Detroit Tigers: Top 10 Starting Pitchers of All Time

Nov 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an official baseball during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

8. John Hiller

When John Hiller retired from baseball in 1980, he was the last of the 1968 World Series team still playing. He played for Detroit during his entire 15 years in the game, with the exception of 1971, when he had a heart attack and took the rest of the year off.

It is uncommon to hear of 28-year olds having heart attacks and even more unusual for heart attack survivors to return to professional sports. Hiller beat the odds. Prior to his heart attack, he pitched in 404 innings. After his heart attack, he only pitched in 44 innings in 1972. But, in 1973, he led the American League in games pitched, games finished, and saves. The very next year, he went to the All-Star game and was in the running for the Cy Young award. He truly taught the world what it means to have the heart of a Tiger.

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