1973 Detroit Tigers season
Encyclopedia
The Detroit Tigers
compiled a record of 85-77. They finished in 3rd place in the AL East
, 12 games behind the Baltimore Orioles
. They were outscored by their opponents 674 to 642.
Joe Coleman
Bill Freehan
John Hiller
Al Kaline
Mickey Lolich
Aurelio Rodríguez
Mickey Stanley
in 2001:
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
compiled a record of 85-77. They finished in 3rd place in the AL East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
, 12 games behind the Baltimore Orioles
1973 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing first in the American League East with a record of 97 wins and 65 losses...
. They were outscored by their opponents 674 to 642.
Offseason
- November 30, 1972: Rich ReeseRich ReeseRichard Benjamin Reese , is a former professional baseball player who played outfield and first base in the major leagues from 1964-1973....
was purchased by the Tigers from the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota TwinsThe Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
.
Regular season
- April 16, 1973: Steve BusbySteve BusbySteven Lee Busby is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Kansas City Royals . He batted and threw right-handed.-Professional career:...
threw the first no-hitter in Kansas City RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
history against the Tigers. The Royals beat Detroit by a score of 3-0.
Notable transactions
- April 2, 1973: Tim HosleyTim HosleyTimothy Kenneth Hosley is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played parts of nine seasons in the majors between and . He played for the and World Series champion Oakland Athletics, though he was never on a postseason roster....
was traded by the Tigers to the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Don ShawDon Shaw (baseball)Donald Wellington Shaw is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched all or part of five seasons in the majors, between and , for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland Athletics.-External links:...
. - June 5, 1973: Bob AdamsBob Adams (first baseman)Robert Melvin Adams is a former professional baseball first baseman and catcher. He played 15 games in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers in 1977, mostly as a pinch hitter. Of the three games he played in the field, two were at first base and one was at catcher. In just 24 major league at...
was drafted by the Tigers in the 3rd round of the 1973 Major League Baseball Draft1973 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1973 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :Four dominating players of the late 70s and 80s were selected in the June regular phase...
. - August 17, 1973: Rich Reese was released by the Tigers.
Roster
| 1973 Detroit Tigers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 110 | 380 | 89 | .234 | 6 | 29 | |
| 1B | 121 | 363 | 95 | .262 | 19 | 40 | |
| 2B | 106 | 343 | 94 | .274 | 12 | 47 | |
| 3B | 160 | 555 | 123 | .222 | 9 | 58 | |
| SS | 162 | 515 | 122 | .237 | 7 | 40 | |
| LF | 111 | 411 | 130 | .316 | 17 | 53 | |
| CF | 157 | 602 | 147 | .244 | 17 | 57 | |
| RF | 119 | 404 | 124 | .307 | 12 | 44 | |
| DH | 125 | 377 | 89 | .236 | 12 | 50 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | 310 | 79 | .255 | 10 | 45 | |
| 84 | 275 | 63 | .229 | 5 | 24 | |
| 80 | 252 | 61 | .242 | 8 | 30 | |
| 85 | 227 | 58 | .256 | 12 | 29 | |
| 91 | 178 | 43 | .242 | 7 | 16 | |
| 59 | 102 | 14 | .137 | 2 | 4 | |
| 42 | 76 | 22 | .289 | 1 | 9 | |
| 14 | 39 | 16 | .410 | 0 | 6 | |
| 12 | 32 | 9 | .281 | 0 | 3 | |
| 7 | 22 | 10 | .455 | 0 | 1 | |
| 18 | 20 | 6 | .300 | 0 | 2 | |
| 9 | 17 | 4 | .235 | 0 | 3 | |
| 6 | 8 | 2 | .250 | 1 | 2 | |
| 7 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 0 | 0 |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 308.7 | 16 | 15 | 3.82 | 214 | |
| 40 | 288.3 | 23 | 15 | 3.53 | 202 | |
| 35 | 203.0 | 14 | 13 | 4.03 | 66 | |
| 34 | 169.7 | 6 | 13 | 5.36 | 119 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 80.3 | 4 | 5 | 4.37 | 37 | |
| 5 | 14.2 | 0 | 1 | 6.75 | 9 | |
| 3 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 | 3.86 | 4 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; GF = Games finished; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | GF | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | 10 | 5 | 38 | 60 | 1.44 | 124 | |
| 34 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 4.23 | 28 | |
| 24 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 5.00 | 28 | |
| 22 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 3.43 | 23 | |
| 21 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 4.33 | 33 | |
| 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3.69 | 21 | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.86 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4.50 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.57 | 0 |
Awards and honors
- John HillerJohn HillerJohn Frederick Hiller is a former left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Detroit Tigers. After suffering a heart attack in 1971, he returned to the team and recorded 38 saves in – a major league record until 1983, and a team record until 2000...
, Hutch AwardHutch AwardThe Hutch Award is given annually to an active Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson... - Al KalineAl KalineAlbert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
, Roberto Clemente AwardRoberto Clemente AwardThe Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team", as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It is named for Hall of Fame... - Mickey StanleyMickey StanleyMitchell Jack "Mickey" Stanley was a baseball player for the Detroit Tigers from 1964-1978. Stanley was known as a superb defensive outfielder over his 15-year career, though he is best remembered for the last few weeks of the 1968 season.-Early life:Stanley prepped at Ottawa Hills High School in...
, AL Gold Glove AwardGold Glove AwardThe Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
, outfield
League top ten finishers
Ed BrinkmanEd Brinkman
Edwin Albert Brinkman was a Major League Baseball shortstop. He played fifteen years in the Major League Baseball, led the American League in games played twice, won a Gold Glove Award at shortstop, and had a career batting average of .224...
- MLB leader in games played (162)
- AL leader in games played at shortstop (162)
- AL leader in complete games at shortstop (141)
- AL leader in innings played at shortstop (1390-2/3)
- #2 in AL in sacrifice hits (14)
- #2 in AL times grounded into double plays (22)
Joe Coleman
- AL leader in hit batsmen (10)
- #2 in AL in wins (23)
- #4 in AL in home runs allowed (32)
- #5 in MLB in games started (40)
- #9 in MLB in batters faced (1219)
Bill Freehan
Bill Freehan
William Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
- #2 in AL in times hit by pitch (11)
John Hiller
John Hiller
John Frederick Hiller is a former left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Detroit Tigers. After suffering a heart attack in 1971, he returned to the team and recorded 38 saves in – a major league record until 1983, and a team record until 2000...
- MLB leader in saves (38)
- AL leader in games (65)
- AL leader in games finished (60)
- #5 in AL in win percentage (.667)
Al Kaline
Al Kaline
Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
- 4th oldest player in AL (38)
Mickey Lolich
Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
- #2 in MLB in games started (42)
- #2 in MLB in home runs allowed (35)
- #2 in MLB in hits allowed (315)
- #2 in AL in strikeout to walk ratio (2.71)
- #3 in MLB in earned runs allowed (131)
- #5 in AL in bases on balls per 9 innings pitched (2.30)
- #5 in AL in strikeouts (214)
- #5 in AL in wild pitches (12)
- #6 in MLB in batters faced (1286)
- #7 in MLB in innings pitched (308.7)
Aurelio Rodríguez
Aurelio Rodríguez
Aurelio Rodríguez Ituarte, Jr. , was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels , Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles...
- AL leader in games played at third base (160)
- AL leader in complete games at third base (151)
- AL leader in innings played at third base (1394-2/3)
- #5 in AL in games played (160)
Mickey Stanley
Mickey Stanley
Mitchell Jack "Mickey" Stanley was a baseball player for the Detroit Tigers from 1964-1978. Stanley was known as a superb defensive outfielder over his 15-year career, though he is best remembered for the last few weeks of the 1968 season.-Early life:Stanley prepped at Ottawa Hills High School in...
- #4 in AL in outs (481)
Players ranking among top 100 all time at position
The following members of the 1975 Detroit Tigers are among the Top 100 of all time at their position, as ranked by The Bill James Historical Baseball AbstractThe Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract is a reference-type book written by Bill James featuring an overview of baseball decade by decade, along with rankings of the top 100 players at each position. The original edition was published in 1985 by Villard Books, followed by The New Bill James...
in 2001:
- Bill FreehanBill FreehanWilliam Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
: 12th best catcher of all time - Norm CashNorm CashNorman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
: 20th best first baseman of all time - Aurelio RodríguezAurelio RodríguezAurelio Rodríguez Ituarte, Jr. , was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels , Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles...
: 91st best third baseman of all time - Al KalineAl KalineAlbert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
: 11th best right fielder of all time - Willie Horton: 55th best left fielder of all time
- Mickey LolichMickey LolichMichael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
: 72nd best pitcher of all time