In January 1971, Hiller suffered a heart attack and underwent intestinal surgery to control his body's absorption of cholesterol.

[2] In June 1962, Hiller, at age 19, signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers for $400 a month, a pair of spikes, and an old glove.

[6][7] Detroit scout Edwin "Cy" Williams discovered Hiller playing for the Scarborough Selects, an All-Star team composed of local sandlot players.

[8] Hiller noted in early 1966 that he initially viewed the assignment to the bullpen as a demotion, but became accustomed to the role: "You don't have to worry about pacing yourself.

[1] Hiller began the 1966 season with the Tigers, but appeared in only one game, pitching two innings in relief against Washington on April 17, giving up two hits and two earned runs.

[8] Hiller started the 1967 season with the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League, compiling a 5–1 record with a 3.00 ERA.

Farm director Don Lund noted at the time that Hiller had recently mastered his control on breaking pitches to balance his excellent fastball.

[1] Hiller spent his first full season in the majors as a reliever and spot starter for the 1968 Tigers team that won the American League pennant and the 1968 World Series.

[14] On August 20, he pitched a one-hit complete game shutout against the Chicago White Sox;[15] the one hit came in the eighth inning on a ball that just missed Hiller's glove.

[1] On October 1, in the final game of the season, he pitched a two-hit, complete-game shutout and struck out 11 batters, including seven in a row.

Hiller was placed on a strict diet, quit smoking cigarettes, and lost 20 pounds in the month after his heart attack.

[21] In April, Hiller underwent an ileo-bypass, a surgery in which about the doctors removed seven feet of his small intestines – the portions that are responsible for absorbing cholesterol.

"[28] Two days later, Hiller returned to the mound and retired the side in a victory that gave the Tigers sole possession of first place in the American League East.

[29] On October 1, Hiller pitched a complete-game, five-hit victory over Milwaukee Brewers that Jim Hawkins of the Detroit Free Press called the "biggest win of the season".

"[31] In the last half of the 1972 season, Hiller helped the Tigers win the American League East pennant, appearing in 23 games with a strong 2.03 ERA.

Only two pitchers in major league history are known to have recorded a higher rating: Hall of Famers Tim Keefe in 1880 (293) and Pedro Martinez in 2000 (291).

[39] As the first major league player to suffer a heart attack and then return an active competitor,[27] Hiller's comeback was rated as "one of the most heartwarming sagas in sports.

[47] He also tied for fourth in the voting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award, behind Reggie Jackson and Rod Carew.

[48] In January 1976, he was honored in Philadelphia with a Most Courageous Athlete award and acknowledged that, prior to the heart attack, he smoked too much, drank too much and ate too much.

[1] Hiller won his 10th game of the season on July 1 and was on pace to break Roy Face's major league record of 18 relief wins set in 1959.

"[54] While pitching against Cleveland on July 25, 1975, Hiller "felt something tear" in his throwing arm and was sidelined for the remainder of the season.

[55][56] While trying to come back in September, Hiller reported that, although the pain had subsided, he could still feel a lump under his left arm where the injury occurred.

Sports writers joked that Hiller's head was as smooth as his delivery and compared the new look to Fu Manchu or "a cross between Genghis Khan and Kojak.

[64] In April 1977, the Tigers traded Willie Horton to the Texas Rangers for relief pitcher Steve Foucault.

"[73] Hiller returned to the Tigers briefly in 1980, just long enough to break Hooks Dauss' franchise record of 538 games pitched.

[75] On May 30, 1980, after finishing a clubhouse card game with teammates, Hiller called a team meeting and announced that he was retiring.

Detroiters have a special affection for Hiller for what he had to overcome and for the dogged persistence with which he fought his way back from a heart attack.

[1] At the time of his retirement, his 125 saves ranked behind only Sparky Lyle (231), Hoyt Wilhelm (154) and Rollie Fingers (136) in major league history, and remained a Detroit Tigers club record until 1993.

[81][82] He also supported himself with jobs selling insurance, owning a pet shop, operating a country store, and working as a Pepsi distributor.

[78][83][84] His coaching career ended when he was diagnosed in 1988 with a blockage behind his right knee that had caused the arteries in his lower leg to deteriorate.