Marvin Lane | |
---|---|
Outfielder | |
Born: Sandersville, Georgia | January 18, 1950|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 4, 1971, for the Detroit Tigers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
October 3, 1976, for the Detroit Tigers | |
MLB statistics | |
Games | 90 |
At-bats | 179 |
Hits | 37 |
Teams | |
Marvin Lane (born January 18,1950),is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1971 to 1974 and in 1976 with the Detroit Tigers.
Lane was born in Sandersville,Georgia in 1950 and attended Pershing High School in Detroit,Michigan. While attending Pershing,Lane played quarterback for the football team and outfielder for the baseball team. [1] He was also the point guard on the 1967 Pershing basketball team that won the Michigan state championship. His teammates on Pershing's 1967 basketball team included future NBA stars,Spencer Haywood and Ralph Simpson. [2] According to Tigers' scout Bill Lajoie,"Lane might have been Detroit's best prep athlete at the time." [1] [ self-published source ]
He was drafted by the Tigers in the 10th round of the 1968 amateur draft and played five seasons with the team. [3] [4] [5] Lane appeared only briefly on Tigers' roster during the 1971 to 1973 seasons,appearing in no more than eight games in any season,and spending most of his time in the team's minor league organization. [6] On September 30,1973,Lane hit a home run at Yankee Stadium,making him the last player to hit a home run at the stadium before its renovations from 1974 to 1975. [7] In 1974,Lane appeared in 50 games for the Tigers. [3] In July 1974,Lane had four hits,including a triple,in four at bats and scored two runs in an 8-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals. [8]
Billy Martin,who was the manager of the Tigers from 1971 to 1973,attributed his firing to a difference of opinion about Lane with general manager Jim Campbell. Martin later recalled,"Campbell kept touting Ike Blessitt and Marvin Lane. He said they were our outfielders of the future,but to me they couldn't play. ... And these were the so-called great kids Campbell wanted me to stick with. I knew they wouldn't make the grade,and that eventually got me fired. I made the mistake of telling Campbell his star kids were bad,and he didn't like hearing it,so we got into it." [9]
Lane compiled a career batting average of .207 with three home runs and 17 RBI. [3] He was unconditionally released by the Tigers on March 28,1977. A spokesman for the team stated that Lane had been cut because he wanted to try to make a major league roster rather than playing another year in the Tigers' minor league organization. [10]
Albert William Kaline,nicknamed "Mr. Tiger",was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers. For most of his career,Kaline played in the outfield,mainly as a right fielder where he won ten Gold Glove Awards and was known for his strong throwing arm. He was selected to 18 All-Star Games,including selections each year between 1955 and 1967. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980,his first time on the ballot.
Norman Dalton Cash was an American Major League Baseball first baseman who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. A power hitter,his 377 career home runs were the fourth most by an American League left-handed hitter when he retired,behind Babe Ruth,Ted Williams and Lou Gehrig;his 373 home runs with the Tigers rank second in franchise history behind teammate Al Kaline (399). He also led the AL in assists three times and fielding percentage twice;he ranked among the all-time leaders in assists and double plays upon his retirement,and was fifth in AL history in games at first base (1,943). He was known to fans and teammates during his playing days as "Stormin' Norman."
James Thomas Northrup,nicknamed "the Silver Fox" due to his prematurely graying hair,was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and left-handed batter who played for the Detroit Tigers (1964–74),Montreal Expos (1974) and Baltimore Orioles (1974–75).
Darrell Wayne Evans is an American former baseball player,coach and manager. He played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB),beginning his career as a third baseman with the Atlanta Braves,alternating between first and third base with the San Francisco Giants (1976–1983),and playing much of his later career as a first baseman and then a designated hitter for the Detroit Tigers (1984–1988). He won a World Series championship with the Tigers in 1984. Evans had most of his success in the early and late stages of his career. He was a two-time All-Star,first with the Braves in 1973 and then with the Giants in 1983. He led MLB in home runs in 1985 with the Tigers,and walks in 1973 and 1974 with the Braves.
William James "Gates" Brown was an American Major League Baseball left fielder who spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers (1963–1975). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
Mitchell Jack "Mickey" Stanley is an American former professional baseball player.
Johnny Bilton Wockenfuss,sometimes known by the nicknames "Fuss" and "Johnny B.",was an American professional baseball player and minor league manager who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies. He was known for his strong throwing arm,unorthodox batting stance,and ability to play at multiple positions.
Milton Edward Wilcox is an American former baseball pitcher. He pitched for 16 years in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds (1970–1971),Cleveland Indians (1972–1974),Chicago Cubs (1975),Detroit Tigers (1977–1985),and Seattle Mariners (1986).
William Reginald Armour was an American professional baseball player and manager. He was the manager of the Cleveland Bronchos in 1902 when they signed Nap Lajoie to the most lucrative contract in baseball history and the manager of the Detroit Tigers when they acquired Ty Cobb in 1905.
Larry Darnell Herndon,sometimes referred to by the nickname "Hondo",is an American former baseball outfielder and hitting coach. He played in Major League Baseball in 1974 and from 1976 to 1988.
Walter Arthur "Hoot" Evers was an American baseball outfielder,scout,coach,and executive.
William Richard Lajoie was an American professional baseball player,manager,scout and front-office executive. The general manager of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1990,he helped to build,then served as GM of,the world champion 1984 Tigers.
Alexander Johnson was an American professional baseball outfielder,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB),from 1964 to 1976,for the Philadelphia Phillies,St. Louis Cardinals,Cincinnati Reds,California Angels,Cleveland Indians,Texas Rangers,New York Yankees,and Detroit Tigers. He was the National League Comeback Player of the Year in 1968 and an American League All-Star and batting champion in 1970. His brother,Ron,was an NFL running back,most notably for the New York Giants.
James Arthur Campbell was an American Major League Baseball executive. He worked for the Detroit Tigers for 43 seasons from 1949 to 1992. He was the team's general manager from September 1962 to September 1983,its president from August 1978 to January 1990,and its chairman from January 1990 to August 1992. The Tigers won two World Series championships during Campbell's tenure with the club. He was selected as the Major League Baseball executive of the year in 1968 and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.
Thomas Martin Veryzer was an American baseball shortstop. He played 12 years in Major League Baseball,appearing in 979 games for the Detroit Tigers (1973-1977),Cleveland Indians (1978-1981),New York Mets (1982),and Chicago Cubs (1983-1984). He ranked third in the American League in 1977 with a range factor of 5.16 per nine innings at shortstop. His career range factor of 4.841 per nine innings at shortstop ranks as the 25th best in Major League history.
Charles Gilbert King was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Detroit Tigers (1954–1956),Chicago Cubs (1958–1959),and St. Louis Cardinals (1959).
Harry Wayne Comer was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He played professional baseball for 13 seasons from 1962 through 1974,including stints with four major league teams:the Detroit Tigers,the Seattle Pilots / Milwaukee Brewers (1969–1970),and the Washington Senators (1970).
William Clinton Zepp,is an American former professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher,he attended the University of Michigan and later played professional baseball for four years from 1968 to 1971,including stints in Major League Baseball with the Minnesota Twins (1969–1970) and Detroit Tigers (1971). He compiled a 10-5 win–loss record and a 3.64 earned run average (ERA) in 63 major league games. He was listed as 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and 185 pounds (84 kg).
Kevin Michael Collins was a Major League Baseball infielder with the New York Mets,Montreal Expos and Detroit Tigers. He played primarily as a third baseman and sometimes as a second baseman. He also played a few games at other positions,including shortstop,first baseman and outfielder.
Scott Donald Reid was an American baseball outfielder who played two seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He appeared in 38 games for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1969 to 1970. He went on to serve as a major league scout or executive for over 40 years,most recently for the Detroit Tigers from 2002 to 2020.