Mickey Tettleton – #20
Who didn’t like Mickey Tettleton? He was built like a tank, stood ramrod straight at the plate and could crush the ball from either side. And, he was solid defensively.
Tettleton came to Detroit from the Orioles in a steal of a trade for the once-promising righty, the late Jeff Robinson.
Why would the Orioles, who weren’t exactly brimming with offensive talent, want to part ways with Tettleton?
According to this story, they “did not want to pay him more than $1 million to be backup to Bob Melvin.” Bob Melvin! And shortly thereafter his ticket to Detroit was punched.
“He has good defensive skills and is adept at working with pitchers,” acting Tigers General Manager Joe McDonald said. “In addition, he brings even more punch to our lineup.”
And how.
Tettleton joined a Tigers roster full of mashers: Cecil Fielder, Rob Deer and Pete Incaviglia.
- He averaged 32 homers in his first three years with the Tigers … and 136 strikeouts. But, he also averaged 110 walks over those three seasons including a league-leading 122 in 1992.
- Sparky penciled him in primarily at catcher in 1991 and ’92, with a few dozen starts at designated hitter. In 1993 and ’94, Tettleton began to see more time at first base and the outfield.
- Tettleton and Tiger Stadium were a perfect fit: More than half his homers as a Tiger came at home.
After the strike-shortened 1994 season, he was granted free agency by the Tigers. He signed with the Rangers just before the 1995 season began and played parts of three seasons in Arlington before retiring in July 1997, with 245 career home runs.
Birthdays
Will Rhymes and the late Rusty Staub, Ron Perranoski, Frank Castillo, Moe Franklin, Jake Wade
Today’s Grid
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 365 7/9 — Rarity: 213
I was overdue for a stinker. I still managed to work Jack Morris into it.
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See you tomorrow.
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