Willie Horton (baseball) - Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers

He saw limited playing time in his first two years before a 1965 rookie campaign in which he was second in the AL with 104 runs batted in and third with 29 home runs. He was named to the All-Star team, and placed eighth in the MVP balloting. Becoming known for his tremendous strength, often hitting home runs with a one-handed swing, he again collected 100 RBI in the 1966 season. During the 1967 Detroit 12th Street riot, he tried bravely to restore peace. He stood in his Tiger uniform on a car in the middle of the chaos, pleading for calm. However, despite his impassioned pleas, the city burned for five more days.

Horton posted double-digit home run totals in 12 regular seasons from 1965–76, and hit two home runs in a game on 30 occasions. He had a career-high 36 HRs in 1968, a pitcher's year in which Detroit won the World Series; he finished second in the AL to Frank Howard in homers, slugging and total bases. In a year in which the league batting average was .230 and Carl Yastrzemski won the batting title with a .301 mark, Horton's .285 average was good for fourth in the AL, and he finished fourth in the MVP voting.

He also batted .304 in the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. In order to combine Horton's offensive power with a good defense, manager Mayo Smith moved regular center fielder Mickey Stanley to shortstop as a replacement for Ray Oyler, who was benched because of his paltry .135 batting average. He kept Al Kaline, a multiple Gold Glove Award winner, in right field and put Jim Northrup in center field; the two had platooned in right field for much of the year. When the Tigers were safely ahead, Oyler would replace Stanley at shortstop, batting in Horton's lineup spot; Stanley returned to center field, and Northrup would move over to replace Horton in left field. In Game 2, Horton had a solo home run to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead, and they won 8-1. While not considered a great defensive outfielder, he made a pivotal play in the fifth inning of Game 5. With the Cardinals leading the Series 3-1 and the game 3-2, Lou Brock doubled with one out, and tried to score on Julián Javier's single; but he chose not to slide, and Horton's throw reached catcher Bill Freehan on the fly to beat Brock on a close play. Horton still lists the throw as the most memorable moment of his career. Detroit scored three runs in the seventh inning to win 5-3, and went on to win Games 6 and 7 as well; Horton had two runs and two RBI in the 13-1 blowout in Game 6, and two hits and a run in the final 4-1 victory.

Horton was a four-time member of the AL All-Star team (1965, 1968, 1970 and 1973). He hit three home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 9, 1970. On April 14, 1974, he hit a popup which struck and killed a pigeon at Fenway Park. He was named the AL's Outstanding Designated Hitter in 1975 after hitting 25 home runs with 92 RBI. He also holds the record for most put outs in a 9 inning game by a left fielder (along with Jacob Ellsbury (5/21/09) and Earl Clark (5/10/29) both with the Boston Red Soxs. On July 18, 1969, he had 9 putouts against the Cleveland Indians.