position with a .983 fielding percentage. In 1972, Stanley helped lead the Tigers to the American League East divisional title. He appeared in 139 games in center field and compiled a .987 fielding percentage. His batting average dropped to .234 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs. Stanley had one of his best all-around seasons in 1973. He appeared in a career-high 157 games, including 151 games as the team's starting center fielder. He compiled a .993 fielding percentage, a 2.74 range factor (well above the league average of 2.02), and won his fourth Gold Glove Award. He hit a career-high 17 home runs during the 1973 season. After being struck out by Nolan Ryan in a 1973 no-hitter, Stanley told reporters: "Those were the best pitches I ever heard." In 1974, Stanley played 90 games at center field and compiled a .986 fielding percentage. However, his batting average dropped to .221, the lowest by Stanley since 1967. On July 30, 1974, Stanley broke a bone in his right hande, making room for Ron LeFlore to take over as the Tigers' center fielder. As LeFlore performed well, Stanley conceded in late August, "It's going to be pretty hard to move him out. He's an exciting player." 1975–1978 With LeFlore taking over in center field, Stanley in February 1975 said, "For the first time I feel like I'm on the outside looking in", while adding, "I want to stay in Detroit. I want to stay in Michigan. This is my home and this is where I want to play." He became a utility player and late-inning defense replacement during the 1975 season, appearing in 15 games in center field, 14 in left field, 14 at first base, seven at third base, and one as the team's designated hitter. He continued in the utility role through the 1978 season, playing at least two games at every position except pitcher and catcher. By April 1977, Stanley and John Hiller were the only two players remaining on the roster from the 1968 World Series championship team. At the end of the 1978 season, Stanley's contract with the Tigers expired, though Stanley expressed his desire to continue playing. During the 1978 season, Stanley was a bridge between the Tigers 1968 and 1984 World Series teams. Having been a mainstay on the 1968 team, he was an aging veteran playing alongside rookies Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker,