch consecutive one-hitters as Roger Pavlik holds the Detroit Tigers to a 5th-inning home run in a 3 - 1 win. Ken Hill one-hit Detroit on May 3rd, retiring the last 26 batters he faced.

2007: The Detroit Tigers signed Henry Mateo as a free agent.

2010: Ernie Harwell, one of the greatest broadcasters in baseball history, dies at the age of 92 after a year-long bout with cancer. He was the radio and television voice of the Detroit Tigers for 42 years, retiring from the booth in 2002. He received the Ford Frick Award in 1981 and was a member of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame.
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2012: With the Tigers trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th inning, Jhonny Peralta smashes a walk-off 2-run home run and the Tigers beat the white sox 4 - 3.

2018: Albert Pujols of the Angels becomes the 32nd member of the 3,000 hit club with a 5th-inning single off Mike Leake of the Mariners. Pujols is only the fourth player to combine 3,000 hits and 600 homers, after Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Aroid.

2021: The minor leagues start their season, after having been on hiatus since September of 2019 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In the interim, the governing structure, Minor League Baseball, has been thoroughly reorganized and in effect replaced by the Professional Development League.

Tigers players birthdays:

John Tsitouris 1957.

Howie Koplitz 1961-1962.

Rick Leach 1981-1983.

Brian Maxcy 1995-1996.

Tigers players and broadcasters who passed away:

Billy Mullen 1926.

Vic Sorrell 1928-1937.

Paul Richards 1943-1946.

Jim Delsing 1952-1956.

Ernie Harwell Tigers broadcaster/announcer/surrogate dad/grandpa to generations of Tigers fans. 1960-1991, 1993-2002.

Baseball Reference

SATURDAY SURVEY.
Totally Tigers

The Detroit Tigers locked up the future of 2B'er Colt Keith to what could be a 9-year contract. When they did this, Keith had yet to play at the MLB level although it was expected he would make the roster this year.
Now that he has played in 27 games (through Thursday), Keith is showing solid promise defensively as a rookie. But it’s at the plate where he is really struggling with a .160/.225/.181/.406 slash line. His OPS is the lowest in MLB for qualified hitters.

It was not expected that Colt would have an easy time at the plate right out of the gate. Struggles were expected. But it was clear that the Tigers want him to learn and gain experience.
Recently, other franchises have been sending down some top prospects for their failure to hit like Jackson Holliday.
What should the Tigers do with Keith? Send him down and delay his development at the MLB level or keep him in Detroit to work things out?

What should the Tigers do about Colt Keith?

1. Send him down to Toledo to work on his hitting.

2. Keep him in Detroit and work things out there.

VOTE