Oct. 5, 1984: ALCS Game 3

Tigers 1 – Royals 0

W: Milt WilcoxL: Charlie LeibrandtS: Willie Hernández | Boxscore

Tigers win series, 3-0.

Highlights

  • In a runaway season, perhaps it was appropriate to have a nail biter to clinch the pennant.
  • I was at this game with my brother and girlfriends at the time, sitting in the lower deck centerfield bleachers, perched as dead-center as you could get. We were there early and just could not believe we were at a Tigers playoff game.
  • The Tigers got on the board early in this one, in the bottom of the second, scoring in the most boring way possible. Bárbaro Garbey hit an infield single, Chet Lemon followed with grounder to third; George Brett threw out Garbey at second. Then, Darrell Evans hit a single to center, Chet took third. Marty Castillo hit into a force out at second, Chet scored. Tiger 1, Royals 0.
  • Speaking of Brett, he had a 1 for 4 night, and every time he came up we held our breath. Two of his outs were unpleasant: A short fly out to right in his first at bat, and a drive to deep-ish center in his third. Off the bat they seemed destined for the seats.
  • Here’s an understatement: Wilcox dazzled that night [video], allowing just two hits and two walks over eight innings. He also struck out eight. Meanwhile, poor Charlie Leibrandt was almost as good: 8 innings, 3 hits, 4 walks and 6 strikeouts in his eight innings. I did not feel bad about this at the time.
  • After Castillo caught the final out, we watched the bedlam from the section where the batting cage was stored. After a while, Gibby, Milt and Sparky were all brought out there on a golf cart and driven under the bleachers. I’d later find out that’s where the Tigers had set up an interview room for the postseason. Tiger Stadium had an “interview room”?
  • Before we left, I asked one of Detroit’s finest if he would hand me a chunk of outfield sod that was lying at his feet. He reluctantly did, folding it so it would fit in a space in the fence. That weekend, I planted it in my parents’ backyard and it took root and I like to think it’s still there.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Replacement Umpires: HP – Bill Deegan, 1B – Jon Bible, 2B – Randy Christal, 3B – Doug Cossey, LF – Dick Runchey, RF – Dick Zivic
  • Time of Game: 2:39
  • Attendance: 52,168

Birthdays

Buddy Kennedy, Victor Reyes, Marc Krauss, Randy Bockus, Rod Allen, and the late Frank Doljack and Davey Crockett.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid #552: 7/9 — Rarity: 210

See you tomorrow.

Oct. 2, 1984: ALCS Game 1

Tigers 8 – Royals 1

W: Jack Morris (1-0) – L: Bud Black (0-1) – | Boxscore

Tigers lead series, 1-0.

Highlights

  • Alan Trammell had a night. He went 3 for 3 — with a triple and a homer — three RBI, two walks and two runs scored.
  • Morris was terrific: seven innings, one run on five hits, a walk and four strikeouts. Willie Hernández pitched two flawless innings.
  • How in the world did the Royals, with 20 fewer wins than the Tigers, get to host the first two games of this series? Baseball’s ridiculous alternate-year home-field advantage nonsense, that’s how.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Royals Stadium
  • Replacement Umpires: HP – Bill Deegan, 1B – Jon Bible, 2B – Randy Christal, 3B – Larry Zirbel, LF – Harold Jordan, RF – Mike O’Dell
  • Time of Game: 2:42
  • Attendance: 41,973

Birthdays

Alex Lange, Chad Smith, Victor Santos, Matt Walbeck, Dave Beard and the late Earl Wilson

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 549 8/9 — Rarity: 207

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 30, 1984: Yankees 9 – Tigers 2

W: Dennis Rasmussen (9-6) – L: Randy O’Neal (2-1) | Boxscore

Record: 104-58 — 15 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • O’Neal started and lasted only three and two-thirds, getting knocked around for nine hits, four walks and seven runs.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Yankee Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Al Clark, 1B – Mike Reilly, 2B – Don Denkinger, 3B – Rich Garcia
  • Time of Game: 2:35
  • Attendance: 30,602

Birthdays

Travis Demeritte, Danny Worth, Carlos Guillen, John DeSilva, Scott Lusader, Dan Gonzales and the late Jose Lima, Johnny Podres and Ben Taylor

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 547 9/9 — Rarity: 74

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 2, 1984: Tigers 6 – A’s 3

W: Dan Petry (16-8) – L: Tim Conroy (1-4) – S: Willie Hernández (27) | Boxscore

Record: 88-49 — 8.5 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Peaches had to grind it out. He gave up 11 hits in 51/3 innings; meanwhile, three Oakland pitchers allowed 10 hits in seven inning.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
  • Umpires: HP – Dave Phillips, 1B – Steve Palermo, 2B – Rick Reed, 3B – Jerry Neudecker
  • Time of Game: 3:01
  • Attendance: 20,393

Birthdays

Dusty Ryan, Johnny Paredes, Nate Snell and Luke Walker

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 519 9/9 — Rarity: 19

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. 15, 1984: Tigers 8 – Angels 3

W: Dan Petry (15-5) – L: Tommy John (7-10) | Boxscore

Record: 78-43 — 9 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • The Tigers gently knocked around Tommy John: 10 hits — all singles — and four runs (three earned) in six innings.
  • Detroit got five hits and three RBI from the number-three slot with Bárbaro Garbey going 3 for 3 and Dave Bergman, replacing Garbey in the seventh, having a 2 for 2 night — a pair of triples! — and three RBI. Tom Brookens also went 3 for 3.
  • Peaches went eight innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk, and struck out five. Willie Hernández pitched 1-2-3 ninth.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Don Denkinger, 1B – Mike Reilly, 2B – Rich Garcia, 3B – Tim McClelland
  • Time of Game: 2:46
  • Attendance: 33,940

Birthdays

Roberto Novoa, Bob James, Duffy Dyer, Arlo Brunsberg, Barney Schultz and the late Chris Brown, Joe Casey and Jack Warner

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 501 9/9 — Rarity: 16

See you tomorrow.

July 31, 1984: Doubleheader versus Cleveland

Game 1: Tigers 5 – Indians 1

W: Juan Berenguer (5-7) – L: Roy Smith (4-3) | Boxscore

Record: 71-32

Highlights

  • This was a makeup game from the previous week’s rainout in Cleveland.
  • Berenguer was solid: 61/3 innings, four hits, two walks and four strikeouts — and just one run.
  • The Tigers jumped all over Indians’ starter Smith with five runs in the second inning. Doug Baker hit a bases-loaded triple and Ruppert Jones hit a solo shot which sent Smith to the showers.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Drew Coble, 1B – Jim Evans, 2B – Greg Kosc, 3B – Ted Hendry
  • Time of Game: 2:30

Game 2: Indians 6 – Tigers 4

W: Neal Heaton (8-10) – L: Dave Rozema (7-3) – S: Tom Waddell (5) | Boxscore

Record: 71-33 — 12 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Cleveland chased Rozey with six runs on seven hits in 21/3 innings.
  • At the time, I wish I had better appreciated the freak of nature that was Aurelio López. Sparky used him in every situation except for spot starter — and he probably would have excelled in the role. In this one, he pitched 62/3 of shutout relief, allowing just four hits, one walk and striking out five.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Jim Evans, 1B – Greg Kosc, 2B – Ted Hendry, 3B – Drew Coble
  • Time of Game: 2:50
  • Attendance: 32,158

Birthdays

Reese Olson, Andy Van Hekken, Gabe Kapler, Howard Bailey, Dave Dombrowski, Terry Fox and the late Al Aber, Harry Malmberg and Billy Hitchcock

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 486 9/9 — Rarity: 37

See you tomorrow.