Chris Pittaro

November 12, 2024

According to Baseball Reference, 54 players have worn the number 12 in Tigers franchise history. Casey Mize currently wears it. Let’s look at a few Tigers that wore number 12 during the Fungo’s focus, 1977 through 1994:

Milt May, 1976 – ’79
Marty Castillo, in 1981 and ‘82, before switching to number 8.
Glenn Wilson, 1982 and ’83
Rod Allen, 1984
Chris Pittaro, 1985
The late Dwight Lowry, 1986 and ’87 — he wore number 25 in his debut season, 1984.
Luis Salazar, 1988
The late Mike Brumley, 1989
Ed Romero, 1990
Rich Rowland, 1990 – ’93
John Flaherty, 1994 – ’96

Birthdays

Ryan Kreidler, Alex Faedo, Gary Thurman and the late Herm Merritt, Red McDermott and Ed Killian

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid #590: 9/9 — Rarity: 55

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 16, 1984: Tigers 8 – Blue Jays 3

W: Juan Berenguer (9-10) – L: Bryan Clark (1-2) | Boxscore

Record: 95-54 — 12 games up on Toronto

Magic Number: 2

Highlights

The Tigers were up 7-0 in third inning and banged out 12 hits off five Blue Jays pitchers. Berenguer eked out a five-inning win, allowing three hits, two runs and striking out four.

Lou Whitaker, Larry Herndon, Marty Castillo and Tom Brookens each had two hits, and Castillo, Brookens and Herndon each homered.

And that was all she wrote for the Blue Jays. The Tigers’ Magic Number was shrinking and the Jays were out of time.

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Richard Shulock, 1B – Terry Cooney, 2B – Larry Young, 3B – Derryl Cousins
Time of Game: 3:01
Attendance: 45,488

Birthdays

Matt Vierling, Robbie Grossman, Mark Parent, Chris Pittaro, Mickey Tettleton and the late Vito Valentinetti

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 533: 9/9 – Rarity: 63

See you tomorrow.

The Tuesday Fungo: April 9

April 9, 1984: An Off Day

After sweeps of the Twins and White Sox, the Tigers enjoy an off day before the home opener.

Nate Colbert #9

In the depths of the mid-1970s rebuild, the Tigers acquired 29-year-old first baseman Nate Colbert from Padres for Ed Brinkman, Dick Sharon and Bob Strampe.

In six seasons with the Padres, Colbert hit .253 with 163 homers, 481 RBI and a .800 OPS, so hopes were high.

He made his Tigers debut on April 10, 1975, a home opener loss to Jim Palmer and the Orioles, 10-0 — but he did get one of the Tigers’ three hits.

The next day, at Shea Stadium, he hit his first Tigers homer — a three-run shot — off Catfish Hunter, who was making his Yankees debut. The Tigers won, 5-3.

The next day, Colbert hit a grand slam off former Tiger Pat Dobson in a 7-2 Tigers win.

Twenty-four hours later, Colbert’s average dropped below .200 and never rose above it. Two homers and two months later, the Expos purchased his contract from the Tigers.

His final game with the Tigers was June 13, against the A’s. He went hitless in three at bats with a walk.

Colbert, who died Jan. 25, 2023, finished his brief time in Detroit with a .147 average, four homers, and 18 RBI.

Birthdays

Hal Morris, Mike Brumley and the late Nate Colbert, Guy Cantrell and Vic Sorrell

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 373 9/9 – Rarity: 11

Happy to fit four former Tigers and a former Tigers broadcaster into this one. I beat my buddy Doug by a single point!

See you tomorrow.

On This Date in 1986…

…the Tigers acquired catcher Dave Engle to the Twins for the one-time Lou-Whitaker-displacing Chris Pittaro and Alejandro Sanchez.

If I remember correctly, the Tigers viewed Engle as insurance for Lance Parrish but he played only three games at catcher, 23 at first and a smattering of games in the outfield. In 86 at bats he hit .256 and was released on Aug. 10, 1986.

While we’re at it:

Happy Birthday to former Tigers catcher/third baseman/World Series overachiever Marty Castillo, who turns 52.