Tag: 1975

R.I.P., Gary Sutherland #3

The other day I saw on Baseball Reference’s In Memoriam section that former Tigers infielder Gary Sutherland died on Dec. 16 at 80.

Sutherland wore number 3 and played in 320 games for the Tigers in 1974, ’75 and part of ’76. He (and Jim Ray) came to Detroit from Houston on Dec. 3, 1973 for Fred Scherman and cash.

In ’74, he played 149 games, with 619 at-bats and a .254 batting average, drew 26 walks, and scored 60 runs.

The next year Sutherland played 129 games and 509 at-bats, posting slightly better numbers with a .258 batting average and scoring 51 runs.

His 1976 season began with Detroit but he struggled, hitting just .205 in 42 games before being traded to Milwaukee on June 10, 1976 for Pedro García. As Sutherland’s successor, García performed even worse, managing only a .198 average.

Here’s more.

The Friday Fungo: June 21

June 21, 1984: Brewers 4 – Tigers 3

W: Don Sutton (4-7) – L: Juan Berenguer (4-5) – S: Rollie Fingers (12) | Boxscore

Record: 49-18 – 6.5 up on Toronto

Highlights

  • The Brewers tagged Berenguer for four runs on seven hits over 51/3.
  • Sid Monge pitched 22/3 scoreless, one-hit innings to keep the Tigers in it.
  • Detroit scored three in the seventh, two on Larry Herndon‘s pinch-hit home run, and got the tying run on base in the ninth but Fingers doused that flame.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Dan Morrison, 1B – Marty Springstead, 2B – Jim McKean, 3B – Durwood Merrill
  • Time of Game: 2:30
  • Attendance: 32,291

Gene Pentz RHP #39

I’m again stretching the boundaries of this site to feature Gene Pentz on his birthday. Here are five things to know about the Johnstown, Pa. native:

  • The 1975 Tigers were awful, so don’t read too much into the fact that they were 0-13 in games that Pentz appeared.
  • His final line: 0-4, 3.50 ERA, 251/3 innings pitched.

Birthdays

Jefry Marté, Jeff Baker, Sean Runyan and Gene Pentz

See you tomorrow.

The Friday Fungo: June 7

June 7, 1984: Tigers 5 – Blue Jays 3

W: Jack Morris (11-2) – L: Jim Clancy (4-6) | Boxscore

Record: 40-13

Highlights

  • Another complete game for Morris; he allowed seven hits, struck out four and walked just one.
  • Ruppert Jones earned the Rooftop nickname after launching his first Tigers homer, a three-run shot, off Clancy in the sixth inning.
  • Despite the 35-5 start and the Tigers earning their 40th win of the year, the Blue Jays were not far behind with 36 wins. Forty years later it’s still too close for comfort.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Bill Kunkel, 1B – Terry Cooney, 2B – Richard Shulock, 3B – Derryl Cousins
  • Time of Game: 2:38
  • Attendance: 40,879

Ray Bare #21

Here are five things to know about the late right-hander Ray Bare:

  1. The Tigers selected him off waivers from the Cardinals on April 4, 1975.
  2. Bare debuted on April 10, 1975, pitching the ninth inning in at in an Orioles 10-0 rout. He allowed two runs on two hits and a pair of walks.
  3. He appeared in 59 games for the Tigers over 1975 and ’76, 42 of those were starts. His 8-13 record in 1975 falls in line with that bad Tigers team.
  4. His final major-league game was on May 3, 1977, a 13-0 Rangers blowout. Bare came into the game with two outs in the second inning, and the Tigers down 6-0. He allowed four hits and three runs and was lifted without recording an out.
  5. Bare’s final record with the Tigers: 15-23 and a 4.94 ERA.

Birthdays

Mark Lowe, Virgil Vasquez and the late Ed Wells

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 432 8/9: Rarity: 210

See you tomorrow.

The Thursday Fungo: June 6

June 6, 1984: Blue Jays 6 – Tigers 3

W: Luis Leal (6-0) – L: Dan Petry (8-3) | Boxscore

Record: 39-13

Highlights

  • Peaches got pummeled: Four innings, 10 hits, five earned runs. Aurelio López pitched four innings of relief.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Derryl Cousins, 1B – Bill Kunkel, 2B – Terry Cooney, 3B – Richard Shulock
  • Time of Game: 2:36
  • Attendance: 38,167

Ed Glynn #48

Here are a few things to know about lefty Ed Glynn.

  • The Tigers signed him as an amateur free agent on Sept. 25, 1971.
  • In parts of four seasons with Detroit, he appeared in 26 games — 10 being the high-water mark, in 1978 — and had a final record of 3-6 and a 4.93 ERA.
  • Along the way, he made eight starts and on Sept. 12, 1976, he pitched a complete game against the Yankees but took the loss in the 3-1 New York win.

Birthdays

Will Vest, Tyler Collins, Collin Balester, Eddie Bonine and the late Dave Bergman, Chet Morgan and Izzy Goldstein

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 431 9/9: Rarity: 80

See you tomorrow.