The 1975 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 75th season and the 64th season at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers compiled a record of 57–102, which was — at the time — the second worst season in franchise history (it now ranks as the sixth). They finished in last place in the American League East, 37½ games behind the Boston Red Sox. Their team batting average of .249 and team ERA of 4.27 were both second worst in the American League. They were outscored by their opponents 786 to 570. The season included a 19-game losing streak, lasting from July 29 through Aug. 15.
Offseason November 18, 1974: Ed Brinkman was traded by the Tigers to the St. Louis Cardinals, and Bob Strampe and Dick Sharon were traded by the Tigers to the San Diego Padres as part of a three-team trade. The Padres sent Nate Colbert to the Tigers, and a player to be named later to the Cardinals. The Cardinals sent Alan Foster, Rich Folkers, and Sonny Siebert to the Padres. The Padres completed the deal by sending Danny Breeden to the Cardinals on December 12.Ed Brinkman at Baseball-Reference December 4, 1974: Woodie Fryman was traded by the Tigers to the Montreal Expos for Tom Walker and Terry Humphrey.Woodie Fryman at Baseball-Reference January 9, 1975: Tom Brookens was drafted by the Tigers in the 1st round (4th pick) of the 1975 Major League Baseball draft.Tom Brookens at Baseball-Reference February 1, 1975: Gene Michael was signed as a free agent by the Tigers.Gene Michael at Baseball-Reference March 29, 1975: Reggie Sanders was traded by the Tigers to the Atlanta Braves for Jack Pierce.Jack Pierce at Baseball-Reference
Regular season Worst Seasons in Detroit Tigers History Rank Year Wins Losses Win % 1 2003 43 119 .2652201947114.292 3 1952 50 104 .325 4 1996 53 109 .327 5 2002 55 106 .342 6 1975 57 102 .358
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions June 15, 1975: Nate Colbert was purchased from the Tigers by the Montreal Expos.Nate Colbert at Baseball-Reference
Roster 1975 Detroit Tigers Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders
Other batters Manager
Coaches
Player stats
= Indicates team leader Batting
Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI C 120 427 105 .246 14 47 1B 53 170 40 .235 8 22 2B 129 503 130 .258 6 39 3B 151 507 124 .245 13 60 SS 128 404 102 .252 5 48 LF 100 332 95 .286 9 36 CF 136 550 142 .258 8 37 RF 129 447 115 .257 10 38 DH 159 615 169 .275 25 92
Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI 122 470 111 .236 8 47 52 164 42 .256 3 19 45 156 23 .147 4 18 56 145 31 .214 3 13 35 118 27 .229 4 13 30 95 21 .221 4 8 43 86 23 .267 0 2 18 41 10 .244 0 1 11 40 9 .225 0 1 47 35 6 .171 1 3 6 19 5 .263 0 1 6 18 1 .056 0 0 4 16 4 .250 0 0 4 8 3 .375 0 1
Pitching
Starting pitchers Note: G = Games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO 32 240.2 12 18 3.78 139 31 201.0 10 18 5.55 125 32 190.0 11 12 4.03 67 32 164.1 7 14 4.38 75 29 150.2 8 13 4.48 71
Other pitchers Note: G = Games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO 36 115.1 3 8 4.45 60 26 109.0 2 7 4.46 67 3 14.2 0 2 4.30 8
Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L= Losses; SV = Saves; GF = Games finished; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G W L SV GF ERA SO 36 2 3 14 34 2.17 87 21 0 2 3 14 4.67 26 14 2 1 0 6 4.56 25 13 0 4 0 11 3.20 21 3 0 0 0 2 5.23 8 3 0 0 0 2 4.82 3 3 0 0 0 3 1.35 5
Awards and honors 1975 Major League Baseball All-Star Game Bill Freehan, reserve
League top ten finishers Joe Coleman AL leader in wild pitches (15) #2 in MLB in losses (18) #2 in MLB in earned runs allowed (124) #4 in AL in hit batsmen(9)
Ron LeFlore #2 in AL in strikeouts (139) #2 in MLB in times caught stealing (20)
Mickey Lolich #2 in MLB in losses (18) #6 in MLB in complete games (19)
Dan Meyer AL leader in at bats per strikeout (18.8)
Willie Horton #3 in AL in game played (159) #4 in AL in at bats (615)
Players ranking among top 100 all time at position The following members of the 1975 Detroit Tigers are among the Top 100 of all time at their position, as ranked by The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract in 2001: Bill Freehan: 12th best catcher of all time Aurelio Rodríguez: 91st best third baseman of all time Ron LeFlore: 80th best center fielder of all time Ben Oglivie: 64th best left fielder of all time Willie Horton: 55th best left fielder of all time (played DH for 1975 Tigers) Mickey Lolich: 72nd best pitcher of all time
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Evansville, Montgomery
Notes
References
1975 Detroit Tigers Regular Season Statistics at Baseball Reference