Detroit Tigers Cup of Coffee: Milt Welch

The Detroit Tigers have a storied history. Some of the greatest players have represented the Olde English D. Cup of Coffee is a new segment where we examine players for the Tigers who only had one major league game.

The latest installment in our Detroit Tigers cup of coffee series features Milt Welch. He is the oldest person to only have played just one game of a baseball. As a catcher, he played just one game for the Tigers.  The only MLB game for Welch came on June 5, 1945.

Milt Welch is the only player from the Detroit Tigers 1945 World Series Championship that is still alive. At 20 years old, he made his big league appearance. He was a reserve for the entire 1945 season and his sole appearance came in a blowout against Cleveland.

David Mendonca, of SABR.org, quoted Welch as saying:

"“I had no business being there,” he recalled in 2016. “I wasn’t that good. I was too young. All of the good players were in the Army.”"

After trying out for the Tigers in 1943 Welch was assigned to the Class-D Lockport Cubs where he batted .284 in 99 games. The following season he was promoted to the Class-B Hagerstown Owls where he hit .329 in 129 games.

Only MLB Game

When World War II hit, some ballplayers enlisted while others opted to work in the factories. Two the Tigers catchers decided to keep working in the factories. The young Welch was designated a 4F, and as a result, couldn’t serve in the military. This resulted in the Tigers buying out his contract from their Double-A affiliate.

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While playing with the Tigers, Welch served as the bullpen catcher until June 5. June 5 saw Welch play in his only MLB game. The Tigers were trailing the Indians 8-0 by the end of the fifth and that was when Welch was brought into the game. Welch went 0-for-2 with a strikeout. Not long after his MLB debut, the Tigers sent him back down to AA ball and he never saw the majors again.