The Sunday Fungo: May 12

May 12, 1984: Angels 4 – Tigers 2

W: Tommy John (3-3) – L: Juan Berenguer (2-2) | Boxscore

Record: 26-5

Highlights

  • The Tigers had a 2-0 lead into the fifth when Reggie Jackson blasted a two-run homer off Berenguer. (See the proof below.)
  • Tommy John pitched a complete game, and Sparky got ejected in this one for arguing a call at second base and tossing his hat in the air to boot.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Jim Evans, 1B – Greg Kosc, 2B – Ted Hendry, 3B – Drew Coble
  • Time of Game: 2:32
  • Attendance: 38,516

Ron Jackson #15

The 1981 Tigers were in the hunt for a playoff spot as the second-half A.L. East champ, so they picked up right-handed hitting first baseman Ron Jackson for the stretch drive.

Here are a few things to know about his brief time in Detroit:

  • He came to Detroit from the Twins on Aug. 23, 1981 for a player to be named later. The Tigers sent Tim Corcoran on Sept. 4 to complete the trade.
  • He became a regular during his brief stint in Detroit, appearing in 31 games and batting .284 with a homer and 12 RBI and a .758 OPS.
  • As I remember it, Jackson was a spark plug for the Tigers and it seemed like he would return in 1982. Instead, the Tigers let him go as a free agent (surprise, surprise).
  • He signed with the Angels, his original club, in April 1982 and spent two seasons in Anaheim and his final year, 1984, with the Orioles.

Birthdays

Lou Whitaker, Tom Timmermann and the late Dixie Parsons, Hank Borowy, Archie McKain and Joe Dugan

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 406 9/9 : Rarity 30

See you tomorrow.

The Saturday Fungo: May 11

May 11, 1984: Tigers 8 – Angels 2

W: Milt Wilcox (4-0) – L: Mike Witt (4-2) – S: Willie Hernández (4) | Boxscore

Record: 26-4

Highlights

  • Six solid, scoreless innings from Wilcox and a less-than-pristine three-inning save from Willie: 5 hits allowed, 2 runs.
  • A lot of traffic on the base paths during this one: 25 combined hits (14 for Detroit) and seven combined walks (6 for the Tigers.)

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Drew Coble, 1B – Jim Evans, 2B – Greg Kosc, 3B – Ted Hendry
  • Time of Game: 2:55
  • Attendance: 44,187

Birthdays

Francisco Cordero, Bill Bean, Mark Huismann, Walt Terrell, the late Rip Sewell and Charlie Gehringer 

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 405 9/9 – Rarity: 17

See you tomorrow.

The Friday Fungo: May 10

May 10, 1984: Off Day

After sweeping the Royals, the Tigers enjoy an off day before a weekend series at home against the Angels.

So, here’s a game from May 10, 1987.

On TV: May 10, 1987: Tigers vs. A’s

Jack Morris vs. Moose Haas

Birthdays

JaCoby Jones, Brayan Villarreal, Matt Tuiasosopo, Luke Putkonen, Marino Santana, John Cummings and the late Tim Hosley

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 404 7/9 — Rarity: 254

A couple of half-baked guesses doomed me today …

See you tomorrow.

The Thursday Fungo: May 9

May 9, 1984: Tigers 3 – Royals 1

W: Dan Petry (5-1) – L: Danny Jackson (0-4) – Save: Aurelio López (4) | Boxscore

Record: 25-4

Highlights

  • Petry pitched six and two-thirds, allowing seven hits and just one run. Aurelio López pitched the rest of the way, giving up just a walk and striking out four.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Royals Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Larry McCoy, 1B – Nick Bremigan, 2B – Vic Voltaggio, 3B – Joe Brinkman
  • Time of Game: 2:48
  • Attendance: 15,709

Birthdays

Ian Krol, Daniel Schlereth, Prince Fielder, Ron Jackson, and the late Tom Yewcic and Lew Drill

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 403 9/9 – Rarity: 11

See you tomorrow.

The Wednesday Fungo: May 8

May 8, 1984: Tigers 5 – Royals 2

W: Jack Morris (6-1) – L: Bud Black (3-2) | Boxscore

Record: 24-4

Highlights

  • After seemingly years of being stymied by Dan Quisenberry, the Tigers got to him in the seventh inning — with an exclamation mark.
  • The Tigers trailed 2-0 and, with Quisenberry on the mound, the road winning streak again looked in peril … until a two-out grand slam by Alan Trammell as part of a five-run rally.
  • Morris turned in a seven-hit, five-strikeout complete game.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Royals Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Joe Brinkman, 1B – Larry McCoy, 2B – Nick Bremigan, 3B – Vic Voltaggio
  • Time of Game: 2:35
  • Attendance: 14,304

Birthdays

Wily Peralta, Alfredo Simón and the late Norman “Turkey” Stearnes and John Skopec

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 402 9/9: Rarity: 39

See you tomorrow.

The Tuesday Fungo: May 7

May 7, 1984: Tigers 10 – Royals 3

W: Juan Berenguer (2-1) – L: Mark Gubicza (0-3) – Save: Doug Bair (2) | Boxscore

Record: 23-4

Highlights

  • Alan Trammell (3 for 4), Johnny Grubb (2 for 3) and Chet Lemon (3 for 3) led the offense and Berenguer pitch a solid if not erratic six and two thirds. He gave up six hits and four walks. Bair pitched a scoreless two and a third.
  • The Tigers’ road winning streak marches on: 12 straight.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Royals Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Vic Voltaggio, 1B – Joe Brinkman, 2B – Larry McCoy, 3B – Nick Bremigan
  • Time of Game: 3:02
  • Attendance: 19,474

A Bad Tigers TV Commercial from 1993

Fr. Allan Travers

Read about Fr. Allan Travers who gave up 24 runs on 26 hits in eight innings against the Philadelphia Athletics on May 18, 1912. It was his only appearance — anywhere.

Birthdays

Fr. Allan Travers

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 401 8/9: Rarity: 217

See you tomorrow.

The Monday Fungo: May 6

May 6, 1984: Tigers 6 – Indians 5 (12)

W: Aurelio López (3-0) – L: Ernie Camacho (0-2) | Boxscore

Record: 22-4

Highlights

  • For the second straight day, the Tigers edge the Indians 6-5, but this one was a 12-inning affair.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Cleveland Municipal Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Jim McKean, 1B – Durwood Merrill, 2B – Dan Morrison, 3B – Marty Springstead
  • Time of Game: 4:20
  • Attendance: 16,125

Dave Gumpert #43

The Tigers signed 6′ 1″ righty Dave Gumpert on Nov. 4, 1980 as an amateur free agent out of Aquinas College in Grand Rapids.

He quickly moved up the ladder in 1981, starting in Single-A Lakeland, Double-A Birmingham and the Triple-A Evansville. In 1982, he appeared in 42 games for Birmingham and two for Evansville before getting the call to Detroit.

Gumpert made his debut on July 25, 1982 against the Rangers, securing the final two outs to close out the Tigers’ 7-2 win.

He pitched in five games for the ’82 Tigers, including one brief start on Aug. 8: getting just one out and giving up three runs on four hits, including a homer to Ernie Whitt.

His final line for 1982: Five appearances, two innings pitched, 13 batters faced, one start, one save, and a 27.00 ERA.

In 1983, he began the season in Evansville and was promoted in time to again face the Blue Jays, on May 30. Gumpert relieved starter Dan Petry with one out in the ninth and the Tigers trailing 4-0. He escaped the inning and the Tigers scored four in the bottom half to push it to extras. Gumpert was charged with two runs in the 10th and the Tigers lost, 6-4.

Gumpert appeared in 26 games for the ’83 Tigers, finishing with a record of 0-2, an ERA of 2.94 and a pair of saves.

He spent all of 1984 in Evansville, posting a 7-4 record with a 4.96 ERA. The Tigers released him at the end of Spring Training in 1985 and he signed with the Cubs a week later. His final numbers with Detroit: 0-2, 3.69 ERA, two saves.

Gumpert spent the ’85 and ’86 seasons in Chicago, before being traded to the Royals for his final big-league season in 1987.

Birthdays

Phil Clark and Tom Bolton 

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 400 9/9: Rarity: 71

See you tomorrow.