With Detroit’s 6-5 series sweeping victory over the Indians tonight, the Tigers have shrunk their magic number from nine to eight. I know we could choose Gerald Laird to represent the new magic number, but what fun would that be when we can pull another one-hit, hitless wonder catcher from our bag of tricks?
To celebrate the Tigers 25th anniversary of their 1984 World Series season, I have chosen their back up catcher, No. 8, Marty Castillo to serve as the magic number eight’s representative.
[image via Daily Fungo]
So far the magic numbers have been very fitting (Leyland, then Guillen on the night he went off) and now a catcher that graced the Sports illustrated cover 25 years ago. Get back in the delorian and come back to today and Detroit is back in the hunt for a World Series and back on the Sports Illustrated cover. Coinkidink? I think not.
Castillo was in the bigs for a total of 201 games spanning five seasons. In 1984, he had a career high 141 at bats and hit a very Laird-like .234 (for the record, Laird is hitting .227). He was also pretty good at catching, like Laird. He was perfect in throwing runners out, and that’s because nobody tried in his 36 games behind the dish (at least it’s not on record). Castillo’s career ended in 1985 after he hit .119 in 57 games.
Detroit returns to action tomorrow with a three game series on the south side of Chicago against the hated White Sox. Hopefully, they roll over and play dead like they did for the Twins.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
