It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was a time of
endings and a time of beginnings. The 1970's were a very mixed bag for the
Detroit Tigers. The World Champs of 1968 were held together and
produced a Division Championship in 1972 but the rest of the decade was
mostly forgettable. Guys like Kaline, Horton, Cash, Northrup and
Freehan were slowing down but Tiger management held on to them for one
hurrah too many. In part this was due to loyalty, in part it was due to
a minor league system that did not produce a single position player
starter from 1966 through 1974. 74 and 75 produced last place finishes
and by the end of 75, only Lolich, Freehan, Horton , Hiller and Stanley
were left from the 68 team. It was fitting that the bicentennial year
of 1976 produced one of the greatest characters in the history of
baseball as Mark "The Bird" Fidrych came on the scene to remind everyone
of how much fun baseball could be. And the minor leagues actually
produced other starters. Steve Kemp, Jason Thompson, Tom Veryzer, Danny
Meyers and Leon Roberts (who dated my college girl firned before I did)
all started lengthy major league careers. Dave Rozema and Vern Ruhle
came up to have good careers (though not always with the Tigers)..And
although Fidrych would never again play for a full season, 1977 showed
there was a light at the end of the tunnel. 77 saw Jack Morris, Alan
Trammell Lou Whitaker and Lance Parrish all rise to the big club and
show the talent that would carry the club through the 1980s.. A mixing
of old and new will make this Tiger team one to reckon with in KOD15.
--submitted by Tom Davis manager Detroit--
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