Champ Summers

[Rob Hawks]

Not sure if this has been passed around on the list yet. I don't recall seeing it. Here is a youtube video that covers the history of Champ Summers. Old timers on the list like me may remember his name readily, even though Detroit was only one stop on his 11 year career. The back story though is intriguing. He played minor league ball against Kurt Russell (watch this documentary), he beat Jimmy Connors in a tennis match, he served in Vietnam, and he didn't start playing organized baseball until after high school (he seemingly played, and excelled, in every sport except baseball). He was a rookie at age 28 with the Oakland A's. Reggie Jackson talked him into always using his nickname rather than his given name of John.

From his stats, it looks like Detroit got the best years of his career, with 1980 being his best year (.897 OPS, 17 hrs, last year he ever hit a triple, only year he had > 100 hits).

rob

[Peter Welch]

I think we reminisced about Champ and his interesting past on the list after he died.  Quite a character.  He was fun to root for in his 3 years with the Tigers.  Sparky used him effectively as a righty-mashing DH and pinch-hitter.  I remember him being on the Padres against the Tigers in the 1984 World Series.  He had 1 at-bat in the WS against the Tigers in game 4 (Tigers won 4-2) and struck out on 3 straight pitches pinch hitting for Alan Wiggins against Jack Morris to end the bottom of the 8^th with a runner at 2nd.  1984 was Champ's final season.

I also remember Champ with the Padres in 1984 when he was a prominent participant in an infamous brawl they had with the Braves.

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Rob Hawks <rob....@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2026 12:34 PM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Champ Summers

 

Not sure if this has been passed around on the list yet. I don't recall seeing it. Here is a youtube video that covers the history of Champ Summers. Old timers on the list like me may remember his name readily, even though Detroit was only one stop on his 11 year career. The back story though is intriguing. He played minor league ball against Kurt Russell (watch this documentary), he beat Jimmy Connors in a tennis match, he served in Vietnam, and he didn't start playing organized baseball until after high school (he seemingly played, and excelled, in every sport except baseball). He was a rookie at age 28 with the Oakland A's. Reggie Jackson talked him into always using his nickname rather than his given name of John.

From his stats, it looks like Detroit got the best years of his career, with 1980 being his best year (.897 OPS, 17 hrs, last year he ever hit a triple, only year he had > 100 hits).

rob

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[Cal Lord]

He was one of those guys that so

E on the list like, a minor league prospect that everyone hypes and the next great superstar… only to be disappointed.

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[Paul Meloche]

Never played HS ball, didn’t make the majors til he was 28, and was someone “everyone hypes?” 11 year career with a .775 OPS was disappointing? Not sure where you’re coming from here, Cal. 

Paul M.

On Jul 10, 2026, at 10:41 AM, Cal Lord <calst...@gmail.com> wrote:



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