Tag: Charlie Spikes

The Thursday Fungo

Charlie Spikes – #34

Charlie Spikes has always been a mystery to me. I have a baseball card with him in a Tigers uniform, and he appears in the 1978 Tigers Yearbook. Yet, I have zero recollection of him in a game.

I did a little research and found out why. He appeared in only 10 games for the ’78 Tigers.

Here are a few things to know about Charlie Spikes:

  • The Tigers acquired him from the Indians on Dec. 9, 1977 for Tom Veryzer.

Spikes injured his knee and was sent down to Triple-A Evansville after just ten games. He played in only 16 games at Evansville, and then had knee surgery. He was released by Detroit on September 25, 1978.

From the Charlie Spikes bio, by Joseph Wancho, as part of SABR’s Bio Project

And here is the totality of Spikes’ Tigers career:

DateOppRsltPARH2BRBIBBBAOPS
Apr 8TORL,2-5401000.250.500
Apr 9TORW,8-4512010.333.667
Apr 12TEXW,3-2401000.308.615
Apr 15TORW,6-3400001.250.544
Apr 17CHWW,10-9400000.200.438
Apr 23 (1)TEXW,9-6200000.200.504
Apr 23 (2)TEXL,1-2100001.200.533
Apr 24CHWW,4-1200000.182.490
Apr 26CHWL,2-7401000.192.492
Apr 28SEAW,5-4202110.250.629
  Totals3217122.250.629
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/6/2024.

A Little Bonus

Yesterday I reminded us of ’84 World Series Game 2 irritant Kurt Bevacqua and a game we’d rather forget. Today, let’s savor this replay from Game 1:

Birthdays

Jairo Labourt, Red Wilson and the late Harry Davis and Ed Willett.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 340 9/9 — Rarity: 45

See you tomorrow.

February Leftovers

Sometimes I don’t clear out the cut-and-paste document I have going with scattered goodies and other potential Fungo nonsense.

Case in point, a few items from February 11:

Ben Oglivie

Ben Oglivie was born on Feb. 11, 1949. After the Tigers inexplicably traded him for Jim Slaton and Rich Folkers, he went on to hit 176 home runs for the Brewers over nine years — including 21 he hit against the Tigers in 119 games.

He retired after the 1986 season with a lifetime average of .273 and 235 career homers.

Tom Veryzer

The late Tom Veryzer was born on Feb. 11, 1953. He played five years in Detroit (1973-77) before being dealt to Cleveland for Charlie Spikes.

His last year in the bigs was 1984 when he was a bench rider for the Cubs. Had Leon Durham fielded a grounder more cleanly in the NLCS that year, perhaps Veryzer could’ve ended his career where it started, at Tiger Stadium.

His final career numbers: .241 average, 14 homers, 231 RBI, .966 fielding percentage.

Other Feb. 11 Birthdays

Gregory Soto, Trey Beamon, Willie Smith, George Alusik

On to March …

The Monday Fungo: Feb. 12

On TV: Tigers vs. Red Sox – June 25, 1985

Jack Morris vs. Bob Ojeda — and what a great lineup. Here’s the boxscore.

Birthdays

Gary Knotts, Chet Lemon, Pat Dobson, Andy Harrington, Harry Arndt.

Weekend Leftovers

Saturday

Happy 75th birthday to Ben Oglivie who, after the Tigers inexplicably traded him for Jim Slaton and Rich Folkers, went on to hit 176 home runs for the Brewers over nine years. He retired after the 1986 season with a lifetime average of .273 and 235 career homers.

The late Tom Veryzer was born on Feb. 11, 1953. He played five years in Detroit (1973-77) before being dealt to Cleveland for Charlie Spikes. His last year in the bigs was 1984 when he was a bench rider for the Cubs. Had Leon Durham fielded a grounder more cleanly in the NLCS that year, perhaps Veryzer could’ve ended his career where it started, at Tiger Stadium. His final career numbers: .241 average, 14 homers, 231 RBI, .966 fielding percentage.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 316 9/9: Rarity: 30

Two former Tigers managers today.

See you tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Benji & Tommy V

Oglivie_Ben78


Happy 60th to Ben Oglivie who, after the Tigers inexplicably traded him for Jim Slaton and Rich Folkers, went on to hit 176 home runs for the Brewers over nine years. He retired after the 1986 season with a lifetime average of .273 and 235 career homers.

Veryzer_Tom78

Tom Veryzer turns 56 today. He played five years in Detroit (1973-77) before being dealt to Cleveland for Charlie Spikes. His last year in the bigs was 1984 when he was a bench rider for the Cubs. Had Leon Durham fielded a grounder more cleanly in the NLCS that year, perhaps Veryzer could’ve ended his career where it started, at Tiger Stadium. His final career numbers: .241 average, 14 homers, 231 RBI, .966 fielding percentage.

Happy Birthday, gentlemen.