April 9, 1984: An Off Day
After sweeps of the Twins and White Sox, the Tigers enjoy an off day before the home opener.
Nate Colbert #9
In the depths of the mid-1970s rebuild, the Tigers acquired 29-year-old first baseman Nate Colbert from Padres for Ed Brinkman, Dick Sharon and Bob Strampe.
In six seasons with the Padres, Colbert hit .253 with 163 homers, 481 RBI and a .800 OPS, so hopes were high.
He made his Tigers debut on April 10, 1975, a home opener loss to Jim Palmer and the Orioles, 10-0 — but he did get one of the Tigers’ three hits.
The next day, at Shea Stadium, he hit his first Tigers homer — a three-run shot — off Catfish Hunter, who was making his Yankees debut. The Tigers won, 5-3.
The next day, Colbert hit a grand slam off former Tiger Pat Dobson in a 7-2 Tigers win.
Twenty-four hours later, Colbert’s average dropped below .200 and never rose above it. Two homers and two months later, the Expos purchased his contract from the Tigers.
His final game with the Tigers was June 13, against the A’s. He went hitless in three at bats with a walk.
Colbert, who died Jan. 25, 2023, finished his brief time in Detroit with a .147 average, four homers, and 18 RBI.
Birthdays
Hal Morris, Mike Brumley and the late Nate Colbert, Guy Cantrell and Vic Sorrell
Today’s Grid
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 373 9/9 – Rarity: 11
Happy to fit four former Tigers and a former Tigers broadcaster into this one. I beat my buddy Doug by a single point!
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See you tomorrow.
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