He had a great baseball name. His last appearance was in the 1984 World Series, pinch hitting for Alan Wiggins.

Jeeze. First Beano Cook, now Champ Summers. Who's next, Cornbread Maxwell?

When I used to visit the Upper Peninsula with my grandparents in the summers of the late '70s and early '80s, I would listen to Ernie Harwell broadcast Tigers games on the radio. I was a Cubs fan first, but a Tigers fan second. Champ Summers, Milt Wilcox; I remember those teams fairly well.

Yes, one of the great baseball names. When I first heard his name back in the mid-1970s, I thought, this is the name of a guy who will one day win the batting title.

He came up with those great A's teams of the early 70s and never really had a chance, stuck behind Rudi, North, Reggie and Claudell Washington. The A's traded him to the Cubs, but he never panned out as an everyday outfielder.

After being traded by Oakland, he was very critical of his A's teammates, saying that they were not very supportive of a young, struggling player. He didn't have very fond memories of the 1974 championship.

For absolutely no good reason, my dominant memory of Champ Summers is him struggling near the end of his career with the Giants. (Even though I saw him plenty of times with the Tigers.)

His 1979 APBA card was a thing of beauty.

He had a great baseball name.

Indeed. In fact, my fantasy baseball league has been named "Champs of Summer" since 1999. We'll miss you, Champ.

Champ played in the infamous Braves/Pads beanball game in 1984. I remember him trying to get in the Braves dugout and dismember Pascual Perez. Bob Horner saved Perez that day.

I haven't seen any mention of Summers' military service in Viet Nam.

I always got him confused with Tarzan Joe Wallis.

After being traded by Oakland, he was very critical of his A's teammates, saying that they were not very supportive of a young, struggling player.

Well, he was a 28 year old making his major league debut on a team that had won two world series in a row, I imagine there wasn't a lot of room for slack there.

I haven't seen any mention of Summers' military service in Viet Nam.

If that Wikipedia entry is accurate, that was a hell of a ride to the big leagues for Champ. I don't remember ever hearing any of that.

RIP.

The death of a guy named Champ whose widow is named Joy. We haven't seen a story like this since Moose and Cookie Skowron.

His 1979 APBA card was a thing of beauty.

I was going to say the exact same thing about his Strat-O-Matic card. I guess I just did.

At ages 33 and 34 he was quite a hitter for the Tigers. He did little before that and little after. Very odd little burst of greatness.

And what a perfect baseball name.

bbref gives his full name as John Junior Summers.

If that Wikipedia entry is accurate

It's correct. Read this appreciation: http://www.bnd.com/2012/10/11/2357039/former-metro-east-standout-and.html

Great pic of Champ and Danny Cox.

Well, he was a 28 year old making his major league debut on a team that had won two world series in a row, I imagine there wasn't a lot of room for slack there.

I imagine there were quite a few older players in the minors and having rookie seasons around that time, competition with the South East Asian League.

It's correct. Read this appreciation: link here, if anyone else wants to read it.

Thanks xdog.