1973 Detroit Tigers season

The 1973 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 73th season and the 62nd season at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers compiled a record of 85–77. They finished in third place in the AL East, 12 games behind the Baltimore Orioles. They were outscored by their opponents 674 to 642.

Offseason

November 30, 1972: Rich Reese was purchased by the Tigers from the Minnesota Twins.

Regular season

April 27, 1973: Steve Busby threw the first no-hitter in Kansas City Royals history against the Tigers. The Royals beat Detroit by a score of 3–0.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

April 2, 1973: Tim Hosley was traded by the Tigers to the Oakland Athletics for Don Shaw.
June 5, 1973: Bob Adams was drafted by the Tigers in the 3rd round of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft.
August 17, 1973: Rich Reese was released by the Tigers.

Roster

Player stats

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

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; GF = Games finished; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Awards and honors

John Hiller, Hutch Award
Al Kaline, Roberto Clemente Award
Mickey Stanley, AL Gold Glove Award, outfield

League top ten finishers

Ed Brinkman

MLB leader in games played (162)
AL leader in games played at shortstop (162)
AL leader in complete games at shortstop (141)
AL leader in innings played at shortstop (1390-2/3)
#2 in AL in sacrifice hits (14)
#2 in AL times grounded into double plays (22)

Joe Coleman

AL leader in hit batsmen (10)
#2 in AL in wins (23)
#4 in AL in home runs allowed (32)
#5 in MLB in games started (40)
#9 in MLB in batters faced (1219)

Bill Freehan

#2 in AL in times hit by pitch (11)

John Hiller

MLB leader in saves (38)
AL leader in games (65)
AL leader in games finished (60)
#5 in AL in win percentage (.667)

Al Kaline

4th oldest player in AL (38)

Mickey Lolich

#2 in MLB in games started (42)
#2 in MLB in home runs allowed (35)
#2 in MLB in hits allowed (315)
#2 in AL in strikeout to walk ratio (2.71)
#3 in MLB in earned runs allowed (131)
#5 in AL in bases on balls per 9 innings pitched (2.30)
#5 in AL in strikeouts (214)
#5 in AL in wild pitches (12)
#6 in MLB in batters faced (1286)
#7 in MLB in innings pitched (308.7)

Aurelio Rodríguez

AL leader in games played at third base (160)
AL leader in complete games at third base (151)
AL leader in innings played at third base (1394-2/3)
#5 in AL in games played (160)

Mickey Stanley

#4 in AL in outs (481)

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
Norm Cash: 20th best first baseman of all time
Aurelio Rodríguez: 91st best third baseman of all time
Al Kaline: 11th best right fielder of all time
Willie Horton: 55th best left fielder of all time
Mickey Lolich: 72nd best pitcher of all time