Month: September 2013

Video: Today in Tigers History: McLain Wins #31, Surrenders Mantle’s #535

On this date in 1968, Denny McLain earned his 31st win and along the way, grooved nothing but heat* to Mickey Mantle, helping The Mick hit his 535th career homer.

Five years ago, in a nod to the 40th anniversary of that 31-win season, The New York Daily News caught up with McLain:

Who has only two of his own teeth, could pass for a sumo wrestler and yet still eats a pack of Twinkies most every day?

Turns out that Dennis Dale McLain is still pitching after all these years. It’s just not fastballs and curves anymore, and not with his signature leg kick.

“I am who I am,” McLain says. “I’m not going to change after 64 years. I get up every day and do Denny.”

On that night 45 years go, before just 9,063 at Tiger Stadium, McLain went the distance in the Tigers’ 6-2 win – the club’s 99th of the season.

Here’s Mantle telling his side of the story:

*From Baseball-Reference: McLain allegedly calls catcher Jim Price** out and tells him to inform Mantle he’s throwing the slugger nothing but fastballs. The home run gives Mantle undisputed hold of third place on the all-time home run list. Mantle tips his cap to McLain as he rounds third base. Joe Pepitone, the next
batter, signals where he would like the ball, and McLain dusts him. The Tigers win the game, 6-2, the 12th straight complete game for the Tigers staff.

**Price went 0 for 4.

 

Sept. 18, 1984: Tigers Clinch American League East Title

On this date in 1984, the Tigers clinched the American League East title, beating the Brewers 3-0.

Randy O’Neal pitched seven shutout innings, allowing four hits, one walk and striking out six. As he often did, Willie Hernandez earned a two-inning save, his 30th of the year.

Tom Brookens hit a solo homer off Brewers’ starter Bob McClure. Lance Parrish drove in Detroit’s other two runs.

If you want to take a deep dive into the ’84 club, pickup a copy of Detroit Tigers 1984: What a Start! What a Finish! from Amazon.com. (Disclosure: I wrote the bios of Rusty Kuntz, Johnny Grubb, Chet Lemon and Carl Willis that appear in the book.)

225 Words about Cup-of-Coffee Tigers RHP Jim Proctor

Jim Proctor

There’s always an interesting story about the Tigers birthdays. Take, for example, Jim Proctor, who was born on this date in 1935.

He debuted at age 23 for the Tigers on Sept. 14, 1959 against the Senators in Washington, pitching in relief of starter Ray Narleski. In the bottom of the sixth, he allowed one run on three hits — also, he allowed a sac bunt by future Tigers bench coach Billy Consolo and a walk to Harmon Killebrew.

In the seventh, he gave up a leadoff triple to Julio Becquer before retiring the next three men in order.

Proctor’s next appearance was on Sept. 26 at Briggs Stadium against the White Sox and Hall of Famer Early Wynn. It would Proctor’s first and last career start and the second and final big-league appearance as well. He wouldn’t escape the first inning, allowing four runs, all earned, on four hits and two walks. The final hitter the right hander faced was the eighth man to bat in the inning, Sox left fielder Johnny Callison.

One interesting side note from this game: Norm Cash replaced first baseman Ted Kluszewski in the bottom of the second, batting cleanup. He went 0 for 1 with a flyout and a walk.

As for Proctor, his major league career came to a close less than two weeks after it began. His career line:

W L ERA G IP H R ER HR BB SO WHIP
0 1 16.88 2 2.2 8 5 5 0 3 0 4.125
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/9/2013