Bill Freehan Was an Outstanding Player For the Tigers

Yesterday was a sad day for all baseball fans as former Detroit Tiger catcher Bill Freehan passed away. Bill Freehan was just the ultimate team player for the Tigers. The Tigers had some awesome players when they won the 1968 World Series versus the St. Louis Cardinals.

Now, Denny McClain did win a record 31 games—even to this day that record stands. He also was the Cy Young and MVP of the American League that year. Al Kaline patrolled right field for the Tigers and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980. But Bill Freehan was the leader of this team. They didn’t have a captain, but if they would have, Freehan would have been their captain.

Denny McClain told me that on the Mad Dog Show yesterday. Freehan played his entire 15-year career with the Tigers. He played and was the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines too. He passed away this week from Alzheimer’s disease. He dealt with this horrible disease for the past few years. He was an 11-time All-Star for the American League.

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When I was in 4^th grade at St. Gerard, he was my favorite Tiger. I wrote to him and he actually sent me an autographed picture and a one-sheet on how to play the catcher's position. My mom couldn’t believe it.

I know yesterday I wrote that Al Kaline was my all-time favorite Tiger. But, when I was younger, it was Bill Freehan hands down.

Bill Freehan was the ultimate baseball player. If you play baseball, play like Freehan did!