July 8 in Tigers and mlb history:
1921: In Detroit, RF Harry Heilmann goes 3 for 4 and hits a prodigious home run that is measured at 610 feet. After 79 games "Slug" has 81 rbi and is batting .423
1935 - The American League continues its All-Star Game reign, winning the third event, at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium, 4 - 1. Jimmie Foxx is the hitting star with a homer and three RBI. The rule that no pitcher can throw more than three innings unless the game goes into extra innings will be instituted after Yankee Lefty Gomez pitches six outstanding innings in the Mid-Summer Classic.
1941 - At the All-Star Game at Briggs Stadium, Ted Williams, hitting .405 at the break, homers off Chicago Cubs P Claude Passeau with two out and two on in the ninth inning to give the American League a dramatic 7 - 5 victory. Williams's 4 RBI are matched by National League SS Arky Vaughan, who hits homers in the seventh and eighth.
1946 - A special meeting of clubs deals with Mexican League defections and attempts by players to gain new rights. Some results: $5,000 minimum salary, $25-per-week training-camp expenses, a fixed period for spring training, 25 days for post-season barnstorming, maximum pay cut of 25 percent. A pension fund aimed at providing $100 a month for retired 10-year players will be funded by World Series broadcast rights and net proceeds from All-Star Games. Each league will have a player rep to baseball councils. The first player reps named are Yankees P Johnny Murphy and Dodgers OF Dixie Walker.
1947 - Clutch pinch hits by Luke Appling and Stan Spence lead the American League to a 2 - 1 win over the National League in the All-Star Game at Wrigley Field. Schoolboy Rowe pinch-hits for Johnny Sain, becoming the first player to appear for each side. Rowe pitched three innings for the American League in 1936. Spec Shea is the first winning rookie pitcher in All Star history.
1952 - The National League defeats the American League 3 - 2 in the 1952 All-Star Game behind the pitching of Philadelphia's Curt Simmons and Cub Bob Rush in Philadelphia. The game is ended after five innings because of rain. Cub Hank Sauer's homer with Stan Musial aboard in the 4th proves to be the deciding run.
1957 - The owners decide to re-elect Commissioner Ford Frick to another 7-year term when his present contract is up in 1958.
1972 - The Tigers lose to the White Sox, as Detroit's John Hiller returns to the mound 18 months after suffering a heart attack. Hiller relieves starter Bill Slayback, and gives the Tigers 3 innings of 2 run 4 hit ball with a walk and 2 strikeouts. Hiller will pitch in 24 games and give the Tigers 44.1 innings. The following 2 seasons he will become dominant.
1995 : At Tiger Stadium, players on the Tigers and the Kansas City Royals wear throwback uniforms of the Detroit Stars and Kansas City Monarchs in the first annual salute to the Negro Leagues.
2000: The Tigers defeat the Brewers 4 - 2 in 15 innings. Twenty Milwaukee batters strike out in the contest to set a new franchise mark.
Tigers players birthdays:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Lerrin_LaGrow
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lagrole01.shtml
Lerrin LaGrow 1970, 1972-1975.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/younger02.shtml
Ernie Young 2003.
Tigers players and managers who passed away:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Red_Rolfe
http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/rolfere01.shtml
Red Rolfe manager 1949-1952.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Skeeter_Webb
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/webbsk01.shtml
Skeeter Webb 1945-1947.
