GaryMrMets
12-04-2001, 08:11 PM
http://tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/det/news/det_news_story.jsp?article_id=det_20011128_freehan _news&team_id=det
News
11/28/2001 6:00 pm ET
Tigers name Freehan to minor league coaching staff
By Todd Lorenz
detroittigers.com
DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers announced Wednesday that former Tigers catcher Bill Freehan will join the organization as its roving catching instructor.
"I didn't really know what Bill was up to in his life," said Greg Smith, Tigers' director of scouting and player development. "We wanted to find a quality guy to help bring some of our young guys along, and his name came to mind. It just seemed like a natural fit, and we're both very excited about it."
Freehan has all the credentials a team could hope for in providing guidance for its young catchers. A key component of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship team, Freehan won five Gold Gloves in 15 seasons as the Tigers' backstop while playing on 11 All-Star teams. He leads the Tigers with 1,581 games behind the plate, and is 10th in games played with 1,774.
Freehan spent the last two years in retirement after working for a brief time in the automotive industry.
Freehan was last involved in baseball as the University of Michigan's head coach from 1989-95. The Tigers feel that his experience as both a Major Leaguer and head coach will aid in molding some of their catching prospects into bona fide big leaguers.
"It's obvious that he still has a passion for the game," Smith said. "We are trying to restore some of the Tigers' winning tradition through the minor league system, and while Bill has that background, he is also capable of turning these guys into better players."
In addition to Freehan, the Tigers named Tim Hyers as coach of their single-A Oneonta affiliate. Hyers spent time with Detroit in 1996 and played the entire 1997 season at triple-A Toledo. He last played in the Majors in 1999 as an outfielder and first baseman for the Florida Marlins. This will be Hyers' first professional coaching assignment.
News
11/28/2001 6:00 pm ET
Tigers name Freehan to minor league coaching staff
By Todd Lorenz
detroittigers.com
DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers announced Wednesday that former Tigers catcher Bill Freehan will join the organization as its roving catching instructor.
"I didn't really know what Bill was up to in his life," said Greg Smith, Tigers' director of scouting and player development. "We wanted to find a quality guy to help bring some of our young guys along, and his name came to mind. It just seemed like a natural fit, and we're both very excited about it."
Freehan has all the credentials a team could hope for in providing guidance for its young catchers. A key component of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship team, Freehan won five Gold Gloves in 15 seasons as the Tigers' backstop while playing on 11 All-Star teams. He leads the Tigers with 1,581 games behind the plate, and is 10th in games played with 1,774.
Freehan spent the last two years in retirement after working for a brief time in the automotive industry.
Freehan was last involved in baseball as the University of Michigan's head coach from 1989-95. The Tigers feel that his experience as both a Major Leaguer and head coach will aid in molding some of their catching prospects into bona fide big leaguers.
"It's obvious that he still has a passion for the game," Smith said. "We are trying to restore some of the Tigers' winning tradition through the minor league system, and while Bill has that background, he is also capable of turning these guys into better players."
In addition to Freehan, the Tigers named Tim Hyers as coach of their single-A Oneonta affiliate. Hyers spent time with Detroit in 1996 and played the entire 1997 season at triple-A Toledo. He last played in the Majors in 1999 as an outfielder and first baseman for the Florida Marlins. This will be Hyers' first professional coaching assignment.