Detroit Tigers catcher Bill Freehan

Bill Freehan played baseball at the University of Michigan, where he also was a member of the football team.

Bill Freehan at spring training in 1964.

Bill Freehan with his parents in 1961 after signing with the Tigers out of Michigan.

Bill Freehan during spring training in 1962.

Al Kaline and Bill Freehan during the offseason in February 1965

Tigers catcher Bill Freehan gets ready to apply the tag at the plate during a game against the Oakland A's in 1967.

Between them, Bill Freehan, left, and Al Kaline were named to play in 19 All- Star games.

Bill and wife Pat with daughters in 1967.

Tigers catcher Bill Freehan hit .263 with 25 home runs and 84 RBIs during the team's 1968 World Championship season. He also led the majors in getting hit by pitches 24 times.

The play was pivotal, and controversial. This closeup shows Lou Brock's foot just outside of home plate, although Brock and the Cardinals argued that he beat the throw and stepped on home plate before Freehan turned and tagged him. The umpire's call kept the Cardinals ahead by one run instead of two. Lolich was lights out the rest of the game; the Tigers rallied and won 5-3.

In Game 5, the St. Louis Cardinals' Lou Brock is tagged out by catcher Bill Freehan of the Tigers in the fifth inning of the World Series at Tiger Stadium on Oct. 7, 1968. Tigers outfielder Willie Horton made the throw to put out the speedy Brock at the plate.

Jim Northrup, center, is congratulated by teammates including Bill Freehan, left, after his triple in Game 7.

At 3:06, St Louis time, on the afternoon of Oct. 10, 1968, Bill Freehan caught Tim McCarver's pop foul to the right of the plate to end the 1968 World Series -- Detroit's third title.

Freehan hoists pitcher Mickey Lolich in what became the iconic image of the Tigers 1968 World Championship victory.

Catcher Bill Freehan joins manager Ralph Houk for a discussion in 1974.

Freehan joined Larry Osterman to broadcast Tigers games on cable channel PASS Sports from 1984-85.

Bill Freehan, the starting catcher on the Tigers 1968 World Championship team, is introduced to the crowd before the game on the 40th anniversary of the team's World Series victory on June 23, 2008.

Former Tiger player Bill Freehan throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association's 30th Annual East-West All-Star Game at Comerica Park in Detroit on June 21, 2011.

Bill Freehan's career as a football player helped when he had to stand his ground at the plate.