Thursday, October 9, 2014

October 10 Happy Birthday to Former Tigers or Detroit Wolverines

Placido Polanco came to the Tigers in a steal of a deal. We traded Ugeth Urbina and Ramon Martinez to the Phillies for Placido. Placido was cosnidered expendable by the Phils as they had a young Chase Utley at second. Placido became our steady second basemen frompart of 2005 when he arrived through 2009. In 2006 Placido had a fanstastic two thirds of a post season. He wetn 7 for 17 against the Yanks and then 9 for 17 against the A's and won the ALCS MVP award. Unfortuanlty he went 0-17 against the Cards in the World Series. In 2007 he won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award. I have always said he played second like Nick Lidstrom plays defense. He doesnt make the flashy plays but he never makes mistakes. I loved watching him change his postition before every pitch and sure enough the ball would always be hit right to him. Today Placido is the third baseman for the Phils again having resinged with them as free agent after the 2009 season. Placido was my Tiger.

Brian Powell started his major league career as a Tiger in 1998. He was a young 24 year old starter who went 3-8 for the Tiges with a 6.35 ERA. He debuted agasint the Reds at Tiger Stadium and pitched 6 innings giving up 4 runs on 8 hits. He got a no decision as the game was tied when he was pulled for a releiver. His three wins came against the Red Sox, Devil Rays and Rnagers. He was traded before the 1999 season started by Rnady Smith with Dean Crow, catcher Paul Bako and two other minor leaguers to (I'll give you two guesses) the Astros for catcher Brad Ausmus and CJ Nitkowski. He became a free agent after the 2001 season and was resigned by the Tigers. He went 1-5 his next time around with the Tigers with a 4.84 ERA. This time he got a win against the Indians. He was granted free agancy after the season and signed with the Giants. His last year in the majors was 2004 with the Phils.

Ramon Martinez played 19 games for the Tigers in 2005. He had played 5 seasons with the Giants and 2 with the Cubs before coming to Detroit. Only two of those were as a starter. He was signed as a free agent prior to the 2005 season. He played 19 games at short, second, first and third. He got 15 hits before being sent to the Phils with Ugeth Urbina for Placido Polanco. His .268 average fo rhte Tigers was close to his career .262 average.

Jim Weaver got into 12 games with the Tiges in 1985. He was a rule five draftee from the Twins after the 1984 season. He only made his debut against the Indians coming in to replace Kirk Gibson in right field. He caught Pat Tabler's fly ball to make his first play in the majors and end the game. In the 12 games he go into as a Tiger he made 8 plate appearences. In those he got one hit against Dan Quisenberry, a double in the 9th in his first plate appearnce. He never got another hit as a Tiger and was sent back to the Twins in May of 1985. He ended up with 7 more games as a Mariner in 1987 and 12 games as a Giant in 1989 before his major league experience was over.

Saul Rogovin started hsi major league career as Tiger in 1949. He got in 5 games his first year and was 0-1 with a 14.29 ERA.  He came back up in 1950 and got his first win against the White Sox on the fourth of July when he came in to pitch the last 4.1 innings.  He gave up two runs on three hits that day and beat the White Sox pitcher, Bob Cain.  He would stick around with the Tigers into 1951 when he was sent to the White Sox for none other than Bob Cain.  Saul had a 3-3 record with the Tigers over three seasons and a 5.56 ERA.  For his career he was 48-48 with a 4.06 ERA with the White Sox, Orioles and Phillies. 

Hank Riebe played his entire career as a Tiger.  He was a good fielding back up catcher from 1942 thru 1949 with time off during the war.  In his four seasons that he was part of the Tigers he only got into 61 games and made 29 hits.  His average was .212 with 11 RBIS’s. 

Harry Eisenstat played briefly with the Tigers in 1938 and 1939.  He had been with the Dodgers for three years and was 4-6 with them with a 5.00 ERA.  He was granted free agency and signed by the Tigers before the 1938 season.  He was a steal of a deal going 9-6 with a 3.73 ERA for Detroit.  He started 1939 going 2-2 with Detroit and a 6.98 ERA when the Tigers traded him to the Indians with cash for Hall of Famer Earl Averill.  Harry would be done with the Indians and the majors in 1942.  In his time with Cleveland he was 10-13 with a 3.22 ERA.


John Stone was an outfielder for the Tigers from 1928 through 1933.  John hit leftie but threw rightie.  He was the starting left fielder beginning in 1930 and moved to right in 1933 when Gee Walker took over in left.  He was a .303 hitter for the Tigers and hit a career high 108 RBIS in 1932 when he also hit a career high 17 homers.  He was traded to the Senators after the 1933 season for Hall of Famer Goose Goslin.  John played five more seasons with the Senators hitting .317.

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