October 31 Happy Birthday to Former Tigers or Detroit Wolverines

Tim Byrdak was a middle reliever for the Tigers for one season.  He started his major league career with the Kansas City Royals in 1998.  He played three seasons there and posted a 0-4 record with 1 save and a 8.27 ERA.  He then was released by the Royals after the 2000 season and toiled in the minors for the Indians and Padres before getting called back up to the majors by the Orioles in 2005.  He played two seasons for the Orioles and was 1-1 with 1 save and a 5.88 ERA.  The O’s released him and he was signed by the Tigers for the 2007 season.  He went 3-0 for the Tigers and a 3.20 ERA with 1 save.  It was his best year in the majors.  His wins came against the Royals, Twins, and Devil Rays.  His save was against the White Sox.  But the Tiges let him go before the 2008 season and he signed the Astros.  He was 5-5 with 3.53 ERA in three seasons with the Astros.  At the end of the 2010 season he became a free agent and signed with the Mets.  He was with the Mets through the 2013 season.  He was 4-3 with a 4.32 for the three years he was with the Mets.  At the end of 2013, on his birthday, he was released.  He has not played pro ball since. 

Matt Nokes was Tiger catcher in the late 1980’s and 1990.  He played 19 games for the Giants in 1985 before being traded to the Tigers in the Bob Melvin trade after the 1985 season.  Bob, Juan Berenguer and Scott Medvin were sent to the Giants for Eric King, Dave LaPoint and Matt.  Matt spent most of 1986 in the Tigers AAA club, Nashville.  But Matt did get in 7 games as a back up to Lance Parrish.  When Lance went to the Phillies as a free agent in 1987, Matt became the starting catcher.  Matt had a great year in 1987.  He hit .289 with 32 homers and 87 RBI’s.  He had a rough playoffs getting only two hits in 14 at bats, one was a home run.  He was an all star that year and was third in voting for Rookie of the Year behind Mark McGwire and Kevin Sietzer.  He also won a Silver Slugger award.   He never quite duplicated that season for the Tigers.  His next couple of seasons he hit about .250 and his homer production dropped to 16, 9 and 3 in 1990 when he was traded to the Yankees for Lance McCullers and Clay Parker.   He played 4 and half seasons with the Yanks and hit .249 with 71 homers and 222 RBI’s.  The Yanks let him go after the 1994 season and his last season in the majors was split between the Orioles and Rockies. 

Jim Donohue started his major league career as a Tiger in 1961.  He pitched in 14 games as a reliever for the Tigers.  On April 22, the Tigers were playing the Angels in their first season and their first trip to Tiger Stadium.  On a double header Sunday Jim came in and got the save in the first game.  In the second game the two teams scored 1 run each in the 3^rd inning.  In the tenth starter Jim Bunning had given up a run and the lead.  In the bottom of the tenth the Tigers pulled out all the stops and brought in Dick Gernert to pinch hit for Bunning.  Dick homer to deep field and the score was tied 1-1.  In the 11^th the Tigers brought in Jim Donohue to pitch.  He walked Albie Pearson but then settled down and got the next three batters out.  In the Tigers half of the 11 the put together a run and won the game 3-2 for Jim’s one and only win as a Tiger.  But the Angels must have liked what they saw in Jim as they traded for him in June for Jerry Casale.  Jim would lose one game as a Tiger against the Twins and post a 3.54 ERA.  He played two seasons for the Angels and was 5-6 with a 4.19 Era and five saves.  The Angels then traded him to the team he lost to as a Tiger, the Twins, in 1962 for Don Lee.  Jim was done pitching in the majors after the 1962 season. 

Ed Fisher was a Tiger pitcher in 1902.  He had started his pro career as with the Muskegon Reds in 1902.  There are no records of how he did.  He must have done well as the Tigers picked him up for the end of the season.  He came in from the bull pen to start the sixth inning of a game that was already well out of hand with the Baltimore Orioles already having scored 15 runs already.  Ed came in and pitched the last four innings and only allowed four hits and one walk.  The Tigers still lost 15-1.  That was the extent of Ed Fishers career in major league baseball.