Underappreciated Tigers

[Arlington]

I thought I already posted this thought and maybe I did in another thread, or I wrote it and then was distracted and closed the window.  Anyway, Peaches was greatly under appreciated.  From 79-86 he had a 115 ERA+.  HOFer Morris had a 114 ERA+ the same years.   Although Morris was continuously labeled the ace of the staff, Petry was the de facto ace of the 1984 team.  

And I harangue on this a bit, but on the list of all-time OPS+ players, Greenberg was second at 161.  Miggy too had a 161 OPS going but then he had the long period where his OPS+ was sub 100, bringing his overall OPS+ to 140ish.  When I think seven or so years with a DH who couldn't even hit league average.  How outrageous is that.   

[casimir]

On 11/25/2025 at 6:47 AM, Edman85 said:

Darrell Evans

Bill Freehan

Milt Wilcox

Tony Phillips

Phillips was awesome.  I really liked his versatility and his on base skills.  Lee is right, he was probably ahead of his time in that regard.

[AlaskanTigersFan]

On 11/26/2025 at 9:27 AM, Edman85 said:

Carlos Guillen was the best player on the 2006 team. Jeremy Bonderman was the best pitcher.

I was literally going to mention these two along with Bobby Higginson.

Carlos and Pudge are what brought the Tigers back from the dead which then forced Illitch to get Ordonez. But it started with Carlos, then Pudge. 

Bonderman shoulda taken Mr. Snappy to the BP and been a closer. Probably would have won a few Cy Youngs and gave Eric Gagne a run for his money as the best reliever back then.

Bobby Higginson made THE BEST throw I have ever seen. I've never been more convinced someone was on roids moreso than him (joking, but not. We all know Barry Bonds but shpppshhhh). Bobby Higginson made a throw from the RF corner that was a MISSILE to 3B to cut someone down. I screamed so loud at my brother to come see it, saying there'd never be a play like that ever again. Best throw of all time. It literally looked like he had an Angel from the movie Angel in the Outfield helping him throw it. To this day, I will go to my grave saying it was the best throw by an outfielder in MLB history...... 

One other underappreciated Tiger would be Brandon Inge. Dude played non stop, never complained and always was the glue for the Tigers. He also spent a ton of time with fans before and after games. Great guy. He also drove a red ferrari which was hard to miss. I grew up in Pinckney and would drive through Dexter all the time where he lived, and you could always tell when he was in town..... I guess he has a sports complex between Brighton, South Lyon right off US-23 now that he runs. I'd love to try and talk with him sometime. Always seemed like a cool dude. 

[oblong]

Inge complained when the Tigers signed a HOF catcher and again when they signed a, then HOF 3B.

 

[Tiger337]

1 hour ago, AlaskanTigersFan said:

I was literally going to mention these two along with Bobby Higginson.

Carlos and Pudge are what brought the Tigers back from the dead which then forced Illitch to get Ordonez. But it started with Carlos, then Pudge. 

Bonderman shoulda taken Mr. Snappy to the BP and been a closer. Probably would have won a few Cy Youngs and gave Eric Gagne a run for his money as the best reliever back then.

Bobby Higginson made THE BEST throw I have ever seen. I've never been more convinced someone was on roids moreso than him (joking, but not. We all know Barry Bonds but shpppshhhh). Bobby Higginson made a throw from the RF corner that was a MISSILE to 3B to cut someone down. I screamed so loud at my brother to come see it, saying there'd never be a play like that ever again. Best throw of all time. It literally looked like he had an Angel from the movie Angel in the Outfield helping him throw it. To this day, I will go to my grave saying it was the best throw by an outfielder in MLB history...... 

One other underappreciated Tiger would be Brandon Inge. Dude played non stop, never complained and always was the glue for the Tigers. He also spent a ton of time with fans before and after games. Great guy. He also drove a red ferrari which was hard to miss. I grew up in Pinckney and would drive through Dexter all the time where he lived, and you could always tell when he was in town..... I guess he has a sports complex between Brighton, South Lyon right off US-23 now that he runs. I'd love to try and talk with him sometime. Always seemed like a cool dude. 

It all started with Fernando Vina.  None of those guys would have signed if he didn't sign first.  Nobody was more under appreciated than Vina,    

Edited Wednesday at 06:30 PM by Tiger337

[papalawrence]

I appreciated the one and only John Bilton Wockenfuss, Johnny B (RIP). He was with the Tigers through most of their lean years, post Kaline, Cash, and others, then he got traded after 1983 and missed out on the championship. 

[Arlington]

23 hours ago, papalawrence said:

I appreciated the one and only John Bilton Wockenfuss, Johnny B (RIP). He was with the Tigers through most of their lean years, post Kaline, Cash, and others, then he got traded after 1983 and missed out on the championship. 

Didn't Wockenfuss bring in a future MVP.  Can't help your team much more than that.

[papalawrence]

1 hour ago, Arlington said:

Didn't Wockenfuss bring in a future MVP.  Can't help your team much more than that.

That's a good point. And also all the more to appreciate Wockenfuss

[gehringer_2]

18 minutes ago, papalawrence said:

That's a good point. And also all the more to appreciate Wockenfuss

I've seen other guys think there were 3 outs when there weren't, but John B is the only one I've seen roll the ball toward the mound and get halfway to the dugout before he realized there weren't.