John Hiller
Encyclopedia
John Frederick Hiller is a former left-handed relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played his entire career for the Detroit Tigers
. After suffering a heart attack
in 1971, he returned to the team and recorded 38 saves
in – a major league record until 1983, and a team record until 2000. He also set an American League
record by winning
17 games in relief in . His 125 career saves ranked fourth in AL history and were the seventh most among all left-handers when he retired, and stood as a team record until 1993. His 545 career games pitched
ranked ninth among AL left-handers at the end of his career, and remain the franchise record.
Hiller grew up in Scarborough, Ontario
, and after signing with the Tigers in 1962, he broke in with the team in , but didn't see substantial play until when he appeared in 23 games. He pitched in 39 games for the pennant winners, posting a 9-6 record with 2 saves and a 2.39 earned run average
. He had two unsuccessful relief appearances in the 1968 World Series
against the St. Louis Cardinals
, pitching the last two innings in the 7-3 Game 3 loss and facing five batters without recording an out in Game 4, a 10-1 loss. He allowed six hits
and three walks
, posting a 13.50 ERA, but the Tigers recovered to win the Series in seven games.
After his January 11, heart attack, he had a lengthy recovery and was invited to spring training, but was left off the roster and designated as a coach when the year began, starting the season as a batting practice pitcher. He rejoined the team in July, and had a 2.03 ERA in 24 games with 3 saves; his sole win came in a pivotal start, beating the Milwaukee Brewers
5-1 in the last weekend as the Tigers drove to the Eastern Division title. He pitched in three games in the 1972 American League Championship Series
against the Oakland Athletics
, winning Game 4 when Detroit scored three times in the bottom of the 10th inning to win 4-3.
1973 marked a full return, as Hiller posted a 1.44 ERA and an Adjusted ERA+
of 285—the highest in Detroit Tigers
history and one of the highest in baseball history. (See Detroit Tigers award winners and league leaders) Hiller also broke Clay Carroll
's record of 37 saves, set the previous year with the Cincinnati Reds
; he also led the league with 65 appearances. Hiller became the first Tiger to lead the AL in saves since Al Benton
in 1940, and the first to lead the league in games since Harry Coveleski
in 1915. His saves record would stand for ten years until Dan Quisenberry
saved 45 games with the Kansas City Royals
; Dave Righetti
would be the first left-hander to top his total, with 46 in for the New York Yankees
, and Todd Jones
broke his club record with 42 in . He won baseball's Hutch Award
– given for fighting spirit and competitive desire – in 1973 after having recovered from his heart attack, as well as the AL Fireman of the Year Award
and Comeback Player of the Year Award
. Hiller was also the last man to throw a pitch in the "original" Yankee Stadium, getting New York Yankee Mike Hegan to fly out to center field in an 8-5 Detroit win.
In 1974, Hiller set an AL record with 17 relief wins, topping Dick Radatz
' total of 16 with the Boston Red Sox
; Bill Campbell
tied the record with the Minnesota Twins
, though it has not been broken. Hiller also made the AL All-Star
team for the only time in 1974, and early in the year broke Terry Fox
' team record of 55 career saves.
In , Hiller passed Mickey Lolich
to become Detroit's top left-hander with 509 career games. He retired from baseball after appearing in 11 games in and breaking Hooks Dauss
' franchise record of 538 games pitched. He ended his career with a record of 87-76, a 2.83 ERA and 1036 strikeout
s in 1242 innings pitched
. His saves total then ranked behind only Sparky Lyle
(231), Hoyt Wilhelm
(154) and Rollie Fingers
(136) in AL history. His Tigers record of 125 career saves was broken by Mike Henneman
in .
Hiller went into the insurance
business and owned his own pet store for a year in Duluth, Minnesota
after leaving baseball. He currently lives in Northern Michigan with his wife Lynette and dog Ollie. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
in , and into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
in 1999.
During the 1977 season, Hiller was pitching for the Tigers in a game against the Seattle Mariners
, who at the time were a first-year expansion team playing their home games in the Seattle Kingdome. The Kingdome had huge speakers hanging from its roof, in which a batted ball could very easily hit. Hiller gave up what appeared to be a game-winning home run to former teammate Willie Horton
, but the ball hit one of the speakers and bounded back onto the field. In his post-game interview, Hiller was quoted as saying, "If a ball hits one of those (speakers) and saves a game for a pitcher, he ought to go to church the next day. I guess you know where I'll be tomorrow!"
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played his entire career for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. After suffering a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in 1971, he returned to the team and recorded 38 saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
in – a major league record until 1983, and a team record until 2000. He also set an American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
record by winning
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
17 games in relief in . His 125 career saves ranked fourth in AL history and were the seventh most among all left-handers when he retired, and stood as a team record until 1993. His 545 career games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
ranked ninth among AL left-handers at the end of his career, and remain the franchise record.
Hiller grew up in Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
, and after signing with the Tigers in 1962, he broke in with the team in , but didn't see substantial play until when he appeared in 23 games. He pitched in 39 games for the pennant winners, posting a 9-6 record with 2 saves and a 2.39 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. He had two unsuccessful relief appearances in the 1968 World Series
1968 World Series
The 1968 World Series featured the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their first championship since 1945, and the third in their history...
against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, pitching the last two innings in the 7-3 Game 3 loss and facing five batters without recording an out in Game 4, a 10-1 loss. He allowed six hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and three walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, posting a 13.50 ERA, but the Tigers recovered to win the Series in seven games.
After his January 11, heart attack, he had a lengthy recovery and was invited to spring training, but was left off the roster and designated as a coach when the year began, starting the season as a batting practice pitcher. He rejoined the team in July, and had a 2.03 ERA in 24 games with 3 saves; his sole win came in a pivotal start, beating the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
5-1 in the last weekend as the Tigers drove to the Eastern Division title. He pitched in three games in the 1972 American League Championship Series
1972 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 7, 1972 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, CaliforniaGame 1 pitted ace pitchers Catfish Hunter for the A's and Mickey Lolich for the Tigers, and, as expected, both were brilliant...
against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, winning Game 4 when Detroit scored three times in the bottom of the 10th inning to win 4-3.
1973 marked a full return, as Hiller posted a 1.44 ERA and an Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
of 285—the highest in Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
history and one of the highest in baseball history. (See Detroit Tigers award winners and league leaders) Hiller also broke Clay Carroll
Clay Carroll
Clay Palmer Carroll is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball with a 15-year career from 1964 to 1978. He pitched for the Milwaukee Braves & Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, St...
's record of 37 saves, set the previous year with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
; he also led the league with 65 appearances. Hiller became the first Tiger to lead the AL in saves since Al Benton
Al Benton
John Alton Benton was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played with the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox ....
in 1940, and the first to lead the league in games since Harry Coveleski
Harry Coveleski
Harry Frank Coveleski was a Major League Baseball pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and Detroit Tigers. Born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, he began his career with the Phillies in 1907...
in 1915. His saves record would stand for ten years until Dan Quisenberry
Dan Quisenberry
Dan Raymond "Quiz" Quisenberry was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Kansas City Royals...
saved 45 games with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
; Dave Righetti
Dave Righetti
David Allan Righetti is a former left-handed pitcher for various Major League Baseball teams, primarily the New York Yankees. He is currently the pitching coach for the San Francisco Giants and was the first player in history to both pitch a no-hitter and also lead the league in saves in his career...
would be the first left-hander to top his total, with 46 in for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, and Todd Jones
Todd Jones (baseball player)
Todd Barton Jones is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was an effective middle reliever for a variety of teams, and he had an up-and-down career as a closer...
broke his club record with 42 in . He won baseball's Hutch Award
Hutch Award
The Hutch Award is given annually to an active Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson...
– given for fighting spirit and competitive desire – in 1973 after having recovered from his heart attack, as well as the AL Fireman of the Year Award
The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award
The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award was established in 1960 by The Sporting News as TSN Fireman of the Year Award. The award originally recognized the best closer from each league, but in 2001 the award was broadened to include all relievers...
and Comeback Player of the Year Award
MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award
The Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award is presented by Major League Baseball to the player who is judged to have "re-emerged on the baseball field during a given season." The award was developed in 2005, as part of a sponsorship agreement between MLB and Viagra...
. Hiller was also the last man to throw a pitch in the "original" Yankee Stadium, getting New York Yankee Mike Hegan to fly out to center field in an 8-5 Detroit win.
In 1974, Hiller set an AL record with 17 relief wins, topping Dick Radatz
Dick Radatz
Richard Raymond Radatz , nicknamed "The Monster" or "Moose", was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a scorching but short-lived period of dominance for the Boston Red Sox . Radatz also played for the Cleveland Indians , Chicago Cubs , Detroit Tigers and...
' total of 16 with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
; Bill Campbell
Bill Campbell (baseball player)
William Richard Campbell is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1973 to 1987. He played for the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers all of the American League and the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, St...
tied the record with the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, though it has not been broken. Hiller also made the AL All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team for the only time in 1974, and early in the year broke Terry Fox
Terry Fox (baseball)
Terrence Edward Fox is a former right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher/closer who played seven seasons from to . He played for the Milwaukee Braves, Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies....
' team record of 55 career saves.
In , Hiller passed Mickey Lolich
Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
to become Detroit's top left-hander with 509 career games. He retired from baseball after appearing in 11 games in and breaking Hooks Dauss
Hooks Dauss
George August "Hooks" Dauss was a Major League pitcher who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. Nicknamed 'Hooks' or 'Hookey' because of his hard-to-hit curveball...
' franchise record of 538 games pitched. He ended his career with a record of 87-76, a 2.83 ERA and 1036 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 1242 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. His saves total then ranked behind only Sparky Lyle
Sparky Lyle
Albert Walter "Sparky" Lyle is an American former left-handed relief pitcher who spent sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball . He was a closer from 1969 to 1977, first for the Boston Red Sox and then the New York Yankees. A three-time All-Star, he won the American League Cy Young Award in 1977...
(231), Hoyt Wilhelm
Hoyt Wilhelm
James Hoyt Wilhelm was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985....
(154) and Rollie Fingers
Rollie Fingers
Roland Glen Fingers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992...
(136) in AL history. His Tigers record of 125 career saves was broken by Mike Henneman
Mike Henneman
Michael Alan Henneman was a pitcher with a 10-year career from 1987 to 1996. He played for the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers, both of the American League, and the Houston Astros of the National League....
in .
Hiller went into the insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
business and owned his own pet store for a year in Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
after leaving baseball. He currently lives in Northern Michigan with his wife Lynette and dog Ollie. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...
in , and into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
in 1999.
During the 1977 season, Hiller was pitching for the Tigers in a game against the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, who at the time were a first-year expansion team playing their home games in the Seattle Kingdome. The Kingdome had huge speakers hanging from its roof, in which a batted ball could very easily hit. Hiller gave up what appeared to be a game-winning home run to former teammate Willie Horton
Willie Horton (baseball player)
Willie Wattison Horton is a former left fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for six American League teams, primarily the Detroit Tigers. He hit 20 or more home runs seven times, and his 325 career home runs ranked sixth among AL right-handed hitters when he retired...
, but the ball hit one of the speakers and bounded back onto the field. In his post-game interview, Hiller was quoted as saying, "If a ball hits one of those (speakers) and saves a game for a pitcher, he ought to go to church the next day. I guess you know where I'll be tomorrow!"
See also
- Best pitching seasons by a Detroit Tiger
- 1968 Detroit Tigers season1968 Detroit Tigers seasonThe Detroit Tigers won the 1968 World Series, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3. The 1968 baseball season, known as the "Year of the Pitcher," was the Tigers' 68th since they entered the American League in 1901, their eighth pennant, and third World Series championship...
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions
- List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders