Norm Cash
| Birthdate | 11/10/1933 |
| Death Date | 10/11/1986 |
| Debut Year | 1958 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Tigers, White Sox |
| Position | First Base |
Norm Cash still ranks in the top-10 in hits, runs, homers, total bases, RBI and WAR for position players for the Tigers, one of the AL’s original teams.
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At his retirement only Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Lou Gehrig had more homers among AL lefties
At his retirement only Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Lou Gehrig had more homers among AL lefties
Norm Cash enjoyed a tremendous 17-year American League career. The major’s leading hitter in 1961 with a .361 average Cash left the game with 377 homers. At the time of his retirement, only three AL lefties – Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Lou Gehrig – had more.
Cash broke in with the 1958 White Sox and spent one more year in the Windy City in ’59. Then in the offseason Cash got traded – twice. On December 6, 1959, the Sox dealt him to the Indians in a 7-player swap that included Minnie Minoso.
Four months later the Indians sent him to Detroit on April 12, 1960 in one of the best trades in Tigers history. To get Cash, the Tigers sent 25-year old third baseman Steve Demeter who played a grand total of four more big league games.
Cash meanwhile, became of the Tiger franchise’s most productive hitters.
Stormin’ Norman’s first year in the Motor City featured 462 plate appearances without grounding into a double play. In 99 games at first base and 121 overall, he slashed .286/.402/.501.
Cash’s finest campaign came the following season in 1961. That year he led all American League hitters with a .361 average – the highest of any player in the decade. He posted career-bests in runs, walks, hits, triples, homers, RBI, walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, total bases, and WAR. Cash’s 201 OPS+ ranks him more than twice as effective as the league-average hitter.
During the 1960s Cash was one of the American League’s most potent home run hitters. The only AL player with at least 20 homers in every season from 1961-1969, Cash hit 30+ homers in four seasons, including 41 in 1961. Three times Cash finished second in the league in long balls.
In 1968 he helped the Tigers win their third World Series title since the team’s inception in 1901. In the 7-game thriller against the Cardinals, Cash went 10-for-26 (.385) scoring 5 runs along with a homer and 5 RBI.
With the dawn of a new decade, the 36-year old Cash maintained his productivity. Starting in 1971, Cash had back-to-back All Star selections. A five-time All Star overall, Cash posted 91 RBI and a 149 OPS+ in ’71. In ’72 at age 38, Cash pushed past the 20-homer plateau for the 11th and final time.
Cash retired in 1974 after serving 15 years in a Tigers uniform. When he left baseball he stood high on the franchise leaderboard: 2nd in homers, 6th in total bases, 7th in RBI, 7th WAR for position players.
Cash finished with 1,820 hits, 377 homers, 1,045 runs scored and another 1,104 driven in. On the analytic side, Norm’s career 139 OPS+ matched first-ballot Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson. His 52.0 career WAR puts him ahead of the likes of Bobby Doerr, Kirby Puckett, Home Run Baker, Orlando Cepeda and Mickey Cochrane.
Cash became eligible for the Hall of Fame in 1980. After receiving only 1.6% of the vote, he dropped off the writers ballot. Though he has been considered by Veterans Committee, Cash remains outside of Cooperstown.
The Justiceburg, Texas native was inducted into his state’s Hall of Fame in 2001. Cash, who passed away in 1986 at age 52 remains a popular figure in Tigers lore.
Shown here is the autograph of Tigers’ great Norm Cash. Notice the JSA sticker certifying the autograph’s authenticity in the bottom left corner.
Norm Cash slashed .385/.433/.500 for the Tigers in the 1968 World Series
Norm Cash slashed .385/.433/.500 for the Tigers in the 1968 World Series
Norm Cash earned a World Series ring with the 1968 World Series. In the 7-game tilt he was the Tigers offensive star.
Cash hit .385 with a .433 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging mark. In Game 2 he went 3-for-5 with a home run, an RBI and two runs scored. Cash was one of three Detroit players to leave the yard. Both Willie Horton and starting pitcher Mickey Lolich also hit dingers.
Shown here is a ticket to Cash’s memorable Game 2 performance. It is signed by the contest’s winning pitcher, Mickey Lolich
Cash brought a table leg to the plate in 1974 when Nolan Ryan was one out away from a no-hitter
Cash brought a table leg to the plate in 1974 when Nolan Ryan was one out away from a no-hitter
Nolan Ryan is a baseball legend with an MLB-record 7-no-hitters. His 100-mile per hour fastball and wildness instilled fear in the hearts of hitters.
On July 15, 1973 Ryan was working on his second no-hit game. During the contest, Norm Cash struck out in each of his first three at bats. In his final time up with two-out in the 9th, Cash brought a table leg from the clubhouse to the plate instead of a bat.
Amused but undeterred, home plate umpire Ron Luciano ordered Cash to get a legal hitting instrument. Though Cash didn’t strike out, his pop-out to shortstop Rudy Meoli ended the game. Ryan’s dominance included 17 strikeouts.
Shown here is an endorsement questionnaire asking the Ryan the eight-time All Star if he currently has any licensing contracts or product endorsements. At the time the contract was signed in 1974, even the game’s superstars were thin on money-making away from the diamond.
Cash, Tony Taylor & Bob Montgomery were the last 3 players to bat without a helmet
Cash, Tony Taylor & Bob Montgomery were the last 3 players to bat without a helmet
In 1971 Baseball mandated that every hitter wear a helmet, grandfathering in any active player who wished to shun the head protection. It is believed that only three players who elected to go that route were Tony Taylor, Norm Cash and Bob Montgomery.
Cash who retired in 1974, was a batting champ who hit .385 in the 1968 World Series victory over the Cardinals. Taylor was a dependable infielder who enjoyed a 19-year career and tallied more than 2,000 hits and 1,000 runs. When Taylor retired in 1976, it left Montgomery as the last helmetless batter in the big leagues.
For the next three seasons Montgomery hit .316 as Carlton Fisk‘s backup, before retiring after the 1979 season. During his ten-year career, Montgomery played in just 387 games, all for Boston. His lifetime numbers include 306 hits, 23 homers, and 156 runs batted in.
In the collection is Montgomery’s handwritten recollection of his greatest thrill in baseball. Montgomery writes, “My greatest thrill in baseball came on Aug 11, 1971 at Fenway Park, Boston vs. Detroit. I hit my first big league grand slam. Those four RBIs plus two I got earlier in the game gave me a total of six for 1 game. We also came from behind to win in 10 innings 11-10.”
Montgomery did indeed have a grand slam and six runs batted in against Detroit in august of ’71. However, the game was two days earlier than the catcher recalled and the final score was 12-11.
Only Al Kaline hit more home runs in his Detroit Tiger career than Norm Cash
Only Al Kaline hit more home runs in his Detroit Tiger career than Norm Cash
Norm Cash is one of the greatest sluggers in the history of the Detroit Tigers. He finished his time in Detroit with 373 home runs.
That figure ties him with Tiger legend Miguel Cabrera for second on the all-time franchise list. Only first-ballot Hall of Fame selection Al Kaline slammed more homers for the Detroit club. He finished with 399.
Shown here is a pair of Topps baseball cards autographed by Kaline. A 1974 card is on the right while an example from 1966 on is on the left.
Very nice app here. Enjoyed all the reading and info
I was at the table leg game. Cash was my boyhood hero. His career was winding down in 1973. He was the BEST first baseman I ever saw going away from home plate on a foul pop up. He had a great arm. If he played in New York or L.A. you would hear a lot more about him today.