Frank Tanana

Frank Tanana shrugs during a game with the Detroit Tigers in 1989 against the host New York Yankees.

(AP)

Frank Tanana's career-defining moment, as far as Detroit Tigers fans are concerned, came on Oct. 4, 1987.

Tanana fired a six-hit, 1-0 complete-game shutout over the Toronto Blue Jays in the regular-season finale, giving the Tigers the American League's Eastern Division title and capping one of the game's most memorable pennant races.

No game could ever define Tanana as a person, though.

Tanana is headed to Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park today, and he will participate in the West Michigan Whitecaps' Tiger Fridays series. Tanana will sign autographs from 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Tanana, a 63-year old Detroit native, broke into the Majors with the California Angels in 1973, but a decade later, injuries had begun to take their toll.

"Being a Major League Baseball player, that was my security," Tanana said. "It was my significance. It was who I was as a man. But then I hurt my arm and came to realize that this career could be over. Then who are you? I was nobody. That wasn't right. A man shouldn't be defined by the work that he does."

He wasn't struggling just on the mound, either. Tanana had lost teammate, Lyman Bostock, who was shot to death in Gary, Ind., in 1978, so he was struggling to make sense of the tragedy.

But then came Nov. 6, 1983. Tanana was sitting around an Arizona hotel room when his life changed forever.

"I understood that I was dead in my sins," Tanana said. "I realized I had no chance of having a relationship with my Holy God. But His son, Jesus, had lived a perfect life and paid a penalty for my sin. If I trusted my life in Him and asked Him for forgiveness and asked Him to come into my life, that I would be a brand new preacher, I would b e a brand new person. My sins would all be forgiven. On November 6, 1983, I made that commitment of trusting in Jesus. I have walked with him ever since. For nearly 33 years, God has been my rock on which I've built my life.

"I have a great marriage and a wonderful family because of Christ. I give Him all the praise and glory. That was my moment of my conversion, my moment of trusting Christ. I have been with Him ever since."

Tanana had gone 7-18 in 1982 and 7-9 the following year with the Texas Rangers, so his career was on a downward slide. However, Tanana bounced back with a 15-15 year with the Rangers in 1984 before he was traded to the Tigers in 1985.

Tanana's Major League career spanned from 1973-to-1993, including eight seasons with Detroit (1985-1992). Tanana pitched a season with the New York Mets in 1992 before wrapping up his career in 1993 with the New York Yankees. He finished with a career record of 240-236.

He agreed that the trade to Detroit revitalized his career. He posted a 96-82 record in Detroit.

"It was a wonderful gift from the Lord," Tanana said regarding his trade to Detroit. "I was raised here and to have the opportunity to play for the Tigers was a dream come true.

"They were the world champions and had a very good team. For me to just fit right in and pitch between (Dan) Petry and (Jack) Morris and (Walt) Terrell and guys like that, I was a good left-handed complement for the team. It made me a better pitcher of course."

Tanana now resides in Farmington Hills. Family and serving the Lord keeps him busy.

"My wife and I have three married daughters and 12 grandchildren and six of them live in the Chicago area and some are in L.A. and some are local," Tanana said.

"So we do a little bit of traveling there. I enjoy playing golf.

"And I enjoy serving the Lord and being involved in Bible studies with guys because I share the Gospel whenever I can, whether it's churches, outings or retreats. I also do some marriage counseling."