Sports
John Hiller
born 1943 · baseball relief pitcher
Tigers relief pitcher whose comeback from a near-fatal 1971 heart attack to set a single-season saves record in 1973 became one of baseball's most celebrated stories of resilience.
- Born
Toronto, Ontario
age 83- Birth name
- John Frederick Hiller
- Detroit years
- 1965–1980
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Hiller spent his entire 15-year major-league career with the Tigers after debuting in 1965, developing into a reliable left-handed reliever through the club's 1968 World Series championship season. In January 1971, at age 27, he suffered a massive heart attack that doctors said would end his career; instead he changed his diet, underwent intestinal bypass surgery, and worked his way back to the majors by June 1972. The following season he set what was then a major-league record with 38 saves in 65 appearances, was named American League Comeback Player of the Year and Fireman of the Year, and finished fourth in both AL MVP and Cy Young voting. In 1974 he added an American League record 17 relief wins. Hiller pitched for Detroit through 1980, finishing with 125 saves, then a franchise record, and remains remembered in Detroit as much for the comeback as for the numbers.
Highlights
- Played his entire 15-season career with the Tigers, 1965–1980
- Set what was then the major-league single-season saves record (38) in 1973, after a near-fatal 1971 heart attack
- Named AL Comeback Player of the Year and Fireman of the Year, 1973
- Set an AL record with 17 relief wins in 1974
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 1965–1980
Tiger Stadium site (Briggs Stadium), now The Corner Ballpark
Demolished · 1912–1999
His home mound for his entire big-league career, including his historic 1973 comeback season; demolished in 2008–2009.