Month: October 2024

Oct. 9, 1984: World Series Game 1

Tigers 3 – Padres 2

W: Jack Morris – L: Mark Thurmond | Boxscore

Tigers lead series 1-0

Highlights

  • The Tigers jumped on Thurmond and got half of their eight hits in the first inning. A Lou Whitaker leadoff double followed by an Alan Trammell single brought home the game’s first run. Lance Parrish and Larry Herndon also singled in the inning but were stranded.
  • The difference in the game was Herndon’s fifth-inning two-run homer off Thurmond.
  • In the bottom of the seventh, we witnessed a dazzling defensive play by Kirk Gibson, who fielded Kurt Bevacqua‘s liner to the right field corner and threw a perfect relay to Whitaker who nailed Bevacqua at third.
  • Morris cruised the rest of the way, scattering eight hits, walking three and striking out nine.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Jack Murphy Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Doug Harvey, 1B – Larry Barnett, 2B – Bruce Froemming, 3B – Rich Garcia, LF – Paul Runge, RF – Mike Reilly
  • Time of Game: 3:18
  • Attendance: 57,908

Birthdays

Derek Holland

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 556: 9/9 — Rarity 29

See you tomorrow.

Oct. 7, 1984: It’s the Padres

The Cubs’ collapse was complete and the Padres were crowned National League Champions on a sun-soaked Sunday afternoon.

Once again, despite 104 wins — a dozen more than San Diego — the Tigers would not have the home field advantage in a postseason series.

Two days later, the World Series would begin at Jack Murphy Stadium.

Birthdays

Milt Cuyler and the late Joe Presko

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid #554: 8/9 — Rarity:

See you tomorrow.

Oct. 6, 1984: Waiting Game, Day 1

Sweeping the Royals gave the Tigers a chance to recuperate from the celebration — and to give the grounds crew plenty of time to repair the decimated Tiger Stadium playing surface.

We all waited for the NLCS to crown a champion, and it was suddenly looking more interesting, with the Padres knotting the series at two.

I remember everyone wanting the Cubs, but I wanted San Diego because they seemed more beatable.

Birthdays

Joey Wentz, Joel Hanrahan, Freddy Garcia, Jeff Farnsworth, Ruben Sierra, Bruce Fields, Roger Weaver and the late Paul Calvert and Dutch Meyer

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 553: 9/9 — Rarity: 9

See you tomorrow.

Oct. 5, 1984: ALCS Game 3

Tigers 1 – Royals 0

W: Milt Wilcox – L: Charlie Leibrandt – S: Willie Hernández | Boxscore

Tigers win series, 3-0.

Highlights

  • In a runaway season, perhaps it was appropriate to have a nail biter to clinch the pennant.
  • I was at this game with my brother and girlfriends at the time, sitting in the lower deck centerfield bleachers, perched as dead-center as you could get. We were there early and just could not believe we were at a Tigers playoff game.
  • The Tigers got on the board early in this one, in the bottom of the second, scoring in the most boring way possible. Bárbaro Garbey hit an infield single, Chet Lemon followed with grounder to third; George Brett threw out Garbey at second. Then, Darrell Evans hit a single to center, Chet took third. Marty Castillo hit into a force out at second, Chet scored. Tiger 1, Royals 0.
  • Speaking of Brett, he had a 1 for 4 night, and every time he came up we held our breath. Two of his outs were unpleasant: A short fly out to right in his first at bat, and a drive to deep-ish center in his third. Off the bat they seemed destined for the seats.
  • Here’s an understatement: Wilcox dazzled that night [video], allowing just two hits and two walks over eight innings. He also struck out eight. Meanwhile, poor Charlie Leibrandt was almost as good: 8 innings, 3 hits, 4 walks and 6 strikeouts in his eight innings. I did not feel bad about this at the time.
  • After Castillo caught the final out, we watched the bedlam from the section where the batting cage was stored. After a while, Gibby, Milt and Sparky were all brought out there on a golf cart and driven under the bleachers. I’d later find out that’s where the Tigers had set up an interview room for the postseason. Tiger Stadium had an “interview room”?
  • Before we left, I asked one of Detroit’s finest if he would hand me a chunk of outfield sod that was lying at his feet. He reluctantly did, folding it so it would fit in a space in the fence. That weekend, I planted it in my parents’ backyard and it took root and I like to think it’s still there.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Replacement Umpires: HP – Bill Deegan, 1B – Jon Bible, 2B – Randy Christal, 3B – Doug Cossey, LF – Dick Runchey, RF – Dick Zivic
  • Time of Game: 2:39
  • Attendance: 52,168

Birthdays

Buddy Kennedy, Victor Reyes, Marc Krauss, Randy Bockus, Rod Allen, and the late Frank Doljack and Davey Crockett.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid #552: 7/9 — Rarity: 210

See you tomorrow.

Oct. 4, 1984: Travel Day

After taking a 2-0 lead in the ALCS, the Tigers traveled home for the first home playoff game at Tiger Stadium since Oct. 12, 1972 — a 2-1 loss to the A’s in Game 5.

Here are some highlights from that one, which feature the voices of George Kell and Larry Osterman:

Birthdays

Jace Jung, Mike Walker, John Kiely, Joe Boever and Don Lenhardt

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid #551: 9/9 — Rarity: 42

See you tomorrow.

Oct. 3, 1984: ALCS Game 2

Tigers 5 – Royals 3 (11)

W: Aurelio López (1-0) – L: Dan Quisenberry (0-1) | Boxscore

Tigers lead series, 2-0.

Highlights

  • The Royals scored two off Dan Petry, who was excellent. He pitched seven innings, allowing just four hits, a walk and two runs; he struck out four.
  •  Willie Hernández took over in the eighth, surrendering two hits and a walk, which led to the Royals knotting the score at three.
  • Señor Smoke tossed three innings of scoreless relief to keep the Tigers in it. As they had back in April, Detroit got to Royals closer Quisenberry late. 
  • The Tigers head home with a chance to clinch the pennant. And I have a ticket.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Royals Stadium
  • Replacement Umpires: HP – Bill Deegan, 1B – Jon Bible, 2B – Randy Christal, 3B – Bob Jones, LF – Richard Denny, RF – Carl Nothnagel
  • Time of Game: 3:37
  • Attendance: 42,019

Birthdays

Matt Young, Eric Munson, Tim Hyers, Junior Felix, Steve Foucault, Chuck Scrivener, and the late Joe Wood and Fred House

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 550: 9/9 — Rarity: 2!

See you tomorrow.

Oct. 2, 1984: ALCS Game 1

Tigers 8 – Royals 1

W: Jack Morris (1-0) – L: Bud Black (0-1) – | Boxscore

Tigers lead series, 1-0.

Highlights

  • Alan Trammell had a night. He went 3 for 3 — with a triple and a homer — three RBI, two walks and two runs scored.
  • Morris was terrific: seven innings, one run on five hits, a walk and four strikeouts. Willie Hernández pitched two flawless innings.
  • How in the world did the Royals, with 20 fewer wins than the Tigers, get to host the first two games of this series? Baseball’s ridiculous alternate-year home-field advantage nonsense, that’s how.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Royals Stadium
  • Replacement Umpires: HP – Bill Deegan, 1B – Jon Bible, 2B – Randy Christal, 3B – Larry Zirbel, LF – Harold Jordan, RF – Mike O’Dell
  • Time of Game: 2:42
  • Attendance: 41,973

Birthdays

Alex Lange, Chad Smith, Victor Santos, Matt Walbeck, Dave Beard and the late Earl Wilson

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 549 8/9 — Rarity: 207

See you tomorrow.