The former Lakeland Tigers changed their moniker into Flying Tigers in 2007 after the team took a successful rebranding of the Clearwater Threshers, also a Florida State League team, as an example. But how did the Flying Tigers get their current name? Read on and you will learn. As written in the prologue, the parent…
In this episode of Baseball Shorts, we pay attention to the modest nature of Hall of Famer Charlie Gehringer. The star player of the Detroit Tigers in the 1920s, 1930s and early 1940s was honored by the Tigers with a special Charlie Gehringer Day in 1929. During this day, the Tigers beat the Yankees 17-13….
In today’s episode of “Baseball Related Songs”, we pay attention to “The Lifelong Tiger Fan Blues Revisited”, performed by actor Jeff Daniels. Most of us will know Jeff Daniels because of his acting career. Likely many of us, yours truly included, may not have known he also sung a song about baseball. Daniels is know…
Today, 41 years ago the Chicago White Sox hosted Disco Demolition Night. The promotion was initiated by a DJ from a local radio station. As the game of the night before was rained out, it was scheduled to take place after the promotion. Little was known about the disastrous effect this promotion would have. With…
Today, 108 years ago, the Detroit Tigers fielded mainly an amateur team against the Athletics in Philadelphia. Why? Continue reading and you’ll find out. What was the reason, the Tigers refused to play? Well, in a game vs the Highlanders in New York a few days earlier, Cobb was heckled by a Highlander fan. He…
In this episode of Baseball Related Songs, we pay attention to another song written and performed by singer-songwriter Russ Franzen: “The Park at the Corner.” Like “Tiger Stadium’s Lament” this song is also about the former Tiger Stadium, aka Navin Field or Briggs Stadium. As written in the previous blog post about him, Russ Franzen…
Today 116 years ago, Ty Cobb made his first steps in professional baseball. On this day in 1904, the Georgia Peach debuted for the Augusta Tourists of the South Atlantic League (no ties with the current league that operates under the same name). At the age of 17, Cobb debuted for the Tourists with a…
Detroit Tiger great Al Kaline has passed away today. The 18-time All-Star, World Series winner (1968), 10 time Gold Glove winner, the 1955 American League batting champ and Hall of Famer passed away at the age of 85. Even though the alkaline batteries were not named after him, Kaline could have modeled for them. His…
The Detroit Tigers and Curaçao-born infielder Jonathan Schoop have agreed on a one-year contract worth $6.1 million. As part of the Minnesota Twins last season, Schoop reached the playoffs for the second time in his career. After spending five seasons with the Baltimore, the Orioles traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers halfway the season. With…
An auction at Yankee Stadium brought together some fine Babe Ruth memorabilia. Piece de Resistance was a road jersey that was worn by the Bambino. This jersey was reportedly sold for a whopping $5.6 million, a record-breaking amount. At Yankee Stadium, more than 400 items were brought in for an auction, mostly by his family…
