Month: March 2024

The Monday Fungo

Mark Wagner – #5

Infielder Mark Wagner debuted on Aug. 20, 1976, in a 3-2 Tigers win over the Twins at Tiger Stadium. He went 2 for 3 with an RBI, highlighted by a single, off lefty Eddie Bane, in his first major league at bat.

Here are four things to know about the guy nicknamed Peanut:

Random Game: April 26, 1977

White Sox 10 – Tigers 7 (14 innings)

W: Lerrin LaGrow (1-0) – L: Steve Foucault (0-1) | Boxscore

More proof of how baseball has changed over the past 50ish years: A 14-inning game and Ralph Houk used only three pitchers: Dave Rozema started and went 7 innings, John Hiller went 6 in relief, and Steve Foucault pitched the 14th, giving up three runs.

  • This was Rozema’s third career start and appearance.
  • Aurelio Rodriguez and Phil Mankowski teamed up to go 5 for 6 on the day.
  • Fellow St. Clair Shores native Jim Essian hit a paid of doubles in 6 at bats.
  • LaGrow went six innings in relief agains his former team.
  • Ron LeFlore had a rough day at the plate: 1 for 7, but he doubled in a run.

Miscellany

  • Umpires: HP – Don Denkinger, 1B – Larry McCoy, 2B – Durwood Merrill, 3B – Dave Phillips.
  • Time of Game: 3:58.
  • Attendance: 6,396.
  • Start Time Weather: 60° F

Birthdays

Nick Castellanos, Jack Hannahan, Mark Wagner and the late Les Mueller.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 337 8/9 — Rarity: 132

See you tomorrow.

The Sunday Fungo

Chuck Cary – #43

There was a lot of anticipation for what was being sold to Tigers fans as the next wave of homegrown talent behind Jack Morris, Dan Petry, Lance Parrish, Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell. One player that held promise was lefty Chuck Cary, along with Roger Mason, Randy O’Neal, et al.

Cary debuted on Aug. 22, 1985 against the A’s in Oakland, in a 13-inning game, earning a save with a sparkling line: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 2 K, 0 BB, 0 ER. (The Tigers won 5-3 in a game that featured a pair of soft-tossing lefties: Frank Tanana versus Tommy John.)

Later in his career, Cary was a starter but in Detroit, he worked out of the bullpen. He finished ’85 with 16 appearances, a 0-1 record, two saves, and a 3.42 ERA. The following year he was one of several left-handers on the Tigers staff including Tanana, newly acquired Dave LaPoint, Willie Hernandez, and Mark Thurmond

He appeared in 22 games in 1986, finished 1-2 with a 3.41 ERA. In his 33.2 innings pitched, he allowed 18 runs and 15 walks. The next offseason he was dealt to the Braves, along with O’Neal, for minor leaguer Freddy Tiburcio and Terry Harper.

After two seasons in Atlanta, he signed with the Yankees and pitched in the Bronx from 1989-91. Cary didn’t pitch in the majors in 1992, but in ‘93 appeared in 16 games for the White Sox. His last appearance came on Oct. 2, 1993 against the Indians.

Birthdays

Brent Dlugach, Matt Treanor, A.J. Sager, Chuck Cary, Skeeter Barnes and the late Stephen “Bud” Souchock.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 336 9/9 — Rarity: 28

See you tomorrow.

The Saturday Fungo

Dave Tobik: 5 Things to Know

Today is Tobik’s 70th birthday. Here are five things you need to know:

  1. RHP Dave Tobik was drafted by the Tigers in the first round, second overall, of the 1975 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase from Ohio University.

  2. He debuted on Aug. 26, 1978 against the Brewers, a 9-5 loss. His line: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 1 SO, 1 BB, 3 ER.

  3. He first wore number 38, then switched to 45.

  4. The Tigers traded him to the Rangers on March 24, 1983 for Johnny Grubb.

  5. Gist of Tobik’s time in Detroit: 5 seasons, 10-16 record, 3.65 ERA and 13 saves. (He started two games.)

Birthdays

Dave Tobik, Jim Nettles, Jim Brady and the late Chico Hernandez. Check out Brady’s ghastly record — and that equally ghastly Tigers hat in his photo.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 335 7/9 — Rarity: 235

See you tomorrow.

The Friday Fungo

Fernando Valenzuela?

Yes. Briefly.

This blog could not exist without Baseball Reference, and the $80 a year for the ad-free subscription is a steal given how much time I spend on the site. I always seem to uncover some delightful tidbit and lately it seems to be the result of post-Immaculate Grid curiosity.

Today’s discovery might be atop the list, if I kept a list.

Did we know Fernando Valenzuela was, for 75 days, in the Tigers system?

This development leads to a less-intriguing but worthy follow-up question: Did we know Rick Renteria was too?

My answer, at least, is: no!

Random Game: Aug. 13, 1983

Tigers 6 – Yankees 3

W: Jack Morris (14-8) – L: Ron Guidry (13-8) | Boxscore

  • I sat in the upper-deck bleachers, dead center, for this game with my brother, future brother in law, and my friends (to this day!) Rob and Jeff.

  • It could not have been a better stage: A warm August Saturday night, a packed house to see Jack Morris face Ron Guidry in a classic 1980s A.L. East showdown with the teams tied for the division lead.

  • This was the first time in my Tigers fandom that the Tigers were this good, this close to first place, this late in the season — not counting 1981.

  • The game took place a few days after Yankees right fielder Dave Winfield had dispatched a seagull with a warmup toss at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium. Those of us in the bleachers tormented him with bird-like arm waving. Top-notch hijinks for a 15 year old.

  • We went crazy after the game when the scoreboard showed the standings with the Tigers on top by a game. Insanity.

Highlights

  • The Yankees led 3-2 until the bottom of the seventh when John Wockenfuss launched a homer to left, scoring Larry Herndon, to take a 4-2 lead. (I can still it in my mind, the ball arching in slow motion to left … but now I can’t remember if it was upper or lower deck.)

  • Glenn Wilson hit a two-run double in the eighth to widen the lead to 6-2.

  • Alan Trammell went 4 for 4.

  • Morris went the distance, scattering six hits and striking out 12.

  • According to The New York Times game story by Murray Chass, the loss snapped Guidry’s seven-game Tiger Stadium winning streak. The Tigers had last beaten him in Detroit May 21, 1979, 3-1.

Miscellany

  • Umpires: HP – Al Clark, 1B – Bill Kunkel, 2B – Richard Shulock, 3B – Derryl Cousins.
  • Time of Game: 2:27
  • Attendance: 50,016
  • Start Time Weather: 76° F

Birthdays

José Valdez, Joe Mantiply, Jimmy Hurst, Doug Creek, Kris Keller and the late Tim Thompson. 

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 334 7/9 — Rarity: 212

Swings and misses include: Jerry Morales and Scott Rolen. But a couple of former Tigers*.

*Phil Plantier, in a classic Randy Smith move, was dealt away before he ever appeared in a regular season game for the Tigers.

Have a great weekend. We’ll see you tomorrow.