Detroit Tiger Bill Freehan, the best catcher in the American League during his prime, accomplished a great deal on the diamond from 1961 until he retired after the 1976 season. He was an eleven-time All-Star, 1964-73 and 1975; five-time Gold Glove winner, 1965-69; tied with Elston Howard for highest-ever fielding average for a catcher, .993; slugged 200 home runs and batted .262 lifetime. He was 2nd in voting for A.L. MVP in 1968 and 3rd in 1967.

This is the glove Freehan used in the 1968 World Series to tag out Cardinal Lou Brock at home plate in the 5th inning of Game 5, turning the Series around (The Cards were up in the Series 3 games to 1 and after this play, the Tigers stormed back to take the next three games and the World’s Championship). On the glove, in his hand it’s written “Free 11” (he wore #11). In later years, he signed it along with putting his date of birth.

Freehan's greatest strengths do not show up on stat sheets. A thinking man's catcher, he proved himself an excellent handler of young and veteran pitchers, including Jim Bunning, Mickey Lolich, Denny McLain, Earl Wilson, Joe Sparma and John Hiller. During his playing days, Freehan dominated the tough catching position in his league just as his counterpart in the National League at that time, Johnny Bench, had. It’s why I know he belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame.