Acceptable registrations in the queue through March 16 at 11:00a ET have now been activated. Enjoy! -M.W.

Terms of Use have been amended effective October 6, 2019. Make sure you are aware of the new rules! Please visit this thread for details: https://www.mibuzzboard.com/phpBB3/view ... 16&t=48619

John Wockenfuss dies

No $8 beers here... just a place to discuss your favorite Sports Teams, classic & current events in the world of sports, and share your Sports knowledge!
matt1
Posts: 2945
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2016 12:53 pm

John Wockenfuss dies

Post by matt1 » Sun Aug 21, 2022 6:14 pm

Former Detroit Tigers John Wockenfuss (1974 - 1983) has died at 73 years old. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wockenfuss



SteveS
Posts: 212
Joined: Sun Oct 26, 2008 7:03 am

Re: John Wockenfuss dies

Post by SteveS » Sun Aug 21, 2022 6:25 pm

RIP. I used to try to imitate his batting stance during pickup ball games in the neighborhood.



User avatar
moldyoldie
Posts: 1639
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 1:04 am
Location: On that thar' interweb jobber

Re: John Wockenfuss dies

Post by moldyoldie » Tue Aug 23, 2022 11:51 am

Along with Dick McAuliffe, Wockenfuss had one of the weirdest stances in my Tigers experience. McAuliffe's was wide open with stiff front arm, Wockenfuss' was extremely closed with loose front arm and flittering top fingers. Strange thing is once the latter changed to this extremely unorthodox stance he became a serviceable Major League hitter. His trade to the Phillies in '84 along with outfielder Glenn Wilson, bringing eventual American League MVP Willie Hernandez and Dave Bergman to Detroit, may have arguably been the move that sealed the World Series Championship for the Tigers that year.

RIP


"The primary purpose of a liberal education is to make one's mind a pleasant place in which to spend one's leisure."
- Sydney J. Harris

DAC
Posts: 581
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2005 5:43 pm

Re: John Wockenfuss dies

Post by DAC » Fri Sep 02, 2022 7:20 pm

SteveS wrote:
Sun Aug 21, 2022 6:25 pm
RIP. I used to try to imitate his batting stance during pickup ball games in the neighborhood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckw7V7U2eMs



paul8539
Posts: 1108
Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 5:20 pm

Re: John Wockenfuss dies

Post by paul8539 » Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:08 am

Wasn't he the one who was usually catching for Mark Fidrych?



MichMash
Posts: 132
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 4:16 pm

Re: John Wockenfuss dies

Post by MichMash » Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:30 pm

paul8539 wrote:
Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:08 am
Wasn't he the one who was usually catching for Mark Fidrych?
No; Fidrych's "regular" catcher was Bruce Kimm.

Kimm was the beneficiary of an unfortunate injury suffered by Milt May, who was acquired before the start of the 1976 season in a trade with Houston. May suffered a broken ankle on April 20 and was lost for the season (ironically, he was hurt in the game where Fidrych made his MLB debut). Kimm was called up to back up Bill Freehan who would take over as the everyday catcher. After a couple of relief appearances, Fidrych was called on to start against Cleveland on May 15. Kimm was selected to catch him that day due to the fact that Kimm had caught Fidrych in the minors, and was more familiar with him than Freehan. Fidrych threw a complete-game 2-1 victory that day, starting the Fidrych phenomenon and making Kimm a good-luck-charm of sorts.



Post Reply Previous topicNext topic