Detroit Tigers 5 all-time best catchers in franchise history

1. Bill Freehan

Freehan just had to be the top catcher on this list. He's the only player on here to play his entire career with the Tigers, playing in 11 All-Star games and finishing as the MVP runner-up in 1968 en route to helping the Tigers win the World Series.

He played his first full season in 1963 and never looked back. In 1964 he had a 5.1 fWAR. He had a 7.0 fWAR in the aformentioned 1968 season. He was one of the greatest of his era.

Freehan is perhaps best known for catching the final out of the 1968 World Series. Cardinals' Tim McCarver popped the ball up in foul ground and Freehan caught it to seal the championship.

He was an outstanding defensive catcher as well, winning five Gold Gloves in his career. One of his other memorable moments came in that same 1968 World Series, this time in Game 5. Willie Horton had a great throw from left field to nab hall-of-fame speedster Lou Brock at home plate, but Freehan did a great job of blocking the plate as well.

Freehan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's late in his life and passed away in 2021 at the age of 79. There have been several great tributes done in his honor. He was not only the best catcher in Detroit Tigers history, but also one of the best overall players in the history of the franchise.