Milt Wilcox knew the exhilaration of World Series victory and the frustration of missing immortality by one pitch. As a freckle-faced 20-year-old, he won the deciding game of the 1970 NLCS. He did not develop as expected at Cleveland, got little chance with the Cubs, and was in the minors when purchased by the Tigers in 1976. Becoming a skilled pitcher, rather than just a thrower, he went on to win 97 games for Detroit, 17 in 1984, despite recurring shoulder problems. Shoulder surgery in 1985 proved a blow from which he could not recover. On April 15, 1983 Wilcox was one out from a perfect game when pinch-hitter Jerry Hariston singled to end the bid.