Tag: Billy Beane

The Wednesday Fungo: May 29

May 29, 1984: A’s 8 – Tigers 5

W: Bill Krueger (3-1) – L: Milt Wilcox (6-2) – Save: Bill Caudill (10) | Boxscore

Record: 36-9

Highlights

  • The A’s knocked Wilcox around early: seven runs on seven hits and three walks, in three-and-a-third innings.
  • Oakland built up an 8-1 lead in the fourth.
  • Chet Lemon‘s seventh-inning two-run homer, one of his two hits, was the Tigers highlight. All told, they had six hits.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
  • Umpires: HP – Steve Palermo, 1B – Rick Reed, 2B – Dave Phillips, 3B – Jerry Neudecker
  • Time of Game: 2:42
  • Attendance: 22,499

Duffy Dyer #15

The Tigers picked up Don Robert “Duffy” Dyer in a March 15, 1980 trade with the Expos for Jerry Manuel. The 34-year-old was, throughout his career a backup catcher and on some decent teams — including the 1969 Miracle Mets.

By the time Dyer came to Detroit, his career was drawing to a close. But before we get to that, let’s look at his brief time as a Tiger:

  • He made his Tigers debut on April 12, 1980 against the Royals. Dyer started at catcher, batting eighth, and went 0 for 4.
  • In all he appeared in 48 games in 1980, mostly as a catcher and a few games at DH.
  • In 1981, Dyer appeared in two games, but had no at bats. His last big league hit came on Oct. 4, 1980, a single off the Yankees’ Rudy May.
  • His final appearance came a year and three days after his debut — both against the Royals. On April 15, he was a defensive replacement for Lance Parrish in the bottom of the ninth. The Tigers won, 4-0. On May 18, 1981, he was released.

His final line: .185 average, four home runs and 11 RBI.

Check out this full bio on Dyer on the SABR Bio Project website.

Birthdays

Trevor Miller, Eric Davis, Billy Beane, Fred Holdsworth, John Baumgartner, Denny McLain and the late Ferris Fain and Jack Lively 

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 423 8/9: Rarity: 167

See you tomorrow.

The Friday Fungo

Lynn Jones – #35

The Tigers selected Lynn Jones from the Reds in the December 1978 Rule 5 Draft, and he made some noise in his major-league debut on April 13, 1979.

In the 5-4 Tigers loss to the Rangers, Jones started in centerfield, batting eighth, and went two for three with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base.

All told, he appeared in 95 games in his rookie year, batting .296 with four home runs.

Jones was a role player for Sparky’s earliest Detroit teams, seeing time mostly in the outfield and as a pinch-hitter, and posting a .347 on-base percentage in his first three seasons.

The 1982 and 1983 seasons, though, saw his production slip and his playing time was limited to 64 at bats in ’83. That offseason the Tigers made him a free agent and he promptly signed with the Royals.

In 1984, Jones hit a career-high .301 in a similar role to what he played in Detroit. He faced his former team in the American League Championship Series, going just 1 for 5.

The next season Jones appeared in 110 games for Dick Howser’s Royals — a career high — but saw his average plummet 90 points. It wasn’t a total downer though, he won a World Series ring that year and had two extra-base hits in the Series against the Cardinals.

1986 was the final big-league season of his eight-year career. He made his final appearance on the last game of the season: Oct. 4 against the A’s. Jones replaced Rudy Law in left field in the bottom of the ninth and the first batter, Terry Steinbach, hit the ball to him for an out.

Jones hit .128 in 67 games with a single RBI and after that season he became a free agent but didn’t sign with another team.

His final numbers: .252 average, seven HR, 91 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

In 1991 and 1992, Jones was the Royals’ first base coach before managing in the Marlins system. In 2001, he was the Marlins’ first-base coach. He earned his second World Series ring in 2004 as a member of Terry Francona’s coaching staff in Boston.

Birthdays

Denny McLain, Billy Beane, the late Ferris Fain, Johnny Gorsica, George Wilson, Al Klawitter, Lou Schiappacasse, Harry Lochhead, Duff Cooley

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 362 9/9 – Rarity: 18

See you tomorrow.