February 8 in Tigers and mlb history:
1941 - The Detroit Tigers release future Hall of Famer Earl Averill and sign outfielder Hoot Evers, a star at the University of Illinois.
1956: The legendary Connie Mack dies at age 93. After managing Pittsburgh's National League club from 1894 to 1896, the former catcher became a prominent figure in Ban Johnson's Western League. A founder of the American League in 1901, Mack managed and owned the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901 to 1950, leading the team to five World Series titles and nine American League pennants. He won election to the Hall of Fame in 1937.
1962 - The Federal Trade Commission accuses Topps Chewing Gum of illegally monopolizing the baseball card industry. In 1980, a court decision will open the door to competition.
1972 - Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard are elected to the Hall of Fame through the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues. The two former stars, who led the Homestead Grays to nine straight league championships from 1937 to 1945, become the second and third players to be selected by the Committee, joining Satchel Paige, who was elected in 1971.
1973 - MLB owners announce that "early bird" spring training camps are canceled until all bargaining with the Players' Association is concluded.
1983 - One day after taking a job as director of sports promotions for the Claridge Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, Mickey Mantle is ordered to sever his ties with Major League Baseball by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Mantle joins fellow Hall of Famer Willie Mays as players banned from baseball by Kuhn for involvement with legalized gambling.
Tigers players and coaches birthdays:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Don_Heffner
Don Heffner coach 1961.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Hoot_Evers
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/eversho01.shtml
Hoot Evers 1941, 1946-1952, 1954, executive and scout 1970's.
from Baseball Reference
