Bubba Morton started his career as a Tiger outfielder in 1961. He
was 29 when he broke in after spending 6 years in the Tigers minor league
system. He was the first black player signed by the Tigers in 1955 although he
was not the first black to play with the Tigers in Detroit. He was used mainly
as a pinch hitter and back up outfielder to Al Kaline. He had a decent glove
but was not fast. He stayed with Detroit until part way into the 1963 season he
was sold to the Milwaukee Braves where he roomed with Hank Aaron. He hit .264
in 173 games for the Tigers and 6 homers. After Milwaukee he was sold to the
Indians but never played for them. He was then traded to the Angels for Phil
Roof. He died in 2006 and being a veteran of the Coast Gaurd, he was buried at sea.
Lary Doby almost finished his Hall of Fame career as a Tiger in 1959. He was the second black player to play in the majors, after Jackie Robinson. He was signed by Bill Veeck to play for the Indians in 1947. He was the Indians starting center fielder for the great Indian teams from 1948 through 1955. And was selected to the All Star team seven years in a row. He had a great glove and won two thirds of the 1954 triple crown leading the league in homers and RBI's while finishing second in MVP voting to Yogi Berra. In 1956 the Indians sent him to Chicago for Jim Busby and Chico Carresquel. He bounced around a bit before he found himself with Cleveland again in 1958. Before the 1959 season started the Tribe sent Lary to Detroit for Tito Francona (Terry's dad). He got in 18 games for hte Tigers but only hit .218. In May, the Tiges sold Lary to the White Sox for $30,000. At the end of the season, Lary was done playing in the majors. He would again follow a Robinson and become the second black to manage in the majors after Frank Robinson first did it in 1975. In 1998 Lary was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. He died in 2003 at the age of 79.
Scat Metha was purchased by the Tigers from the White Sox at the beginning of the 1940 season for $7,500. At the beginning of the 1940 season the Tigers had questions if Charlie Gerhinger was going to be around long at second base. So they purchased Scat as a backup second baseman to Charlie Gerhinger and Dutch Meyer. Too bad they did not buy him new nickname. But Gerhinger hit .313 in 1940 and stayed on the job. Dutch hit .259 and Scat hit .243. Scat was done in the majors after 1940 and was done with baseball after 1942.
Rube Kisinger started his career with the Toledo Swamp Angels in 1901 before becoming a Tiger. Born in Adrian Michigan, he made his major league debut as a Tiger in 1902. He pitched in 5 games. All were complete games. He was 2-3 with a 3.12 ERA. He was back with Detroit in 1903 and was 7-9 in 16 games with 13 complete games. He had a 2.96 ERA. After 1903 Rube never played in the majors again. He continued to play pro ball until 1916 in the minors and won 205 games in the minors. He was 39 when he retired. He died at in a train accident while working as an engineer at the age of 64 in the summer of 1941, a couple of months before Pearl Harbor was attacked.
Lary Doby almost finished his Hall of Fame career as a Tiger in 1959. He was the second black player to play in the majors, after Jackie Robinson. He was signed by Bill Veeck to play for the Indians in 1947. He was the Indians starting center fielder for the great Indian teams from 1948 through 1955. And was selected to the All Star team seven years in a row. He had a great glove and won two thirds of the 1954 triple crown leading the league in homers and RBI's while finishing second in MVP voting to Yogi Berra. In 1956 the Indians sent him to Chicago for Jim Busby and Chico Carresquel. He bounced around a bit before he found himself with Cleveland again in 1958. Before the 1959 season started the Tribe sent Lary to Detroit for Tito Francona (Terry's dad). He got in 18 games for hte Tigers but only hit .218. In May, the Tiges sold Lary to the White Sox for $30,000. At the end of the season, Lary was done playing in the majors. He would again follow a Robinson and become the second black to manage in the majors after Frank Robinson first did it in 1975. In 1998 Lary was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. He died in 2003 at the age of 79.
Scat Metha was purchased by the Tigers from the White Sox at the beginning of the 1940 season for $7,500. At the beginning of the 1940 season the Tigers had questions if Charlie Gerhinger was going to be around long at second base. So they purchased Scat as a backup second baseman to Charlie Gerhinger and Dutch Meyer. Too bad they did not buy him new nickname. But Gerhinger hit .313 in 1940 and stayed on the job. Dutch hit .259 and Scat hit .243. Scat was done in the majors after 1940 and was done with baseball after 1942.
Rube Kisinger started his career with the Toledo Swamp Angels in 1901 before becoming a Tiger. Born in Adrian Michigan, he made his major league debut as a Tiger in 1902. He pitched in 5 games. All were complete games. He was 2-3 with a 3.12 ERA. He was back with Detroit in 1903 and was 7-9 in 16 games with 13 complete games. He had a 2.96 ERA. After 1903 Rube never played in the majors again. He continued to play pro ball until 1916 in the minors and won 205 games in the minors. He was 39 when he retired. He died at in a train accident while working as an engineer at the age of 64 in the summer of 1941, a couple of months before Pearl Harbor was attacked.
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