Author: Mike McClary

Upbeat guy.

Aug. 27, 1984: Heading to Seattle

After taking two of three from the Angels, the Tigers hit the road for three games in Seattle, looking to settle a score from May’s sweep at the hands of the Mariners.

Al Greene – OF #21

Detroit Cooley High grad Altar Alfonse “Al” Greene had one of the more brief Tigers careers: 29 games in 1979, which was a surprise given the power numbers he posted in the minors.

Here are a few things to know about the left-handed hitting outfielder:

  • Greene is the first player from Northwood Institute (now Northwood University) to appear in the majors. He signed with the Tigers as an amateur free agent on Nov. 10, 1976.
  • In 1978, he hit .263 with 32 homers, 84 RBI and an .885 OPS with Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Evansville.
  • In 70 plate appearances, he had eight hits — three of them solo homers — six RBI and a .136 average. His final appearance came on Sept. 30, 1979 at Tiger Stadium against the Red Sox. He batted seventh as the Tigers’ DH and went 0 for 4.
  • On June 2, 1980, the Tigers traded him and John Martin to the Cardinals for Jim Lentine. He passed away in Detroit on Feb. 18, 2014 at 59.

Birthdays

Jordy Mercer, Buddy Bell and the late Em Lindbeck, Bob “Bun” Troy and William “Baldy” Louden

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 513 9/9 — Rarity: 14

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 26, 1984: Tigers 12 – Angels 6

W: Milt Wilcox (15-7) – L: Tommy John (7-12) | Boxscore

Record: 86-45 — 12 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • The Tigers dropped five runs on Tommy John in the third inning — he allowed only two hits but walked five — and then they scored another run, on reliever Curt Kaufman.
  • Over the next 32/3 innings, Kaufman gave up six runs on seven hits, three of them solo homers by Chet Lemon and Marty Castillo and Kirk Gibson. When the Angels came to bat in the bottom of the sixth, they were down 11-0. Gibby cranked another in the ninth off Angels lefty John Curtis.
  • Milt pitched six innings, giving up five hits, three unearned runs, and striking out five.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Anaheim Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Nick Bremigan, 1B – Vic Voltaggio, 2B – Larry McCoy, 3B – Joe Brinkman
  • Time of Game: 3:01
  • Attendance: 33,008

Birthdays

Spencer Torkelson, Luis Marte, David Price, Alex Sanchez and Chad Kreuter

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 512 9/9 — Rarity: 7

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 25, 1984: Tigers 5 – Angels 1

W: Jack Morris (17-8) – L: Bruce Kison (3-3) | Boxscore

Record: 85-45 — 12 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Morris pitched eight innings and allowed nine hits and five walks. He allowed to singles in the ninth and Sparky brought in Willie Hernández.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Anaheim Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Joe Brinkman, 1B – Nick Bremigan, 2B – Vic Voltaggio, 3B – Larry McCoy
  • Time of Game: 2:40
  • Attendance: 51,203

Birthdays

Justin Upton, and Detroit Wolverines outfielder and shortstop Frank Jones

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 512 9/9 – Rarity: 7

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 24, 1984: Angels 5 – Tigers 3

W: Mike Witt (12-10) – L: Dan Petry (15-7) – S: Don Aase (4) | Boxscore

Record: 84-45 — 11 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • The Angels jumped on Peaches for four runs in the first, yet he went the distance allowing the one more run; all in he allowed six hits plus three walks.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Anaheim Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Larry McCoy, 1B – Joe Brinkman, 2B – Nick Bremigan, 3B – Vic Voltaggio
  • Time of Game: 2:33
  • Attendance: 41,459

Birthdays

Tony Bernazard, who played in six games for the 1991 Tigers, and the late Hal Woodeshick and Frank Secory

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 510 6/9 — Rarity: 338

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 23, 1984: The Tigers Head West

The Tigers make their final West Coast swing of the 1984 season, heading to Anaheim, Seattle and Oakland. They play their final 25 games of the year against A. L. East opponents.

Let’s see how they fared on Aug. 23, 1983 …

Aug. 23, 1983: Tigers 2 – Rangers 0

W: Doug Bair (6-4) – L: Charlie Hough (10-12) – S: Aurelio López (17) | Boxscore

Record: 69-54 — Third place, 1.5 games behind first-place Milwaukee, a half-game behind second-place Baltimore

Highlights

  • Spot-starter Bair pitched six scoreless innings, giving up just four hits and one walk, but no strikeouts. López tossed the final three innings, allowing only a walk.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Arlington Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Rich Garcia, 1B – Vic Voltaggio, 2B – Mike Reilly, 3B – Don Denkinger
  • Time of Game: 2:04
  • Attendance: 10,974

Birthdays

Raul Casanova, Allen McDill, Jeff Manto and the late George Kell, Phil Page, Henry “Heinie” Elder and Red Downs

I interviewed George Kell in March 2007 on the old podcast. You can listen here:

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 509 9/9 — Rarity: 26

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 22, 1984: Tigers 11 – A’s 4

W: Juan Berenguer (7-8) – L: Bill Krueger (8-10) | Boxscore

Record: 84-44 — 12.5 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Berenguer had another great start, throwing seven innings and allowing just five hits and one run.
  • The Tigers stole six bases in this one.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Tim Welke, 1B – Marty Springstead, 2B – Durwood Merrill, 3B – Dan Morrison
  • Time of Game: 2:54
  • Attendance: 35,335

Birthdays

Ryan Carpenter, Randy Wolf, Jeff Weaver, Doug Bair and the late Wally Schang and Al Bashang

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 508 9/9 — Rarity: 99

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 21, 1984: Tigers 12 – A’s 6

W: Milt Wilcox (14-7) – L: Lary Sorensen (5-12) | Boxscore

Record: 83-44 — 11.5 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Another hometown kid, Macomb County’s Lary Sorensen, was ambushed in two innings of work: six hits, seven runs and five walks.
  • Wilcox worked six innings, allowed two runs on four hits and struck out seven.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Dan Morrison, 1B – Tim Welke, 2B – Marty Springstead, 3B – Durwood Merrill
  • Time of Game: 3:04
  • Attendance: 34,065

Birthdays

Dustin Molleken, J.D. Martinez, Dean Crow, and the late Andujar Cedeño and Gerry Staley

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 507 9/9 — Rarity: 4

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 20, 1984: Tigers 14 – A’s 1

W: Jack Morris (16-8) – L: Curt Young (6-2) | Boxscore

Record: 82-44 — 10.5 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • The Tigers blasted Oakland starter, Saginaw native and Central Michigan product, Young in his two innings: eight hits, six earned runs and two homers. He was replaced by Chuck Rainey who fared worse: 41/3 innings, 10 hits and eight runs.
  • The most-notable part of this game? Former Tigers infielder Mark Wagner pitched the final inning and two-thirds, allowing just two hits, a walk and striking out one (Johnny Grubb.)

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Durwood Merrill, 1B – Dan Morrison, 2B – Tim Welke, 3B – Marty Springstead
  • Time of Game: 2:45
  • Attendance: 38,431

Birthdays

Gene Kingsale, Jose Paniagua and the late George Zuverink, Beau Bell and Ross Reynolds

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 506 8/9 — Rarity: 123

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 19, 1984: Mariners 4 – Tigers 1

W: Mark Langston (12-9) – L: Dan Petry (15-6) – S: Ed Vande Berg (7) | Boxscore

Record: 81-44 — 10 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Just another dominant performance against the Tigers for rookie Mark Langston. In two starts in 1984, the lefty pitched 171/3 innings, allowed two runs on six hits and struck out 23. In this one, he tossed 81/3, scattering four hits and striking out 11.
  • Petry went the distance, giving up 10 hits and four earned, and he struck out 11 as well.
  • The Tigers’ run came on a bases-loaded walk by Marty Castillo in the fourth.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Dave Phillips, 1B – Steve Palermo, 2B – Rick Reed, 3B – John Hirschbeck
  • Time of Game: 2:51
  • Attendance: 43,277

Birthdays

David Palmer, Terry Harper and the late Fred Lasher

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 505 9/9 — Rarity: 41

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 505 9/9: Rarity: 41 IMMACULATE! 🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩 Play at: https://immaculategrid.com @immaculategrid x @baseball_ref

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 18, 1984: Tigers 4 – Mariners 3

W: Juan Berenguer (6-8) – L: Dave Geisel (0-1) – S: Willie Hernández (26) | Boxscore

Record: 81-43 — 11 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Juan Berenguer dominated: 81/3 innings, three hits, 12 strikeouts.
  • “Juan Berenguer pitched the game of his career. It certainly was the best game we’ve pitched in the last two months.” — Sparky, “Bless You Boys”

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – John Hirschbeck, 1B – Dave Phillips, 2B – Steve Palermo, 3B – Rick Reed
  • Time of Game: 2:41
  • Attendance: 36,719

Birthdays

Justin Wilson, Bobby Higginson, Bob James, Bob Humphreys and the late Bob Kennedy

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 504 7/9 — Rarity: 260

See you tomorrow.