Dennis Kinney

The Tigers picked up southpaw Dennis Kinney from the Padres on Dec. 12, 1980 for Dave Stegman.

After spending most of the ’81 campaign in Triple-A Evansville, Kinney appeared in six late-season games for the Tigers, debuting against the Red Sox in Detroit on Sept. 9, a 6-5 loss.

His final appearance came at County Stadium on Oct. 2 against the Brewers, entering with two out in the fifth in relief of Dan Petry. The Tigers lost, 8-2.

His Tigers career by the numbers:

• 3.2 innings pitched
• 4 walks
• 3 hits
• 4 runs, all earned
• 9.82 ERA.

Kinney was released almost a year to the day he was acquired: Dec. 14, 1981. On Feb. 7, 1982, he signed with the A’s.

His final big-league appearance came on May 20, 1982 at Tiger Stadium in a 11-3 Tigers win. Kinney’s line: 3.0 IP, 7 H, 0 SO, 1 BB, 3 ER.

Random Game: May 9, 1981

Angels 15 – Tigers 1

The Tigers scored first on a Kirk Gibson RBI single to plate Al Cowens. And that was it.

• Dan Schatzeder started and went just two and a third, giving up four earned runs.
• Dave Tobik was up next and he gave up six in three and a third.
• Howard Bailey pitched the final two, and allowed five earned.
• The Angels hit four homers: Bobby Clark, off Schatzeder, and Brian Downing, Don Baylor and Bobby Grich off Tobik.
• Gibby and Cowens had two hits apiece for the Tigers.

Here’s your boxscore.

Details

• Saturday, May 9, 1981
• Attendance: 32,040
• Venue: Anaheim Stadium
• Game Duration: 2:42
• Night Game, on grass

Birthdays

Dennis Kinney, Don Lee and the late Rip Collins

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 330 9/9 — Rarity: 74

See you tomorrow.