November 14, 2024

Number 14

From 1977 to 1992, only two players wore number 14 for the Tigers, both of them (mostly) played first base and were fan favorites:

John Wockenfuss, wore it from 1977-1983, resurrecting the number after a three-year layoff following Bill Slayback’s two-season tenure, 1973 and ‘74. In his 10 seasons in Detroit, Johnny B played in 677 games and hit .261 with 80 home runs and 284 RBI.

Dave Bergman put on number 14 within days after being traded for Wockenfuss in March 1984. From then until he retired in 1992, he wore it in 871 games, batting .259 with 39 homers and 219 RBI.

A.J. Hinch currently wears it, but wore number 40 when he played for Detroit in 2003.

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 592 7/9 — Rarity: 237

See you tomorrow.

It’s hard to find a matchup more ’80s than Jack Morris versus Pete Vuckovich.

The Cat prevailed in this one, 2-1, raising his record to 21-8. Vuckovich fell to 2-4.
Alan Trammell homered with two out in the fifth, and Lou Whitaker stole home for the Tigers’ second run.
Ben Oglivie led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo shot to right, but Morris got three straight fly outs to end it.

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 325 9/9 — Rarity: 47

See you tomorrow.

Happy 51st to perhaps the classiest guy ever to wear the D.

Today’s also the birthday of two former Tigers pitchers:

Bill Slayback, a member of the 1972 A.L. East Division champs, turns 61. A seventh-round pick in the 1968 draft, he pitched three years in Detroit posting a 6-9 record and 3.84 ERA in 42 appearances. In his rookie year of ’72, Slayback (who wore number 44) appeared in 23 games (13 starts, three complete games) and notched a 5-6 record.
Jack Billingham turns 65 today. He won 25 games for the Tigers from 1978-80 and he did so wearing number 41. Did you know that Billingham is a cousin of Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson? For a funny Billingham vs. Kirk Gibson nugget, revisit this post from last year.