Former catcher Bill Freehan died today, Thursday after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease:

In Game 5 of the 1968 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Freehan blocked home plate during a crucial play and tagged out Lou Brock. Detroit won the game and the series — a result best captured by a famous photo of pitcher Mickey Lolich jumping into the arms of his jubilant catcher who caught a foul ball for the last out in Game 7.

APNews.com

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Defense is usually more important to a catcher, but Freehan posted a career .340 OBP, playing his early career during an era of falling offense, correct by the lower mound in 1969. He was an all-star eleven times and at one point for ten straight years. In his early prime he finished second and third in the MVP voting. He deserved those votes, as those were his two best seasons. He posted a 6.1 rWAR in 1967 and a 6.9 rWAR in 1968, with good defense to go with his great offense.