Welcome to Detroit Sports Forum!

By joining our community, you'll be able to connect with fellow fans that live and breathe Detroit sports just like you!

Get Started
  • If you are no longer able to access your account since our recent switch from vBulletin to XenForo, you may need to reset your password via email. If you no longer have access to the email attached to your account, please fill out our contact form and we will assist you ASAP. Thanks for your continued support of DSF.

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

February 25 in Tigers and mlb history:

1919: Monte Irvin is born in Columbia, Alabama. Irvin will become a star in the Negro Leagues before joining the New York Giants in 1949. He will gain election to the Hall of Fame in 1973.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FpxisQZWYAEnwnc?format=png&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FpxivxtXoAAxaLf?format=jpg&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FpxiyDGXsAIoYYy?format=png&name=360x360
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fp1EUw0XoAIRBeb?format=jpg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FpxizRyXsAEz3JA?format=png&name=small

1933: Tom Yawkey buys the Boston Red Sox from Bob Quinn. Just four days earlier, Yawkey collected $7 million in inheritance. Yawkey will own the Red Sox for 44 years.

1934: Former New York Giants manager John McGraw dies from prostate cancer in New Rochelle, New York, at age 60. McGraw led the Giants to nine National League pennants and three World Championships during a 33-year managing career. His last public appearance was in 1933 in the first All-Star Game ever as National League manager.

1940: Ron Santo is born in Seattle, WA. He will be one of the greatest third basemen in history, playing 14 of his 15 major league seasons with the Chicago Cubs and hitting 342 home runs. He will be elected to the Hall of Fame in 2011, barely a year after his death from diabetes.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FpxjNFcXoAEQ_4E?format=png&name=360x360
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FpxjQ96XgAEIZQ2?format=png&name=360x360
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fp0an4jWAAIzzz1?format=png&name=900x900
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FpxjUmlWIAAyAbH?format=png&name=small

1946: Back from the military, Ted Williams hits the first spring training pitch he sees for a home run.

1947: Hank Greenberg visits with a sick Babe Ruth and learns the ancient secret of the home run grip.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJFOoHSVwAEA3tO.jpg

1951: Smokey Joe Williams dies in New York City at age 62. Williams has been considered by many historians to be one of the game's greatest pitchers, even though he never played a game in the major leagues. He spent his entire 27-year career (1905-1932) pitching in the Negro Leagues, Mexico and the Caribbean, but his path to the majors was barred by the color line.
During his stellar career, he defeated five Hall of Fame pitchers in exhibition competition: Grover Alexander, Chief Bender, Waite Hoyt, Walter Johnson and Rube Marquard. In 1999, after extensive research on the early years of black baseball reveal his outstanding numbers, Williams will gain Hall of Fame honors himself.

1957: The United States Supreme Court decides 6-3 that baseball is the only professional sport exempt from antitrust laws. The issue arises when pro football seeks similar protection from the laws.

1969: A pension plan for Major League Baseball is agreed on, with players to receive $5.45 million per year. They also get a percentage of television revenues, a reduction in the years necessary to qualify for a pension from five to four (retroactive to 1959), and a lowered minimum age for drawing a pension from 50 to 45.

1972 - The St. Louis Cardinals trade future Hall of Famer Steve Carlton to the Philadelphia Phillies for pitcher Rick Wise. The trade will prove to be one of the best in the history of the Philadelphia franchise, as Carlton will win an amazing 27 games for the last-place Phillies this season. During his career with the Phillies, Carlton will collect 241 wins, four Cy Young awards and help the Phils win 6 NL East crowns, 2 National League pennants, and the 1980 World Series.

1973: Players and owners come to terms on a three-year collective bargaining agreement. The new deal allows teams to open spring training on March 1st. Among the provisions of the agreement are a $15,000 minimum salary, salary arbitration, and the "ten and five" trade rule, which permits a player with ten years in the major leagues, the last five of which are with his current team, to veto any trade involving him.

1977: Tigers sell Luis Alvarado to the Mets. He will play one game as a Met, then be returned to Detroit in April to finish his 10-year major league career with two appearances as a Tiger.

1978: The Toronto Blue Jays purchased Steve Grilli from the Detroit Tigers.

1981: The Executive Board of the Players' Association votes unanimously to strike on May 29th if the issue of free agent compensation remains unresolved. That deadline will be extended briefly, however, when the Players' Association's unfair labor practices complaint is heard by the National Labor Relations Board.

1989: The Detroit Tigers signed David Palmer as a free agent.

1994: The Veterans Committee elects Phil Rizzuto to the Hall of Fame.

1999: Frank Robinson is hired by Major League Baseball to handle on-field disciplinary matters. Previously, such matters were handled by the individual league offices.

2002: 84-year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell announces this season will be his last as Detroit Tigers radio play-by-play announcer. The winner of the 1981 Ford C. Frick Award for baseball broadcasting excellence has worked for the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants and Baltimore Orioles before moving to Detroit during his 62-year career behind a microphone.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWfrs5SX0AACNui.jpg

2012: Oft-injured fireballing reliever Joel Zumaya suffers another setback, after throwing only 13 pitches in a batting practice session for the Twins. He leaves the mound in obvious pain and will be diagnosed tomorrow with a torn ligament in his elbow, putting him out for the season, and possibly ending his career.

2013: Major League Baseball announces changes to its umpiring crews for the coming season, following the resignation of three veteran umpires, Derryl Cousins, Ed Rapuano and Tim Tschida, over the winter. Jim Joyce, Ted Barrett and Fieldin Culbreth are all named crew chiefs, while Vic Carapazza, Manny Gonzalez and Alan Porter are added to the full-time umpiring staff; all three have taken part in a number of games as fill-in umpires over the past few seasons.

2016: Major League Baseball announces changes to the rules that touch on two aspects of play: first limiting the length of mound visits by coaches and managers, and the amount of time between innings, in order to speed up play; and second defining what constitutes a legal slide into a base. The latter is the result of a number of injuries last season to fielders attempting to complete a double play.

2020: 96-year-old World War II veteran Jack Barker throws out the first pitch in Lakeland.


Tigers players birthdays:

Ken Szotkiewicz 1970.

Rich Rowland 1990-1993.

Tigers players who passed away:

George Susce Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com
George Susce 1932.

Baseball Reference
 
Last edited:
DEEPER DISCUSSIONS.
Totally Tigers

Over the winter, Detroit Tigers’ PoBO Scott Harris emphasized that the young players coming up through the system and near their Detroit debut would not be blocked from playing.
Jace Jung is expected to inherit the 3B position. Possibly at some point during the 2024 season. He had been training extensively at the position with 3 different coaches. Two of them Tigers, including Alan Trammell.
And there’s his brother, Josh, who is a Gold Glove caliber 3Ber for the Texas Rangers. Reviews of his play are positive.
The Tigers have been without a regular 3Ber since the beginning of 2023. It was announced that Matt Vierling, Andy Ibanez and Zach McInstry would share the position this season.
However, within a week of watching spring training, the Tigers went out and signed free agent Gio Urshela to a 1-year $1.5 mill contract with incentives. He has fully recovered from a broken pelvis and passed his medical exam. He plays 3B primarily but also has some solid experience at SS.
Was this a good move for the Tigers? A stopgap solution until Jung is ready?
Or is there too much risk involved? Should the Tigers have done something bigger and more permanent in the free agent market to fill the 3B slot?
Today’s blog addresses this dilemma and allows readers to share their thoughts in more detail. And hopefully, to actively engage with others by responding to their posts and creating back-and-forth discussion threads. The more the merrier!
For this one blog only, you’ve got 6 sentences max to share your thoughts. Of course, you can also respond to other readers.
TT will supply the ammunition. One thought-provoking question. Several options provided. One hard choice to be selected. One vote.
Ready?

What do you think about the signing of Gio Urshela?

1. Smart move and strategy.

2. It's an OK move but Tigers should have done more.

3. Don't like it.

VOTE
 
By any number, Olson laser-focused on winning job.
Tigers official site
 
4 overreactions to the Detroit Tigers beatdown in the spring training opener.
The Detroit Tigers got slaughtered by the New York Yankees on Saturday. Here's four overreactions to the beat-down in Detroit's spring opener.
MCBTB
 
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.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fp2R17wWcAE_sYC?format=png&name=360x360
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fp2R16_XsAItoi-?format=png&name=360x360
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fp2R17vWcAAO7aG?format=png&name=240x240
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fp2R16_WIAAHdr_?format=png&name=small

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.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C4oiUa5WYAAKvuc.jpg

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.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FMhh6uhX...g&name=900x900
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fp5TWmsXoAIl_Uw?format=png&name=900x900

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:

Rip Collins 1923-1927.

Don Lee 1957-1958.

Johnny Grodzicki coach 1979.

Dennis Kinney 1981.

Tigers players who passed away:

George Uhle 1929-1933.

Ned Garver 1952-1956.

Baseball Reference
 
Last edited:
Monday Musings.
Totally Tigers

Today, it’s about quick hits – bits of news that catch my radar during the week as well as connecting the dots re ongoing stories. Even the quirky.
So let’s get to it! Here are the most interesting topics that hit my radar over the past week………..
 
This spring marks Detroit’s 88th season at TigerTown in Lakeland, the longest-standing relationship between a Major League team and a current Spring Training host city.It is also the 59th consecutive season the Tigers have played at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Saturday’s game was the largest crowd ever for a Spring Training home opener.
 
The Detroit Tigers' closer situation is murkier than it seems: Who's the frontrunner?
The Detroit Tigers may be a mess, but their one strength is their bullpen, and they have options for the closer role in 2024.
MCBTB
 
Detroit Tigers focus on prep players in latest Perfect Game Mock Draft.
Detroit Tigers focus on prep players in Perfect Game's Staff Mock Draft.
MCBTB
 
Back
Top