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

The Tigers have optioned outfielder Brewer Hicklen to Triple-A Toledo, per the MLB transactions log. It's likely Gleyber Torres will be activated for tonight's game.
Hicklen did not play during the two games he was with the big-league club.
 
No dented plaques this time, but Tork's persistence dents Twins' hopes.
Tigers official site

Boxscore.

Video highlights.

Tigers 7 - Twins 6: Twinshits abound in a back and forth affair.
The unlikely heroes Dingler and McKinstry carried the offense to a comeback win, and the bullpen barely held on.
BYBTB

'We're going to scrap': Tigers rally past Twins after shaky start by Olson.
Detnews
 
April 12 in Tigers and mlb history:

1880: Hall of Famer Addie Joss was born this day in Woodland, WI.

1906: Boston Beaneater rookie Johnny Bates becomes the first modern player to homer in his first major league at-bat.

1909: With Christy Mathewson sidelined with diphtheria, Red Ames pitches the opener for the New York Giants, a 3 - 2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at the Baker Bowl.

1912: The Chicago Cubs' famed double play combination of Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance makes its final appearance together in an Opening Day game. The triumvirate of shortstop Joe Tinker, second baseman Johnny Evers and first baseman Frank Chance will be broken up at the end of the season.

1912: Bill Terry becomes the first major leaguer to hit a grand slam on Opening Day.

1916: The Cleveland Indians acquire outfielder Tris Speaker from the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Sad Sam Jones, minor league infielder Fred Thomas, and $55,000 cash. This season, Speaker will lead the American League in batting (.386), slugging (.502), on-base percentage (.470), hits (211), doubles (41), and total bases (287).

1922: There are no playing managers in the National League for the first time since 1900. Long considered an economic necessity, the dual role is no longer essential. It will be 1930 before the American League has a year with all bench managers.

1927: "Hello everybody - Babe Ruth speaking." ~ The Babe does an interview with legendary radio broadcaster Graham McNamee before the New York Yankees home opener.

1928: St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander opens his 18th season by shutting out the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 - 0.

1954: The Cleveland Indians signed Hal Newhouser as a free agent.

1955: After a civic parade, the transplanted Athletics open their 1st season in Kansas City with a victory over the Tigers, 6 - 2, at Municipal Stadium. The standing-room crowd of 32,147 is the largest paid crowd for any event in Kansas City.

1960: With 42,269 fans in attendance, the San Francisco Giants edge the St. Louis Cardinals, 3 - 1, in the first game played at Candlestick Park. Giants pitcher Sam Jones throws a three-hitter, and Cardinals outfielder Leon Wagner hits the first home run in the $15-million stadium. In the 3rd inning, the umpires protest that the foul poles are several inches in fair territory, rather than on the foul lines; the Giants will make the correction after the season.

1960: Chuck Essegian's 11th-inning pinch-hit home run beats the Chicago Cubs, 3 - 2, before a record Opening Day crowd (67,550) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The home run is Essegian's third straight as a pinch hitter, including two in the 1959 World Series. Don Drysdale pitches a complete game for the Dodgers, striking out 14 Cubs.

1960: The Detroit Tigers make one of their best trades ever, acquiring Norm Cash from the Cleveland Indians for Steve Demeter. In 1961, Cash will lead the American League with a .361 batting average, and will go on to hit 373 home runs for the Tigers in 14 seasons.

1965: Tigers beat A?s 6-2 in season opener behind the pitching of Mickey Lolich and Larry Sherry.

1965: Richie Allen of the Philadelphia Phillies hits the first regular-season home run in the history of the Astrodome. Allen connects against Houston Astros pitcher Bob Bruce in the Phillies' 2 - 0 victory.
Previously, Mickey Mantle had hit the first overall home run in the Astrodome in an exhibition game between the Astros and the New York Yankees.

1966: Before a crowd of 50,671 at Fulton County Stadium, the Braves play their first game in Atlanta after moving from Milwaukee. Joe Torre hits two home runs for the Braves, but Willie Stargell spoils the occasion with a two-run homer in the 13th inning to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 3 - 2 victory.

1969: Jim Northrup's double in the 5th inning is the Tigers' only hit off Mel Stottlemyre in a 4 - 0 loss.

1970: Plaques honoring Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle are dedicated at Yankee Stadium. The plaques are located in center field and will eventually be moved to "Monument Park" beyond the left field fence when the stadium is renovated in the mid-1970s.

1977: The Texas Rangers traded Steve Foucault to the Detroit Tigers for Willie Horton after 15 years with the Tigers.
Willie says: "As long as I live, I'll be a part of the Tigers, a part of Detroit," he says. "That ball park, and the people who work there, will be a part of me until I die."
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1980: At County Stadium, Cecil Cooper and Don Money of the Milwaukee Brewers each hit 2nd-inning grand slams against the Boston Red Sox. The base-clearing home runs lead the Brewers to an 18 - 1 win, which includes a two-run homer by Gorman Thomas and a solo shot by Robin Yount.

1980: After eight years with the California Angels, Nolan Ryan makes his debut with the Houston Astros. Ryan, who did not come to bat the previous seven seasons, hits a 3-run homer in the 4th inning. The Astros lose to the Dodgers in 17 innings, 6 - 5.

1984: Tigers 9 - Rangers 4. Home runs by Alan Trammell, Chet Lemon, and Lou Whitaker. Jack Morris gets his third win. The Tigers' 7th win sets a franchise record for consecutive wins to start a season #Relive84

1988: Bobby Witt sets an AL record with 4 balks in a 4 - 1 loss to the Tigers at Tiger Stadium.

1999: Tigers lose the final home opener at Tiger Stadium, 1-0 in 12 innings.

2000: The Tigers open Comerica Park with a 5-2 win over the Mariners. Gregg Jefferies singles in Luis Polonia for the Tigers' first run in their new stadium. Brian Moehler holds the M's to 1 run in 6 innings for the win, Todd Jones gets the save.

2003: The Detroit Tigers win for the first time this season, getting a three-run home run from Shane Halter to beat the Chicago White Sox, 4 - 3.
The Tigers (1-9) become the only team since 1900 to start back-to-back seasons with nine straight losses, started 0-11 in 2002.

2004: The Detroit Tigers signed Esteban Yan as a free agent.

2010: The Minnesota Twins inaugurate their new outdoor ballpark, Target Field, with a 5 - 2 win over the Red Sox. A host of former Twins greats, including Hall of Famers Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew, joined by Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek and Frank Viola, among others, are on hand to witness the historic game.

2011: Miguel Cabrera hits a walk-off single with the bases loaded in the 9th and the Tigers beat the rangers 5 - 4.

2013: The movie 42, about Jackie Robinson's first two seasons in organized baseball and his breaking of the color line, opens in theaters across the United States. It will be the top-drawing movie its first weekend.

2014: After 26 at-bats over six years, Justin Verlander logs his first Major League hit with a single up the middle and the Tigers win 6 - 2 over the padres.

2015: After one week of action in the major leagues, two teams are still undefeated, the Kansas City Royals, and the Tigers who are keeping pace with their 8 - 5 win over Cleveland that completes a week-end sweep; Miguel Cabrera hits two homers while going 4-for-4 for the day and 11-for-14 in the series.

2016: Paul Carey dies in Rochester, Michigan, at age 88. Tigers radio broadcaster alongside Ernie Harwell from 1973-91.

2017: The Detroit Tigers signed James Loney as a free agent.

2017: Andrew Romine hits his first career grand slam to give the Tigers a 5-3 win over the Twins.

2021 - The Twins postpone tonight's game against the Red Sox after tensions engulf the city following the killing of a black motorist by a policewoman during a traffic stop in the suburb of Brooklyn Center, MN, a reminder to everyone of the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN a year ago. In fact, the trial of the policeman accused of killing Floyd is going on at the same time is making the situation even more emotional. Yankees OF Aaron Hicks, who began his career with the Twins, also decides to sit out today's game, feeling unable to concentrate on baseball given all that is happening.

2022: The Detroit Tigers signed Chase Anderson as a free agent.

Tigers players birthdays:

Lew Post 1902.

Bill Bailey 1918.

Eric McNair 1941-1942.

Jack Wilson 1942.

Bill Wight 1952-1953.

Charlie Lau 1956, 1958-1959.

Woodie Fryman 1972-1974.

Brennan Boesch 2010-2012.

Tomas Nido 2025.

Tigers players, coaches, managers, and announcers who passed away:

Ed Lafitte 1909, 1911-1912.

Frank Sigafoos 1929.

Bill Akers 1929-1931.

Frank Skaff coach 1965-1966, 1971, manager 1966.

Paul Carey announcer 1973-1991.

Baseball Reference
 
SATURDAY SURVEY.
Totally Tigers

Colt Keith has started his 2nd year at the MLB level. Originally a 3B'er, he was moved to 2B because of concern over a previous injury to his throwing shoulder. While he had a solid 2024 at the plate, he was horrible defensively, ranking last on the team and also within MLB with a -10 DRS.
The Tigers moved him to 1B this year but an injury to Gleyber Torres at 2B necessitated that he return there at least temporarily. Just within the last series, he committed 3 costly errors. He currently ranks last on the team defensively.
However, Keith is also struggling at the plate this year. Out of all the regular full-time players, he’s got the lowest BA at .171.

Torres has returned. His $15 mill contract guarantees that he will return to 2B. Technically, Keith should move back to 1B, however Spencer Torkelson is crushing the ball and has a better DRS.
Tork lost his position to Keith over the winter however situations have changed dramatically since then.

Of note is Colt’s contract which goes for 5 more years for a total of $18 mill and 3 years beyond that of a team option.

What should the Tigers do with him?
What should the Tigers do about Colt Keith?

1. Put him back at 1B. He needs to learn the position.

2. Send him to Toledo for a reboot. Put Torkelson back at 1B.

VOTE
 
Scoreless outing nets Tigers' Jobe first MLB win.
Son of a pro golfer, Detroit rookie dazzles as Masters get underway.
Tigers official site

Boxscore.

Video highlights.

Tigers 4 - Twins 0: Detroit earns fourth-straight series win with road victory over Minnesota.
Spencer Torkelson homered and the Tigers’ pitching staff blanked the Twinkies on Saturday afternoon.
BYBTB

Jackson Jobe gets first MLB win, Tigers top Twins to take fourth straight series.
Detnews

Jackson Jobe, Spencer Torkelson star in Detroit Tigers' 4-0 win over Twins.
Freep

Jackson Jobe earns first MLB win as Tigers take another from Twins.
Mlive
 
April 13 in Tigers and mlb history:

1911: Tigers beat White Sox 4-2 on a snowy Opening Day at Michigan and Trumbull.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9TTY1QXUAA7SGr.jpg

1914: Opening Day of the Federal League - Buffalo Buffeds vs. Baltimore Terrapins at Terrapin Park, Baltimore.
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1921: With new U.S. President Warren G. Harding, former president Woodrow Wilson, and VP Calvin Coolidge watching, the Washington Senators lose their home opener, 6 - 3, to the Boston Red Sox. Senators pitcher Walter Johnson leaves after four innings, the first time he has failed to finish an Opening Game.

1921: In the season opener for the New York Yankees, Babe Ruth goes 5 for 5, as New York and Carl Mays beat the Philadelphia Athletics, 11 - 1.
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1926: In one of the greatest Opening Day pitchers' duels ever, Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators defeats Eddie Rommel and the Philadelphia Athletics, 1 - 0, in a 15-inning battle. The game will set the record for longest opening day contest until 2012, when the Blue Jays and Indians play 16 innings on April 5th.

1953: For the first time in half a century, a new city is represented in the American or National league. The Braves who moved from Boston to Milwaukee over the winter, open in Cincinnati.

1954: The Tigers defeated the Baltimore Orioles 3-0 at Briggs Stadium. It was the first broadcast in Detroit for the then-radio voice of the Orioles -- a Georgian named Ernie Harwell!

1954: The brand new Baltimore Orioles open in Detroit and lose, 3 - 0. Don Larsen takes the loss against Steve Gromek. The Tigers start fast and will win 12 of their first 18 games.
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1954: Hank Aaron makes his major league debut in left field for the Milwaukee Braves and goes 0 for 5 in a 9 - 8 loss to the Cincinnati Redlegs.
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1954: Tom Alston became the first African American to play for the Cardinals.
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1962: At Wrigley Field, Stan Musial scores his 1,869th run to set a new National League record as the Cardinals beat the Cubs, 8 - 5, in 15 innings.

1962: The National League returns to NYC as the New York Mets play their first home game at the Polo Grounds.


1963: Denny McLain's 3rd game as a Tiger. He got the 7-3 win at Baltimore, a complete game win of course.

1965: Jim Northrup hits 2 doubles and Al Kaline has 5 RBIs on a single and double in an 11 - 4 win over the kansas city athletics.

1966: At Fenway Park, Frank Robinson and Brooks Robinson hit back-to-back home runs in the 1st inning off Dave Morehead, to lead the Baltimore Orioles to an 8 - 1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Jim Palmer pitches a five-hit complete game and helps himself by hitting a homer in the 2nd.

1968: Looking back on his career some 30 years later, Willie Mays will recall being gunned down going from first to third exactly once: "Roberto Clemente threw me out on a bang-bang play at third. I should have remembered what a tremendous arm he had." If Willie's memory is correct, this was the play, as witnessed by James K. McGee of the San Francisco Chronicle: "Willie Mays, leading off the 7th, lined a single into left for the Giants' first hit. When Willie McCovey, the next hitter, bounced a single over Donn Clendenon's outstretched glove into right field, it appeared the dam had been broken and runs would flow. Then came the key play of the game. Mays rounded second base and slowed down to draw a throw from right fielder Roberto Clemente. Mays, either overestimating his own speed or underestimating the power and accuracy of Clemente's arm, was thrown out trying to reach third. Maury Wills tagged him as he slid by."

1968: Mickey Stanley hits a 2-run double to give the Tigers the lead in the 4th, Tigers get a double and 4 straight walks to score 2 runs in the 5th to pull away and win 5-2 over the white sox.

1968: The Yankees purchased Bill Heath from the Tigers.

1970: The Oakland Athletics use gold-colored bases during the club's home opener. The Rules Committee subsequently bans this innovation.

1972: The first player strike in Major League Baseball history ends, with an abbreviated schedule to start two days later.

1980: The first Q battery in major league history occurs, when Dan Quisenberry (pitcher) and Jamie Quirk (catcher) of the Kansas City Royals face the Detroit Tigers. Detroit wins 3 - 2.

1984: Pete Rose of the Montreal Expos gets his 4,000th hit, a double off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jerry Koosman, to join Ty Cobb as the only major leaguers to reach 4,000 career hits. The hit comes exactly 21 years after Rose delivered his first hit.

1984: Tigers win a wild one in Boston 13 - 9. The Tigers go for 8 runs in the 1st off Red Sox starter Bruce Hurst, however, the Red Sox scores 5 in the bottom of the 1st and chase off Milt Wilcox. Doug Bair and Glenn Abbott go 6.1 innings of 1 run ball with 5 K of bullpen work as the Tigers win 13-9 to go 8-0 on this date in 1984. Lance Parrish goes deep and Larry Herndon hits 2 doubles.

1985: Rollie Fingers records his 217th American League save in the Milwaukee Brewers' 6 - 5 win over Texas, breaking Sparky Lyle's record.

1988: A major league record 924 balks will be called this season after umpires are instructed to interpret the complete stop rule more strictly.

1993: Travis Fryman, Rob Deer, & Mickey Tettleton each hit 3-run home runs in a 20-4 romp over Oakland on Opening Day at Tiger Stadium.
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1995: The Tigers traded Tony Phillips to CAL (AL) for Chad Curtis.

1998: Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Seattle Mariners hits his 300th career home run to become the second-youngest player to reach the milestone. Griffey's 300th, a two-run shot to right off the Cleveland Indians' Jose Mesa, is his second homer of the game and sixth of the season. At 28 years, 143 days old, Griffey is second only to Jimmie Foxx, who hit his 300th at 27 years, 328 days. Foxx hit 534 homers during his Hall of Fame career.

2004: The Tigers signed Mike Difelice as a free agent.

2007: The Tigers signed Kyle Denney as a free agent.

2009: 1976 American League Rookie of the Year Mark "The Bird" Fidrych dies at 54 from an accident while fixing a truck on his farm in Northborough, MA.

2011: After four days of deliberation, the jury in the Trial of Barry Bonds returns a guilty verdict on the charge of obstruction of justice, while failing to reach a decision on the three charges of perjury the slugger was also facing. Barry Bonds faces up to 10 years in jail for the felony conviction, although probation is a more likely; Judge Susan Illston may however decide to re-try the three charges which resulted in a hung jury.

2011: Miguel Cabrera hits a walk-off single with the bases loaded in the 9th.

2016: Willie Horton attends groundbreaking ceremony for the new Detroit PAL facility at the site of Tiger Stadium.
It opened in March 2018.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9PAP3wXkAI9IxS.jpg

2016: Jarrod Saltalamacchia's grand slam gives the Tigers the 7 - 3 win in Pittsburgh. The Grand slam was Saltalamacchia's 100th career home run.

2022: The Detroit Tigers purchased Jamie Westbrook (minors) from the Milwaukee Brewers.

2022: Spencer Torkelson goes 2 for 4 with his first ML Home Run and 2 RBI in a 9 - 7 loss to the red sox.

2023: The Rays tie the modern major league record shared by the 1982 Atlanta Braves and 1987 Milwaukee Brewers by winning their 13th straight game since the start of the season, 9 - 3, over the Red Sox. They actually trail for a couple of innings for one of the rare times this season, before scoring seven runs in the bottom of the 5th to run away with the win. However, it is marred by the early departure of pitcher Jeffrey Springs, who has to leave while facing his first batter in the 4th inning with an elbow issue; he had given up his first run in three starts earlier in the game. Next up in the Rays' crosshairs are the 1884 St. Louis Maroons who won 20 straight games to start the only season in the history of the Union Association, whose status as a major league is controversial.

Tigers players birthdays:

Kid Elberfeld 1901-1903.

Herman Long 1903.

Red Killefer 1907-1909.

Al Platte 1913.

Rufe Clarke 1923-1924.

Ken Jones 1924.

Roxie Lawson 1933, 1935-1939.

Jake Mooty 1944.

Ike Brown 1969-1974.

Doug Strange 1989.

Mark Leiter 1991-1993.

Anthony Castro 2020.

Tigers players and scouts who passed away:

Wish Egan 1902, scout over 40 years and signed many Star players for Tigers.

Frank Kitson 1903-1905.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D4CNv2UW0AEsl7s.jpg
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Mark Fidrych 1976-1980.

Baseball Reference
 
DEEPER DISCUSSIONS.
Totally Tigers

The Detroit Tigers are hoping to return to the playoffs again this year. They have a number of strengths – improved offense, a solid starting rotation and MLB’s best bullpen ERA.

On the other hand, they have concerns over defense. Specifically, the infield. Only Jake Rogers (who is on the IL for 1 month) is a plus defender. Everyone else falls in the negative range and both Gleyber Torres and Colt Keith lead MLB in worst DRS at 2B.

Also of concern are the injuries – Alex Cobb, Parker Meadows, Jake Rogers, Wenceel Perez and Matt Vierling. The #1 CF and C, a SP and 2 utility/outfielders.
Which one of these do you believe will be the biggest obstacle that could prevent their return to playing October baseball?
  • A weak and inexperienced infield.
  • Injuries to significant players.
Today’s blog addresses this question 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?

Which factor is the biggest obstacle as the Tigers look to make the playoffs?

1. A weak and inexperienced infield.

2. Injuries to significant players.

VOTE
 
Tigers are 40-18 in the regular season dating back to August 11, 2024. It's the best 58-game stretch of Tigers baseball since posting the same record between August 19, 2011 - April 26, 2012.
 
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