Monthly Archives: January 2020

Curtis Granderson might have been a better player than Lou Brock, but Granderson doesn’t deserve the Hall of Fame

A few months ago, a baseball fan on Facebook complained that the stat, WAR, was flawed because it could not tell the difference between Lou Brock and Curtis Granderson. I believe that supports WAR as a legitimate statistic. Granderson, who … Continue reading

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Cesar Gutierrez and his .218 batting average went 7-for-7 on a Sunday afternoon in Cleveland to become a part of Tigers lore

There were many home-run heroes for the Tigers in their 9-8 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the second game of a doubleheader on June 21, 1970, at Cleveland Stadium. Jim Northrup hit two home runs and had five RBIs. … Continue reading

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Beiker Graterol remains the only Tigers pitcher to appear in just one game for Detroit and give up more than two home runs

Beiker Graterol might have drawn the toughest assignment for a major-league debut in Tigers history. After Bryce Florie went on the disabled list, the Tigers turned to Graterol, a 24-year-old right-hander from Venezuela, to start against the defending World Series … Continue reading

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Alan Trammell’s ‘ultimate grand slam’ against the Yankees in 1988 was still unforgettable to him 26 years later

There has never been an “ultimate grand slam” that wasn’t thrilling. What’s an “ultimate grand slam.” It is a grand slam hit with a team behind by three runs and in a walk-off situation. And for the first time in … Continue reading

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Wanna know the best-kept secret on the Michigan sports scene this winter? It’s the Michigan State Spartans hockey team

At a time when sports fans in Michigan are searching for anything positive, there has been one pleasant surprise. The Michigan State University hockey team. There is no need to point out the depths of losing fans of the Tigers, … Continue reading

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For one game in 1960, shortstop Casey Wise actually was The Mighty Casey, but he eventually struck out with the Tigers

The day after Casey Wise had his career game on April 24, 1960, the Detroit Free Press ran a six-column headline at the top of the front page of the sports page: “Who Is This Mighty Casey Wise?” It was … Continue reading

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There was a day in 1903 when the Detroit Tigers played a regular-season game at Ramona Park in Grand Rapids

On May 24, 1903, the Detroit Tigers played a regular-season game in Grand Rapids, and their victory moved them into a tie for first place in the American League. In the early 1900s, Detroit did not allow the sale of … Continue reading

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Matt Kinzer was the only Detroit ‘Liger’: He was a punter for the Lions and a pitcher for the Tigers

On October 11, 1987, the NFL players were on strike, and the leage was using replacement players. The Lions used a punter named Matt Kinzer for their game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Kinzer, … Continue reading

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Tigers yielded first grand slam in American League history on May 1, 1901, to White Sox batter who could not hear or speak

On May 1, 1901, Detroit Tigers pitcher Ed Siever gave up the first grand slam in American League history. It happened at South Side Park in Chicago, and it was the third road game in Tigers history. The man who … Continue reading

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Ivan Nova a nice low-risk investment for the Tigers, but the upside is limited for the 33-year-old right-hander

It certainly is not big-time breaking news that the Tigers signed free agent pitcher Ivan Nova on Monday, but it is a low-cost move that could pay off in a small dividend. First, and most important to the Tigers, he … Continue reading

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