Best thing for Detroit Tigers, Tarik Skubal? Jim Duquette explains
On “Days of Roar,” former general manager Jim Duquette explains what the Detroit Tigers should do with Tarik Skubal in the 2025-26 MLB offseason.
Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Tom Timmermann died in his home in Farmington Hills on Friday, Nov. 14, according to O’Brien-Sullivan Funeral Home. He was 85 years old.
Timmermann made his MLB debut for the Tigers on June 18, 1969, after spending nine seasons in the minors. He pitched mostly as a reliever in his first three seasons in Detroit from 1969-71, leading the club with 61 appearances and 27 saves in 1970 while putting up a 4.11 ERA over 85â…“ innings pitched.
The Tigers traded him and utility man Kevin Collins to the Cleveland Indians on June 15, 1973, for pitcher Ed Farmer. Timmermann finished his career with Cleveland, playing his final major league season in 1974.
Timmermann was born on May 12, 1940 in Breese, Illinois, and attended Southern Illinois University before beginning his professional baseball career for the Durham Bulls (the Tigers’ B-class minor league affiliate) in 1960. Nicknamed “The Rooster,” Timmermann finished his major league career with an even 35-35 record with 35 saves over 548 innings pitched.
Timmermann was named the “Tiger of the Year” by the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) in 1970 following his 27-save season.
According to his online obituary, Timmermann is survived by three children, nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, his two brothers and 25-year companion Joan Martin. Timmermann was preceded in death by his first wife Marcia and his second wife Ruby, who died in 1999.
Timmermann was also the biological father of former California Angels pitcher Phil Leftwich, who pitched for the Angels for three seasons between 1993-96. Neither Timmermann nor Leftwich knew of the relation until 1994, Leftwich’s second MLB season, when both men connected and maintained a relationship until Timmermann’s death.
Memorial services will be hold at the O’Brien Sullivan Funeral Home in Novi on Saturday, Nov. 22, with visitation starting at 10 a.m. and the funeral service at noon.
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.