Paul Carey – Motor City Radio Flashbacks

THE VOICE OF SUMMER REMEMBERED: ERNIE HARWELL and PAUL CAREY on WJR, MAY 24, 1977

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DETROIT FREE PRESS Wednesday, May 25, 1977 — Believe it or not, one of the reasons Ralph Houk temporarily turned John Hiller into a starting pitcher was to try to build the veteran’s confidence back up.

If nothing else, the Tiger’s accomplished that much Tuesday night at Tiger Stadium.

Although Hiller was no match for California’s record-setting Nolan Ryan, he certainly had nothing to be ashamed of as the Angels stopped the Tiger’s three-game winning streak, 2-1.

**Angels 2-Tigers 1** *(Click on box score for largest detailed view)*.

Ryan was his customary over-powering self, permitting three singles and striking out 12 to set an American League record for such feats. It marked the 75th time since joining the Angels in 1972, that Ryan had struck out 10 or more batters in a ball game.

THE ANGELS’ fireballing right-hander has enjoyed 89 such games in his major-league career, dating back to his days with the New York Mets, which leaves him just 8 shy of the major league record, held by Sandy Koufax.

But let the record show, John Hiller struck out five himself while only allowing five hits in his most impressing nine-inning effort against the Angels.

[See Detroit Free Press article below for more. Click on, tap or stretch article for larger detailed read].

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WJR served as the flagship station for the Detroit Tigers Radio Network, with Paul Carey producing broadcasts for the network from 1964 to 1971.

When Ray Lane transitioned to television, Carey teamed up with Ernie Harwell as a play-by-play announcer for the 1973 season, a role he held for 19 seasons. Except for his last three seasons, he also took on engineering duties for the broadcasts.

In early 1991, Carey announced his retirement at the end of the season, with his final Tigers broadcast taking place on the last day of the 1991 season—marking the final baseball game at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. In 2012, Carey was honored as the third recipient of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association’s Harwell Lifetime Contribution Award, following Harwell and John Fountain.

Carey passed away on April 12, 2016, in Rochester, Michigan, due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the age of 88.

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BASEBALL REFERENCE: For the complete California Angels vs Detroit Tigers May 24, 1977 game-day box score and stats — click HERE

**THE VOICE OF THE DETROIT TIGERS** Ernie Harwell with Paul Carey.

THE VOICE OF SUMMER RECALLED: TIGER BASEBALL IS ON THE AIR! MAY 1977

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DETROIT FREE PRESS | Wednesday, June 1, 1977 — If John Hiller isn’t careful, manager Ralph Houk isn’t going to let him back in the bullpen.

The Tigers’ lefthanded relief ace certainly didn’t make it any easier for Houk to remove him from the starting rotation Tuesday night at Tiger Stadium as he put a stop to their six-game losing streak with an impressive 5-2 triumph over the Oakland A’s.

Mickey Stanley and Milt May helped him out with home runs, of course, as the Tigers’ dormant offense finally made it’s presence felt again, and Steve Foulcault stepped in when Hiller faltered in the ninth.

**Tigers 5. A’s 2.** *(Click on box score for largest detailed view)*

But there was no minimizing Hiller’s contributions to the cause as the 34-year old pitcher struck out nine while holding the A’s to nine hits in his second outstanding effort in a row as a starter — this time outpitching Oakland ace lefty Vida Blue.

Hiller now returns to the bullpen, where he and Foucault continue to compliment one another until Houk needs a fifth starting pitcher again.

However, after the way Hiller has pitched in the last two starts, Houk definitely won’t hesitate to call on him again. (See article below for more; click on, tap or stretch article for larger detailed read).