Jim Northrup

Just heard that Jim Northrup has died at 71. One brief account I read said that he recently had enetered a facility for Alzheimer patients. He was a good guy and one of the heroes of 1968. bAs History wore on, his stst looked more impressive. I remember him for hitting grand slams, but in reality he probably didn't hit too many. Was so likeable and then he went on to be a broadcaster. God Bless #5
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5 comments:

  1. Bill BouieJune 8, 2011 at 7:35 PM

    One of the great left handed swings ever. He is one of the few to hit two grand slams in the same game. His was against Cleveland and I remember watching that game.

    RIP #5

    He was also a member of the Detroit Caesars softball team.

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  2. Tom HagertyJune 9, 2011 at 4:41 AM

    from the Free Press:
    He belted slams on consecutive at-bats June 24, 1968, against the Indians at Cleveland Stadium. Five days later, he hit another against the White Sox at Tiger Stadium, becoming the first player to hit three slams in a week.

    Four of Northrup’s 21 homers in 1968 were grand slams. He also hit a slam in Game 6 of the World Series, as the Tigers rallied from a 3-1 Series deficit against the St. Louis Cardinals.

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  3. Tom HagertyJune 9, 2011 at 4:42 AM

    (And speaking of lefthanded swings, one of the sweetest I remember seeing was Daryl Strawberry's.)

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  4. Jeff PeekJune 10, 2011 at 6:54 AM

    I will never forget the sweet photo of Northrup making a catch above the fence at Tiger Stadium... I think it was in the 1972 or '73 yearbook. Loved that photo so much. I met/chatted with Northrup several times later in life and I always found him to be very accomodating. I knew all about the grand slams in '68... my dad and brothers told me all about it. Later in life, I was able to see one for myself, thanks to VHS and DVD. And I do remember when Northrup was traded to the Orioles late in his career. Same thing happened to Lolich and Horton. That was such a bummer for a kid who knew how much they meant to the Tigers. Rest in peace, Fox.

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  5. Tom HagertyJune 14, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    The Lolich trade worked out well for the Tigers because they picked up Rusty Staub. I remember when the Tigers traded Horton to the rangers. On the exterior of his bar, Willie Horton's Club 23 on Livernois (for which I believe Bill Bouie played softball), Horton had a mural of him swinging the bat in a Detroit uniform. After the traded he had a Rangers uni painted over the Tiger one. He later played w/ Cleveland, Oakland and Toronto.

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