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Detroit Tigers Team Notes Over 3 Million Views!!! Thankyou!

December 17 in Tigers and mlb history:

1888: Former Detroit players Deacon White and Jack Rowe purchase a controlling interest in the minor league Buffalo club. Though their reserve rights have been sold to Pittsburgh, both men announce plans to play in Buffalo next year.

1889: The Players League adopts some new rules, including the 2-umpire system and an increase in pitching distance from 55 1/2 feet to 57 feet. A lively ball is chosen, assuring high scores in the upcoming season.

1902: AL owners adopt a 154-game schedule for the next season. This will last for over a half-century.

1920: The American League votes to allow pitchers who used the spitball in 1920 to continue using it as long as they are in the league. The National League will do the same. There will be 17 designated spitters in all, eight in the NL and nine in the AL.
For the NL: Bill Doak, Phil Douglas, Dana Fillingim, Ray Fisher, Marvin Goodwin, Burleigh Grimes, Clarence Mitchell, and Dick Rudolph.
For the AL: A.W. Ayers, Slim Caldwell, Stan Coveleski, Red Faber, Dutch Leonard, Jack Quinn, Allan Russell, Urban Shocker, and Allen Sothoron.

1928: National League President John Heydler's designated hitter idea gets the backing of John McGraw, but the American League is against it.

1928: At a joint meeting, a rule is changed that ends the practice of minor league teams selling star prospects to friendly Major League clubs for high prices, then getting the players back, forcing another ML club to pay the reputed price for the player.
Other changes ban the signing of players under the age of 17 and set a $7,500 price tag on any first-year player.

1935: Heinie Manush is traded from Washington to the Boston Red Sox for Roy Johnson and Carl Reynolds.

1942: The Yankees trade OF Roy Cullenbine and C Buddy Rosar to the Indians for Roy Weatherly and IF Oscar Grimes. With the draft in mind, all four players are married with one child each. Rosar had been in the doghouse with Joe McCarthy for leaving the team without permission the weekend of July 18-19 to take a police examination in Buffalo. The leave-taking prompted the Yankees to sign veteran C Rollie Hemsley.

1949: The Yankees and Detroit swap first basemen, the Tigers getting Dick Kryhoski while New York takes Dick Wakefield, signed by the Tigers in 1941 to a $52,000 bonus.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsYhmU_XcAcw6Jo.jpg

1952: The Detroit Tigers released Johnny Hopp.
1952: The Detroit Tigers released Bob Swift.

1959: In a child-payment hearing related to his divorce, Ted Williams alleges the Red Sox paid him $60,000, not the reported $100,000. He claims his entire yearly income was $83,000.

1964: The Yankees fire long-time television and radio voice Mel Allen. The well-known broadcaster popularized the "going, going, gone" home run call and often said "how about that" to describe happenings on the ball field.

1968: The owners announce they will increase contributions to the players' pension fund by $1 million to $5.1 million per year. Players vote down the proposal, 491-7.

1983: The Detroit Tigers signed Darrell Evans as a free agent.

1993: Rickey Henderson returns to the A's, signing a two-year $8.6 million dollar contract.

1994: The Detroit Tigers signed Ron Tingley as a free agent.

1998: The Detroit Tigers signed Pedro Swann as a free agent.

2007: The Detroit Tigers signed Max St. Pierre as a free agent.

2008: The Detroit Tigers signed Matt Treanor as a free agent.

2010: The Detroit Tigers signed Magglio Ordonez as a free agent.
2010: The Detroit Tigers signed Clay Timpner as a free agent.

2012: The Detroit Tigers signed Anibal Sanchez as a free agent.

2017: A statue honoring Ozzie Virgil Sr. is dedicated in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic, honoring him as the first Dominican major leaguer. Virgil broke the Tigers' color barrier in 1958.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DRRqidhXcAEjzRZ.jpg

Tigers players birthdays:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Curtis_Pride
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pridecu01.shtml
Curtis Pride 1996-1997.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pemberu01.shtml
Rudy Pemberton 1995.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/villabr01.shtml
Brandon Villafuerte 2000.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Eric_Eckenstahler
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/eckener01.shtml
Eric Eckenstahler 2002-2003.

Tigers players who passed away:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Zeb_Eaton
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/eatonze01.shtml
Zeb Eaton 1944-1945.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Walt_Dropo
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dropowa01.shtml
Walt Dropo 1952-1954.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gallado01.shtml
Doug Gallagher 1962.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Larry_Sherry
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sherrla01.shtml
Larry Sherry 1964-1967.

Baseball Reference
 
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https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/lou-whitaker-number-to-be-retired-by-tigers
Tigers to retire Sweet Lou Whitaker's No. 1 in 2020.
Tigers official site

DETROIT -- Alan Trammell?s dream of seeing Lou Whitaker honored in Cooperstown won?t happen next summer. His dream -- and many Tigers fans? dream -- of seeing Whitaker honored alongside him at Comerica Park will.

In a historic decision, the Tigers announced Tuesday that they?ll retire Whitaker?s No. 1 next season. He?ll become the 10th player to have his name and number on the brick wall at Comerica Park when the ceremony takes place on Aug. 29, prior to the Tigers? 6:10 p.m. ET game against the Red Sox.

?The Detroit Tigers are one of the most storied franchises in the history of America?s pastime. Tradition. History. Championships. Generations of fans have supported this baseball team with pride and passion as countless all-time Tiger greats have taken the field," Christopher Ilitch, Tigers chairman and CEO, said in a statement. "Today?s announcement regarding the retirement of No. 1 at Comerica Park is a tribute to that history, tradition and passion demonstrated over the course of his career.

?What a thrill it was to watch Lou Whitaker grace the diamond for nearly two decades -- a gifted talent in this glorious game. Without question, ?Sweet Lou? is one of the greatest players to ever wear the Olde English 'D'. His hustle. His grit. His dedication. On behalf of Tigers fans everywhere, it was a tremendous honor to call Lou a short time ago to inform him that the Tigers are retiring his iconic No. 1 at Comerica Park during the 2020 season -- where his name and number will occupy hallowed space alongside his longtime partner up the middle -- Alan Trammell. We congratulate Lou; a Tiger legend so deserving of this recognition."

Whitaker will become the fourth member of the 1984 World Series champion team to be honored, joining Trammell, Jack Morris and manager Sparky Anderson. The Tigers surprised Whitaker with the news in a Tuesday morning phone call.

?There aren?t a whole lot of words that could describe how I?m feeling right now -- but 'surreal' might be the closest one,? Whitaker said in a statement. ?It was the honor of my life to wear the Olde English ?D? for all 19 years of my career, and share the diamond with so many talented ballplayers along the way. I?d like to thank Tigers ownership and front-office leadership for bestowing this honor on me, and I?m already looking forward to celebrating with all the great Tigers fans at Comerica Park next August!?

Seven of the other eight Tigers with their numbers retired have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the lone exception being hometown hero Willie Horton. Much like the late Tigers owner Michael Ilitch made the decision to retire Horton?s number, the younger Ilitch made the call with Whitaker, ensuring that the months-long campaign to honor Whitaker's career did not go unrewarded.

?I talked to Mr. Ilitch. We talked for a moment, and he just was thanking me for my career with the Tigers, the accomplishment that I did for the community,? Whitaker said in a Tuesday afternoon conference call. ?And when Mr. Ilitch told me, there was just maybe a moment of joy and honor, and I guess after all the years, of recognition.?

Though the sentiment to honor Whitaker has gone on for years since his lone year on the Baseball Writers' Association of America Hall of Fame ballot in 2001, the campaign began in earnest when Trammell took part of his speech at Comerica Park in August 2018 to make the case for his longtime double-play partner.

?I?d like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Lou Whitaker for this well-deserved honor,? Trammell said in a statement. ?The fact that Lou and Tram will always be linked together on the outfield wall at Comerica Park makes me very proud, and is something that neither of us could have dreamt of when entering this organization over 40 years ago.

?It means everything to me that the numbers 1 and 3 will be retired together, and I?m truly looking forward to this summer when all of our former teammates and Tigers fans from across the globe will come together to celebrate [Whitaker's] accomplishments. We?ve been waiting on this day for a long time, and I couldn?t be happier for my brother -- Sweet Lou.?

To many, Tram and Lou were the faces of the 1984 Tigers, great enough and cool enough to land on television with a cameo appearance on Magnum P.I. alongside famous Tigers fan Tom Selleck. To others, Trammell and Whitaker formed arguably the greatest double-play tandem in modern baseball history and among the greatest pair of teammates the game has known. They set an American League record with 1,918 games played together. Whitaker?s 1,527 double-plays turned mark the most ever by a Tiger and rank fourth all-time for Major League second basemen; six of the top eight are in the Hall of Fame.

Individually, Whitaker?s case for Cooperstown also applies to his case for Comerica?s wall. His 75.1 Wins Above Replacement, according to baseball-reference, rank 78th all-time and 49th among position players. He has a higher WAR than Michigan native and former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who has a strong chance to be an unanimous choice for induction when the Hall of Fame releases voting results next month.

When Whitaker retired after the 1995 season, he joined Hall of Famers Rogers Hornsby and Joe Morgan as the only second basemen to post 1,000 runs, 1,000 RBIs, 2,000 hits and 200 home runs.

Among position players eligible for induction, only Barry Bonds and Bill Dahlen had a higher WAR than Whitaker, something noted baseball historian and analyst Bill James has pointed out.

"Listening to all the fans bringing up the WAR, I think that was a big thing to me,? Whitaker said. ?They really showed over the years what I had done as a baseball player with the Detroit Tigers.?

Many Tigers fans, obviously, have taken up Whitaker?s cause, including the question of retiring his number regardless. Tuesday?s announcement and next summer?s ceremony mark a vindication for them as much as for Whitaker.

Though retiring a non-Hall of Famer?s number is a rarity for the Tigers, it?s less rare around baseball. Among those on other clubs are former Royals second baseman Frank White, former Twins slugger Kent Hrbek, former Reds shortstop Dave Concepcion and former Yankees greats Don Mattingly, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada. Mattingly, Steve Garvey, Thurman Munson and Dale Murphy have their numbers retired, and all joined Whitaker on the Modern Baseball Era ballot.

Whitaker could still get into the Hall of Fame when its Modern Baseball Era Committee meets again in three years. The Tigers, however, aren?t going to wait that long to give him his day.

?You just don't know what to say, even after watching the wall with all the names for 19 years,? Whitaker said. ?Now it's hard to put into words the meaning. It's just so much love and appreciation that goes with it for the many years that I played there, and the support from all the fans, of course from the Detroit organization, giving me the opportunity. I can only say thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

?My eyes will probably light up, tears probably somewhere along the way. I've had a taste of it. I was there for Tram and Jack. Just their excitement sort of lets you know what it's going to be like.?

The Tigers will sell game tickets for the Aug. 29 ceremony as part of a Double Play Ticket Package celebrating Whitaker. The two-game package includes their March 30 home opener against the Royals as well as a replica Whitaker 1984 road jersey to be given away on Aug. 29. Ticket packages start at $29 and are available at tigers.com/Lou.
 
https://twitter.com/i/status/1207028943460667393
Trammell and Whitaker Teammates. Immortalized.

https://www.blessyouboys.com/2019/1...ey-retirement-no-1-comerica-park-hall-of-fame
Tigers will retire Lou Whitaker?s No. 1 jersey in 2020.
It?s about damn time.
BYBTB

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/s...etiring-lou-whitakers-no-1-august/2676854001/
About time: Tigers say they're retiring Lou Whitaker's No. 1 in August.
Detnews

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...igers-lou-whitaker-number-retired/2671358001/
Detroit Tigers will retire Lou Whitaker's No. 1 during 2020 season.
Freep

https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2019/12/tigers-to-retire-lou-whitakers-no-1-in-2020.html
Tigers to retire Lou Whitaker?s No. 1 in 2020.
Mlive

https://motorcitybengals.com/2019/12/17/wait-lou-whitakers-number-getting-retired/
The Detroit Tigers are retiring Lou Whitaker?s number in August 2020.
MCBTB

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28320765/tigers-retiring-lou-whitaker-no-1-coming-season
Tigers retiring Lou Whitaker's No. 1 this coming season.
espn
 
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December 18 in Tigers and mlb history:

1903: At the league meeting, Ban Johnson is reelected American League president and given a raise to $10,000.
Also, the AL votes to allow coaches at third base and first base at all times: till now, only one coach was permitted except if there were two or more baserunners.
The AL also institutes the "foul strike" rule, used by the National League since 1901: a foul will be counted as a strike unless there are already two strikes.

1920: On his 34th birthday, Ty Cobb signs to manage the Tigers for $32,500.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CzfWhODWgAUGJGQ?format=jpg&name=small

1940: The Detroit Tigers selected Eric McNair off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.

1950: Yankee great Tommy "Old Reliable" Henrich calls it a career as a player. He accepts a coaching position with the Yankees.

1956: Former Yankee SS Phil Rizzuto signs as a Yankee radio-TV announcer.

1991: The Blue Jays sign free agent P Jack Morris to a two-year, $10.85 million contract.

1998: The Detroit Tigers signed Dave McCarty as a free agent.
1998: The Detroit Tigers signed Luis Polonia as a free agent.

2002: The Detroit Tigers signed Matt Walbeck as a free agent.

2003: The Detroit Tigers signed Mike Difelice as a free agent.
2003: The Detroit Tigers signed Al Levine as a free agent.

2009: The Detroit Tigers signed Phil Dumatrait as a free agent.
2009: The Chicago White Sox selected Freddy Dolsi off waivers from the Detroit Tigers.

2014: The Detroit Tigers signed Miguel Gonzalez as a free agent.

2015: The Detroit Tigers signed Mike Aviles as a free agent.
2015: The Detroit Tigers signed Dustin Molleken as a free agent.
2015: The Detroit Tigers released Jake Brigham.

2017: The Detroit Tigers signed Ronny Rodriguez as a free agent.

2018: The Detroit Tigers signed Nick Ramirez as a free agent.

Tigers players and managers birthdays:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ty_Cobb
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cobbty01.shtml
https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/cobbty01.shtml
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/7551754a
Ty Cobb 1905-1926, manager 1921-1926.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/perrycl01.shtml
Clay Perry 1908.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/barnesa01.shtml
Sam Barnes 1921.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burkele01.shtml
Les Burke 1923-1926.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blairwi01.shtml
Willie Blair 1997, 1999-2001.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/randajo01.shtml
Joe Randa 1998.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/haaseer01.shtml
Eric Haase 2020.

Tigers players and coaches who passed away:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harrine01.shtml
Ned Harris 1941-1943, 1946.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/castege01.shtml
George Castor 1945-1946.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Phil_Cavarretta
Phil Cavarretta coach 1961-1963.

Baseball Reference
 
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