Detroit baseball lost one of its greats as their former Catcher, Bill Freehan, passed away at 79 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

For a ten season stretch (1964-73), Bill Freehan was one of the top Catchers in the American League.  In each of those years, he would be named an All-Star, and he would add an 11th one in 1975.

A member of the Tigers for his entire career, the apex of his career was in 1968, which was the season he staffed a roster of pitchers who took the Tigers to a World Series win.  Freehan himself was the runner-up to the MVP Award that year, and he was third the year before.  A five-time Gold Glove winner, Freehan would smack an even 200 Home Runs with 1,591 Hits.

In our latest Notinhalloffame.com rank of those to consider for the Baseball Hall of Fame, Freehan was ranked at #35, and he is #17 on our greatest Detroit Tigers of all-time.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, friends and family of Bill Freehan.

For a ten season stretch (1964-73), Bill Freehan was one of the top Catchers in the American League.  In each of those years, he would be named an All-Star, and he would add an 11th one in 1975.

A member of the Tigers for his entire career, the apex of his career was in 1968, which was the season he staffed a roster of pitchers who took the Tigers to a World Series win.  Freehan himself was the runner-up to the MVP Award that year, and he was third the year before.  A five-time Gold Glove winner, Freehan would smack an even 200 Home Runs with 1,591 Hits.

You would not think that an eleven-time All-Star would be forgotten among Hall of Fame consideration, but in the case of career-long Detroit Tiger, Bill Freehan that appears to be the reality.