August 2 Happy Birthday to Former Tigers or Detroit Wolverines

Colby Lewis played for the Tigers in 2006.  He had been picked up from the Rangers off of waivers in 2004.  He pitched three innings for the Tigers in 2006 giving up 1 run, a home run, on 8 hits and a walk.  He also struck out 5 but did not record a decision and at the end of the season was granted free agency.  He signed with the Washington Nationals at the end of the season.  But in spring of 2007 they released him.  He then signed with Oakland for 2007 but was waived in November.  The Kansas City Royals then signed him in November of 2007 and released him in December of 2007 with him never even making it to training camp!  Finally in 2010 he resigned with the Rangers.  He started a new life in baseball with the Rangers.  In 2010 he was 12-13 and he was 14-10 as the number 2 starter on the two time AL Champions in 2011.  But 2012 was a bust for Colby.  He set a major league mark giving homers to the first three batters of the game against the Orioles.  Then in June he was on the DL and while he made a brief two appearance comeback, his season was done with Tommy John surgery in July.  He did not play in 2013 but in 2014 he is 7-8 with the Texas Rangers as their number 2 starter.

Matt Miller pitched for the Tigers in 2001 and 2002.  He pitched a total of 10.1 innings.  He did not record a win, a loss or a save.  He did record a 7.84 ERA.  On April 4, 2002 he came in in the 5^th against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  He gave up a homer to Greg Vaughn then got two more outs before walking a batter and giving a Major League Baseball rule double to Steve Cox.  He was replaced by Jeff Farnsworth and never pitched pro ball again. 

Art James was up and down with the Tigers for four months in 1975.  He went to Macomb Community College.  He made it into 11 games with the Tigers and got 9 hits in 40 at bats as a major leaguer for a .225 average.  He did not get that career tater but he did get an RBI for his career.   He was a good base stealer even though he only stole one base for the Tigers and was caught stealing twice.   He went back to the minors and even played his last three season in Mexico before his pro baseball career was over in 1982.  But the Tigers retired his number as did all major league baseball.  Art wore 42 which was Jackie Robinson’s number and has been retired in all baseball.  Today, the only player still wearing it is Mariano Rivera who was grandfathered in.  When Mariano retires Art James 42 will no longer appear in the majors.

Kid Nance finished his major league career with the Tigers in 1901 at the age of 24.  100 years before Matt Miller played for the Tigers.  Kid had spent a couple years with the Louisville Colonels in 1897 and 1898 as a substitute outfielder as his previous major league experience.  He came to the Tigers in 1901 after a brief stint with the Grand Rapids Furniture Makers of the Western Association.  With the Tigers he was a starting outfielder with a not very unique nickname.  He was one of three players called “Kid” on the Tigers that year.  Kid Gleason, Kid Elberfeld and our Kid Nance.  They also had a Pop Dillon, Doc Casey, Ducky Holmes and Fritz Buelow.  Those were the starters along with a no nicknamed Jimmy Barrett.  Their main back up was Sport McAllister.  Kid Nance was sure of hand in the outfield but not fleet of foot.  He hit .280 and had average power.  After the 1901 season he was done in the majors.  But he went on to play in the minors until 1915.  He also managed in the minors up through 1923.