Tag: Robert Fick

The Friday Fungo

Morris Madden – #42

Lefty Morris Madden had a micro-career with the Tigers, appearing just twice during the 1987 season.

Appearance 1: On June 11 versus Milwaukee at Tiger Stadium, he came in during the sixth inning to relieve Eric King, who had relieved starter Jeff Robinson, with the bases loaded and walked Brewers second baseman Jim Gantner.

In his one inning of work, he allowed two earned runs and three walks. The Tigers lost the game 8-5.

Appearance 2: Robinson’s next start*, on June 16 at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium, Madden came in to start the fifth inning.

*The Jays lit up Robinson for eight runs in three and two-thirds on the way to a 10-4 win.

  • The first hitter he faced, Fred McGriff doubled to center.
  • And that was the end of Morris Madden’s Tigers career.

Less than a month later, on Aug. 12, 1987, the Tigers sent Madden to the Pirates to complete the Aug. 7 trade of Darnell Coles for Jim Morrison.

If you’re wondering how he fared with Jim Leyland‘s Pirates, it depends on the year.

  • In 1988, he appeared in five games, allowed five hits and seven walks in five innings but didn’t allow a run. 
  • In ’89, Madden pitched 14 innings across nine games — including three starts — he allowed a stunning 13 walks, 17 hits, 14 runs, 11 earned. Final ERA: 7.07.

On Nov. 21, 1989, he was released by the Pirates, and though he pitched for the AAA Albuquerque Dukes in 1990, his major-league career was over.

Birthdays

Michael Fulmer, Robert Fick and the late Ralph “Sailor” Stroud, George Disch and James Casey

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 348 9/9 — Rarity: 19

See you tomorrow.

Robert Fick: Ultimate Friend and Teammate

Former Tigers catcher Robert Fick earned his reputation as a bad seed thanks to some poor on-field decisions and in-flight activities.

If you followed the Tigers during his five years (and five uniform numbers) in Detroit, you won’t be surprised by this Fick-related anecdote from former-Tigers flamethrower Matt Anderson:

First Anderson drove from Louisville to Atlanta to say goodbye to the kids. Then he headed west to California to see his friend and former Tigers teammate, Robert Fick, who had possession of the two game gloves — a Mizuno and a Rawlings — that Anderson used during his last stint in pro ball.

After continually badgering Fick to send him the gloves, to no avail, Anderson figured it would be easier to just pass through California on his way to Phoenix and pick them up in person.

“For Robert to muster up what it took to go to the packing store, find my address and all that stuff, I didn’t think that was going to happen,” Anderson said.

I, for one, am hoping that Anderson’s comeback is successful. The fact he’s back on the radar, however temporarily, makes me wonder what an Anderson-Zumaya-Perry bullpen might look like.

As for Fick, well, never mind.