May 18 in Tigers and mlb history:
1912 - The Detroit Tigers use a team of replacement players against thePhiladelphia Athletics. With 19 players on strike in protest of the recent suspension of Ty Cobb, manager Hughie Jennings recruits college players and a number of local semipro players to avoid a forfeit and fine. Detroit loses to the Athletics 24 - 2, as pitcher Al Travers gives up all 24 runs on 26 hits.
1933 - The first All-Star Game is announced for July 6th at Comiskey Park. It will be played as part of the Chicago World's Fair celebration and is sponsored by the Chicago Tribune. Fans will pick the players.
1937 - Brooks Robinson is born in Little Rock, Arkansas. The perennial Gold Glove third baseman will make his debut with the Baltimore Oriolesin 1955. In 1964, Robinson will win the American League MVP Award. Six years later, his defensive brilliance will lead the Orioles to a World Series victory.
1946 - The Tigers acquire George Kell from the Philadelphia A’s for Barney McCosky. Kell wins the 1949 batting title and makes five All-Star teams in seven seasons with Detroit, becoming the greatest third baseman in franchise history.
1956 - Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees hits home runs from both sides of the plate for the third time in his career, setting a major league record. Mantle includes a perfect 4 for 4 day, helping New York to an 8 - 7 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
1959 - Jim Bunning pitches and bats the Tigers to a 14 - 2 beating of the red sox at Fenway Park. Bunning pitches the complete game and also homers and triples to knock in 5 runs. Al Kaline, Charlie Maxwell, and Frank Bolling also hit homeruns in the Tigers 16 hit attack.
1969 - Rod Carew of the Minnesota Twins steals second base, third, and home plate during the 3rd inning of an 8 - 2 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Carew pulls off the trifecta against the battery of Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan. Carew becomes the first player in 28 years to steal three bases in sequence in the same inning.
1982: Larry Herndon of the Detroit Tigers hits three home runs in an 11 - 9 win over Oakland, and in the process becomes the 14th player in major league history to hit home runs in four consecutive plate appearances. On May 16th, he homered in his final at-bat to give the Tigers a 7 - 6 victory over Minnesota.
2004 - At the age of 40, Randy Johnson becomes the oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game, retiring all 27 hitters to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Atlanta Braves, 2 - 0. It is the 17th perfect game in major league history and the first since David Cone of the Yankees did it against Montreal on July 18, 1999. Johnson also joins Cy Young, Jim Bunning, Hideo Nomo and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers to throw no-hitters in both leagues, and creates the longest time span between no-no's, having first accomplished the feat against the Detroit Tigers in June of 1990.
2012: Justin Verlander makes a bid for the third no-hitter of his career, but falls two outs short, in beating Pittsburgh 6 - 0. Josh Harrison singles with one out in the 9th against the Tigers' ace for the Bucs' lone hit. Verlander, who strikes out 12, is now 16-2 for his career in interleague play.
Tigers players and coaches birthdays:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gentrru01.shtml
Rufe Gentry 1943-1944, 1946-1948.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Don_Lund
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lunddo01.shtml?redir
Don Lund 1949, 1952-1954, coach 1957-1958, farm and scouting director 1963-1970.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Joakim_Soria
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/soriajo01.shtml
Joakim Soria 2014-present.
from Baseball Reference
