'Gray Fox' passed away Wednesday at age 71
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP -- Former Detroit Tigers outfielder Jim Northrup passed away Wednesday at an assisted living facility in Grand Blanc Township, after suffering a seizure.
Northrup spent the first 22 years of his life in Mid-Michigan.
He was born in Breckenridge, raised in St. Louis and eventually became a five-sport athlete at Alma College.
Northrup signed with the Tigers in 1961, and later broke into the big leagues near the end of the 1964 season.
On October 10, 1968 in Game 7 of the World Series against St. Louis, Northrup came to the plate in the top of the seventh inning versus future Hall of Famer Bob Gibson.
Northrup hit a long fly ball to deep center field, over the head of outfielder Curt Flood.
The triple scored the first two runs of the game, and Detroit eventually won 4-1 to capture the franchise's third World Series title.
Longtime Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell spoke about the iconic play, during an interview with NBC25's Matt Waymire on April 23, 2009.
"My most memorable moment in the '68 World Series was the hit by Northrup. When the Tigers got into the 7th game they had come from behind to tie the series at three games apiece and then (Mickey) Lolich and Bob Gibson were matched against each other. Went nothing-nothing into the 7th inning, (Willie) Horton and (Norm) Cash got hits. Northrup with two outs hit a triple to center field over the head of (Curt) Flood and the Tigers got two runs and went on to win the world's championship," said Harwell, who passed away in May 2010.
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