March 7 in Tigers and mlb history:
1893 - In arguably the most significant rule change in major league history, the National League eliminates the pitching box and adds a pitcher's rubber five feet behind the previous back line of the box, establishing the modern pitching distance of 60 feet 6 inches. In addition, bats flattened on one side to facilitate bunting are banned.
1903 - In the first trade under the peace treaty, the New York Giants send their 1902 part-time manager Heinie Smith to the Detroit Tigers for second baseman Kid Gleason, who is immediately moved to the Philadelphia Phillies where he will end a 20-year playing career.
1956 - The Players Association accept the owners' decisions on minimum pay and the World Series television agreement. They seek workman's compensation coverage. The PA rehire J.M. Lewis as their representative.
1965 - Detroit Tigers manager Chuck Dressen suffers a mild coronary occlusion. He will be sidelined until May 19th. Meanwhile, coach Bob Swift will be acting manager.
1979: Slugging outfielder Hack Wilson and longtime executive Warren Giles are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Wilson, who had a relatively short career, won four National League home run titles while with the Chicago Cubs. Giles served as president of the Cincinnati Reds from 1937 to 1951, before becoming National League President for 18 seasons.
1979: At spring training, exhibition season opens with semi-pro and amateur umpires in place of major league arbiters, who are staging a collective holdout which won't be resolved until a few weeks into the season.
1991 - Cool Papa Bell dies in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 87. An outfielder with blazing speed, Bell played in the Negro Leagues from 1922 to 1946. Bell entered the Hall of Fame in 1974, joining fellow Negro Leagues stars Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard and Monte Irvin.
1995 - The Special Veterans Committee elects former major leaguers Richie Ashburn and Vic Willis, former National League president William Hulbert, and former Negro League player Leon Day to the Hall of Fame. Day will die of a heart attack six days from now.
2006: Backup catcher John Flaherty retires, ending his 14-year major league career with the team he started it with. He signed last December as a free agent after three seasons with the New York Yankees. Flaherty, who also played for Detroit, San Diego and Tampa Bay, posted a .252 batting average with 80 home runs and 395 RBI in 1,047 games.
Tigers players birthdays:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ed_Willett
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/willeed01.shtml?redir
Ed Willett 1906-1913.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/davisha02.shtml
Harry Davis 1932-1933.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Red_Wilson
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilsore01.shtml?redir
Red Wilson 1954-1960.
Tigers players who passed away:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Lady_Baldwin
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/baldwla01.shtml?redir
Charles 'Lady' Baldwin Detroit Wolverines 1885-1888.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Leroy_Taylor
Leroy Taylor Negro Leagues Detroit Stars 1933.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Steve_Bilko
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bilkost01.shtml?redir
Steve Bilko 1960.
from Baseball Reference
