Jim Northrup--1968
On This Date in Major League
History, June 29, 1968…
As an 8-year old, I still remember this
card of Jim Northrup, as the outfielder
looked like someone who could be my
next door neighbor who on the weekends
manned the grill for cookouts and played
softball with the kids in the backyard
after a hard week of being a loan officer
at the main branch of the local bank.
On cardboard, he just came off in his
card as being a good guy.
Well, on this date in 1968 the lefty-
swinging outfielder was the terror of the
American League when he connected on
three grand slams within the course of a
week.
Northrup initiated the assault with a pair
of grand slams on June 24th, taking
Eddie Fisher and Billy Rohr deep in back-
to-back innings as the Tigers routed
Cleveland, 14-3. The dual "salamis"
made a winner out of Denny McClain,
who improved to 13-2 on the season as
the Tigers resided atop of the American
League.
Northrup's third grand slam of the week
would provide the margin of victory in a 5-
2 Tiger win over the White Sox on June
29th. The blast came off Cisco Carlos
and again McClain would be the
benefactor of his power burst to move to
14-2 on the year.
Northrup would quietly post his best
season in '68, hitting .264-21-90 in
helping the Tigers to their World
Championship. He would hit .250 with two
homers and eight ribbies in Detroit's
claim to the title over the St. Louis
Cardinals in the Fall Classic.
Editor's Note: Northrup passed away a
few weeks ago on June 8, 2011 at the
age of 71. On my visit to Detroit a couple
of weeks ago to see the Tigers play, the
old time writers in the press box were
saying he was a really good guy.
(6/29/11)
History, June 29, 1968…
As an 8-year old, I still remember this
card of Jim Northrup, as the outfielder
looked like someone who could be my
next door neighbor who on the weekends
manned the grill for cookouts and played
softball with the kids in the backyard
after a hard week of being a loan officer
at the main branch of the local bank.
On cardboard, he just came off in his
card as being a good guy.
Well, on this date in 1968 the lefty-
swinging outfielder was the terror of the
American League when he connected on
three grand slams within the course of a
week.
Northrup initiated the assault with a pair
of grand slams on June 24th, taking
Eddie Fisher and Billy Rohr deep in back-
to-back innings as the Tigers routed
Cleveland, 14-3. The dual "salamis"
made a winner out of Denny McClain,
who improved to 13-2 on the season as
the Tigers resided atop of the American
League.
Northrup's third grand slam of the week
would provide the margin of victory in a 5-
2 Tiger win over the White Sox on June
29th. The blast came off Cisco Carlos
and again McClain would be the
benefactor of his power burst to move to
14-2 on the year.
Northrup would quietly post his best
season in '68, hitting .264-21-90 in
helping the Tigers to their World
Championship. He would hit .250 with two
homers and eight ribbies in Detroit's
claim to the title over the St. Louis
Cardinals in the Fall Classic.
Editor's Note: Northrup passed away a
few weeks ago on June 8, 2011 at the
age of 71. On my visit to Detroit a couple
of weeks ago to see the Tigers play, the
old time writers in the press box were
saying he was a really good guy.
(6/29/11)
