Rocky Colavito

Do you remember Rocky Colavito when he was with the Tigers? I used to listen to WJR when George Kell was broadcasting and Rocky was a Tiger. He was a piece of work. I think he once ran the bases from third to second to first and to home when he hit a home run.

PS Gregg, I went back to square one with your invitation and somehow it now worked. I can post!!! Jim Bernhold

Best Tiger Deal Ever?

Let's take a break from our All Time Tiger Team Selection, and give some thought to the weighty question of, "What was the best horse-tradin' the Tigers ever did?" (assuming players don't mind being likened to horses.) I know it's not the same world it used to be with draft picks, long-term high-dollar contracts, etc., but let's have some fun.



Some thoughts:

• Tigers acquire Norm Cash for Steve Demeter. Demeter goes on to play in only four more games for the Indians, Cash smashes 377 homers.


• We dump the washed up Denny McClain, Elliot Maddox, and Norm McRae (norm who?) for Joe Coleman, Eddie Brinkman and Aurelio Rodriguez, two of the steadiest gloves in the AL. Coleman won 20 games twice.


• We pick up Doyle Alexander and Woody Fryman, two proven, experienced pitchers, in a successful stretch drive to the ALCS. Oh yeah, they give up some kid with a funny name -- Smoltz.

What are your nominations? I'll put them all in a poll later this week.

Philadephia vs. Tampa Bay

Well guys who do you think is going to win the World Series? Last night's game was thrilling. Joe Madden's bullpen by committee reminded me of the way bullpens used to be used. I always love the underdogs - it would be great to see Tampa Bay go from the worst to World Champs (hmm is there hope for the Tigers next year?). Realistically, I think I have to go with the Phillies. Utley, Howard, Rollins. I am thirlled for Chad Durbin - always like to see an ex-Tiger land on his feet. I hope Jamie MOyer pitches well. I looked at Stub HUb and they have seats available for $575 each - I couldn't pay that much for the Tigers. I did see a game in Philly this summer, as the Phillies are my youngest son (matt) favorite team. I enjoyed the stadium. Greg Luzinski has a stand where he signs autographs -- not real personable though. So her's to the Phillies. What does everyone else thinnk?

Greatest Tiger Trades?

Fascinating discussion, guys. What was the best deal the Tigers ever made?

I think we'll take a break from electing the Greatest Tiger Team, and poll on this subject.

My nomination: 1959, the Tigers send Steve Demeter to Cleveland for a kid named Norm Cash, one of our current nominees for the greatest Tiger firstbasemen. (Demeter went on to play four more games for Cleveland, and never again got a hit in the bigs.)

Tiger Trades

Photo: Aurelio Rodriguez

Sept. 30, 1979

Hey guys, what are some of the best trades the Tigers ever made? One would have to be Jim Campbell's 1971 deal with the Senators, when he unloaded Denny McClain, Don Wert, Elliott Maddox and Norm McRae in exchange for Joe Coleman, Eddie Brinkman and Aurelio Rodriguez (who at the time was the only MLB player to have all five vowels in his first name).

Coleman would win 20 games twice for Detroit (and 19 another time) while Brinkman and Rodriguez anchored the left side of the infield for years. Rodriguez remains the best defensive third baseman I ever saw.

Another Great Clutch Pitcher

Everyone always talks bout the deal that sent John Smoltz to the Braves for Doyle Alexander that won the pennant for the Tigers. However, there was another significant pitcher that was acquired by the Tigers in the 70's that meant just as much. Do you remember who it was?


The answer:

Woody went 10-3 down the stretch for the 1972 Tigers as they beat out the Red Sox by a half game to win the pennant, only to be defeated by the Oakland A's in the infamous Reggie Jackson hamgstring tear.

What was the other big incident in this series?

Greatest Tiger Phenoms

First of all, Tom Tresh died yesterday. A flash in the pan with the Yankees, and he ended his career with the Tigers. His Dad was a great catcher and they lived in Trenton. RIP Tom, you got your chance as the Yankees began to stink up the American League.
















Who are some of your favorite Tiger phenoms? Here today and gone tomorrow. The Phil Collins song title says it best, "Do You Remember". Here some are in no particular order:

Purnal Goldy
Tom Veryzer
Justin Thompson
Jason Thompson
Jon Warden
Rich Monteleone
Ron Cash
Glenn Wilson
Gabe Kapler
Nook Logan
Bubba Morton
Tom Timmerman
Robert Fick (The Last Man To Go Deep at Tiger Stadium)
Rick Leach
Chris Shelton


Who Do You Remember?