Sunday, October 5, 2014

October 4 Happy Birthday to Former Tigers or Detroit Wolverines

Mike Walker ended his time in the majors as a Tiger pitcher. He was originally brought to professional baseball by the Cleveland Indian organization who drafted him in 1986. He was used as a starter in the minors going 14-7 and 15-7 in the Cleveland farm system in 1987 and 1988. He was a late season call in 1988 and debuted against the Red Sox in Fenway Park as a reliever. He went 2.1 innings and did not allow a hit or a run. He got in 2 more games and even started one game which he lost to the Blue Jays. Mike spent the next year in the minors before returning to the Indians in 1990 and was again a starter making 11 starts but going 2-6 with a 4.88 ERA.  In 1991 he returned to the Tribe and was converted to a reliever.  He appeared in 5 games and did not record a decision but had a 2.08 ERA.  At the end of the season the Indians released him.  He signed with the Tigers but he spent 1992 with Toledo and was 2-8 with 4 saves and a 5.83 ERA.  At the end of the season the Tigers released Mike.  He resigned with Cleveland but stayed in the minors.  He was released again and signed this time by the Cubs.  He spent some time in the Cubs farm system until 1995 when he made it back to the show with the Cubs and went 1-3 with 1 save and a 3.22 ERA.  At the end of the season the Cubs released him.  He signed with the Phillies and spent spring training in 1996 with the Phils before they released him.  He then signed with the Tigers in April.  For Detroit he was strictly a reliever.  He appeared in 20 games and did not record a decision but did get one save.   It was against the Kansas City Royals in KC.  He pitched the last 1.1 innings and allowed only one base runner on a double by Joe Randa.  Mike posted a 8.46 ERA.  At e end of the season the Tigers release him.  He spent the next three years in the minors with Cincy and finally back with the Indians AA team in Buffalo before his professional baseball career was over.

John Kiely spent his entire time in the majors on the mound for the Tigers.  He was signed as a amateur free agent in 1987 by the Tigers at the age of 22.  He worked his way up the minors rapidly dropping his ERA at every level until he made AAA Toledo in 1991.  But he was still 4-2 with a 2.12 ERA that year and 6 saves being used exclusively as a reliever.  1991 also saw John make his major league debut in July against the Texas Rangers in Texas.  He came in to start the 7th and Juan Gonzalez.  On a 1-0 count Juan ripped a line drive down the left field line for a double.  John was taken out of the game after that for Paul Gibson.  Juan would come around to score giving John and infinite ERA.  John appeared in 6 more games and did manage to get his ERA down to 14.85 for the season and posted and 0-1 record with no saves.  1992 was much better for John.  He was 4-2 with the Tiges with a 2.13 ERA in 39 games.  His first win came against the Red Sox at Tiger Stadium when he pitched 3.2 innings of relief and gave up only one run.  His other wins came against Seattle, Cleveland and Toronto.  IN 1993 John was 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA.  He remained under contract with the Tigers through 1995 but never again pitched in the majors.

Joe Boever

Lary Sorensen

Don Lenhardt


Jim Halpin

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