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The '68 Tigers were my all time favorite sports team. Loved Bill Freehan.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/ ... 511651001/

Honeyman wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 19, 2021 10:59 am

The '68 Tigers were my all time favorite sports team. Loved Bill Freehan.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/ ... 511651001/

I can still name the every day line up of the 68 Tigers but I couldn't name 3 players today without clues.

craig11152 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 19, 2021 11:18 am

Honeyman wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 19, 2021 10:59 am

The '68 Tigers were my all time favorite sports team. Loved Bill Freehan.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/ ... 511651001/

I can still name the every day line up of the 68 Tigers but I couldn't name 3 players today without clues.

The balls Mayo Smith had to move Stanley to SS for the WS.....Lolich pitching 3 complete games, the final on 2 days rest? .Can you even imagine something like that today?

Loved that team.

Back in the early to mid 70's Bill's kid sister Mary Beth was an EMU student and hung out in our circle of friends. She would get Bill's seats from time to time and I got to go to a few games .
I remember them being behind the dugout but several rows up under the second deck so at least you didn't get wet.

We sat in them for Al Kaline's last ever game. October 2 1974. The turnout for that game was kind of sad. Less that 5000 people. But it was a Wednesday day game and the Tigers were pretty bad.

His brother said that Bill said he had lost track of the number of head injuries/concussions he had. Many are saying that his Alzheimers was related to that.

https://www.ntd.com/freehan-catcher-on- ... the%20time.

Ben Zonia wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 19, 2021 3:09 pm

His brother said that Bill said he had lost track of the number of head injuries/concussions he had. Many are saying that his Alzheimers was related to that.

https://www.ntd.com/freehan-catcher-on- ... the%20time.

He was also a perennial leader in getting hit by pitches.

'68 was a magical summer for this 12 year-old fan. I'm sure I could name every member of the Tigers and Cardinals '68 Worlds Series rosters. I'm not nearly so sure about '84. In fact, I'm positive I couldn't.

RIP

IMO, greatest Tiger's receiver, better than Pudge, Lance Parrish, even Mickey Cochrane...

lidoshuffle wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 19, 2021 5:40 pm

IMO, greatest Tiger's receiver, better than Pudge, Lance Parrish, even Mickey Cochrane...

I think you could make a case for Cochrane...I never saw him play as even I am not that old. But I think he had the highest ever batting average for a catcher and if he didn't get beaned, might have played longer and padded his other stats.

Nonetheless, it was a joy watching Freehan. A great Tiger. Not too many players, Al Kaline is another, who spent their entire career with one ballclub.

What are the Tigers going to do to honor him?