Month: May 2024

The Friday Fungo: May 31

May 31, 1984: An Off Day in Detroit

The 37-9 Tigers await the defending World Series champ for a weekend series at Tiger Stadium. Baltimore comes to town with a 28-21 record.

Record: 37-9

May 31, 1979: The Underwoods Face Off

Tigers 1 – Blue Jays 0

W: Pat Underwood (1-0) – L: Tom Underwood (0-7)– Save: John Hiller (4) | Boxscore

Pat Underwood shut out the Blue Jays for eight-and-a-third innings at Exhibition Stadium, earning his first major-league win as the Tigers beat Toronto, and his brother Tom, 1-0 thanks to Jerry Morales‘ eighth-inning solo home run.

How great is this? Underwood picked off Blue Jays second baseman Danny Ainge at second base.

Mark Salas – #10 and #27

Here are five things to know about catcher Mark Salas:

  1. The Tigers signed him as a free agent on April 8, 1990.
  2. The left-handed hitting Salas made his debut on April 14 against the Orioles. He pinch hit for Mike Heath in the seventh and struck out.
  3. He appeared in 74 games for the Tigers that season — wearing number 10 — hitting .232 with nine home runs, 24 RBI and a .737 OPS.
  4. He appeared in just 33 games, now wearing number 27, for the 1991 Tigers. He hit .088 with a homer and seven RBI.
  5. Salas’s final big-league game was Oct. 5, 1991, like his first, against the Orioles. In the bottom of the sixth, he replaced pinch hitter Rich Rowland, playing first and batting ninth. His career came to an end when he led off the ninth by grounding out to pitcher Mark Williamson.

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, whom the Tigers drafted in 1994 and traded in 1998 to Indians for Geronimo Berroa.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 425 7/9: Rarity 246

Have a great weekend. See you tomorrow.

The Thursday Fungo: May 30

May 30, 1984: Tigers 2 – A’s 1

W: Willie Hernández (2-0) – L: Steve McCatty (3-4) – Save: Aurelio López (7) | Boxscore

Record: 37-9

Highlights

  • Juan Berenguer started and threw four and a two-thirds, yielding two hits and four walks.
  • Kirk Gibson hit a solo shot in the ninth to put the Tigers ahead.
  • The Tigers had five hits, the A’s just four.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
  • Umpires: HP – Rick Reed, 1B – Dave Phillips, 2B – Jerry Neudecker, 3B – Steve Palermo
  • Time of Game: 2:34
  • Attendance: 15,224

On TV: May 2, 1982 Channel 7 Sports

The segment begins with highlights from the Tigers-White Sox game at Comiskey Park.

Birthdays

The late Ed Rakow

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 424 9/9: Rarity: 10

See you tomorrow.

The Wednesday Fungo: May 29

May 29, 1984: A’s 8 – Tigers 5

W: Bill Krueger (3-1) – L: Milt Wilcox (6-2) – Save: Bill Caudill (10) | Boxscore

Record: 36-9

Highlights

  • The A’s knocked Wilcox around early: seven runs on seven hits and three walks, in three-and-a-third innings.
  • Oakland built up an 8-1 lead in the fourth.
  • Chet Lemon‘s seventh-inning two-run homer, one of his two hits, was the Tigers highlight. All told, they had six hits.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
  • Umpires: HP – Steve Palermo, 1B – Rick Reed, 2B – Dave Phillips, 3B – Jerry Neudecker
  • Time of Game: 2:42
  • Attendance: 22,499

Duffy Dyer #15

The Tigers picked up Don Robert “Duffy” Dyer in a March 15, 1980 trade with the Expos for Jerry Manuel. The 34-year-old was, throughout his career a backup catcher and on some decent teams — including the 1969 Miracle Mets.

By the time Dyer came to Detroit, his career was drawing to a close. But before we get to that, let’s look at his brief time as a Tiger:

  • He made his Tigers debut on April 12, 1980 against the Royals. Dyer started at catcher, batting eighth, and went 0 for 4.
  • In all he appeared in 48 games in 1980, mostly as a catcher and a few games at DH.
  • In 1981, Dyer appeared in two games, but had no at bats. His last big league hit came on Oct. 4, 1980, a single off the Yankees’ Rudy May.
  • His final appearance came a year and three days after his debut — both against the Royals. On April 15, he was a defensive replacement for Lance Parrish in the bottom of the ninth. The Tigers won, 4-0. On May 18, 1981, he was released.

His final line: .185 average, four home runs and 11 RBI.

Check out this full bio on Dyer on the SABR Bio Project website.

Birthdays

Trevor Miller, Eric Davis, Billy Beane, Fred Holdsworth, John Baumgartner, Denny McLain and the late Ferris Fain and Jack Lively 

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 423 8/9: Rarity: 167

See you tomorrow.

The Tuesday Fungo: May 28

May 28, 1984: Tigers 6 – A’s 2

W: Jack Morris (10-1) – L: Chris Codiroli (1-2) | Boxscore

Highlights

  • Another complete game win for Morris: 7 hits, 2 runs, 0 walks, 8 strikeouts.
  • On the other side, Codirolio faced the first seven batters, got only one out and surrendered four Tigers runs before being pulled.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Oakland Coliseum
  • Umpires: HP – Jerry Neudecker, 1B – Steve Palermo, 2B – Rick Reed, 3B – Dave Phillips
  • Time of Game: 2:57
  • Attendance: 46,238

Birthdays

Lester Oliveros, Jhonny Peralta, Mike Difelice, Kirk Gibson and the late Jim Middleton

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 422 9/9 – Rarity: 21

See you tomorrow.

🇺🇲 The Monday Fungo: May 27

May 27, 1984: Mariners 6 – Tigers 1

W: Matt Young (4-3) – L: Dan Petry (7-2) | Boxscore

Record: 35-8

Highlights

  • Despite 10 hits, the Tigers eked out a single run off three Mariners pitchers. Alan Trammell went 3 for 4
  • Petry three four innings and gave up nine hits; Aurelio López pitched the other four and gave up five.
  • The Tigers got the hell out of Seattle and headed for Oakland on a three-game losing streak.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Seattle Kingdome
  • Umpires: HP – Al Clark, 1B – Don Denkinger, 2B – Rich Garcia, 3B – Mike Reilly
  • Time of Game: 2:50
  • Attendance: 12,755

Edwin Núñez #41

Reliever Edwin Núñez signed with the Tigers on April 1, 1989. He was a mainstay with the Mariners from 1982 through July ’88, when he was dealt to the Mets.

After signing a free-agent deal in April, the 6′ 5″, 235 lb. righty made his Tigers debut on June 29, 1989, against the Yankees, pitching four-and-a-third innings in relief of Frank Tanana. Núñez took the loss.

He appeared in 27 games for 1989 Tigers, with 3-4 record, a save and a 4.17 ERA. In 1990, Núñez appeared in 42 games, posting a 3-1 record with six saves and a 2.24 ERA.

On Oct. 2, 1990, his Tigers career came to close as it had opened: taking the loss in a game against the Yankees — one inning, three runs, two hits and a walk. Núñez signed with the Brewers in the offseason.

Birthdays

Edwin Núñez, Ron Tingley and the late Pinky Higgins

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 421 9/9: Rarity: 14

See you tomorrow.

The Sunday Fungo: May 26

May 26, 1984: Mariners 9 – Tigers 5

W: Mike Moore – L: Juan Berenguer | Boxscore

Record: 35-7

Highlights

  • Kirk Gibson hit a first-inning homer to put the Tigers up 1-0 … and then the Mariners took control, scoring four off Berenguer in the home half.
  • Berenguer retired only one batter: Seattle’s leadoff hitter, Jack Perconte. The following hitters walked, singled, singled, singled, then a wild pitch, and two more singles. Mariners 4, Tigers 1.
  • The Tigers scored three in the ninth and out-hit the Mariners, 13 to 11.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Seattle Kingdome
  • Umpires: HP – Mike Reilly, 1B – Al Clark, 2B – Don Denkinger, 3B – Rich Garcia
  • Time of Game: 2:51
  • Attendance: 41,342

Bob Sykes #27

The Tigers drafted lefty Bob Sykes in the 19th round of the 1974 MLB June Amateur Draft from Miami Dade College.

  • After three seasons in the minors, he made his debut on April 9, 1977, at age 22, pitching four-and-two-thirds in a Royals 16-2 rout — but he managed to blank K.C., allowing just two hits and a walk.
  • Sykes appeared in 32 games that season, 20 of them starts, and finished with a record of 5-7 and a 4.41 ERA.
  • In 1978, appeared in 22 games, starting 10 and throwing a pair of shutouts. His record was 6-6 with a 3.94 ERA; he also earned two saves.
  • That offseason, Dec. 4, 1978, he was traded to the Cardinals, with minor leaguer John Murphy, in a deal that worked out well for the Tigers, who received Aurelio López and Jerry Morales in return.
  • Sykes’ final numbers in Detroit: 11-13, 4.22 ERA and two saves. He pitched three seasons in St. Louis before being traded to the Yankees for a young outfielder named Willie McGee.

Birthdays

Darrell Evans and the late Jack Cronin

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 420 8/9: Rarity: 154

See you tomorrow.

The Saturday Fungo: May 25

May 25, 1984: Mariners 7 – Tigers 3

W: Ed Vande Berg (4-2) – L: Milt Wilcox (6-1) – Save: Paul Mirabella (2) | Boxscore

Record: 35-6

Highlights

  • The loss snaps the Tigers’ A.L. record road winning streak at 17
  • Seattle jumped on Wilcox for six runs in four and a third, and lefty Vande Berg kept the Tigers off balance in his seven innings.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Seattle Kingdome
  • Umpires: HP – Rich Garcia, 1B – Mike Reilly, 2B – Al Clark, 3B – Don Denkinger
    Time of Game: 2:54
    Attendance: 15,722

Danny Bautista #29

Danny Bautista was a promising young outfield for the early-’90s Tigers. Here are few things to know about him:

  • He made his debut on Sept. 15, 1993 against the Blue Jays, as a pinch runner for Rich Rowland.
  • Bautista’s first major-league start — and hit — came two days later, batting leadoff against the Indians. He singled off Jason Grimsley.
  • On Oct. 1, he hit his first career homer, at Yankee Stadium off Frank Tanana. He finished the ’93 season with a .311 average in 17 games.
  • Bautista played parts of four seasons in Detroit, mostly as a part-timer, appearing in 162 games. He hit .228 with 14 homers.

Birthdays

Randall Simon, Joey Eischen and Bill Haselman 

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 419 8/9: Rarity: 147

See you tomorrow.