Imagine a single pitch derailing an entire season. That’s exactly what happened to the Detroit Tigers in 2020, and the man behind the mound was none other than Phil Bickford, a then-rookie pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. But here's where it gets controversial: Was it simply a fluke, or did Bickford’s debut inadvertently become a turning point in the Tigers’ rebuilding journey? Let’s dive into this fascinating slice of baseball history and explore how one moment can change everything.
It was September 1, 2020, during the COVID-shortened season. The Tigers were on a roll, crushing the Brewers 12-1 in a game that marked their sixth straight win. At 17-16, they were just 2½ games out of the final playoff spot—a shocking feat for a team deep in rebuilding mode. And this is the part most people miss: That game, which seemed like a high point, actually marked the beginning of the end for the Tigers’ playoff hopes.
In the eighth inning, Bickford, making his major league debut, hit the first two batters he faced: JaCoby Jones and Jorge Bonifacio. The pitch to Jones, a key catalyst in the Tigers’ surge, broke his hand and ended his season. Without Jones, the Tigers spiraled into a 6-19 slump for the rest of the month. Manager Ron Gardenhire stepped away with eight games left, leaving Lloyd McClendon to finish the season. It was a dramatic collapse, all triggered by one fateful inning.
Fast forward to today, and Bickford is now one of 13 non-roster pitchers with big-league experience in camp with the Tigers. When reminded of his debut, Bickford admitted, ‘Oh my gosh, I had a feeling that might get brought up.’ He’s done his best to move past it, focusing on his growth as a player. After being released by the Brewers, he found success with the Dodgers in 2021, pitching six scoreless innings in the postseason. However, after 152 games with the Dodgers between 2021 and 2023, he’s become something of a journeyman, bouncing from the Mets to the Yankees and most recently pitching well in Triple-A for the Cubs and Phillies.
Bickford’s resilience is admirable. Despite not throwing a single pitch in the big leagues last season, he controlled what he could—his performance. ‘In my situation, it is what it is, life goes on,’ he said. ‘You just do your best to be in the moment and get better at baseball.’ Now 31, Bickford has tweaked his mechanics, working to raise his arm angle after it dropped slightly in recent years. He’s also experimenting with adding a tighter slider to his repertoire and learning from teammates like Drew Anderson.
Bickford signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers, drawn by the organization’s reputation for rejuvenating older pitchers. ‘It seems like a really good time to be here,’ he said. ‘The whole organization seems like they’re doing a really good job of helping everybody move forward.’ While the odds of him breaking camp with the team are long, the season is unpredictable, and the Tigers used 35 different pitchers last year. Bickford’s goal is to stay ready for when opportunity knocks.
Here’s the real question: Does Bickford owe Detroit something for that fateful debut? He thinks so. ‘Honestly, that’s driving me a little bit,’ he admitted. ‘I feel like I might owe Detroit a little bit. I’m using that as some leverage.’
What do you think? Was Bickford’s debut a mere accident, or does he have a point about owing the Tigers? Let’s spark a discussion in the comments!
