Detroit Tigers.

Date of birth:  February 27, 1949 Welch, WV

Died: August 19, 2022 (73)

High School: Dickinson HS (Wilmington, DE)

WOCKENFUSS: The pronunciation of his name is exactly how it looks. It’s not a common name, so likely altered or added to at some point. So the literal German definition of Wockenfuss is a person who is a noisy walker, or maybe a nickname for someone known for being active, restless, or energetic.

First Impression; Wocka Wocka Wocka. Man I loved Fozzy Bear. Another missed opportunity if Wockenfuss never met Fozzy on the Muppets. He’s listening for the punch line from Fozzy on this card.

Career stats player: John or Johnny as he is known on his cards, nearly played his whole career for Detroit. He was dealt late in his career in 1984, more on that later. He was the reserve catcher and backup infielder and outfielder. His most games played would be on the back of this card, 1980, 126 games and he hit .274 with 16 dingers. The year prior he hit 15 homers in only 87 games.

All Time Stat: Only 191 players have had fewer than 87 games and 15 or more homers. Narrowing that to post 1950, there were 164. The top of the list is Yordan Alvarez in 2019 who had 27 in 87 games AND Gary Sheffield who also had 27 HR in 87 games. And while you were patting them on the back Giancarlo Stanton throws down the last Ace and says, I had 27, in 74 games in 2015.

Fun Fact: March 24, 1984 he was traded by the Tigers with Glenn Wilson to the Philadelphia Phillies for Dave Bergman and Willie Hernández.

This was a significant trade, unfortunately not for Wockenfuss (or Wilson). They were leaving the historic 1984 Tigers team. And for them the Phillies sent the 1984 Cy Young AND MVP Willie Hernandez and Dave Bergman who would play his final 9 seasons with the Tigers, playing in 871 games. In 1984 he hit .273 in 120 games. So no need to look up Glenn Wilson or JW’s Phillies stats. They both could have hit 70 homers the next year and it would not have mattered. Well, maybe for the Phillies it would have. They hit 6 each the next season, so there was symmetry, to a much lesser degree (I had to check).

Ever a Future Star?  No

Rookie or final card? No but his 1982 card is bizarre, it looks like a decoupage.

Hall of Fame? Number retired? N/A

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