AP Photo John Hiller waves to the crowd during the Detroit Tigers’ 50th anniversary celebration of their 1968 World Series championship. Hiller, a Breitung Township resident, was among 13 players from the 1968 team honored.

Breitung Township’s John Hiller remains No. 1 in my book but the former Detroit Tigers relief great has slipped to second when its comes to most strikeouts in a season by a left-handed relief pitcher.

Hiller held the record for 44 years (134 strikeouts in 1974) until Milwaukee’s sidearm fire-balling Josh Hader reached 140 this season.

“I think it’s definitely a great accomplishment, being able to pitch up here and be able to be so consistent,” said Hader, who struck out 135 in 77 innings.

Hiller’s 1974 mark came over 150 innings.

Noted Cliff Corcoran of The Athletic: “Lefty John Hiller is one of the great forgotten firemen of the 1970s. He threw 150 innings of pure relief in 1974 while winning 17 games and saving another 13.”

John attended the early September reunion of the Tigers’ 1968 World Series champions. He was joined by teammates Al Kaline, Willie Horton, Mickey Lolich, Denny McLain, Mickey Stanley, Don Wert, Jim Price, Tom Matchick, Daryl Patterson, Wayne Comer, Dick Tracewski and Jon Warden for a three-day celebration.

Lynn Henning of the Detroit News wrote “the ballpark seemed to rise, in voice and with a palpable, spiritual reverence for these men who did so much for a town and for a region during a tumultuous time.”

The “tumultuous time” referred to devastating riots in Detroit.

“I think you could tell by the reaction of the people today what we meant,” Hiller told Henning. “I think it’s a privilege for it to be thought that we helped hold the city together.” …

From BC comic Torben Rolfsen via Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times, on Minnesota’s defense collapsing against the Rams in LA: “Not a big surprise — the Vikings peaked on the road about 1,000 years ago.” …

Iron River’s Jamie Angeli is working with a City College of New York women’s basketball roster featuring seven returning players and nine newcomers.

“I can’t think of a time in my 35 years of coaching where I have faced a bigger challenge,” said Angeli, who coached high school basketball at Kingsford and Norway. “There just isn’t enough playing time in a game to make everyone happy. Competition will be at an all-time high.” …

Foster Wonders, Iron Mountain High School’s talented sophomore, has received a third college basketball offer.

The latest is Division 1 UW-Milwaukee. He’s also heard from NMU and CMU …

Kingsford High School graduate Brandon Erkkila has joined the St. Norbert College women’s hockey coaching staff.

“Beyond honored and excited,” Erkkila, a former Bay Area Ice Bears co-op coach, said on social media of joining the Green Knights. “This opportunity will allow me to remain in the game and more home time at night with my family.”

Erkkila will work with the goalies …

A 2019 Barbara “I Dream of Jeannie” Eden wall calendar costs $26.99. Fifty years ago, I would have bought one without hesitation …

Former NBA star Ray Allen, during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, credited former UW-Green Bay great Jeff Nordgaard for making him a better shooter.

Allen said free throw shooting practice with Nordgaard provided a challenge during their days with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Gold Medal director Raymond Bray believes Nordgaard may have played in the Hermansville tournament one year. Nordgaard also played in the Negaunee men’s basketball tournament …