The Sunday Fungo: Feb. 4

Happy Birthday, Stan Papi.

Today is Stan Papi‘s 73rd birthday, so let’s take a look back on his brief time in Detroit:

• On May 29, 1980, the Tigers purchased Papi’s contract from the Phillies and the infielder made an immediate splash in Detroit.

• The next day, Papi, wearing number 9, started at second base and batted ninth — behind the number-eight hitter, Kirk Gibson — against the Angels.

• He struck out against Frank Tanana in the bottom of the second but in the fourth hit a two-run home run off Tanana to give the Tigers and Milt Wilcox a 4-1 lead.
  
• He singled in his next at bat and then tripled in the sixth off Jim Barr. The Tigers won the game 12-1.

Papi finished the 1980 campaign with a .237 average, three homers and 17 RBI in 46 games. He hung around for 40 games in the strike-shortened 1981 season, hitting just .204.

His last appearance in a big-league game came on Oct. 1, against the Orioles at Tiger Stadium. Sparky inserted him as a pinch hitter for Rick Leach in the seventh; Papi struck out against Tippy Martinez to end the inning.

Other Birthdays

Doug Fister, Germany Schaefer, Joe Sparma, Rusty Kuntz and Chris Bando.

Today’s Grid

Immaculate Grid 308: 9/9 — Rarity: 37

Three former Tigers and one Detroit native today.

See you tomorrow.