Kaline's Corner: All Detroit Tigers, All The Time - Kaline's Corner

Tiger Stadium Seats

4/17/2014

This appears to be the folding chairs that filled in the box seats areas at Tiger Stadium. This photo is dated 1976, before the wooden seats were replaced by the plastic blue and orange seats. My best guess is they were stored here for the winter.
I'm torn as to which I would want to own more, a stack of these seats, or the section sign hanging above them. I miss Tiger Stadium...

1984 Fleer # 85 Chet Lemon Autographed

4/16/2014

1984 Fleer # 85 Chet Lemon Autographed

1984 Fleer # 85 Chet Lemon Autographed

Chet Lemon played for the Tigers from 1982-1990. He made the All Star team three times, twice with Detroit and once with the White Sox. Lemon was an above average centerfielder and a fan favorite at Tiger Stadium.
My favorite Lemon memory was when he robbed Rod Carew of a game winning home run on July 24, 1983 in Anaheim in the bottom of the 12th. Lemon leaped over the wall and grabbed the ball to end the game. He ran all the way to the dugout with the ball in his glove. We never actually "saw" the ball on TV. It was a huge debate if he actually caught it. Here's the only footage of the catch I could find. It's part of a Tigers promo:

     This ad really makes me miss the sound of George Kell calling a game - it's the sound of my childhood.
     I always liked those Tiger warmup jerseys that Lemon is wearing in the 84 Fleer card.
   Lemon is a difficult autograph. He doesn't sign through the mail and rarely does card shows.

Johnny Damon Walk-Off Homer May 1, 2010

4/15/2014

What's more fun than a walk-off homer? A shaving cream pie in the face afterwards, of course. Johnny Damon hit a walk-off against the Anaheim Angels on May 1, 2010 with one out in the 9th, and then got the pie. Love the expression on his face:

Catcher Gerald Laird High-fives Johnny Damon After Walk-off Homer May 1, 2010

Catcher Gerald Laird High-Fives Johnny Damon After Walk-off Homer May 1, 2010

Someone caught the homer footage from the stands:

New Justin Verlander Page

4/14/2014

2012 Topps # 639 Justin Verlander 2nd No Hitter Variationn PSA 10

2012 Topps # 639 Justin Verlander 2nd No Hitter Variationn PSA 10

Check out a bunch of different Verlander cards, including all of the Topps regular issues here.

Justin Verlander's First Major League Hit: 4/12/2014

4/13/2014

Verlander 1st hit

Justin Verlander connects for his first major league hit 4/12/2014

The 0-26 streak that has lasted eight years is over. Justin Verlander finally got his first major league hit last night against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Verlander's o-fer streak had become a running joke on the team.

Joe Coleman Knocked Out: March 27, 1971

4/12/2014

Catcher Bill Freehan checks on his pitcher Joe Coleman, who was hit in the head by a line drive March 27, 1971

Catcher Bill Freehan checks on his pitcher Joe Coleman, who was hit in the head by a line drive March 27, 1971

A scary photo: On March 27, 1971 Joe Coleman was knocked unconscious by a line drive off the bat of St. Louis Cardinal Ted Simmons during a spring training game. Coleman was fortunate to only have a concussion, but missed the first three weeks of the season.
Coleman pitched with the Tigers from 1971-1976. He threw a complete game shutout against the Oakland A's in Game 3 of the 1972 playoffs and was also an All Star for Detroit in 72.

1953 Bowman # 4 Art Houtteman

4/11/2014

1953 Reprint Bowman # 4 Art Houtteman Autographed

1953 Reprint Bowman # 4 Art Houtteman Autographed

Art Houtteman debuted with the 1945 Detroit Tigers, a team that went on to win the World Series. He was only 17 years old and in the major leagues! He spent eight years as a pitcher with Detroit. His best year was 1950, going 19-12 and being elected to the All Star team.
Mr. Houtteman signed this reprint 1953 Bowman # 4 card back in the 1990's.

Birdie Tebbetts

4/10/2014

1981 Detroit News # 92 Birdie Tebbetts Autographed

1981 Detroit News # 92 Birdie Tebbetts Autographed

Birdie Tebbetts was a catcher for the Tigers from 1937-1947 (missing 1943-1945 while in the Army Air Corps). He played in the 1940 World Series for Detroit and was a Tigers All Star in 1942. Tebbetts went on to be a major league manager for Cincinnati, Milwaukee (Braves) and Cleveland. He was Manager of the Year in 1956 with the Reds.
Before becoming a manager for the Reds, he was a scout. He famous summed up one player: ''Major league stuff and a great arm. Screwy in the head. Eliminate head and I recommend him. Get good surgeon.''

Frank Lary: Yankee Killer

4/9/2014

1956 Topps Frank Lary # 161 Autographed

Frank Lary was a pitcher for the Tigers from 1954-1964. He was a two time All star and also a Gold Glove winner while with Detroit. Lary earned the nickname "Yankee Killer" because of his amazing ability to beat the New York Yankees. He went 27-10 against the Yankees during the years of 1955-1961; a period of time when the Yankees had an outstanding ball club. He was so good that he actually went 7-1 against the Yankees in 1958.
Mr. Lary signed this card through the mail.

2014 Topps Castellanos Rainbow Updates (Opening Day Varieties)

4/8/2014

2014 Topps Opening Day # 79 Nick Castellanos

2014 Topps Opening Day # 79 Nick Castellanos Blue Foil # 1758/2014

2014 Topps Opening Day # 79 Nick Castellanos Magenta Printing Plate 1/1 (Front)

More Nick Castellanos cards to continue the rainbow variations. The only difference with the Opening Day version is the Opening Day logo on the front of the card, and the card number. The Topps regular issue is # 195, while the Opening Day version is # 79. Check out all of the variations (so far) here.

2014 Topps Opening Day # 79 Nick Castellanos Magenta Printing Plate 1/1 (Back)

April 7, 1984 Jack Morris No Hitter ticket Stubs: 30 Years Ago Today

4/7/2014

Jack Morris No Hitter 4/7/1984

Jack Morris pitched a no hitter on April 7, 1984 - exactly 30 years ago today. This was during the begininng of the 35-5 run that would eventually become the last World Championship year for the Tigers. Morris managed to pitch around six walks and win 4-0. This was a nationally televised Saturday afternoon game.

Jack Morris jumping into catcher Lance Parrish's arms after completing the no hiiter.

Autographed Ticketmaster Version Ticket of Jack Morris No Hitter

Full Unused Ticket From Jack Morris No Hitter 4/7/1984

Ticket Stubs From Jack Morris' No Hitter on april 7, 1984

New Mark Fidrych Autographs Page

4/6/2014

1977 Topps # 265 Mark Fidrych Rookie Autographed PSA/DNA

Check out the new Mark Fidrych autograph page and relive the summer of 1976. Click here.

Opening Day at Briggs Stadium, April 17, 1956

4/5/2014

Opening Day at Briggs Stadium, April 17, 1956

Our final tribute to Opening Day this year. My how times have changed. This was the very first game of the season, and it was on April 17th - 18 days later than 2014. The Tigers lost to the Kansas City Athletics 2-1 in 2 hours and 37 minutes. The 2014 home opener was 3 hours and 1 minute. The opener in 1956 didn't sell out; there were 45,068 in attendance.

1991 Topps # 170 Carlton Fisk

4/4/2014

1991 Topps # 170 Carlton Fisk; Autographed by Fisk, Cecil Fielder, & Dave Bergman

The 1991 Topps set will one day be considered a classic. There are so many great photos in this set; Cal Ripken, Roger Clemens, Benny Santiago. My favorite card is this one - a play at the plate. Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk is waiting for the ball while big ole Cecil Fielder has rounded third and is barrelling toward home plate. Meanwhile Dave Bergman is in the on deck circle yelling for Fielder to slide. Was he safe? Out?
This card was autographed by all three - one of my all time favorite autographed cards.

Briggs Stadium Usher Uniforms

4/3/2014

A new usher tries on his Briggs Stadium jacket

Imagine somewhere in the depths of Briggs Stadium there was a "closet" that had a row of Briggs Stadium Usher uniforms. Oh to have one of these jackets today...