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Detroit Tigers: Top Ten Catchers in Franchise History

By Andy Patton

CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 3: Catcher Ivan Rodriguez #7 of the Detroit Tigers waits for a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during MLB Spring Training action at the Bright House Networks Field on March 3, 2005 in Clearwater, Florida. Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 9-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 3: Catcher Ivan Rodriguez #7 of the Detroit Tigers waits for a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during MLB Spring Training action at the Bright House Networks Field on March 3, 2005 in Clearwater, Florida. Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 9-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – APRIL 7: A general view of Comerica Park during the tribute to former owner Michael Ilitch during the opening day celebrations prior to that start of the game against the Boston Red Sox game on April 7, 2017 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Bill Freehan

Detroit Tigers: 1961-1976

This should come as no surprise, as Freehan is simply an icon of Detroit sports. Freehan caught an astonishing 1,577 games for the Tigers, racking up a 44.8 bWAR. His name is all over Detroit’s record books. He was an 11 time All-Star, a five time Gold Glove winner and is a borderline top ten catcher of all-time.

Freehan was undrafted but signed by the Tigers out of the University of Michigan. He made his big league debut in a tiny four-game sample in 1961, going 4-for-10.

He spent all of 1962 in the minors, but resurfaced for good in 1963. After a solid but unspectacular 1963 season, Freehan’s career took off. Freehan made the All-Star team every season from 1964-1973, a streak of ten consecutive All-Star appearances.

During that time, the backstop slashed .261/.343/.410 with a 113 OPS+ and 154 home runs. It was more than his offensive numbers, as Freehan was an elite defensive backstop and a leader on the field.

Of course, like most of the Tigers, he was at his best in 1968. That year Freehan slashed .263/.366/.454. He hit a career high 25 home runs with a career high 84 RBI. He drew more walks (65) than strikeouts (64) and was also hit by a pitch a league leading 24 times. Naturally, he was an All-Star, a Gold Glove winner and finished second in MVP voting.

Freehan, like his counterpart Al Kaline, spent his entire career in the Motor City. He is right around the top ten in virtually every offensive and defensive statistic in the Tigers record books. He is the team leader in HBP (114) and is fifth in dWAR (12.0).

As good as Parrish, Tettleton and Hall of Famers Cochrane and Rodriguez were, there’s really no debate that Freehan is the greatest Detroit Tigers catcher of all-time.

Next: Top 10 Shortstops in Franchise History

So there you have it. The top ten greatest catchers in Detroit Tigers history. Agree? Disagree? Let us know! We can be reached in the comments or on Facebook and Twitter.

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