Bill Freehan was a catcher for the Detroit Tigers in the 1960s and ‘70s, who helped lead the team to a 1968 World Series win against the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Died: August 19, 2021 (Who else died on August 19?)
- Details of death: Died of Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 79.
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MLB career
Freehan attended college at the University of Michigan, where he played both baseball as a catcher and football as a linebacker and end. He signed with the Tigers in 1961 and went on to spend his entire 15-season playing career with the team. By 1964, Freehan was the Tigers’ regular starting catcher, and he appeared in 1,774 games over the course of his career. Considered by some to be the best catcher in Tigers history, Freehan was named an All-Star in 11 of his seasons. He won the Gold Glove Award five times. In the years after his 1976 retirement from playing, Freehan was a color commentator as well as coaching for the Tigers and the University of Michigan.
Tributes to Bill Freehan
Full obituary: Detroit Free Press
