Bill freehan tiger book

Tigers catcher bill freehan was a central character in one of the most controversial plays in cardinals history. He was ranked twelfth alltime best catcher by bill james in his seminal historical abstract in 2002. Freehan wore the tiger colors his entire career, and played in a lineup with al kaline, norm cash, willie horton and jim northrup, among others. When his many baseball accomplishments were added up, bill freehan, the longtime standout catcher of the detroit tigers, was most proud of helping his team win the 1968 world series. This page lists every known baseball award won by bill freehan in chronological order. Freehan had actually wanted to go to notre dame, but they too wouldnt allow him to be a two sport athlete.

Louis cardinals lou brock is tagged out by catcher bill freehan of the tigers in the fifth inning of the world series at tiger stadium on oct. Because i like bill freehan so much, grew up a tigers fan, and am so curious of his era this was a diary of the 1969 season, i loved this book as much as any. Feb 01, 2018 bill freehan continues to reside in the detroit suburbs. Mar 17, 1970 freehan was recording his diary last sea son, while mclain was winning 24 games one year after he had won 31 games. How many of the 1968 detroit tigers are still alive who. The other awards, like the allstar team or gold gloves, are individual accomplishments. Tiger bill is officially recognized as one of the worlds fastest drummers and has proven his skill by winning the namm worlds fastest drummer competition, where he was clocked at speeds of over 1,000 beats per minute with both his hands and feet. The reader experiences the highs and lows of major league baseball through the descriptions of a world champion and allstar catcher, who along with his. Freehans book is the only one of the four that resulted from the subjects own initiative. In the 1968 world series, the defending champion cardinals won three of the first four games against the tigers. Boutons book was much more scandalous at the time, as it revealed the rampant use of amphetamines greenies by mlb players, along with their lessthanexemplary activities on the road. As bill freehan lies in hospice care, his wife reveals their love story. It came out in 1970, the same year as jim boutons ball four. He was one of the best catchers in detroit history, went on to mentor young lance parrish at the position as a spring instructor, and later managed his alma mater, the michigan wolverines.

This miniature 158 by 214 playing card was issued in 1969 by globe imports. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. In his book, the bill james historical baseball abstract, baseball historian bill james. If you want to relive tigers 1969 season this is the book, freehan shares great stories in this diary like detail of detroits complete 92 win second place finish to the orioles. Freehans name comes up a lot more in hall of fame discussions now that the old veterans committee has been replaced by committees specified to eraswhich is important.

Despite playing in hitterfriendly tiger stadium, freehan guided the tigers pitching. Winning pitcher mickey lolich jumps into the arms of catcher bill freehan after freehan caught the final out of the 1968 world series. It was the 196061 school year, during a time when great social change was being launched on so many fronts. Dont worry, this data is protected via princetons cas authentication. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Tigerbook is a unified directory of princeton undergraduates, similar to the residential college facebook, that incorporates athletics data, university directory data, and student organization data with advanced search and visualization functions. Bill freehan, lou brock and a world series controversy. Bill freehans baseball skills, history yet awe detroit tigers teammates. They show bill freehan with his tigers cap on backwards and his catchers mask tossed to the side. Kennedy, in a speech on the steps of the michigan union less than four weeks from the presidential election, spoke about a.

Game 7 1968 world series full 9th inning detroit tigers v. Here is an opportunity to add a favorite or two to your collection or pick up an example for your type card collection. Nov 08, 2018 tigers catcher bill freehan was a central character in one of the most controversial plays in cardinals history. Bill freehans hall of fame case part one the tigers. Looking at the 60s and 70s 19601979 to be precise, we find 108 qualified catchers. Freehan was a high school quarterback, but opted to play tight end and defensive end at um because he sensed more opportunity there. Feb 27, 2018 this pin was discovered by george urch. When other children were playing with rattles, bill freehan used to toss wiffle balls at his grandsons.

How many of the 1968 detroit tigers are still alive who are. Bill freehan baseball stats with batting stats, pitching stats and fielding. Freehan caught more games than any other player in tigers team history. Bill freehan hits a pop up in foul territory that elston howard caught, for one out. This book is an inside look at that team and the career of bill freehan, who was a local kid that made good. Mar 12, 2019 freehan remained a tiger, was an allstar in 1975. An inside baseball diary, which might not have made much of a splash if it hadnt featured. In contrast to boutons scandalous book, bill freehan offered mainstream opinions about baseball with respect for his teammates, coaches, field manager, gm, and commissioner bowie kuhn.

Freehans brother, bill, was a catcher with the detroit tigers from 1961. The selection was meaningful because salters grandfather, bill freehan, was an 11time allstar for the tigers during a career than spanned 196176. Bill freehan detroit tigers baseball, detroit sports. He went hitless in the first four games, made two errors and was tormented by cardinals baserunners, especially. But it was his last full season as a catcher, and after one last hurrah in 1976, he retired at the age of 34.

A fourth book, tiger catcher bill freehans behind the mask, has provided the article that begins on page 54 of this issue. As he opened the door, freehan threw a pail of water on him. Fetzer celebrate winning the american league championship inside the clubhouse after a 21 walk off victory over the new york yankees on september 17, 1968 at tiger stadium in detroit, michigan. Bill freehan when his many baseball accomplishments were added up, bill freehan, the longtime standout catcher of the detroit tigers, was most proud of helping his team win the 1968 world series. Jul 23, 2006 freehan could make the claim of being the best player on a fine team in 1964, 1967, 1968, and 1971 on good to very good tiger teams.

But he had some talent as a pitcher also, and was proud of his yankee alumni status until he died of heart failure at the young age of 65 in 2009. William ashley freehan born november 29, 1941 is an american former professional. Freehan was recording his diary last sea son, while mclain was winning 24 games one year after he had won 31 games. In his book, the bill james historical baseball abstract, baseball historian bill james ranked freehan 12th alltime among major league catchers. Freehan came to michigan in 1959, choosing the maize and blue over then baseball power western michigan because um also offered him a football scholarship. From 1963 until 1976, bill freehan played catcher for the detroit tigers. The world series is a team thing, freehan observed in a 1999 interview, and baseball is a team sport.

Also includes clubhouse interviews with kaline and lolich. Former detroit tigers catcher bill freehan one of many exathletes. Jun 11, 2015 freehan played for the tigers in 196176, starting more than 1,500 games at catcher. With the exception of mickey cochrane, who was the tigers regular catcher for just 2 years and brief parts of 2 others, bill freehan is the greatest catcher in tiger history. My bill james book is temporarily packed up in a box, but i believe freehan was ranked up pretty near the top of the catchers, and just a shade ahead of fellow tiger lance parrish. Mar 09, 2011 my bill james book is temporarily packed up in a box, but i believe freehan was ranked up pretty near the top of the catchers, and just a shade ahead of fellow tiger lance parrish. Jan 20, 2014 tim mccarver was up next, and fouled out to bill freehan on the first pitch and the tigers won the series. Bill freehan was an allstar catcher for the detroit tigers when i was a kid, and was on the 1968 world series champion team. Detroit tigers great bill freehan taught us how to live. The following season freehan kept a diary, which would later be published as the book behind the mask. The tiger catcher had already started his own, handwritten diary at the tiger training camp in lakeland, fla.

Freehan played for the tigers in 196176, starting more than 1,500 games at catcher. Bill freehan in baseball digest jim sargent, june 2000, turn back the clock. He began a run of 10 consecutive allstar game selections in 1964 just three years removed from his time as a university of michigan twosport standout and finished third in american league mvp voting in 1967 and second in 1968, when his. At the october sabr detroit chapter meeting, following a great presentation by mickey lolich and tom gage on their new book, there was a pretty lively discussion about the rise and fall of the 1968 tigers an interesting conversation that came out of that panel discussion was the importance of bill freehan to the team during that era, as well as his hall of fame credentials. In my book, i wrote a lot about him on a personal level. The book is a journal of sorts, written almost the identical time as ball four. Freehan promptly swatted two home runs and a double at tiger stadium, while driving in five runs. Freehan could make the claim of being the best player on a fine team in 1964, 1967, 1968, and 1971 on good to very good tiger teams. Freehan returned to the university of michigan as the coach of the baseball. For even more information on freehan, read this sabr piece on his career. Detroit tigers bonus rookie catcher bill freehan a word of.

No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Defensive metrics for catchers are tricky, but using what we have compared to the other catchers of his era, we see that freehan ranks among the best. The year after the tigers won the world series, freehan kept a diary that would eventually become a book called behind the mask. Bill freehan continues to reside in the detroit suburbs. Tim mccarver was up next, and fouled out to bill freehan on the first pitch and the tigers won the series. Special chapter on special treatment of denny mclain who manages to go 249 on his part time job while flying allover. Also includes clubhouse interviews with kaline and. Bill freehans hall of fame case part one july 16, 2019 dan daddona features, icymi at the october sabr detroit chapter meeting, following a great presentation by mickey lolich and tom gage on their new book, there was a pretty lively discussion about the rise and fall of the 1968 tigers.

The tigers returned a veteran lineup in 1968 that had been jelling for several years, and it included the likes of bill freehan, willie horton and al kaline, one of the greatest players in history. After freehan retired, he published a widely acclaimed tellall book about catching. Sep 06, 2018 the tigers returned a veteran lineup in 1968 that had been jelling for several years, and it included the likes of bill freehan, willie horton and al kaline, one of the greatest players in history. He also ranked sixth in american league history with 114 times being hit by a pitch. Freehan, in a 2009 release issued prior to a book signing for playing ball. He gave up a hit, his first, to bill freehan in the ninth, but then retired dick wert, denny and cesar, consecutively. Reissued book on 68 tigers is perfect winter read for detroit sports. Freehan was inducted into the michigan sports hall of fame in 1982, and tigers fans voted him as catcher in 1999 for the alltime tiger team. Ap photo the detroit tigers were down three games to one in. I know they felt they got it right by being uniform, but i would have loved to have seen freehan and wert and horton with their numbers on their left sleeve. Letter from the publisher sports illustrated vault. But that also was one year after mclain allegedly had moonlighted as a book. But that also was one year after mclain allegedly had moonlighted as a book maker.

Over the course of the next week, he collected 12 hits, including eight that went for extra bases. Tiger bills drum beat drum blog site for expert advice on. During that time, the tiger trainer, bill behm, departed and returned with two cokes. Jul 16, 2019 an interesting conversation that came out of that panel discussion was the importance of bill freehan to the team during that era, as well as his hall of fame credentials. Bill freehan was considered the premier catcher in baseball until johnny bench came along and claimed that title. Tigers draft grandson of former allstar catcher freehan. Remembering the career of tigers catcher bill freehan. Bill freehans laws by bill freehan baseball almanac. See more ideas about detroit tigers, baseball cards and tigers baseball.

Tigers scout louis dannunzio said freehan was the best sandlot. Click the award name and up comes a comprehensive history of that award along with every winner of that particular baseball award. Bill freehan is arguably the greatest catcher michigan has ever had. Then gates brown hits a single to right, with kaline scoring the tigers first run and northrup moving to second. Jul 02, 1970 during that time, the tiger trainer, bill behm, departed and returned with two cokes. Many detailed statistics are based on playbyplay accounts accumulated by retrosheet. Exdetroit tiger bill freehan in hospice care with dementia. The mysterious case of the 1968 detroit tigers road uniforms. Freehan eventually cooled off and returned to a role as a fillin catcher and first baseman, appearing in 100 games.

Freehan held the major league record for highest career fielding percentage. Bill freehan detroit tigers baseball, detroit sports, major. According to the bill freehan entry in the great sabr bio project, today, freehan lives in the detroit suburb of bloomfield hills with his wife, pat. But a lot of great players have never had the chance to play in a world series, so its the greatest thrill. Extiger denny mclain has regrets, but damn he could pitch. Why bill freehans alzheimers battle spurred grandsons. Detroit tigers catcher bill freehan puts the tag on lou brock of the st. I certainly understand and appreciate taking a numerical assessment of the player. Freehan returned to the university of michigan as the coach of the baseball team from 1990 to 1995, where fellow major league. Of interest only to the author, bill freehans full name is.