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  • Eddie Williams #20 – Infielder

    November 1, 2024

    The 1996 season is two years beyond the usual scope of The Daily Fungo, but what they hay; let’s take a look at Eddie Williams‘ career in Detroit.

    The Tigers signed Williams to a one-year contract on Jan. 2, 1996, one of the first of many Padres-related transactions made by new Tigers GM Randy Smith, formerly of the Padres.

    Williams made his Tigers debut on Opening Day, April 1, 1996, as the designated hitter in Buddy Bell’s debut lineup. He went 2 for 4 with a two-run homer.

    Over the next 161 games, the right-handed hitting Williams would appear in 76 of them, batting a cool .200 with 5 home runs, 26 RBI and a .574 OPS.

    He was granted free agency at the end of the season and signed with Dodgers.

    Birthdays

    Mason Englert, Jason Foley, Eddie Williams and the late Pat Mullin and Heinie Schuble

    See you tomorrow.

  • 🎃 Oct. 31: The Halloween Fungo

    October 31, 2024

    Birthdays

    Tim Byrdak, Matt Nokes and the late Jim Donohue and Ed Fisher

    Today’s Grid

    ⚾️ Immaculate Grid 578: 7/9 — Rarity: 209

    See you tomorrow.

  • Oct. 15, 1984: Delirium

    October 15, 2024
  • Oct. 14, 1984: World Series Champions

    October 14, 2024

    Game 5: Tigers 8 – Padres 4

    W: Aurelio López – L: Andy Hawkins – S: Willie Hernández | Boxscore

    Tigers win series, 4-1

    Highlights

    • Two homers by Gibby, who drove in five, and a solo shot by Lance Parrish, a sacrifice fly/pop out by Rusty Kuntz. What more to say?
    • I was going to write about Game 5, but why waste your time when you can relive it down here 👇🏻. If you want the short version from Ernie, try this one.
    • Poor Dan Petry finished the postseason with a 0-1 record and an ERA of 6.00!

    Miscellany

    • Venue: Tiger Stadium
    • Umpires: HP – Paul Runge, 1B – Mike Reilly, 2B – Doug Harvey, 3B – Larry Barnett, LF – Bruce Froemming, RF – Rich Garcia
    • Time of Game: 2:55
    • Attendance: 51,901

    Postscript

    Was there a downside to the Tigers winning this game? For me, yes.

    Weeks before the postseason began, I was asked to be on clean-up duty at a small wedding reception for the aunt of my then-girlfriend. I didn’t even think to look at the postseason calendar — I was 16! As luck would have it, I missed the entire game.

    Using a phone on the wall at the reception hall, I was left to listen to Ernie and Paul through a phone my sister placed next to the radio at home.

    So, the next World Series the Tigers win, will be the first one I ever see.

    Birthdays

    Miguel Del Pozo, Erik Sabel and the late Vincent Maney

    Today’s Grid

    ⚾️ Immaculate Grid 561 9/9 — Rarity: 16

    See you tomorrow.

  • Oct. 13, 1984: World Series Game 4

    October 13, 2024

    Tigers 4 – Padres 2

    W: Jack Morris – L: Eric Show | Boxscore

    Tigers lead series, 3-1

    Highlights

    • Alan Trammell all but sewed up his World Series MVP in this game, driving in all four runs with a pair of two-run homers — both off Padres starter Show. Tram finished the day three for four.
    • The Cat was superb: a complete-game five-hitter, striking out four. It was his second World Series win, and third in the postseason.
    • One more to go.

    Miscellany

    • Venue: Tiger Stadium
    • Umpires: HP – Rich Garcia, 1B – Paul Runge, 2B – Mike Reilly, 3B – Doug Harvey, LF – Larry Barnett, RF – Bruce Froemming
    • Time of Game: 2:20
    • Attendance: 52,130

    Birthdays

    Ricky Vanasco and the late Jim Price, Jerry Robertson, Eddie Mathews, Eddie Yost, Fred McMullin, Jack Onslow and Bill Donovan

    Today’s Grid

    ⚾️ Immaculate Grid 560 7/9 — Rarity: 219

    See you tomorrow.

  • Oct. 12, 1984: World Series Game 3

    October 12, 2024

    Tigers 5 – Padres 2

    W: Milt Wilcox – L: Tim Lollar – S: Willie Hernández | Boxscore

    Tigers lead series, 2-1

    Highlights

    • A week after I attended the ALCS-clinching game, I was able to attend this game — ticket price: $25 — it was a dream come true.
    • The highlights: a Marty Castillo homer, six solid innings from Wilcox, and a brilliant catch by Chet Lemon.
    • Three Padres pitchers allowed 11 walks but just seven hits.
    • Alan Trammell and Lemon both had two hits, and Tram had two walks.
    • I was able to get a few notable autographs on the cover of my World Series program: Norm Cash, Tommy Lasorda, National League President Chub Feeney … and Detroit radio legend Dick Purtan.

    Miscellany

    • Venue: Tiger Stadium
    • Umpires: HP – Bruce Froemming, 1B – Rich Garcia, 2B – Paul Runge, 3B – Mike Reilly, LF – Doug Harvey, RF – Larry Barnett
    • Time of Game: 3:11
    • Attendance: 51,970

    Birthdays

    José Ortega, Casey McGehee, Derrick White and the late Harold Daugherty, Bobo Osborne and Al Unser

    Today’s Grid

    ⚾️ Immaculate Grid 559 6/9 — Rarity: 373

    See you tomorrow.

  • Oct. 11, 1984: Travel Day

    October 11, 2024

    The Tigers return home with the World Series tied a game apiece and the chance — the expectation — of wrapping it up by Game 5.

    Birthdays

    Gio Urshela, Grayson Greiner, Jeff Larish, Dmitri Young, Gregg Olson, Bill Roman, Bill Fischer and the late Joe Ginsberg. Also, George Kell‘s brother, Skeeter Kell.

    See you tomorrow.

  • Oct. 10, 1984: World Series Game 2

    October 10, 2024

    Padres 5 – Tigers 3

    W: Andy Hawkins – L: Dan Petry – S: Craig Lefferts | Boxscore

    Series tied at 1

    Highlights

    • I call this one The Kurt Bevacqua Revenge Game. The Tigers looked to be on the road to taking Game 2 with a five-hit, three-run first inning that dispatched Padres started Ed Whitson after he retired only two outs.
    • Petry started and lasted just 41/3 innings and gave up five earned runs on eight hits and three walks. The big blow was Bevacqua’s three-run homer in the fifth which sent Peaches to the showers.
    • Padres reliever Andy Hawkins was pretty much untouchable over his 51/3 innings, allowing just one hit, and Craig Lefferts was just as good in his three innings.
    • Alan Trammell and Kirk Gibson each had two hits. Detroit made three errors, one each by Larry Herndon, Tram and Gibby.
    • Bevacqua, Alan Wiggins and Garry Templeton each had three hits for San Diego.

    Miscellany

    • Venue: Jack Murphy Stadium
    • Umpires: HP – Larry Barnett, 1B – Bruce Froemming, 2B – Rich Garcia, 3B – Paul Runge, LF – Mike Reilly, RF – Doug Harvey
    • Time of Game: 2:44
    • Attendance: 57,911

    Birthdays

    Shelby Miller, Plácido Polanco, Ramón Martínez, Jim Weaver and the late Brian Powell, Saul Rogovin, Harry Eisenstat and John Stone

    Today’s Grid

    ⚾️ Immaculate Grid 557: 9/9 – Rarity: 39

    See you tomorrow.

  • Oct. 9, 1984: World Series Game 1

    October 9, 2024

    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.
    • San Diego followed suit and tagged The Cat for a pair of runs in the home half of the first. After quickly dispatching Alan Wiggins and Tony Gwynn, the Padres strung together three hits, singles by Graig Nettles and Steve Garvey, and an RBI double from Terry Kennedy, to take a 2-1 lead.
    • 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

    October 7, 2024

    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.

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