R.I.P. Bill Freehan The great Detroit Tigers catcher passed away at 79. The enduring image of...

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The great Detroit Tigers catcher passed away at 79. The enduring image of him in my mind is catching the last out of the 1968 World Series on a foul popup and then picking up pitcher Mickey Lolich (who was not slim) in celebration.

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SW-User

One of many very good catchers during a time of many. Bench, Fisk, Munson, Fosse, Carter etc. Seemed every team had at least an adequate catcher

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OldSchool · 61-69, M

@eli1601 Another comment about Grote: He was likely a factor in the Mets pitchers being as good as they were, definitely important for a team built around pitching!

eli1601 · 70-79, M

@OldSchool Tom Seaver once said how lucky he was to have worked with great catchers like Grote, Bench, and Fisk.

OldSchool · 61-69, M

@eli1601 It seems I recall Seaver speaking highly of Grote in particular. He was on teams that had great catchers back in his day.

questionWeaver

As a small kid ... he was one of my first baseball cards!

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SW-User

@questionWeaver Went to the Tigers twitter - lots of grateful fans. There even was a link to City on Fire the 3030 series about how a riot ravaged city got behind the Tigers. It's long but extremely compelling

https://youtu.be/N4TyqqoDA8Q

questionWeaver

@SW-User Thank you ... that was fantastic! ... watched the whole film

SW-User

@questionWeaver I did earlier too. Notice how only one old guy has no grey hair - Tim McCarver. Any chance he uses supplements?

Northrup reminds me of Charles Durning.

Growing up in Boston every man looked like Freehan to me - big, Irish and tough looking 😎

Carla · 61-69, F

I loved that team. I have some pretty old kaline memorabilia. As well as a denny McClain signed ball.
And my memory of that series...

RIP bill....⚾️

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Carla · 61-69, F

@RogueLoner willie Horton in left. Dont forget about him!

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SW-User

@Carla In the series they said black fans filled left field to be near Horton. He was a native to Detroit (as was Freehan) as well as black himself

OldSchool · 61-69, M

He was a great catcher, widely recognized as one of the very best of his day.

OldSchool · 61-69, M

Other Tiger players and other catchers of the day were mentioned in comments (including some of mine). That in no way takes anything away from Freehan, actually emphasizes that he was one of the very best during a time of good to great catchers in baseball. Some have made a case that he should be in the Hall of Fame. I would not argue.

OldSchool · 61-69, M

And references to other Tiger players take nothing away from Freehan’s value to the team. No one would take exception to his importance to their success!

FreestyleArt · 36-40, M

If I get that Player Card on MLB20 9th inning On Mobile. I'm going to keep it no matter what level he is. I probably have to train the shit out of him if that's the Case. It would be cool if I can get him as a Daimond player or Gold

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