March 21 in Tigers and mlb history:
1896 - Bill McGowan is born in Wilmington, Delaware. McGowan will introduce a colorful umpiring style with authority and enthusiasm over 30 American League seasons, not missing an inning for 16 years during 2,541 consecutive games. He will be elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee in 1992.
1903 - Sporting Life, the U.S.'s oldest baseball publication, begins its 21st year. It will close during World War I.
1908 - Ty Cobb signs with the Detroit Tigers for $4,000 plus an $800 bonus if he hits over .300. He will collect the bonus with a league-leading .324 average, becoming one of only three American League regulars to top .300 this year.
1957 - Television Age reports that Major League Baseball will get $9.3 million for TV-Radio rights this year.
1959 The Indians trade Hall of Famer Larry Doby to the Tigers for Tito Francona.
1974 Philadelphia purchases Ed Farmer from the Tigers.
1977 - Detroit Tigers pitching sensation Mark Fidrych tears cartilage in his left knee. The injury will require surgery, which will effectively end his promising career. Fidrych, who was elected the 1976 American League Rookie of the Year, gained national attention for his strange gyrations and mannerisms on the mound, which earned him the nickname "The Bird".
1997: The pitching-poor Detroit Tigers release pitcher Jason Grimsley, who posted a 5-7 record with a 6.84 ERA with the California Angels last season, but was 0-3 this spring training.
Tigers players birthdays:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sigaffr01.shtml
Frank Sigafoos 1929.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/samuejo01.shtml
Joe Samuels 1930.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Boyd_Perry
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/perrybo01.shtml?redir
Boyd Perry 1941.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Owen_Friend
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frienow01.shtml?redir
Owen Friend 1953.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Fernando_Arroyo
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arroyfe01.shtml?redir
Fernando Arroyo 1975, 1977-1979.
Tigers players who passed away:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Pinky_Higgins
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/higgipi01.shtml?redir
Mike 'Pinky' Higgins 1939-1944, 1946.
from Baseball Reference