Bill Freehan from the Chronology

Aug 12, 1986 - Boston's Don Baylor sets an AL record when he is hit by a pitch for the 25th time‚ breaking the season record he held with Bill Freehan (1968) and Kid Elberfeld (1911). The Royals Bud Black does the plunking in a 5-1 win. Baylor will end the season being hit 35 times: the ML record is 50 by Ron Hunt.

May 25, 1975 - Mickey Lolich's 200th career victory is a rain-shortened‚ 4-1 win over the White Sox. His catcher is Bill Freehan‚ who also caught him in his first ML start May 21‚ 1963.

Dec 2, 1974 - After several rounds of bourbon are consumed by Phillies GM Paul Owens and Detroit GM Jim Campbell at the winter meetings‚ Owens agrees to trade promising C Bob Boone and P Larry Christenson to Detroit for veterans Bill Freehan and Jim Northrup. Tomorrow morning‚ Owens won't recall the trade and the deal is never made. "How do you unshake a handshake?" says the disappointed Campbell.

Jul 29, 1974 - Detroit hits 4 HRs in the first inning in an 8-2 win over the Indians. Al Kaline‚ Bill Freehan‚ and Mickey Stanley hit consecutive HRs off Fritz Peterson‚ and Ed Brinkman adds another‚ though not consecutive‚ off Steve Kline.

Oct 10, 1972 - The Tigers bounce back behind Joe Coleman's 14 strikeouts to beat Oakland 3-0. Bill Freehan's HR supplies the firepower.

Aug 9, 1971 - Despite belting 6 home runs-3 by Bill Freehan‚ 2 by Horton‚ one by Rodriguez-at Fenway Park‚ the Tigers lose to the Red Sox‚ 12-11. The Sox have only one homer‚ a grand slam by Bob Montgomery. Rico Petrocelli's pinch single with 2 outs in the 9th drives home the winner.

Jul 5, 1969 - AL East leader Baltimore breaks a 3-game losing streak as Dave McNally (12-0) wins his 14th straight game 9-3 at Detroit. Detroit OF Mickey Stanley plays his 220th straight errorless game and C Bill Freehan picks Paul Blair off 3B unassisted. Blair‚ on third with a triple‚ strolls too slowly back to the bag after the bat flies out of the hands of Frank Robinson.

Jun 17, 1969 - Behind a complete game shutout by John Hiller‚ the Tigers roll to an 8-0 win against Mel Stottlemyre and the Yankees. Bill Freehan solos while Mickey Stanley hits a 3-run homer. Ike Brown makes his debut taking over at 2B in the 8th for McAuliffe. Brown is the last Negro Leaguer to break into the major leagues and joins other vets of that league: Aaron‚ Mays‚ Banks‚ Lou Johnson‚ and Paul Casanova.

Apr 10, 1969 - Bill Freehan smashes two homers-one with the sacks full-to lead the Tigers to a 12-3 win over the Indians. Mickey Lolich beats Sam McDowell.

Aug 16, 1968 - Detroit's Denny McLain is 16-0 on the road after blanking the Red Sox 4-0 in Boston. Tigers C Bill Freehan is hit by a pitch in 3 consecutive at bats‚ painfully tying a ML record. He will be hit a record tying 24 times this season.

Jul 5, 1968 - Bill Freehan has 2 homers and 6 RBI to lead Detroit to an 8-5 victory over Oakland. Catfish Hunter is driven out in the 4th inning and take the loss.

Jul 4, 1968 - In Detroit‚ it is home run derby as the Tigers score 9 runs in the 2nd and hold on for a 13-10 victory over the California Angels. Andy Messersmith makes his ML debut to stop the Tigers in the third‚ but Norm Cash Willie Horton and Bill Freehan all homer in the frame. Jim Northrup‚ who triples in the 3rd‚ adds 2 homers and 5 RBIs‚ while Cash hits a 2nd homer. Don Mincher‚ with 2‚ and Jim Fregosi‚ homer for the Angels.

Aug 25, 1967 - The Tigers trip KC, 3–0, as John Hiller records his second straight shutout in his first two ML starts. Homers by Eddie Mathews, Dick McAuliffe and Bill Freehan provide the scoring as the fourth-place Tigers stay 1 1/2 games out of first.

Jun 15, 1965 - Tigers P Denny McLain makes a first-inning relief appearance and fans the first 7 batters he faces‚ setting a ML record. He has a remarkable 14 strikeouts in 62?3 innings‚ tying the NL relief record (Marquard‚ 1911‚ 8 innings) and one shy of Walter Johnson's ML record (15 in 11 1/3 innings‚ 1913). Detroit rallies to beat Boston 6-5 as Bill Freehan records a record-tying 19 putouts at catcher.