Tag: 1986

The Friday Fungo: June 14

June 14, 1984: Off Day

After losing two of three to the Blue Jays, the Tigers travel to visit another A.L. East rival, the Brewers, for a three-game weekend set at County Stadium.

Record: 44-16 — 6 games up on Toronto

So here’s another June 14 game. This one from 1978:

June 14, 1978: Royals 7 – Tigers 1

W: Paul Splittorff (8-5) – L: Jack Billingham (5-4) | Boxscore

Record: 31-27 — Fifth place, 91/2 games back of Boston

Highlights

  • The Tigers scratched out just four hits off of Splittorf who threw a complete-game gem.
  • Billingham was roughed up for eight hits and four walks in six innings, and allowed five earned runs.

Miscellany

  • Venue:  Royals Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Dave Phillips, 1B – Larry McCoy, 2B – Steve Palermo, 3B – Don Denkinger
  • Time of Game: 2:05
  • Attendance:  21,025

Mike Laga – 1B #4

The first paragraph of the 1984 Tigers Yearbook profile on Mike Laga pretty much summed it up:

“Mike Laga has been called the Tiger first baseman of the future. And despite the presence of a veteran star like Darrell Evans, it seems clear the Tigers still have high hopes for Laga.”

I’d go so far as to say we still have high hopes for Laga.

We heard so much about the left-handed hitting slugger but he didn’t capitalize on his brief visits to Detroit from 1982 through 1986 — and as I recall, injuries were a problem.

1982: Laga made his debut on Sept. 1, 1982 against the Angels and faced Ken Forsch, flying out to left. Two days later he hit his first homer, a two-run shot, off the A’s Rick Langford. He played in 27 games for ’82 Tigers, essentially the starting first baseman in September.

1983: The bulk of his season was spent in Evansville with a dozen games in Detroit: 21 at bats, no homers, .190 average.

1984: Laga again was a September call up but appeared just nine games: but he hit .545 — six for 11.

1985: Another nine-game stint. Thirty six at bats, two home runs, .167 average.

1986: Laga made the Opening Day roster and appeared in 33 games before being sent to Nashville. The Tigers traded him to the Cardinals, as a player to be named later, along with Ken Hill for catcher Mike Heath.

His final numbers with Detroit: 72 games, .239 avg., eight home runs, 28 RBI and a .691 OPS.

Birthdays

Michael Hollimon, Mike Laga, Bill Fahey and the late Hal Manders

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 439 9/9: Rarity: 12

See you tomorrow.

The Sunday Fungo: June 9

June 9, 1984: Orioles 4 – Tigers 0

W: Mike Flanagan (5-4) – L: Juan Berenguer (3-4)| Boxscore

Record: 41-14 — 51/2 games up on Toronto

Highlights

(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
  • The second time in a week that the Tigers were shutdown by the masterful Flanagan: a complete game, allowing seven hits, no walks and two strikeouts.
  • This was just the Tigers’ third shutout of the year.
  • Carl Willis made his major-league debut, pitching the final 21/3, giving up just one hit and a walk.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Memorial Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Drew Coble, 1B – Jim Evans, 2B – Greg Kosc, 3B – Ted Hendry
    Time of Game: 2:41
    Attendance: 44,404

John Pacella #27 and #43

Here are a few things to know about John Pacella, who spent part of the year with the 1986 Tigers:

The Brooklyn-born right-hander made his major-league debut on Sept. 15, 1977, his 21st birthday, for the Mets against the Phillies.

Fast forward to Dec. 28, 1984 when the Tigers signed Pacella. He spent the ’85 season with the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate in Nashville posting a 7-7 mark with a 3.23 ERA. In 1986, he started the year with the Sounds notching a 7-6 record and 2.90 ERA before getting called up to Detroit.

His first Tigers appearance came on June 16 at Baltimore. He pitched 11/3 scoreless innings and earned the save. Pacella pitched four more times for the Tigers that year; his longest outing was 52/3 innings against the Yankees in which he allowed seven walks.

His final major-league appearance was on July 12, 1986, at Kansas City. He faced Greg Pryor in the bottom of the seventh and gave up an RBI single. The Tigers lost, 7-4.

Pacella started the 1987 season with Detroit’s new Triple-A club, the Toledo Mud Hens. On June 30, 1987, the Yokohama Bay Stars purchased his contract from Detroit. In 1988 he was back in the States pitching at the Triple-A level for the Brewers, Orioles and then, hey now, the Tigers.

After 19 professional seasons, six major league, 13 minor league, Pacella finished with a mark of 4-10, 5.73 ERA in the majors, 71-86, 3.94 in the minors.

Birthdays

The late Billy Baldwin

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 434 7/9: Rarity: 228

See you tomorrow.