April 8 in Tigers and mlb history:
1963: The Detroit Tigers claim little-known pitcher Denny McLain on waivers from the Chicago White Sox, who will regret their decision. After pitching brief stints for the Tigers in 1963 and 1964, McLain will win 108 games from 1965 through 1969.
1968 - The major leagues decide to postpone Opening Day because of the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. With 11 black players on their roster, the Pittsburgh Pirates vote not to play games on Monday - the day of the scheduled opener - or Tuesday. The Pirates will open the season on Wednesday.
1974 - Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves blasts an historic home run at Fulton County Stadium, breaking Babe Ruth's career all-time record. The 715th home run of Aaron's career comes against Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing and results in a game-delaying celebration. Aaron will finish his career with a total of 755 home runs.
1975 - Frank Robinson makes his debut as major league baseball's first black manager. Rachel Robinson, the widow of Jackie Robinson, throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a crowd of 56,204. As the player-manager of the Cleveland Indians, Frank Robinson hits a home run in his first at-bat, helping Cleveland to a 5 - 3 victory over the New York Yankees. For Robinson, it is his eighth Opening Day home run, setting a major league record.
1991: Major league umpires strike on Opening Day, and amateur umpires are used as replacements. The arbiters, whose working agreement expired on December 31, will settle and return to work the next day. Among the benefits won by the Major League Umpires Association is an increase in starting salaries from $41,000 to $60,000.
2002: After opening their season with six straight losses, the Detroit Tigers fire manager Phil Garner and general manager Randy Smith. Coach Luis Pujols takes over the reins on an interim basis while team president Dave Dombrowski assumes the GM's responsibilities.
2008: Placido Polanco's MLB record run of 186 consecutive errorless games and 911 consecutive errorless chances at second base ends. Polanco commits a throwing error that lets Manny Ramirez score on what would have been a triple otherwise.
2010: Dontrelle Willis pitches six solid innings in his return to the major leagues as the Tigers beat Kansas City, 7 - 3. Willis went on the disabled list after pitching poorly last June and was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. Miguel Cabrera goes 4 for 5 with a homer for Detroit.
Tigers players birthdays:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Charlie_Maxwell
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maxwech01.shtml
Charlie Maxwell 1955-1962.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/John_Hiller
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hillejo01.shtml
John Hiller 1965-1970, 1972-1980.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Timo_Perez
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/perezti01.shtml
Timo Perez 2007.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sardida01.shtml
Dane Sardinha 2008-2009.
Tigers players and managers who passed away:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/George_Moriarty
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moriage02.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/moriage02.shtml
George Moriarty 1909-1915, manager 1927-1928, scout 1945-1948.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Bob_Cain
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cainbo01.shtml
Bob Cain 1951.
from baseball reference
