Norm Cash
Born: 11/10/1933 in Justiceburg, TX, USA
Died: 10/11/1986 in Beaver Island, MI, USA
MLB Debut: 1958-06-18 | Final Game: 1974-08-06
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Norman Dalton Cash
Biography
Norm Cash was a prominent American professional baseball player, celebrated for his powerful hitting and consistent performance during his career from 1958 to 1974. Born in 1933, Cash made a significant impact in Major League Baseball as a first baseman and outfielder, particularly known for his time with the Detroit Tigers. Over the course of 2,089 games, he amassed 1,820 hits, including 377 home runs, and drove in 1,103 runs, culminating in a respectable career batting average of .271. His ability to hit for power and average made him a key figure in the Tigers’ lineup, and he was selected to the All-Star team five times, underscoring his status as one of the era's top players.
Playing primarily during the 1960s and early 1970s—a period characterized by both the rise of pitching dominance and the increasing importance of power hitters—Cash was known for his unique batting style and keen eye at the plate. He combined a solid on-base percentage with the ability to hit for extra bases, which contributed to his reputation as a formidable hitter. His career spanned a transformative time in baseball, where the game was increasingly shaped by the integration of players and the evolution of offensive strategies. Cash's contributions to the game left a lasting legacy, particularly within the Tigers organization, where his achievements continue to be celebrated by fans and historians alike.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2089 | 6705 | 1046 | 1820 | 241 | 41 | 377 | 1103 | 43 | 1043 | 1091 | 0.271 | 0.374 | 0.488 | 0.862 | 35058.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | CHW | AL | 13 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1959 | CHW | AL | 58 | 104 | 16 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 1 | 18 | 9 | 0.240 | 165.8 |
| 1960 | DET | AL | 121 | 353 | 64 | 101 | 16 | 3 | 18 | 63 | 4 | 65 | 58 | 0.286 | 2083.5 |
| 1961 | DET | AL | 159 | 535 | 119 | 193 | 22 | 8 | 41 | 132 | 11 | 124 | 85 | 0.361 | 7172.1 |
| 1962 | DET | AL | 148 | 507 | 94 | 123 | 16 | 2 | 39 | 89 | 6 | 104 | 82 | 0.243 | 2847.5 |
| 1963 | DET | AL | 147 | 493 | 67 | 133 | 19 | 1 | 26 | 79 | 2 | 89 | 76 | 0.270 | 2835.5 |
| 1964 | DET | AL | 144 | 479 | 63 | 123 | 15 | 5 | 23 | 83 | 2 | 70 | 66 | 0.257 | 1618.8 |
| 1965 | DET | AL | 142 | 467 | 79 | 124 | 23 | 1 | 30 | 82 | 6 | 77 | 62 | 0.266 | 2793.6 |
| 1966 | DET | AL | 160 | 603 | 98 | 168 | 18 | 3 | 32 | 93 | 2 | 66 | 91 | 0.279 | 2528.1 |
| 1967 | DET | AL | 152 | 488 | 64 | 118 | 16 | 5 | 22 | 72 | 3 | 81 | 100 | 0.242 | 1884.0 |
| 1968 | DET | AL | 127 | 411 | 50 | 108 | 15 | 1 | 25 | 63 | 1 | 39 | 70 | 0.263 | 1923.5 |
| 1969 | DET | AL | 142 | 483 | 81 | 135 | 15 | 4 | 22 | 74 | 2 | 63 | 80 | 0.280 | 2022.6 |
| 1970 | DET | AL | 130 | 370 | 58 | 96 | 18 | 2 | 15 | 53 | 0 | 72 | 58 | 0.259 | 1372.6 |
| 1971 | DET | AL | 135 | 452 | 72 | 128 | 10 | 3 | 32 | 91 | 1 | 59 | 86 | 0.283 | 2824.7 |
| 1972 | DET | AL | 137 | 440 | 51 | 114 | 16 | 0 | 22 | 61 | 0 | 50 | 64 | 0.259 | 1486.1 |
| 1973 | DET | AL | 121 | 363 | 51 | 95 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 40 | 1 | 47 | 73 | 0.262 | 1297.4 |
| 1974 | DET | AL | 53 | 149 | 17 | 34 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 19 | 30 | 0.228 | 202.6 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 45 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 0.311 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | ALCS | DET | 5 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0.267 |
| 1968 | WS | DET | 7 | 26 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 0.385 |
| 1959 | WS | CHA | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1943 | 1812 | 15157 | 1317 | 131 | 1347 |
| OF | 11 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | CHA | OF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | CHA | 1B | 31 | 25 | 231 | 14 | 4 | 19 |
| 1960 | DET | 1B | 99 | 86 | 739 | 59 | 7 | 68 |
| 1960 | DET | OF | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | DET | 1B | 157 | 157 | 1231 | 127 | 11 | 121 |
| 1962 | DET | 1B | 146 | 143 | 1081 | 116 | 10 | 94 |
| 1962 | DET | OF | 3 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963 | DET | 1B | 142 | 138 | 1161 | 99 | 7 | 93 |
| 1964 | DET | 1B | 137 | 129 | 1105 | 92 | 4 | 97 |
| 1965 | DET | 1B | 139 | 129 | 1091 | 97 | 9 | 96 |
| 1966 | DET | 1B | 158 | 156 | 1271 | 114 | 17 | 118 |
| 1967 | DET | 1B | 146 | 131 | 1135 | 112 | 6 | 89 |
| 1968 | DET | 1B | 117 | 105 | 924 | 88 | 8 | 66 |
| 1969 | DET | 1B | 134 | 127 | 1016 | 96 | 7 | 99 |
| 1970 | DET | 1B | 114 | 100 | 868 | 70 | 10 | 76 |
| 1971 | DET | 1B | 131 | 122 | 1020 | 75 | 9 | 105 |
| 1972 | DET | 1B | 134 | 119 | 1060 | 70 | 8 | 102 |
| 1973 | DET | 1B | 114 | 104 | 856 | 64 | 8 | 72 |
| 1974 | DET | 1B | 44 | 41 | 368 | 24 | 6 | 32 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1944 |
| Left Field | 4 |
| Right Field | 7 |
| Designated Hitter | 3 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1971 | TSN Comeback Player of the Year | |
| 1965 | TSN Comeback Player of the Year | |
| 1961 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sul Ross State University | Alpine | TX | 1954, 1955 |
| Angelo State University | San Angelo | TX | 1953 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 12th | 21.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1968 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 3.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1966 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 12th | 23.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1965 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 33th | 1.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 31th | 3.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1961 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 151.0 | 280 | 1 |