James Thomas Northrup (born November 24, 1939, in
Breckenridge, MichiganBreckenridge is a village in Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,339 at the 2000 census. The village is located in Wheeler Township. -Geography:...
), nicknamed the “Gray Fox,” is a former
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
outfielderOutfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and
left-handedLeft-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. Most left-handed people exhibit some degree of ambidexterity...
batter who played for the
Detroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in . The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant 10 times...
(1964-1974),
Montreal ExposThe Montreal Expos is the name of a Major League Baseball team that was located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from 1969 until the end of the 2004 season, when the team was moved to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Nationals....
(1974) and
Baltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The "Orioles" name refers to the official state...
(1974-75).
Career overview
Northrup was a good outfielder who played significant percentages of his time in all three outfireld positions. Northrup was also the Detroit Tigers' center fielder in the 1968 World Series.
An excellent streak hitter and catalyst for Detroit during the 1960s, Northrup was a power hitter who had good strike-zone judgment and a short, quick stroke. In the field, he had a decent arm, a quick release and good accuracy.
Northrup is best remembered for his contributions to the 1968
Detroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in . The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant 10 times...
World Series Championship team. Northrup led the 1968 Tigers in hits and RBIs, hit five grand slams, broke up three
no-hitterA no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s, and had the game-winning triple off
Bob GibsonPack Robert "Bob" Gibson is a former right-handed baseball pitcher, having played for the St. Louis Cardinals from to...
in Game 7 of the
1968 World SeriesThe 1968 World Series featured the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their first championship since 1945, and the third in their history...
.
In his 12-year major league career Northrup
battedBatting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively. The two statistics are related, in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages....
.267, with 153
home runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play...
s, 610 RBIs, 603 runs, 218 doubles, 42 triples, and 39
stolen baseIn baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate. In baseball statistics, stolen bases are denoted by SB...
s in 1392 games.
Early years
Northrup was born in
Breckenridge, MichiganBreckenridge is a village in Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,339 at the 2000 census. The village is located in Wheeler Township. -Geography:...
, a small farm town 25 miles west of
Saginaw, MichiganSaginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. Once two independent cities, the consolidated City of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
. Northrup grew up on his grandfather’s farm. Even after the family moved six miles away to
St. Louis, MichiganSt. Louis is a city in Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 4,494. The 2008 census estimate places the population at 6,971.-Geography:...
, Northrup spent his summers and weekends during the winter at his grandparents' farm.
Once a year, Northrup and his father would make a long, seven-hour drive (before the expressways) to Detroit when the
Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
came to town.
Ted WilliamsTheodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was a left fielder in Major League Baseball. He played 21 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, twice interrupted by military service as a Marine Corps pilot...
was Northrup’s idol, the “only idol I’ve ever had.” But Northrup never saw a complete game as a boy. Rather than pay full price, his father would “wait until the sixth or seventh inning, because then you could give the guy outside a buck or two and you could go out there and watch
TedTheodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was a left fielder in Major League Baseball. He played 21 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, twice interrupted by military service as a Marine Corps pilot...
play.”
After graduating from the St. Louis High School, Northrup stayed close to home for college, attending
Alma CollegeAlma College is a private, liberal arts college located in Alma, Michigan. The enrollment is approximately 1,300 students, and the college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college's current president, Dr. Saundra J Tracy, will be retiring effective June...
, five miles from St. Louis. At
Alma CollegeAlma College is a private, liberal arts college located in Alma, Michigan. The enrollment is approximately 1,300 students, and the college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college's current president, Dr. Saundra J Tracy, will be retiring effective June...
, Northrup was a five-sport star. He was quarterback of the football team, and was named a small college All-American. He was a forward on the basketball team, ran track, and golfed. But Northrup’s great love was baseball. “I was born to play baseball,” said Northrup.
Northrup reportedly turned down offers from the Chicago Bears and the
New York TitansThe New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the Northeastern New Jersey part of the tri-state New York metropolitan area. They are members of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays its home games in East...
and signed with the
Detroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in . The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant 10 times...
in 1961. Northrup spent four years in the minor leagues (1961-1964), playing for the Duluth-Superior Dukes, Decatur, Iowa,
Tennessee SmokiesThe Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball as of the 2009 season...
, and the Syracuse Chiefs. He was the
International LeagueThe International League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball...
Rookie of the Year in 1964, as he hit .312 with 18 home runs and 92 RBIs.
Detroit Tigers (1964-1967)
Northrup was called up to the Tigers during the last week of the 1964 season, but got only one hit in 12 at bats. In 1965, Northrup continued to struggle with a .205 batting average as he appeared in 54 games in the Detroit outfield, competing for playing time with
Al KalineAlbert William "Al" Kaline, also known as Mr. Tiger, is a former Major League Baseball player. Kaline was active from 1953 to 1974 and spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
,
Don DemeterDonald Lee Demeter is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , Los Angeles Dodgers , Philadelphia Phillies , Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians...
,
Gates BrownWilliam James "Gates" Brown is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
, and fellow rookie Willie Horton.
In 1966, Northrup won a spot as the Tigers’ starting
right fielderA right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
, as
Al KalineAlbert William "Al" Kaline, also known as Mr. Tiger, is a former Major League Baseball player. Kaline was active from 1953 to 1974 and spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
moved to center field. Northrup finally showed his abilities as a batter, as he hit 24 doubles, 16 home runs, and ended the season with a .465 slugging percentage.
In 1967, competition for a spot in the Detroit outfield intensified as
Mickey StanleyMitchell Jack "Mickey" Stanley was a baseball player for the Detroit Tigers from 1964-1978. Stanley was known as a defensive outfielder over his 15-year career, though he is best remembered for the last few weeks of the 1968 season.-Professional Baseball:Stanley made his MLB debut in center field...
proved to be an exceptional defensive player. Northrup played 143 games in the outfield, but was moved and back and forth, playing 65 games in left, 94 games in center, and 39 games in right.
1968 Season
Northrup had his most satisfying season in 1968 as he played a key role in the Tigers’ World Series Championship. Northrup played 151 games at all three spots in the Detroit outfield in 1968, including 103 games in right field. Northrup had a
range factorRange Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
of 2.17 – well above the league average of 1.80.
But Northrup’s principal value was as a batter. Northrup led the 1968 Tigers in hits with 153 and in RBIs with 90. He was among the American League leaders with 90 RBIs (3rd in the AL), 57 extra base hits (4th in the AL), 259 total bases (5th in the AL), and 29 doubles (5th in the AL).
Northrup played in a rotation of four players in the three outfield position, with Willie Horton,
Mickey StanleyMitchell Jack "Mickey" Stanley was a baseball player for the Detroit Tigers from 1964-1978. Stanley was known as a defensive outfielder over his 15-year career, though he is best remembered for the last few weeks of the 1968 season.-Professional Baseball:Stanley made his MLB debut in center field...
, and
Al KalineAlbert William "Al" Kaline, also known as Mr. Tiger, is a former Major League Baseball player. Kaline was active from 1953 to 1974 and spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
being the others. However, for the World Series, the Detroit manager
Mayo SmithEdward Mayo Smith was an American player, manager, and scout in Major League Baseball.Smith was born in New London, Missouri, but grew up in Florida. A left-handed batter who threw right-handed, Smith was a career minor league outfielder who spent many seasons in the International League with the...
decided to bring Stanley in from the outfield to play
shortstopShortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, giving the Tigers a firm outfield of Horton (left field), Northrup (center field), and Kaline (right field) in all seven of the games.
Northrup also hit five grand slams during the 1968 season, four in the regular season. The first came in May. Then, on June 24, 1968, Northrup hit grand slams in consecutive at bats in the 5th and 6th innings. This made him one of only 13 players (through July 28, 2009) to have hit 2 grand slams in one game. Five days later, Northrup hit another grand slam, becoming the first major league player to hit three grand slams in a single week. (
Larry ParrishLarry Alton Parrish is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and right-handed batter who played with the Montreal Expos , Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox . He also played two seasons in Japan, for the Yakult Swallows and the Hanshin Tigers...
later accomplished the feat in 1982.) Northrup’s fifth grand slam came in Game 6 of the
1968 World SeriesThe 1968 World Series featured the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their first championship since 1945, and the third in their history...
.
In addition to his grand slam in Game 6, Northrup had the key hit in Game 7 off
St. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball...
’ ace
Bob GibsonPack Robert "Bob" Gibson is a former right-handed baseball pitcher, having played for the St. Louis Cardinals from to...
. After striking out 17 batters in Game 1, and pitching a complete game victory in Game 4, Gibson held the Tigers scoreless through the first six innings of Game 7. Northrup, who had a solo home run against Gibson in Game 4, came to bat with two men on and two outs in the 7th inning. Northrup hit a
tripleIn baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
over
center fielderA center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field - the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
Curt FloodCurtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
’s head, as
Norm CashNorman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
and Willie Horton both scored.
Bill FreehanWilliam Ashley Freehan is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire 15-year career with the Detroit Tigers...
followed with a double to score Northrup, and the Tigers won Game 7 and were World Series Champions.
Curt FloodCurtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
was tagged a “goat” for having misplayed Northrup’s Game 7 triple, but Northrup defended Flood: “He slipped a little, but it still went 40 feet over his head. . . . He never had a chance to catch it.”
Northrup played all 7 games of the
1968 World SeriesThe 1968 World Series featured the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their first championship since 1945, and the third in their history...
, with a .536
slugging percentageIn baseball statistics, slugging percentage is a popular measure of the power of a hitter. It is calculated as total bases divided by at bats:...
, 8 RBIs, 7 hits, 4 runs scored, 2
home runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play...
s. In a 2001 interview, Northrup concluded: “Winning the World Series had to be the highlight of my baseball career.” Northrup placed 13th in the 1968 American League Most Valuable Player voting.
Detroit Tigers (1969-1973)
Northrup had another solid season for the Tigers in 1969, as he raised his
batting averageBatting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively. The two statistics are related, in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages....
to .295 (9th in the AL) and had career highs with 25
home runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play...
s and 31 doubles (6th in the AL). On August 28, 1969, Northrup became the first Tiger since
Ty CobbTyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was a baseball player and is regarded by some historians and journalists as the best player of the dead-ball era, and is generally seen as one of the greatest players of all time.In 1936, Cobb received the most votes of any player on the...
to hit 6-for-6, finishing the game with a 13th-inning game-winning
home runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play...
over the Tiger Stadium roof.
In 1970, the Tigers dropped to 4th place in their last season under manager
Mayo SmithEdward Mayo Smith was an American player, manager, and scout in Major League Baseball.Smith was born in New London, Missouri, but grew up in Florida. A left-handed batter who threw right-handed, Smith was a career minor league outfielder who spent many seasons in the International League with the...
. The Tigers were an aging squad when
Billy MartinAlfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
took over, and Martin sought to light a fire under them. Though Martin turned the Tigers back into contenders in 1971 and 1972, Northrup chafed at Martin’s tactics. Northrup noted: “We got sick and tired of reading Martin say in the papers, ‘I manage good, and they play bad.’ ‘I’d like to bunt, but my players can’t do it.’ . . . It was all, ‘I, I, I,’ and ‘Me, me, me.’ I did not respect him in any way . . .”
In the decisive 5th game of the
1972 American League Championship SeriesThe American League Championship Series took place between October 7 and October 12 of . The Oakland Athletics played the Detroit Tigers for the right to go to the 1972 World Series, with the Athletics coming out on top in the five-game series, 3–2. Games 1 and 2 took place at the Oakland...
, the mutual dislike between Martin and Northrup may have affected Martin’s judgment. In the 9th inning, the Tigers were trailing 2-1, and
Norm CashNorman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
was on base. Northrup had one hit already off
Vida BlueVida Rochelle Blue Jr. is a former Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher. In a 17-year career, he played for the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, and Kansas City Royals.-Baseball career:...
, but Martin used
Mickey StanleyMitchell Jack "Mickey" Stanley was a baseball player for the Detroit Tigers from 1964-1978. Stanley was known as a defensive outfielder over his 15-year career, though he is best remembered for the last few weeks of the 1968 season.-Professional Baseball:Stanley made his MLB debut in center field...
to pinch-hit for Northrup. Stanley hit into a fielder’s choice, and the Tigers lost the ALCS. Northrup remained bitter about Martin’s decision: “Who knows why Martin did what he did? I will say this: Billy Martin put most of us in a frame of mind where he took the fun out of the game.”
In 1973, a 33-year-old Northrup hit .307 –- the highest batting average of his career. Despite his solid hitting, Martin kept Northup on the bench for part of the year. Northrup had played in at least 130 games for the Tigers for 7 straight years, but in 1973 he played in only 119 games. Martin was fired by the Tigers before the 1973 season was over, but Northrup’s time with the Tigers was also nearing an end.
Montreal Expos and Baltimore Orioles (1974-1975)
In August 1974, the Tigers sold Northrup to the
Montreal ExposThe Montreal Expos is the name of a Major League Baseball team that was located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from 1969 until the end of the 2004 season, when the team was moved to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Nationals....
. Northrup played in only 21 games for the Expos before being traded to the
Baltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The "Orioles" name refers to the official state...
in September. Northrup finished his career hitting .274 in 84 games for the Orioles. Northrup retired after the 1974 season. He later noted: “I’d had enough. I’d been away from home too much, and I wasn’t with my kids enough. So that was the end of it.”
Northrup earned $76,000 a year with the Tigers in 1973. Northrup calculated that he earned $418,000 in his 12-year career in the major leagues.
Life after the Major Leagues
After retiring from baseball, Northrup signed with the
Detroit CaesarsThe Detroit Caesars were a professional softball team that began play in the American Professional Slow Pitch Softball League in 1977, the first of three professional softball leagues. Prior to formalized professional play, Detroit was a hotbed for softball, with some of the best players in the...
, a professional softball team and played two seasons (1977-1978). The Caesars played in the American Professional Slow Pitch Softball League (APSPL), winning leagues titles in both seasons with Northrup. The team was owned by
Mike IlitchMichael "Mike" Ilitch Sr. , is an entrepreneur and owner of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers. In addition to his sports ownerships, he is the founder and owner of Little Caesars Pizza since 1959, which has become an international fast food franchise...
who would later become the owner of the Detroit Tigers. The Caesars had extensive talent from the amateur softball leagues, and both Northrup and fellow former-Tiger
Norm CashNorman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
played part-time roles.
From 1985-1994, Northrup was a color analyst for the Tigers on the PASS Sports cable television service. Currently, he is the CEO of Jim Northrup and Associates, a manufacturer's representative firm in
Southfield, MichiganSouthfield is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit and is part of the Metro Detroit area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 78,296. Southfield Township is adjacent to the city on the north side...
. He was inducted in the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame (2000), and also has been a supporter of many college activities. Jim has three children, Jim Jr., Kate, and Paige and many grandchildren.
See also
- 1968 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers won the 1968 World Series, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3. The 1968 baseball season, known as the "Year of the Pitcher," was the Tigers' 68th since they entered the American League in 1901, their eighth pennant, and third World Series championship...
- Batters with two grand slams in the same baseball game
- Detroit Tigers/Broadcasters
- Top 500 home run hitters of all time
External links