Thinking about 1968

This past Monday Jim Price, the backup catcher on the 1968 World Series champion Detroit Tigers, passed away at 81. Godspeed, Mr. Price.

Naturally enough I find myself thinking about that summer, when I was the happiest 8 year old boy on the face of the Earth. So many of those men on that edition of the Detroit Tigers became my heroes; so many are gone now. But what would you expect, 55 years afterwards?

Al Kaline died, not of but during COVID, and never got the send off he deserved. Willie Horton, a product of Detroit's sandlots and whose outfield assist turned the 68 Series around (Brock is still out!), continues to work for the team. Denny McLain, Mickey Lolich, Mickey Stanley, John Hiller, Don Wert; those mainstays are still with us. Dick Tracewski, a player in 68 and uniformed coach with the 1984 World Champs (he and Gates Brown are the only two in uniform for both teams, as the Gator played in 68 and was hitting coach in 84) is 88. A few minor players are still around, but that's about it for the crux of the squad.

The days gone by. Wistful memories. But that's part of life, and life is good, isn't it?