Author: Mike McClary

Upbeat guy.

A Brief History Lesson: June 8

OldBookXSmall.jpgOn this date in 2005, the Tigers traded reliever/troublemaker Ugueth Urbina and infielder Ramon Martinez to the Phillies for infielder Placido Polanco. We all know how that traded worked out.

In his five-ish seasons in Detroit, Polanco has been merely a machine: .313 average, .357 OBP, playing in about 140 games a year, hitting .529 in the ALCS to win the MVP, consecutive errorless-games streak at second base, and so on.

As for Urbina, he pitched in 56 games for the Phillies posting a 4-3 record with a 4.13 ERA. He managed to notch a single save before turning to a life of crime — and who could blame him? He was scraping by on the more than $25 million he’d earned in his 11 seasons. He’ll be in a Venezuelan clink for another 12 years. Give or take.

Also, a bevy of notable births occurred on June 8, not the least of which is my daughter. Friends of the Fungo Doug Hill and Ian Casselberry (he of the resplendent BlessYouBoys.com) also celebrate birthdays today. Then there are the Tigers-related celebrations, Kevin Ritz and Dave Mlicki and Matt Perisho.

Happy Birthday, Bill Krueger

He didn’t pitch long for the Tigers (1993 and part of ’94; 6-6 in 56 appearances), but Bill Krueger still qualifies for a Happy Birthday wish. He’s 51 today.

Now, did you know that Krueger’s batterymate in 1993 often was Chad Kreuter? Of course, Kreuter is pronounced “Kroy-ter”, but still, Krueger-to-Kreuter could’ve had a spot in the pantheon of classic batteries such as Bud Black and Steve Decker.

Well, maybe not.

Happy Birthday, Wahoo Sam

WahooSam.jpgI failed to mention in today’s podcast that this marks the birthday of Tigers Hall of Famer Wahoo Sam Crawford. He was born in 1880.

He broke into the majors with Reds in 1899 and stayed until 1902 when the National League and American League fought bitterly for players.

According to his Baseball-Reference.com page, before the 1903 season Crawford “[j]umped from the Cincinnati Reds to the Detroit Tigers.” So there you have it.

Here’s Crawford’s entry in the 2008 Hall of Fame Yearbook:

“Wahoo” Sam Crawford — so nicknamed for his Nebraska birthplace — was one of his era’s finest hitters and base stealers. He led the American League in triples six times and remains baseball’s career leader at 312. Ty Cobb said of Crawford, “With the rabbit ball they’re playing with today, he’d have been one of the greatest home run hitters of all time.” Crawford, who stole 363 bases and batted .309 lifetime during a 19-year career, played alongside Cobb in the Detroit Tigers outfield for 13 seasons. Crawford helped the Tigers to three straight A.L. pennants from 1907 to 1909.

He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1957. Crawford died in 1968.

The Curious Case of June 2, 1980: Tigers and Mariners Play to a Tie

OldTimeWriterXSmall.jpgIn case you were wondering, here’s how the Tigers have fared against the Mariners since Seattle joined the American League in 1977:

  • All-Time Record: 185-152-1
  • All-Time at Home: 104-64-1
  • All-Time at Comerica Park: 22-18
  • All-Time at Seattle: 81-88

Wait a second. The Tigers and Mariners played to a tie? In the 20th century?

This little item sent me scrambling to my favorite site, Baseball-Reference.com, for the details. Here’s what I found:

Continue reading “The Curious Case of June 2, 1980: Tigers and Mariners Play to a Tie” →

One More on The Bird. For Now.

I once had a Mark “The Bird” Fidrych mood ring. For the life of me, I can’t find it and I’ve also scoured my parents’ house for it. (Even an eBay search came up empty.)

The only living proof that I have of it is a photo from my oldest sister’s wedding in which I was wearing it. (My mom was mortified.)

Anyone else have one?

My Grandpa: 1 – The Bird: 0

When it comes to topics like the death of Mark Fidrych, I tend to be reflective — and that usually means several hours (or even a day) can pass before I post something about it.

I’ll certainly have more on The Bird this week, but I will share my single memory of Fidrych and his magical 1976 season.

My parents had tickets for one of the most dazzling games of that year: August 17, Detroit native Frank Tanana and the Angels against Fidrych and the Tigers at Tiger Stadium.

Back then, Tanana was a flamethrower and entered the game with a 14-8 record on his way to a 19-win season. The Bird was 13-4 and, as everyone knows, soaring toward the A.L. Rookie of the Year honors.

Anyway, I had two choices: I could attend the game with my family or I could spend the evening hanging out with my grandpa. The choice was easy: I hung out with grandpa.

And what a night! I ate ice cream, played Go Fish and listened to the game on WJR. The fact is, I wasn’t a diehard fan at that point (I was but a pup of 8 years) and, let’s face it, grandpa never disappointed. (One note about the ice cream. Grandpa asked me if I wanted syrup on my Sander’s vanilla. “Of course,” I said, expecting Hershey’s. Instead I got Log Cabin.)

So, what happened in that game? Not much. Only everything you’d expect in a game for the ages: A crowd of 51,822 watching Tanana go eight innings, give up just four hits, and strike out eight. For his part, Fidrych went the distance, too, scattering five hits, allowing only a pair of runs.

Despite the tremendous pitching by both starters, the real hero was The Bird’s personal catcher, Bruce Kimm, whose solo homer in the eighth broke a 2-2 tie. Did I mention it was the only homer he’d hit in his career? ‘Twas.

Sure, the baseball fan in me wishes I’d seen that game, but it’s a much richer memory — and a better story — having the worlds of Mark “The Bird” Fidrych and James McClary collide.

Less than a year after the Fidrych/Tanana tilt, I lost my grandpa — way too soon. Now we’ve lost The Bird before it was time.

Even before learning of Fidrych’s death this afternoon, I couldn’t think of him without thinking of my grandpa and that wonderful night in 1976.

And that’s not going to change.

Happy Birthday, Rusty Staub

The former Tigers outfielder and DH — a.k.a., Le Grand Orange to ’70s Expos fans in Montreal — turns 65 today.

Before then-TV analyst Al Kaline reminded us at every turn that Tony LaRussa is also an attorney in Florida, Mr. Tiger liked to talk about Staub being an accomplished chef. More on that shortly.

RustyStaub.jpg
Daniel Joseph Staub debuted in 1963 at the tender age of 19 with the Houston Colt .45s and spent six years in H-Town — two of those seasons were pre-Astrodome which means he played outdoors. In Houston. In the summer. If you’ve been there, you know.

In 1967, he hit .333 with 10 home runs and 77 RBI and made the All Star team for the first of five consecutive seasons. Two years later the Astros traded him to the expansion Expos where he spent three seasons. In 1972, the Expos sent him to the Mets for Ken Singleton, Mike Jorgensen and Tim Foli. All he did in New York was hit.

On Dec. 12, 1975, Staub was traded along with Bill Laxton to the Tigers for Mickey Lolich and Billy Baldwin. (Laxton appeared in only 26 games for the 1976 Tigers: 0-5, 4.96, 2 saves. He was selected by the Mariners in the expansion draft.)

Continue reading “Happy Birthday, Rusty Staub” →