December 4 in Tigers and mlb history:
1952 - Detroit trades P Virgil Trucks, who tossed two no-hitters during the year, along with P Hal White and OF Johnny Groth, to the Browns in exchange for 2B Owen Friend, OF Bob Nieman, and OF/C J.W. Porter.
1957: The major league owners raise the minimum salary to $7,000 and eliminate the bonus rule.
1963: The Tigers trade pitcher Jim Bunning to the Phillies for catcher Gus Triandos, pitcher Jack Hamilton and outfielder Don Demeter. Bunning will go on and win 19 games four times and over another 100 games in the NL with over 1000 strikeouts becoming just the second pitcher in mlb history to accomplish the feat, along with Cy Young. Bunning will also gain entry into the Hall of Fame.
1964: The major leagues restore to the commissioner's office all powers rescinded after Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis's death in 1944. Principally, they waive their right to take legal action in the event of disagreements with the commissioner and grant him authority to judge whether actions taken by the owners in concert are, automatically "in the best interests of baseball." Voting for the annual All-Star teams is turned back to the fans.
1964: The owners decide to use a free agent draft beginning next month. The inverse order of the previous year's standings will be used to select players every four months. This will eventually be scaled back to a twice yearly and then to an annual event.
1979: Detroit trades Rusty Staub back to the Expos, where he was the most popular player in franchise history during his first stint with the team.
1990: The Tigers signs free agent pitcher Bill Gullickson, who will win 20 games for them in 1991.
2007 - The Florida Marlins and the Detroit Tigers pull of a blockbuster deal. Florida sends 3B Miguel Cabrera (an All-Star in four of his five seasons) and 2-time All-Star P Dontrelle Willis for prospects Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller and Dallas Trahern. The Marlins also get Mike Rabelo, Eulogio De La Cruz and Burke Badenhop in the deal. Maybin and Miller had been Detroit's first-round picks in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
Tigers players birthdays:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Harvey_Kuenn
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kuennha01.shtml
Harvey Kuenn 1952-1959.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Barbaro_Garbey
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garbeba01.shtml
Barbaro Garbey 1984-1985.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Pat_Sheridan
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sheripa01.shtml
Pat Sheridan 1986-1989.
Tigers players who passed away:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithja02.shtml
Jack Smith 1912.
from baseball reference
