When he retired, Luis Aparicio was considered the best defensive shortstop ever. At that time, he had played the most games, had the most assists and double plays, and had the best (they were not invented yet) best Dwar and zone range of any shortstop in MLB history. Since retiring, he has fallen…
Ranking the Catchers With a commanding presence behind the plate and a rocket arm, Johnny Bench was the best defensive catcher in history. But that wasn’t all. The powerful right-handed slugger won a pair of Most Valuable Player awards and led the Reds to six division titles, four pennants, and two championships. He hit…
Bill Freehan Positions: Catcher and First Baseman Bats: Right • Throws: Right 6-3, 203lb (190cm, 92kg) Born: November 29, 1941 in Detroit, MI Died: August 19, 2021 in Petoskey, MI Buried: St. Hugo of the Hills Columbarium, Bloomfield Hills, MI High School: Bishop Barry HS (St. Petersburg, FL) School: University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI) Debut: September 26, 1961 (11,927th in major league history) vs. KCA 4 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI,…
1986 – Boston’s Don Baylor sets an American League record when he is hit by a pitch for the 25th time‚ breaking the season record he held with Bill Freehan (1968) and Kid Elberfeld (1911). The Royals’ Bud Black does the plunking in a 5 – 1 win. Baylor will end the season being hit 35 times: the modern major league record is 50 by Ron Hunt.
At Tiger Stadium, Bill Freehan hits his 200th and final home run in a 12 – 7 loss to the White Sox. The Detroit catcher will finish his career with 100 homers hit at home with the other 100 dingers hit on the road.
Dec 2, 1974 – After several rounds of bourbon are consumed by Phillies GM Paul Owens and Detroit General Manager Jim Campbell at the winter meetings‚ Owens agrees to trade promising C Bob Boone and P Larry Christenson to Detroit for veterans Bill Freehan and Jim Northrup. Tomorrow morning‚ Owens won’t recall the trade and…
Graig Nettles will be suspended for ten days after stuffing his bat with six super balls, that are collected by Tigers catcher Bill Freehan when the piece of lumber is shattered on a disallowed infield hit. The Yankee third baseman, who said the doctored bat was given to him by a fan in Chicago, hit a home run in his first at bat for the game’s only run in the Yankees’ 1-0 victory over Detroit at Shea Stadium.
Detroit hits four home runs in the 1st inning in an 8 – 2 win over the Indians. Al Kaline, Bill Freehan and Mickey Stanley hit consecutive home runs off Fritz Peterson, and Ed Brinkman adds another later in the inning, off Steve Kline.
Oct 11, 1972 – The Detroit Tigers even the ALCS series with a 10th-inning 3-run rally to beat the A’s 4-3. Jim Northrup bats in the game-winner after Dave Hamilton walks home the tying run. For eight innings it was a tight pitching duel between Game 1 aces Catfish Hunter and Mickey Lolich. The only…
Despite belting six home runs – three by Bill Freehan, two by Willie Horton, one by Aurelio Rodriguez – at Fenway Park, the Tigers lose to the Red Sox, 12 – 11. The Sox have only one homer, a grand slam by Bob Montgomery. Rico Petrocelli’s pinch single with two outs in the 9th drives home the winner.
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