Saturday, October 17, 2015

May 13 Happy Birthday to Former Tigers or Detroit Wolverines

Alex Main played one season for the Tigers in 1914.  He was born in Montrose, MI and played his first pro ball with Flint of the Southern Michigan League in 1910.  He played in some other cities before coming to Detroit.  He played the one season in Detroit and used mainly in relief, he appeared in 32 games and compiled a record of 6-6 with a 2.67 ERA.  In January of 1915 he jumped leagues and went to the Federal League to play with the Kansas City Packers.  He went 13-14 with the Packers but 1916 found him pitching for Toledo.  He played one more year in the majors in 1919 when he was with the Phils and had a 2-2 record in 8 games.  He died in Royal Oak in 1965 and is buried in Crestwood Cemetery in Grand Blanc, MI.

Jimmy Archer was born in Ireland and played one season for the Tigers in 1907.  He was in 18 games and got 5 hits in 42 at bats.  Don’t bother with the math, it is a .119 average.  He also appeared in the 1907 World Series with the Tigers and went 0-3.  That would be a .000 average.  He was shuffled off to Buffalo before the 1908 season.  He never came back to Detroit but went to the Cubs and became their starting catcher.  He hit .254 for the Cubs though 1917.  After that he played in Pittsbugh, Brooklyn and Cincy.  In 1931 Jimmy was working as a buyer in the Chicago stock yards when he rescued two men who had been overcome by carbon monoxide.  He used artificial respiration to save the two.

Jack Burns was born in England and played two seasons with the Tigers in 1903 and 1904.  He was a back up second baseman who played in a total of 15 games in the two years.  He had a total of 12 major league hits.  He played pro ball from the age of 19 until he was 33.  Some of the teams he played for during that time were the Coal Barons, Furniture Makers, Smokestakers, Siwashes, Old Soldiers, Vetrans, Mud Hens, Millers, Seals, Meadowlarks, Perfectos and Champs.  He was also a Tiger in Lowell as well as Detroit.  He also managed the Celeryfeds in 1920. 


Jack McGeachey made his major league debut with the Wolverines in 1886.  He played six games for the Detroit National League team and went 9 for 27 as an outfielder.  It is not known how but he went to the St. Louis Maroons for most of the 1886 season.  Where he did not hit as well, .204.  Later he played for the Indianapolis of the NL under Captain Jack Glasscock who, if you recall from earlier birthday greetings, this well wisher feels should be in the Hall of Fame.  After that he went to play for John Montgomery Ward who was managing the Brooklyn Wards Wonders of the Players League.  Jack finished his major league career with the Boston Reds and Philadelphia Athletics of the American Association in 1891.

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