Archive for the 'Tigers Birthdays' Category

The former Tigers outfielder and DH — a.k.a., Le Grand Orange to ’70s Expos fans in Montreal — turns 65 today.
Before then-TV analyst Al Kaline reminded us at every turn that Tony LaRussa is also an attorney in Florida, Mr. Tiger liked to talk about Staub being an accomplished chef. More on that shortly.

Daniel Joseph [...]

The five-time All Star turns 40 today.

Fryman, the Tigers’ first-round selection (#30) in the 1987 draft, spent parts of the first eight seasons of his 13-year career in Detroit and with some sorry teams. In his seven full seasons, he hit .272 and averaged 20 homers and 93 RBI — and wore #24.
On Nov. 18, [...]

Happy 28th Birthday, Curtis Granderson. The sooner you get back to Lakeland, the better.

Today is also the birthday of Charles Hudson. His only distinction in Tigers lore is that he’s the guy for whom Detroit traded Tom Brookens 19 years and 51 weeks ago today. Hudson appeared in 18 games during the slog that was [...]

You are forgiven if you don’t remember lefty pitcher Jeff Holly: he never pitched in the majors for the Tigers.
He did, though, appear in 39 games for the Twins from 1977-79 amassing a 3-4 record and a 5.60 ERA. He came to Detroit on Dec. 5, 1979, in a trade for pitcher Fernando Arroyo.

However, [...]

Happy 51st to perhaps the classiest guy ever to wear the D.
Today’s also the birthday of two former Tigers pitchers:

Bill Slayback, a member of the 1972 A.L. East Division champs, turns 61. A seventh-round pick in the 1968 draft, he pitched three years in Detroit posting a 6-9 record and 3.84 ERA in 42 [...]

Happy 60th to Ben Oglivie who, after the Tigers inexplicably traded him for Jim Slaton and Rich Folkers, went on to hit 176 home runs for the Brewers over nine years. He retired after the 1986 season with a lifetime average of .273 and 235 career homers.

Tom Veryzer turns 56 today. He played five years [...]

First, let’s raise a glass — or mug of hot chocolate — in celebration of Magglio Ordonez’s 35th birthday. ¡Felíz Cumpleanos, amigo!

I wonder what was going through Tigers’ owner Mike Ilitch head today when Lynn Henning of the News asked him about the team’s off season progress — at a press conference in which Ilitch [...]

Meacham had one, short tour of duty with the 1991 Tigers: 2-1, 5.20 in 10 appearances (four starts). Still, he managed to eek out an eight-year career.
If you think Justin Verlander is a beanpole, you should’ve seen Meacham: 6′ 2″ tall, 175 pounds.
He’s 41 today.

…the Tigers acquired catcher Dave Engle to the Twins for the one-time Lou-Whitaker-displacing Chris Pittaro and Alejandro Sanchez.
If I remember correctly, the Tigers viewed Engle as insurance for Lance Parrish but he played only three games at catcher, 23 at first and a smattering of games in the outfield. In 86 at bats he [...]

He’s 26 today.
Other birthdays:

George Cappuzzello, 55
Mike Marshall, 65
Steve Gromek, he was born (1920) and died (2002) on Jan. 15.

Learn more about these three in a post from Jan. 15, 2007.