September 28 Happy Birthday to Former Tigers or Detroit Wolverines

Bob Dustal was a 27 year old right hander for the Tigers in 1963. He made the team in spring training after 8 years working his way up the ranks of the minors. On April 9^thin Detroit he made his debut coming in to pitch the 9^th of a game in which the Tigers and starter Jim Bunning trailed the White Sox 5-7. He got the Sox to fly out to center, left and right field and only gave up one walk. Five days later when Bunning started and the game was 3-0 in favor of the Indians Bob was again called in to pitch the 8^th. He gave up 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk. On April 19 Bob pitched 2 innings against the Red Sox and gave up 1 run in another Tiger loss.  He was called on the next day to pitch in the 15^th inning against the Sox again in Fenway Park.  The Tigers were ahead 3-1 with 2 outs and runners on first and second.  Bob gave up single and a double and earned his only decision as a Tiger, a loss.  Bob pitched the 9^th of another Tiger loss against the Angels and finally on May 2, Bob was called on to pitch the 5^th inning of a losing effort against the Senators.  He gave up four runs and did not record and out.  He never pitched again in the majors.  Bob’s final totals were an 0-1 record and a 9.00 ERA in 6 innings pitched.  Bob went on to manage in the minors in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s in the Detroit organization.

Dick Gernert was a Tiger in 1960 and 1961.  He had spent 8 years with the Red Sox as a first baseman outfielder before being traded to the Cubs after the 1959 season.  For the Sox he was a .250 hitter with some good power.  But he was never a good fielder.  In fact, he led the league in errors for first basemen in 1953 with 19.  With the Cubs he was hitting .250 when he was sold to the Tiges.  He got in only 21 games for the Tigers in 1960 and another 6 in 1961 and hit .291 before the Tigers sent him to Cincy for Jim Baumer.  Dick would be drafted by the Houston Colt 45’s, in their 1961 expansion draft but would be released by the Colts in May after only 10 games played and a .208 batting average.  Dick went on to manage in the minors but never got to manage in the majors. 

Paul Easterling played for the Tigers during two seasons over three years.  He first came to the Tigers in 1928 and hit .325 in 43 games as an outfielder.  But even after hitting .325 the Tigers sent him down for more seasoning.  He hit .304 in Beaumont in 1929 but did not get a call back.  In 1930 he hit .315 for Beaumont and was back playing in Detroit.  But in Detroit he hit only .203 in 29 games and was never brought back to Detroit.  He appeared in the majors again in 1938 when the Philadelphia Athletics bought him from Oklahoma City.  He played four games for the Athletics and was traded to the Cardinals with Gene Hasson and George Turbeville for future Athletics starter, Dick Siebert.  Paul never made it into another major league game. 

Nate Kellogg was a member of the 1885 Detroit Wolverines of the National League.  He played five games for the Wolverines as a shortstop and in 23 chances committed 5 errors.  This would have been a time when some players did not wear gloves because they didn’t want to look like a sissy.  In the five games Nate got two hits and scored four runs.  His batting average was .118 with a walk to bring his on base percentage up to .167.  Nate never played in the majors again.