Les Cain---1971
For a guy who made just 68
appearances for the Detroit Tigers,
Les “Sugar” Cain made a name for
himself in Motown.
First off, Cain is one of four lefties in
Tigers history to average more than
seven strikeouts per nine innings
(7.77) in a single season with at least
162 innings of work. He did so in
1970, when the lefty fanned 156
batters in 180-2/3 innings. The other
southpaws are: Hal Newhouser,
Mickey Lolich and Nate Robertson.
And that’s pretty good company.
Secondly, for 34 years Cain held the
distinction as being the last Tiger
hurler to hit a home run, doing so on
Aug. 28, 1971 vs. Chicago White Sox
off Tom Bradley as the AL adopted
the Designated Hitter rule in 1973.
Once interleague play put pitchers
back in the batters box, Tiger hurler
Jason Johnson hit the next home run
for Detroit, connecting on a solo shot
off Jeff Weaver on June 8, 2005.
Third, his 156 strikeouts in 1970
came during his rookie campaign,
thus establishing a Tigers’ rookie
record. To put the number in
perspective, not even Justin
Verlander logged as many strikeouts
(124) during his 2006 rookie season.
The hard throwing lefty had his
career cut short by arm problems, so
much to the extent that he apparently
filed a workers comp claim against
the Tigers. The move did not endear
him to the Tigers and Cain’s career
was essentially over by 1972.
In the end Cain finished 23-19, 3.98;
fanning 303 (and walking 225) in 373
career innings while making several
marks in Detroit Tigers history.
Editor's Note: What was with the
funky “fingerless” batting glove on his
right hand? Did Bill Freehan throw
the ball back to the pitchers that
hard?
(3/12/09)
appearances for the Detroit Tigers,
Les “Sugar” Cain made a name for
himself in Motown.
First off, Cain is one of four lefties in
Tigers history to average more than
seven strikeouts per nine innings
(7.77) in a single season with at least
162 innings of work. He did so in
1970, when the lefty fanned 156
batters in 180-2/3 innings. The other
southpaws are: Hal Newhouser,
Mickey Lolich and Nate Robertson.
And that’s pretty good company.
Secondly, for 34 years Cain held the
distinction as being the last Tiger
hurler to hit a home run, doing so on
Aug. 28, 1971 vs. Chicago White Sox
off Tom Bradley as the AL adopted
the Designated Hitter rule in 1973.
Once interleague play put pitchers
back in the batters box, Tiger hurler
Jason Johnson hit the next home run
for Detroit, connecting on a solo shot
off Jeff Weaver on June 8, 2005.
Third, his 156 strikeouts in 1970
came during his rookie campaign,
thus establishing a Tigers’ rookie
record. To put the number in
perspective, not even Justin
Verlander logged as many strikeouts
(124) during his 2006 rookie season.
The hard throwing lefty had his
career cut short by arm problems, so
much to the extent that he apparently
filed a workers comp claim against
the Tigers. The move did not endear
him to the Tigers and Cain’s career
was essentially over by 1972.
In the end Cain finished 23-19, 3.98;
fanning 303 (and walking 225) in 373
career innings while making several
marks in Detroit Tigers history.
Editor's Note: What was with the
funky “fingerless” batting glove on his
right hand? Did Bill Freehan throw
the ball back to the pitchers that
hard?
(3/12/09)
