Ruhle was born in Coleman, Michigan, and attended Olivet College, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Alpha fraternity. He was selected by the Detroit Tigers, in the 17th round of the 1972 amateur draft.\n', '

Ruhle made his debut with Detroit, in September 1974. He joined the Tigers\' starting rotation the following year, posting a record of 11 wins and 12 losses, on a team that finished 57–102. On August 12, Ruhle was presented with his university degree from Olivet College, during a pre-game ceremony at Tiger Stadium.\n', '

Ruhle gave up a third-inning single to Hank Aaron on May 1, 1975, driving in Sixto Lezcano for Aaron’s record-breaking 2,210th run batted in (RBI), to surpass Babe Ruth\'s record of 2,209. On May 12, 1975, Ruhle allowed 12 baserunners in his 7 1/3 innings to earn a win. That night, the Royals left a record-tying 15 men on base, without scoring, in a 5–0 loss to the Tigers. The 15 runners left-on-base (LOB) in a shutout had been done 3 times before‚ the last on August 1‚ 1941. The mark was finally eclipsed by the St. Louis Cardinals, in 1994.\n', 'After a 9–12 season in 1976, he finished 1977 with a 5.70 earned run average (ERA), in only 66 innings pitched. Ruhle was released by Detroit toward the end of spring training in 1978, but was signed by the Houston Astros the following day.\n', '

Return to Vern Ruhle Autograph Profile