Bubba Morton, Larry Doby, Frank Metha and Rube Kisinger.
The Tigers traded for Doby on March 21, 1959, sending Tito Francona to the Indians. He lasted only two-ish months in Detroit, appearing in 18 games before his contract was sold, on May 13, to the White Sox for $30,000.
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 621 9/9 — Rarity: 35
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Have a great weekend.
Fifty-two Detroit Tigers have worn number 20, and it’s currently worn by Spencer Torkelson. But the first player I remember wearing number 20 was Mark Fidrych from 1976 to 1980.
After that, it belonged to:
*Rich Hebner, in 1982, was the final player to wear number 2 before it was retired.
Tarik Skubal, Jacob Robson, Lino Urdaneta and the late Ron Cash, Lou Berberet, Augie Prudhomme and Ray Powell
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 598 8/9 — Rarity: 176
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See you tomorrow-ish.
In 124 seasons, only 15 players have worn number 13* for the Tigers. For me, it will always be Lance Parrish‘s number, which he wore for 10 seasons, 1977 through 1986.
Here’s something: Before The Big Wheel put on number 13 in 1977, the number sat unworn for 13 years after Bill Faul hung it up after two seasons, 1963 and ’64.
With the exception of Alex Avila, who first wore it in 2010, no player of consequence has worn it since Lance … with apologies to Rico Brogna (1992) and Mark Leiter (1993).
*Gio Urshela was the most recent player to wear it, in 2024.
Gerald Laird, Vic Darensbourg, Dan Petry, and the late Steve Bilko and Jim Delsing
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 591: 9/9 — Rarity: 17
And speaking of Lance ….
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See you tomorrow.
According to Baseball Reference, 54 players have worn the number 12 in Tigers franchise history. Casey Mize currently wears it. Let’s look at a few Tigers that wore number 12 during the Fungo’s focus, 1977 through 1994:
Ryan Kreidler, Alex Faedo, Gary Thurman and the late Herm Merritt, Red McDermott and Ed Killian
⚾️ Immaculate Grid #590: 9/9 — Rarity: 55
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See you tomorrow.
I asked my Dad if I could skip the afternoon portion of that junior-year school day. It was a hard no.
I was on the yearbook staff and we decided it the 1984-85 edition of Spectus would not be complete without some on-the-ground photos and coverage of the Tigers World Series Parade.
So, yeah, I went.
My Dad seemed to be — at best — okay with my going downtown during a school day in the service of my, ahem, studies.
It was a blast for me and about a half dozen of my friends, some of whom were on the school newspaper staff and, yes, they needed fresh copy too.
The only person I think that did not enjoy themselves was the poor soul who parked their brown Chevy Nova-like car on Michigan Avenue. So many people — maybe us too? — stood or sat on it that the roof was caved in.
Nov. 2: Parker Meadows, Melvin Mercedes, Wilson Betemit and the late Elon Hogsett
Nov: 3: Alex Wilson, Mike Christopher, Larry Herndon and the late Red Phillips and Jim Walkup
⚾️ Immaculate Grid #581 — Rarity: 18
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See you tomorrow.
The 1996 season is two years beyond the usual scope of The Daily Fungo, but what they hay; let’s take a look at Eddie Williams‘ career in Detroit.
The Tigers signed Williams to a one-year contract on Jan. 2, 1996, one of the first of many Padres-related transactions made by new Tigers GM Randy Smith, formerly of the Padres.
Williams made his Tigers debut on Opening Day, April 1, 1996, as the designated hitter in Buddy Bell’s debut lineup. He went 2 for 4 with a two-run homer.
Over the next 161 games, the right-handed hitting Williams would appear in 76 of them, batting a cool .200 with 5 home runs, 26 RBI and a .574 OPS.
He was granted free agency at the end of the season and signed with Dodgers.
Mason Englert, Jason Foley, Eddie Williams and the late Pat Mullin and Heinie Schuble
See you tomorrow.
Tim Byrdak, Matt Nokes and the late Jim Donohue and Ed Fisher
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 578: 7/9 — Rarity: 209
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See you tomorrow.
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