Author: Mike McClary

Upbeat guy.

Sept. 2, 1970: Gene Lamont’s Big Debut

On this date in 1970, Tigers catcher (and current third base coach) Gene Lamont hit a home run in his first big-league at bat in a 10-1 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The left-handed hitting Lamont hit his shot off Boston’s Cal Koonce, capping a 2-for-3 night.

Lamont, the Tigers’ first-round pick (#13) in the 1965 amateur draft, played five seasons in the big leagues, all with Detroit.

He appeared in 23 games from 1970 through ’72, 60 games in ’74 and just four in his final season, 1975. (According to his bio on the Tigers Web site, Lamont spent the 1973 season in the Braves organization.) He played in the Tigers’ minor-league system through 1977.

Final career line:

  • 87 games
  • .233 average
  • 4 HR
  • 14 RBI
  • 1 stolen base

Here’s how Lamont’s post-playing career came together, again from his bio on Tigers.com:

Prior to joining Jim Leyland’s coaching staff in Pittsburgh in 1986, he spent eight seasons (1978-85) as a manager in the Kansas City Royals organization.

If a guy’s not going to enjoy a long career in the majors, it’s nice to see them at least make a splash during their abbreviated stay.

P.S. On Sept. 2 three years later, the Tigers fired Billy Martin.

Looking Back on Doyle Alexander’s 1987 Shutout at Fenway Park

Dan Dickerson was quick to point out that Justin Verlander’s shutout on Thursday was the first by a Tigers pitcher at Fenway Park since Doyle Alexander blanked the Red Sox in 1987. (Thanks to a tip from Fungo contributor Doug Hill, we went scrambling for the details.)

The Tigers were a half-game out of first place on Sept. 23, 1987, for the finale of a three-game series against Boston.

Alexander, who blanked the Red Sox a week earlier, 3-0 at Tiger Stadium, faced off with lefty Bruce Hurst and was untouchable.

He allowed singles to the first two batters he faced, Ellis Burks and Marty Barrett, and a two-out walk to Spike Owen in the second and that was it.

Alexander got two runs in the second and one each in the fifth and sixth. Tom Brookens drove in a pair and Alan Trammell knocked home one in the win. (The fourth run was scored on an error.) The Tigers moved on to Toronto for a grueling four-game series for ages against the Blue Jays.

You’ve got to love Baseball-Reference.com; I know I sure do.

Tigers Catcher of the Future to Wear Number of Catching Star of the Past

If you’re still scratching your head about the Tigers’ roster moves on Tuesday, here’s at least one answer for you: Alex Avila will wear number 13.

I didn’t like Josh Anderson wearing Lance Parrish‘s old number but feel a smidge better that a catcher will wear it this time.

What do you think of the recent surge of roster moves? Cast your vote in the latest Fungo Pulse Check –>

August 2 in Tigers History: How the Tigers Have Celebrated My Birthday

I thought it was my birthday gift from the Indians — Carl Pavano starting? That’s gotta be a win waiting to happen, no? No. Not against this mirage of a first-place club.

Some birthday for me. Actually, yesterday was a fine day and I never let the Tigers’ performance impact my birthday mood.

Because there’s absolutely nothing positive to discuss about the Tigers’ finale against the Tribe, humor me as I walk through notable Tigers games and events that happened on Aug. 2 since the year I was born.

  • Overall, the Tigers are 20 and 15 on my birthday; in seven years they didn’t play, including during the 1981 strike.
  • The Tigers beat the Twins 6-5 at Metropolitan Stadium on the day I was born in 1968. Don McMahon got the win in relief of Joe Sparma. Bill Freehan drove in three runs while the Twins’ Rod Carew went 3 for 4, of course.
  • On Aug. 2, 1972, the Tigers purchases the contract of P Woodie Fryman from the Phillies. Two days later, they purchased C Duke Sims‘s contract from the Dodgers. Fryman, just 4-10 for Philadelphia, goes 10-3 for Detroit, while Sims hits .316 for the Tigers in 38 games.
  • In 1975, at Fenway Park the game-time temperature was 103 degrees and the Tigers wilted under the heat of Rick Wise and the Red Sox and lost 7-2.
  • In 1984, I was there when Jack Morris out dueled Bert Blyleven as the Tigers beat the Indians 2-1.
  • On Aug. 2, 1985, Frank Tanana allowed one hit, a homer by Ben Oglivie in the 5th, and struck out eight on his way to beating the Brewers, 4-1.
  • In 1990, Yankees rookie Kevin Maas hits his 10th home run in just 77 at bats, the fastest any player has ever reached that mark. Big deal. The Tigers won 6-5 in 11 innings.

Thanks for taking the trip down memory lane with me. Assuming you’re still there. Hello…?

Trades for The Ages: Brian Moehler

Dealing Cards.jpgAs the trade-deadline hysteria gains steam, let’s look back on this date in 2002 when the Tigers made another non-blockbuster for three prospects that amounted to bupkis.

Detroit traded righty Brian Moehler and infielder Matt Boone to Cincinnati for infielder David Espinosa and two players to be named. The Reds sent Noochie Varner and Jorge Cordova to the Tigers to complete the deal. As a Red, Moehler went 2-4 with a 6.02 ERA.

Moehler, now 37, was a fan favorite and, of course, the Tigers’ starting pitcher for the first-ever game at Comerica Park. After some arm trouble, there were some doubts that his career would last, but it has. In fact, he’s won 34 games since leaving Detroit. After leaving Cincy, Moehler pitched for Houston, Florida and he’s now back in Houston. This year he’s 7-9 with a 4.92 ERA.

1984 Meets 2009

Old-TV.jpgMy brother and I attended the 1984 ALCS Game 3 Clincher versus the Royals at Tiger Stadium (seated in straightaway centerfield in the lower-deck bleachers) but this was before we had a VCR (remember those?) and I never got to see it replayed.

Twenty-five years later, it’s iTunes to the rescue.

I stumbled on the game as a download from the iTunes Store for a mere $1.99. (!)

You’ll find a boatload of games available for that price in the “Baseball’s Best” section. If you’re going to buy the ’84 game, scroll to Item #87. For whatever reason, the games are not in chronological order.

Do yourself a favor and buy it if only to enjoy Al Michaels‘ afro and the beauty of Howard Cosell interviewing Willie Wilson about his drug-related suspension that included early parts of the ’84 season.

One technical note: You don’t need an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPod with video to view the game; you can watch the game on your computer in iTunes.

Disco Demolition Night 30 Years Later

Disco guy.jpgYeah, so Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney ruined our night tonight. We’re used to that. Take heart. The Tigers still cling to first place.

Doesn’t do much for you? Me either.

So instead of cursing the Tigers bullpen, let’s travel back 30 years to July 12, 1979 and revisit Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park, courtesy of Joe LaPointe‘s article in yesterday’s New York Times.

Unlike the commonplace pyrotechnics of Zumaya/Rodney, this doubleheader included the on-field destruction of disco albums between games. Then things got, well, unruly. As Alan Trammell sums it up:

“The outfielders were definitely a little scared and Ronnie (LeFlore) wasn’t usually afraid of anything.”

The thing I remember most about that game was watching Sox owner Bill Veeck limp out on the field with his wooden leg — I had no idea he lost an appendage — to beg the rock-and-rollers to get off the field (and keep their rainchecks!). And I can still hear George Kell trying to describe the action without falling into a “kids-these-days” rant. (Or did he? Does anyone else remember?)

Even Dave Dombrowski, then a 22-year-old gopher for White Sox GM Roland Hemond, had a role in keeping the peace.

Oh, as for the games, the Tigers swept the double-dip 4-1 in the opener and then won the nightcap in a 9-0 forfeit. The victories brought the Tigers within 14 games of the division lead.

What are your memories of Disco Demolition Night?

Memories of Enron Field and Loose Tigers Connections

FireballXSmall.jpgFor a two unfortunate years, I was a resident of the greater Houston metroplex. In fact, it’ll be 10 years this December that I moved there (and it was seven years ago this week that I escaped).

My stay in Houston coincided with the April 2000 opening of a new baseball stadium, then Enron Field, site of this weekend’s interleague series between the Tigers and Astros. Meanwhile, the Tigers were moving into Comerica Park.

Continue reading “Memories of Enron Field and Loose Tigers Connections” →