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

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

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

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

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

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.