Bill Freehan, a former Tigers catcher, died at the age of 79. Here’s everything you need to know about his wife, Pat Freehan, and their daughters.
Bill Freehan is one of baseball’s all-time greats. He has spent his whole 15-year career with the Detroit Tigers as a reliable catcher.
He grew up in Royal Oak and attended the University of Michigan, where he played football and baseball. In 1968, he made his debut with the Tigers. Freehan has won the Golden Glove Award five times. Until 2002, he also held the MLB record for the greatest career fielding percentage (.9933). He also worked as a minor-league coach with the Tigers. From here, you can learn everything there is to know about Bill Freehan’s wife, family, and children.
Detroit Tigers great Bill Freehan dies at age 79 after a long battle with dementia
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect Bill Freehan’s health in recent years.
Bill Freehan, a perennial All-Star and the quiet leader of the 1968 World Champions, died on Thursday at the age of 79, according to the Detroit Tigers. Freehan had been suffering from dementia for several years, the last few of which he spent in hospice care in his home in northern Michigan.
Freehan is most known for catching 155 regular-season games in 1968, including nearly all of Denny McLain’s 31 victories, before handling World Series MVP Mickey Lolich’s three complete-game wins in the Fall Classic. Bill set career highs in home runs (25), RBIs (84), and runs scored while finishing second to McLain for the American League MVP title that year (73).
Tigers manager AJ Hinch said before the Angels
“Longtime Tiger, maybe the best catcher in the organization’s history, and deep Michigan ties,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said before the Angels’ game at Comerica Park on Thursday. “My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and all Tiger fans. Chris Fetter (pitching coach) coached his grandson at the University of Michigan. Anyone who has been around the organization for a long time, including Al (Avila, general manager) and the folks upstairs, including (third base coach) Ramon Santiago, has a heavy heart today. In the 1968 Series, Freehan is featured in two of the most memorable photos in Tigers history.
With the Tigers trailing 3-1 in the series and 3-2 in Game 5, the Cardinals threatened to expand their lead on a quick single by Julian Javier in the decisive play of the Fall Classic. Lou Brock tried to score while standing up, but Willie Horton, the left fielder, delivered a beautiful one-hop throw to Freehan. A Free Press shot of the play shows Freehan tagging Brock while preventing him from touching the edge of home plate.
Bill Freehan Age, Date of Birth, Birthday, Family, what about his father, mother, where is he from? Early Life.
On November 29, 1941, Freehan was born in Detroit, Michigan. Ashley, his father, worked as a sales representative for a seat insulation company, and Helen was his mother (Morris). He was raised in Royal Oak, Michigan, until he was 14 years old, when he moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, with his family.
Bill Freehan Net worth, how much did he earn?
Bill Freehan has a net worth of $600,000 to $1 million. As he was a professional baseball player. This amount of earnings is good for him.
Bill Freehan Girlfriend, His Relationship, What about Children?
Bill Freehan has been married to Pat Freehan for about 58 years. Patricia O’Brien is her true name.
In the year 1963, the pair tied the knot. They met as freshmen in high school and have been through a lot together.
Pat Freehan is the sister of Dan O’Brien (1978–1979), a former pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Pat Freehan told their love story while Bill was in hospice care. In 2018, she also participated in a fundraising campaign to assist generate funds.
Bill and Pat Freehan are the proud parents of three beautiful girls.
Corey Sue, Kelley, and Cathy are the Freehans’ three adult daughters. For a long time, the family has called Petoskey, Michigan home.
Meanwhile, John Harrison Slater, Bill Freehan’s grandson, is a baseball player. He is currently a member of the Michigan Athletics. Two more of Freehan’s grandchildren have played college baseball. They’re all catchers.
Bill Freehan Career
Freehan signed with the Tigers in 1961 for a $100,000 bonus, which his father retained until he graduated from high school in 1966, and made his major league debut with four games at the end of the season before returning to the minors in 1962. He stayed in the majors in 1963, working on his defense with former catcher Rick Ferrell and dividing catching duties with Gus Triandos, who was traded after the season. In 1964, he batted.300 to place sixth in the American League (AL), with 18 home runs and 80 runs batted in, indicating what was to come.
He also led the AL with 53 percent of potential base stealers thrown out, was named to his first of 10 consecutive All-Star appearances, and finished sixth in the MVP voting. [9] He won the first of his five consecutive Gold Gloves in 1965 when he led the AL in putouts for the first of six times. In 1966, he topped the league in putouts for the fourth time, and he also led the league in fielding % for the first time.
His greatest season was 1967 when he batted. With 950 putouts and 1,021 total chances, he broke Elston Howard’s 1964 AL single-season records with 282 – sixth in the AL as averages hit an all-time low – and 20 home runs. After Detroit ended one game behind the Boston Red Sox for the AL pennant, Freehan finished third in MVP voting after leading the league in both intentional walks and times hit by pitch.
Major League Career
Freehan had an even stronger year in 1968 when he was regarded as the silent leader of the team that won the World Series. He set career highs with 25 home runs and 84 RBI in a year defined by dominant pitching, ranking fifth and sixth in the AL, respectively. [12] With 971 putouts and 1,050 total chances, Freehan broke his own standards, which remained league records until Dan Wilson of the 1997 Seattle Mariners surpassed them.
American League since Kid Elberfeld in 1911
In addition, he was hit by 24 pitches, the most in the American League since Kid Elberfeld in 1911. Despite pitching in hitter-friendly Tiger Stadium, Freehan led the Tigers’ pitching staff to a league-best earned run average of 2.71. The Tigers won the pennant with McLain winning 31 games and Lolich winning 17. He finished second behind McLain in MVP voting due to his offensive and defensive contributions. Only Freehan and Carl Yastrzemski finished in the top 10 of the voting in both 1967 and 1968, with Yastrzemski reaching base more frequently in 1968.
He finished his season by retiring Tim McCarver on a popup in Game 7 of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. In Game 5, with the Cardinals leading the Series 3-1 and the game 3-2, he made a crucial play. Lou Brock, whom Freehan had thrown out on an attempted steal in the third inning, doubled with one out in the fifth inning and attempted to score on Julián Javier’s single, but Freehan successfully blocked the plate with his foot and held on to the ball despite Brock coming in standing up in an attempt to knock it loose. Detroit won the game with a three-run seventh inning and went on to win the next two games.
Where he attended his High school and University? What was his major?
You may also like: Who is Lee-Anne Pace? Partner, Net worth, Age, Husband, Family, Is he married? Height, Earnings, Wiki, Bio
He graduated from Bishop Barry High School in 1959. He wanted to go to Notre Dame to study, but he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to play football or baseball. As a result, he received an athletic scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he played catcher for the baseball team and linebacker and end for the football team. In 1961, he set an all-time Big Ten Conference batting average of.585.
Bill Freehan Social Media Reach
He was not any kind of social media.
Bill Freehan FAQ’s
William Ashley Freehan (November 29, 1941 – August 19, 2021) was an American professional baseball player.
He was 79 years old when he died.
Patricia O’Brien is the wife of Andre Jackson.
Most probably, he started playing on September 26, 1961.
Yes, he has three children.
Bill Freehan Body Appearance Height, Weight
Height | In Feet: 6 Feet 2 Inches Meter: 1.88 m Centimeter: 188 cm |
Weight | N / A |
Hair | Black |
Eye Color | Brown |
Body Type | Fit |
Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Interesting facts about Bill Freehan which you should know
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | N / A |
Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
Net Worth | $600000 – $1 million |
Single/ In a relationship | Married |
Current Girlfriend/ Spouse | Patricia O’Brien |
Children | Three Children |