February 26 in Tigers and mlb history:
1887: Grover Cleveland Alexander is born in Elba, Nebraska. Suffering from epilepsy, haunted by his experiences in combat during World War I, and shadowed by alcoholism, Alexander will still be able to win 373 games during a 20-year career, the third highest total in major league baseball history. He will lead the National League in ERA on four occasions, wins on six different seasons, complete games six times, and shutouts during seven seasons. He will also win 30 or more games in three consecutive seasons, and be the only pitcher in major league history to win the Triple Crown three years in a row. Alexander will gain election to the Hall of Fame in 1938.
1894: In a series of rule changes designed to help pitchers, all foul bunts will now be called strikes, and the infield fly rule is instituted.
1901: National League officials meet with Charles "Chief" Zimmer, Pittsburgh Pirates catcher and the president of the Players Protective Association, and agree to contract concessions granted by the American League for NL players who will agree not to sign with AL clubs. Zimmer promises suspensions for members of the union who jump to the new league.
1924: Tigers player-manager Ty Cobb bans golf in spring training in Augusta, Georgia.
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1935: The New York Yankees release longtime star outfielder Babe Ruth, freeing him to sign a $20,000 contract with the Boston Braves of the National League. Ruth's new contract with the Braves also gives him a share of the team's profits. In 1934, Ruth endured one of his worst seasons with the Yankees - at least by his lofty standards - with a .288 batting average, 22 home runs and 84 RBI. This season, he will play just only 28 games for the Braves before announcing his retirement on June 2nd at the age of 40. Ruth will hit the final three home runs of his major league career on May 25th against the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving him a total of 714. His last home run will clear the right field grandstand at Forbes Field and will travel an estimated 600 feet.
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1943: The Philadelphia Blue Jays hire Bucky Harris as their manager. It is the fourth major league club Harris has led. He also managed the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox, not counting two stints - later three - with the Washington Senators.
Clark Griffith, Rogers Hornsby, Donie Bush and Bill McKechnie have also managed four clubs. Harris will compile a record of 38-52 in 92 games before being fired, but will resurface as manager of the 1947 World Champions New York Yankees. He will finish his managing career with Detroit in 1956.
1952: Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe is sworn into the Army. The 26-year old New Jersey native, who posted a 56-28 record his first three years with the team, will miss two seasons.
1956: The New York Giants trade knuckleball pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for 1B/OF Whitey Lockman.
1969: Boston Red Sox star Carl Yastrzemski becomes the highest-paid player in American League history after signing a one-year deal worth $130,000. In 1968, Yastrzemski batted a league-leading .301 and also paced the AL with 119 walks.
1991: Bill Veeck, the colorful owner of the Browns, Indians and White Sox (twice), and Yankees great Tony Lazzeri are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.
1992: Boston Red Sox owner Jean R. Yawkey dies at the age of 83. For the first time in 59 years, someone other than a Yawkey will own the team. Mrs. Yawkey's husband, Tom, became president of the Red Sox in 1933, and was the sole owner of the team for 44 seasons, longer than anyone in major league baseball history.
2011: Major League Baseball names former manager Joe Torre as executive vice-president for baseball operations, replacing Bob Watson who retired after last season. Torre will be in charge of supervising umpires and meting out discipline for on-field incidents.
2015: The Oakland Athletics selected Chad Smith off waivers from the Detroit Tigers.
2021: The Detroit Tigers signed Ricardo Pinto as a free agent.
Tigers players and coaches birthdays:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/colliri01.shtml
Rip Collins 1923-1927.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leedo01.shtml
Don Lee 1957-1958.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Johnny_Grodzicki
Johnny Grodzicki coach 1979.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kinnede01.shtml
Dennis Kinney 1981.
Tigers players who passed away:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/George_Uhle
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uhlege01.shtml
George Uhle 1929-1933.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ned_Garver
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garvene01.shtml
Ned Garver 1952-1956.
Baseball Reference
