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Author Archives: ballparkman1955
A throwback to 1999 when Tigers legend Al Kaline was the subject of a question-and-answer interview
When I worked at The Jackson Citizen Patriot, I wrote a column called 2 ½ minutes. That’s how long it normally took to read it. The column was a question-and-answer format with a topical sports personality. Just days before the … Continue reading
Posted in Chip's Shots, Detroit Tigers, MLB, Tale of the Tigers
Tagged @alkaline @detroittigers
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Second baseman Charlie Gehringer leads mythical all-time Tigers team made up of players born in Michigan
In the 120-year history of the Detroit Tigers in the major leagues, 104 of the 1,701 players were born in Michigan. So, what would an all-time Tigers team made up of players born in Michigan look like? It was a … Continue reading
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
Posted in Detroit Tigers, MLB, Uncategorized
Tagged @curtisgranderson @mlb @loubrock
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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
Posted in Detroit Tigers, MLB, Tale of the Tigers
Tagged @detroittigers @cesargutierrez
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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
Posted in Detroit Tigers, MLB, Tale of the Tigers
Tagged @detroittigers @beikergraterol
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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
Posted in Uncategorized
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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
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
Posted in Detroit Tigers, MLB, Tale of the Tigers
Tagged @detroittigers @caseywise @tigers
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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
Posted in Detroit Tigers, MLB, Tale of the Tigers
Tagged @detroittigers @tigers @ramonapark
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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
Posted in Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers, MLB, NFL
Tagged @mattkinzer @detroitlions @detroittigers
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