Tigers History Podcast – Episode #015 – Jon Warden, pitcher on the 1968 Tigers

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Jon Warden talks about being part of the Tigers’ 1968 world championship, and collecting autographs from hundreds of former major leaguers.

0:49     on unexpectedly making the 1968 team
6:29     on being embraced by a team that was determined to win the World Series
11:11    facing Carl Yastrzemski in his MLB debut and getting 3 wins in his first 3 appearances
17:05    having Denny McLain as a teammate
20:30     Bill Freehan as a catcher and field general
21:53     how pitching coach Johnny Sain managed the pitching staff
27:28     the Tigers’ attempt to shield Warden from the expansion draft
30:53     manager Mayo Smith’s gamble of moving Mickey Stanley to shortstop for the 1968 World Series
35:16      how the Tigers came back from a 3-1 series deficit to win it all
39:49      feeling postseason butterflies while warming up during the World Series
42:39      making peace with never making it back to the major leagues
47:36     whether today’s specialized bullpen roles would appeal to him as a reliever
50:13     the lousy view from the bullpen dugouts at Tiger Stadium
52:23     facing Mickey Mantle at Yankee Stadium
55:58     collecting autographs of former major leaguers
1:02:00   looking ahead to the celebration this year and remembering the legacy of the 1968 team

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