April 12 in Tigers and mlb history:
1916 - The Cleveland Indians acquire outfielder Tris Speaker from the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Sad Sam Jones, minor league infielder Fred Thomas, and $55,000 cash. This season, Speaker will lead the American League in batting (.386), slugging (.502), on-base percentage (.470), hits (211), doubles (41), and total bases (287).
1922 - There are no playing managers in the National League for the first time since 1900. Long considered an economic necessity, the dual role is no longer essential. It will be 1930 before the American League has a year with all bench managers.
1960: The Detroit Tigers make one of their best trades ever, acquiring Norm Cash from the Cleveland Indians for Steve Demeter. In 1961, Cash will lead the American League with a .361 batting average, and will go on to hit 373 home runs for the Tigers in 14 seasons.
1970 - Plaques honoring Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle are dedicated at Yankee Stadium. The plaques are located in center field and will eventually be moved to "Monument Park" beyond the left field fence when the stadium is renovated in the mid-1970s.
2003 - The Detroit Tigers win for the first time this season, getting a three-run home run from Shane Halter to beat the Chicago White Sox, 4 - 3. The Tigers (1-9), the only team since 1900 to start back-to-back seasons with nine straight losses, started 0-11 in 2002.
2013: The movie 42, about Jackie Robinson's first two seasons in organized baseball and his breaking of the color line, opens in theaters across the United States. It will be the top-drawing movie its first weekend.
Tigers players birthdays:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/postle01.shtml
Lew Post 1902.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bailebi01.shtml
Bill Bailey 1918.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcnaier01.shtml
Eric McNair 1941-1942.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilsoja01.shtml
Jack Wilson 1942.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wightbi01.shtml
Bill Wight 1952-1953.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Charlie_Lau
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lauch01.shtml?redir
Charlie Lau 1956, 1958-1959.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frymawo01.shtml
Woodie Fryman 1972-1974.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Brennan_Boesch
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boescbr01.shtml
Brennan Boesch 2010-2012.
Tigers players, coaches, and managers who passed away:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Frank_Skaff
http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/skafffr01.shtml
Frank Skaff coach 1965-1966, 1971, manager 1966.
from Baseball Reference
