On July 14, 1972, umpire Bill Haller works the game between the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers, who feature Bill’s brother, Tom, as their catcher. The occasion marks the first time in major league history that the home plate umpire and a participating player are brothers. The arbitrator plays no favorites when his younger…
On July 8, 1972, Detroit Tigers pitcher John Hiller makes his first appearance in 18 months after suffering a heart attack in 1971. Hiller’s heart condition had sidelined him for the entire 1971 season. The Tigers lose to the White Sox, 5 – 2, Hiller will post a 2.03 ERA in ‘72 and will win…
Making his last career start, Wade Blasingame’s American League debut for the Yankees is an inauspicious one, as the Tigers go deep three consecutive times in the first frame. The opening inning home runs by Aurelio Rodriguez, Al Kaline, and Willie Horton power Detroit over New York, 5-2.
1971 – Vida Blue of the Oakland Athletics wins the American League Cy Young Award by a 98-85 margin over Mickey Lolich of the Detroit Tigers. Blue was 24-8 for Oakland, posting 301 strikeouts, eight shutouts and a 1.82 ERA, becoming the youngest pitcher to win the award. In the National League, Ferguson Jenkins of the Chicago Cubs receives the honor.
On September 13, 1971, At Memorial Stadium, Frank Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles rips home runs in each game of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers to become the 11th man to enter the 500-home run club. Robinson’s 500th was a ninth-inning three-run homer off Fred Scherman, who pitches 8 2/3 innings in relief…
Jim Northrup goes 5 for 5 with two home runs in a 3 – 2, 11-inning Tiger win over Washington.
Mickey Lolich allows six hits as Detroit beats the Brewers, 7 – 2. It is Lolich’s 20th win of the year.
Catfish Hunter is knocked out in the 7th inning, but before he exits he drives in four runs as Oakland beats Detroit and Mickey Lolich, 9 – 7. Sal Bando has two homers, while the Tigers hit 4.
Norm Cash belts a pair of 3-run homers to power the Tigers to a 12 – 7 win over the Yanks. Mickey Lolich goes all the way for the win.
With 53‚337 on hand, Mickey Lolich and Les Cain‚ with 3 innings from Joe Niekro‚ notch shutouts as the Tigers sweep a doubleheader from the Senators, 5 – 0 and 11 – 0. The loser in the opener is Denny McLain‚ making his first appearance in Detroit since being traded. Al Kaline and Norm Cash each hit two-run homers off Denny‚ with Cash adding another pair‚ one with the sacks full‚ in the nitecap.
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