Former Detroit reliever Tom Timmermann passed away on Friday at the age of 85, his death confirmed by family via social media posts.
Timmermann’s six-season MLB career spanned from 1969 to 1974, during which he pitched for the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Guardians after a long ascent through the minor leagues.
Though he stepped away from the spotlight after his playing days, his passing serves as a moment to reflect on the career of a bullpen arm who once carried big league expectations.
From Farm System to Tiger-of-the-Year
Timmermann signed with the Tigers in 1960 out of Southern Illinois University and spent nearly a decade in the minors before making his debut in 1969. His breakout season came in 1970. As a reliever for Detroit, he appeared in 61 games and notched 27 saves–enough to earn him the “Tiger of the Year” honor from the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association.
That year he helped transform a bullpen that had long been a weakness for the club into a more reliable unit.
In subsequent seasons, Timmermann shifted between relief appearances and occasional starts, before being traded mid-season in 1973 to Cleveland. His final big league appearance came in April 1974, following which he quietly retired from pro baseball and moved into a more private life.
“He lived life fully, joyfully, and on his own terms,” Zimmermann’s niece Cindy said. “He loved his daughter Heather with his whole heart, and his son Phil just the same. Family wasn’t just important to him; it was everything. He was larger than life, steady, strong, and unforgettable. … Thank you for the love, the stories, the laughs, and the example you set. I’ll miss you so much.”
A Legacy That Extended Beyond the Mound
While his time in the majors may not have placed him among the all-time greats, Timmermann left behind something equally notable–a three-generation pitching family. His biological son entered professional baseball under the name Phil Leftwich (after adoption and discovering his lineage), and Phil’s own son, Luke Leftwich, also spent time in the minors.
Beyond the numbers, Timmermann attended Tigers alumni events for many years and remained connected to the game, albeit off the field. For teammates and younger pitchers, his journey from long minor-league haul to MLB service was a model of persistence.
Remembering His Impact
Looking back at Timmermann’s career statistics–a 26-27 win-loss record in Detroit with a 3.39 ERA during his Tigers years, and 35 saves recorded over his career–they tell part of the story.
But perhaps more important were the less quantifiable aspects: the steady arm in the bullpen during a transitional era, the worker- mentality honed over years in the minors, and the mentoring role he later took on among former teammates and alumni.
His passing invites us to reflect on the many players who occupy baseball’s middle tier. Not always household names, but whose contributions underpin teams, eras, and legacies. Timmermann may not have been headline every night, but for those who followed the Tigers in the early 1970s, his name remains part of the story.
According to the Detroit Free Press, “Timmermann is survived by three children, nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, his two brothers and 25-year companion Joan Martin. Timmermann was preceded in death by his first wife Marcia and his second wife Ruby, who died in 1999.”
His memorial service is set to be held at O’Brien Sullivan Funeral Home in Novi, Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 22. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 12 p.m.
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