Joseph Blase Sparma (February 4, 1942 – May 14, 1986) was a quarterback in collegiate football (1961–1962) and a pitcher in Major League Baseball (1964–1970).

Sparma quit the team after three years due to differences with Hayes and opted to pursue a career in Major League Baseball.

In 1965, Sparma was in his first full season with the Tigers, when he was assigned to be the starting pitcher against the Yankees on "Mickey Mantle Day" in New York.

Mantle turned to Detroit's catcher Bill Freehan and said: "They have a day for me and your manager's got to put some hard-throwing kid out there.

When Sparma finally got another start on September 17, he pitched a one-run, complete game win against the Yankees to clinch the Tigers' first pennant since 1945.

[3] The Sparma-Smith feud continued, and Sparma pitched only 1⁄3 of an inning in the 1968 World Series, giving up two earned runs for a 54.00 ERA in postseason play.

On another occasion, Sparma told teammate Dick McAuliffe of a premonition: "Mac, I know you're going to have a good day today.