April 3 in Tigers and mlb history:
1901: Connie Mack accuses Christy Mathewson of reneging on a Philadelphia Athletics contract signed in January. Mathewson had accepted advance money from Mack, but jumped back to the New York Giants in March. Mack considers going to court, but eventually accepts the loss of the young pitcher.
1919: One of the most bizarre off-the-field incidents in history takes place in Jacksonville, Florida. New York Yankees outfielder Ping Bodie competes against an ostrich named "Percy" in a spaghetti-eating contest! Bodie wins the competition when Percy passes out after its 11th plate of pasta.
1923: In Chicago, IL, two Black Sox sue the White Sox. Swede Risberg and Happy Felsch seek $400,000 in damages and $6,750 in back salary for conspiracy and injury to their reputation in the aftermath of the scandalous 1919 World Series court case. Their suit will be unsuccessful.
1938: Goose Goslin returns to the Washington Senators for his third stint with the team. Goslin, who had batted a career-low .238 in 1937, has been released by the Detroit Tigers.
1948: The Detroit Tigers purchased Mickey Grasso from the New York Giants.
1950: Considered a well-guarded secret, Mel Parnell reveals he pitched all but three of his 39 games with a sore elbow last season. The 27-year "Dusty" finished the season with a 25-7 record and a 2.77 ERA for the second-place Boston Red Sox.
1958: The Detroit Tigers purchased Stan Palys from the Cincinnati Redlegs.
1958: The Detroit Tigers traded a player to be named later, Kent Hadley, Frank House, Duke Maas, Jim Small, John Tsitouris and Bill Tuttle to the Kansas City Athletics for Billy Martin, Mickey McDermott, Tom Morgan, Lou Skizas, Tim Thompson and Gus Zernial.
The Detroit Tigers sent Jim McManus (April 3, 1958) to the Kansas City Athletics to complete the trade.
1961: It is announced that Connie Mack Stadium (formerly known as "Shibe Park") has been sold and will be torn down after the 1963 season to make room for bowling alleys. In fact, the venerable Philadelphia ballpark will be kept in use until the end of the 1970 season.
1964: New York Mets pitcher Carl Willey suffers a broken jaw when he is hit by a line drive batted by Detroit Tigers outfielder Gates Brown during a spring training loss. Willey will be out until June 6th but his career will be effectively ended.
1966: The New York Mets sign University of Southern California star Tom Seaver to his first contract, including a $50,000 bonus. Seaver had been selected by the Atlanta Braves in the January draft, but Commissioner Spike Eckert voided the deal when he signed a contract after USC's season had already begun. The Mets beat out the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies in a lottery for Seaver's services.
1968: The Detroit Tigers traded Hank Aguirre to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a player to be named later.
The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Frederick Moulder (minors) (April 4, 1968) to the Detroit Tigers to complete the trade.
1969: The Detroit Tigers release Roy Face.
1969: The Detroit Tigers release John Wyatt.
1973: The Detroit Tigers traded Tim Hosley to the Oakland Athletics for Don Shaw.
1981: The Detroit Tigers release Chris Codiroli.
1981: The Detroit Tigers release Chuck Hensley.
1984: Pinch hitter Barbaro Garbey becomes first refugee from the Cuban national team to play in the major leagues.
1984: #Tigers beat Twins 8-1 at the Metrodome on #OpeningDay
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1985: A major league owners' proposal is agreed to by the Players Association. The American and National leagues playoff formats are changed to best-of-sevens. The League Championship Series had been played as a best-of-five since its inception in 1969.
1987 - The Chicago Cubs trade starting pitcher Dennis Eckersley to the Oakland Athletics for three minor leaguers. Eckersley will emerge as the game's dominant closer, saving 291 games over the next eight seasons. 390 total and is voted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame soon after retiring.
1989: Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Seattle Mariners makes his major league debut. The rookie outfielder hits a double in his first at-bat against Dave Stewart of the Oakland Athletics.
1993: The Detroit Tigers signed David Wells as a free agent.
1994: The Detroit Tigers signed Skeeter Barnes as a free agent.
1995: The Detroit Tigers signed Kent Bottenfield as a free agent.
2003: The Detroit Tigers selected Tyler Walker off waivers from the New York Mets.
2004: The Detroit Tigers released Mike Difelice.
2006: The San Diego Padres selected Rob Bowen off waivers from the Detroit Tigers.
2006: The Florida Marlins selected Franklyn German off waivers from the Detroit Tigers.
2013: The Detroit Tigers selected Evan Reed off waivers from the Miami Marlins.
2014: The Detroit Tigers selected Mike Belfiore off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles.
2017: Tigers prepare to honor Mike Illitch in their home opener.
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Tigers players and coaches birthdays:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Dick_Conger
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/congedi01.shtml
Dick Conger 1940.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Alex_Grammas
Alex Grammas coach 1980-1991.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bakerdo01.shtml
Doug Baker 1984-1987.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Gary_Pettis
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pettiga01.shtml
Gary Pettis 1988-1989, 1992.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alcanvi01.shtml
Victor Alcantara 2017-2019.
Tigers players who passed away:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harledi01.shtml
Dick Harley 1902.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Alvin_Crowder
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/crowdal01.shtml
'General' Al Crowder 1934-1936.
Baseball Reference
