Tag: Dan Gakeler

The Wednesday Fungo: May 1

May 1, 1984: Tigers 12 – Red Sox 2

W: Milt Wilcox (3-0) – L: Bruce Hurst (3-3) | Boxscore

Record: 19-2

Highlights

  • The Red Sox scored once in the bottom of the first but it was all Tigers after that: dropping a dozen runs on 16 hits on Hurst and Oil Can Boyd.
  • Wilcox tossed eight solid innings, giving up seven hits and just one earned run with five strikeouts.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Ken Kaiser, 1B – Rocky Roe, 2B – Larry Barnett, 3B – Dale Ford
  • Time of Game: 2:31
  • Attendance: 17,495

Dan Gakeler #32

Here are a few things to know about right hander Dan Gakeler:

A former 31st-round draft pick of the Brewers (1983) and a year later a number-one pick of the Red Sox (secondary phase), Gakeler made it to the majors in 1991 with the Tigers, appearing in 31 games, seven of them starts.

He made his major-league debut on June 9, 1991 against the Angels. He started opposite Chuck Finley and lasted three innings: seven hits, five runs and two walks.

Gakeler made his final appearance on Oct. 5, 1991 against the Orioles. He pitched one-third of an inning and struck out the only batter he faced: Cal Ripken.

His MLB career line: 1-4 with two saves and a 5.74 ERA.

Birthdays

Casey Mize, Fausto Cruz, Phil Hiatt, Dan Gakeler and the late Bob Harris

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 395 7/9 – Rarity 216

Swings and misses: Jack Clark top middle, George Bell bottom middle.

See you tomorrow.

The Wednesday Fungo

Mike Dalton – #42

Mike Dalton had a micro-career in the majors, appearing in four games — all with the 1991 Tigers in a span of two weeks.

Here are 10 things to know about the lefty reliever:

  1. He was drafted by the Red Sox in the 15th round of the 1983 amateur draft.
  2. Dalton spent eight years in the Boston system before the Tigers signed him as a free agent in December 1990.
  3. He appeared in 39 games for the Mud Hens in 1991, all in relief, posting a 3-3 record with a 4.13 ERA and four saves.
  4. He made his big-league debut on May 31, 1991, against the Indians.
  5. The first batter he faced was Beau Allred, who flied out to right. He tossed an inning and a third, allowing only a double to Félix Fermín.
  6. Dalton’s longest outing was on June 9 against the Angels, a two and two thirds innings appearance in relief of Dan Gakeler, allowing six hits, two runs, two homers, and striking out two.
  7. On June 15 he made his final appearance, against the Mariners in Seattle: Two and a third innings pitched, six hits, two walks and a strikeout.
  8. The final batter he faced in the majors was Mariners catcher Dave Valle, a strikeout to end the eighth inning.
  9. His final line: eight innings pitched, 12 hits, four strikeouts, two walks and a 3.38 ERA.
  10. Dalton became a free agent after the 1991 season and signed with the Pirates. He spent 1992 and ’93, his final pro seasons, at Triple-A Buffalo.

Birthdays

Mike Dalton!

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 360 9/9 – Rarity: 28

See you tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Dan Gakeler

Gakeler Dan
You are one die-hard Tigers fan if you remember right hander Dan Gakeler.

It’s scary because I remember him.

A former number-one pick of the Red Sox in the 1984 draft (secondary phase), Gakeler appeared in 31 games for the 1991 Tigers, seven of them were starts.

Wearing the number 32, he assembled a record of 1-4 with two saves and a 5.74 ERA.

Happy 44th Birthday, Dan.