Author: Mike McClary

Upbeat guy.

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.

The Tuesday Fungo: Oct. 1, 2024

Oct. 1, 1984: Workout Day in Kansas City

The Tigers arrive in Kansas City and prepare for the first game of the American League Championship Series. It’s the club’s first ALCS game since Oct. 12, 1972 when they lost 2-1 to the Oakland A’s in decisive Game 5.

If you need proof that baseball has a history of bizarre scheduling practices, here’s one for you: The 104-win Tigers start on the road against the 84-win Royals.

Birthdays

Robbie Ray and Jon Warden

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 548 9/9 — Rarity: 32

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 30, 1984: Yankees 9 – Tigers 2

W: Dennis Rasmussen (9-6) – L: Randy O’Neal (2-1) | Boxscore

Record: 104-58 — 15 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • O’Neal started and lasted only three and two-thirds, getting knocked around for nine hits, four walks and seven runs.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Yankee Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Al Clark, 1B – Mike Reilly, 2B – Don Denkinger, 3B – Rich Garcia
  • Time of Game: 2:35
  • Attendance: 30,602

Birthdays

Travis Demeritte, Danny Worth, Carlos Guillen, John DeSilva, Scott Lusader, Dan Gonzales and the late Jose Lima, Johnny Podres and Ben Taylor

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 547 9/9 — Rarity: 74

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 29, 1984: Tigers 11 – Yankees 3

W: Juan Berenguer (11-10) – L: Ron Guidry (10-11) – S: Roger Mason (1) | Boxscore

Record: 104-57 — 15 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Larry Herndon went three for five, including a solo homer, as the Tigers piled 11 hits on Guidry and 16 overall.
  • Berenguer pitched six innings allowing just two-hits … but six walks. Mason earned the three-inning save.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Yankee Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Rich Garcia, 1B – Al Clark, 2B – Mike Reilly, 3B – Don Denkinger
  • Time of Game: 2:53
  • Attendance: 35,685

Birthdays

Jermaine Clark, Rob Deer, Jim Crawford, Rich Reese and the late Bob Anderson and Tony Rensa

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 546 9/9 — Rarity: 22

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 28, 1984: Tigers 4 – Yankees 2 (12)

W: Doug Bair (5-3) – L: Joe Cowley (9-2) | Boxscore

Record: 103-57 — 15 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Dan Petry started and went six innings, scattered five hits and allowed one run. Willie Hernández blew his second save in a row, sending this one to extra innings.
  • Doug Bair threw four sparkling innings: no runs, no hits and just two walks.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Yankee Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Don Denkinger, 1B – Rich Garcia, 2B – Al Clark, 3B – Mike Reilly
  • Time of Game: 3:43
  • Attendance: 19,422

Birthdays

Riley Greene, Thad Weber and the late Dick Gernert, Bob Dustal and Paul Easterling

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 545 8/9 — Rarity: 124

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See you tomorrow.

Sept. 27, 1984: Yankees 2 – Tigers 1

W: Bob Shirley (3-3) – L: Willie Hernández (9-3) – S: Dave Righetti (31) | Boxscore

Record: 102-57 — 14 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Jack Morris started and other than being a little wild (a half-dozen walks), he was trending up for the postseason: seven innings, two hits and one run.
  • The Yankees had only four hits, but it was enough. Willie gave up the go-ahead run in the eighth.
  • The Tigers’ run came on Lance Parrish’s 32nd homer of the year, off Yankees starter Bob Shirley, in the fourth inning.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Yankee Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Mike Reilly, 1B – Don Denkinger, 2B – Rich Garcia, 3B – Al Clark
  • Time of Game: 2:22
  • Attendance: 16,732

Birthdays

Gary Sutherland and the late Jerry Casale, Dave Wickersham, Whit Wyatt, Josh Billings, Chick Gagnon, Frank Gibson and Cy Ferry. 

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 544 9/9 — Rarity: 14

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See you tomorrow