Bill Freehan: A Key Member of 1968 Champion Tigers - Interview

Baseball Digest, June, 2000 by Jim Sargent

Concerning Game 5 when he tagged out Lou Brock at home, Freehan said, "They call that the turnaround play. But at that point in time all you're doing is concentrating on making that play and doing it as best you can.

"The key to that play was the great throw by Willie Horton.

"Brock might have underestimated Willie's arm, and he chose not to slide. A National League umpire, Doug Harvey, made the call.

"We are good friends, Lou and I. We always kid about it. He says, `You still haven't tagged me.'

"I say,`You still haven't touched home plate!'

"You watch that videotape of the '68 Series and you'll see there was a collision. Neither of us fell down. I spun around, but I held onto the ball.

"The first thing that Brock does is run back to touch home plate, and you'll see me tag him for the second time.

"Lou will say, `Well if you tagged me the first time, why did you tag me a second time?'

"My answer is, `If you touched home plate the first time, why did you come back the second time?"'

Freehan chuckled about the memory.

"That play ended the inning for St. Louis. And that play caused Mayo Smith to leave Mickey Lolich in the game. He got stronger and ultimately won that game, and he came back to win the last game.

"If they had scored that run, it would have put the Cards one more run up. Mayo might have had to replace Mickey with a pinch-hitter to try to generate some offense.

"Instead, he stayed with Mickey, Al Kaline got the go-ahead hit, we won the game, and we turned it around after being down three games to one. We won Game 6 with Denny McLain, and we won Game 7 with Mickey,"

Regarding Mayo Smith's move to use Al Kaline in right field and Mickey Stanley at shortstop, Freehan explained, "What a dilemma the manager had.

"You've got a bonafide future Hall of Famer, an All-Star, and a great player who was out several weeks that season. Al was just corning back from a broken wrist.

"By the time Al got back, we were 14 or so games ahead. The outfield was Jim Northrup in right, Mickey Stanley in center, and Willie Horton in left.

"You had won the pennant with those guys. All of a sudden, here comes your Hall of Famer back. Which of those guys wants to sit down? None of them wanted to sit down. We had Gates Brown on the bench anyway.

"Mayo thought of Mickey Stanley, who was probably the best overall athlete. He went to Mickey and said, `Would you think about making this switch to shortstop?'

"Mickey used to take ground balls at shortstop, just to have a little fun, on an everyday basis. A lot of guys do that, take ground balls out of position.

"What a dilemma for the manager. But the switch worked out."

Asked to comment on Kaline, Freehan said, "Al is easily the best player I played with.

"He was a sure-fire Hall of Famer. I was at the Hall of Fame when he was inducted. He's a very good friend. He's a quality man, a very quiet man. He could do everything.

"Nowadays, Al would be called a five-tool player. He could hit, he could hit with power, he could run, he could throw, and he could field. I don't know what else in baseball you can do beyond that.