Tag: Darrell Evans

Oct. 5, 1984: ALCS Game 3

Tigers 1 – Royals 0

W: Milt Wilcox – L: Charlie Leibrandt – S: 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. 3, 1984: ALCS Game 2

Tigers 5 – Royals 3 (11)

W: Aurelio López (1-0) – L: Dan Quisenberry (0-1) | Boxscore

Tigers lead series, 2-0.

Highlights

  • The Royals scored two off Dan Petry, who was excellent. He pitched seven innings, allowing just four hits, a walk and two runs; he struck out four.
  •  Willie Hernández took over in the eighth, surrendering two hits and a walk, which led to the Royals knotting the score at three.
  • Señor Smoke tossed three innings of scoreless relief to keep the Tigers in it. As they had back in April, Detroit got to Royals closer Quisenberry late. 
  • The Tigers head home with a chance to clinch the pennant. And I have a ticket.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Royals Stadium
  • Replacement Umpires: HP – Bill Deegan, 1B – Jon Bible, 2B – Randy Christal, 3B – Bob Jones, LF – Richard Denny, RF – Carl Nothnagel
  • Time of Game: 3:37
  • Attendance: 42,019

Birthdays

Matt Young, Eric Munson, Tim Hyers, Junior Felix, Steve Foucault, Chuck Scrivener, and the late Joe Wood and Fred House

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 550: 9/9 — Rarity: 2!

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. 15, 1984: Tigers 2 – Blue Jays 1

W: Milt Wilcox (17-7) – L: Dave Stieb (14-7) – S: Willie Hernández (29) | Boxscore

Record: 94-54 — 11 games up on Toronto

Magic Number: 4

Highlights

  • Milt was superb: seven innings, one run, one hit and one walk but eight strikeouts.
  • Ruppert Jones homered off Stieb in the fourth and that was it for the scoring.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Derryl Cousins, 1B – Richard Shulock, 2B – Terry Cooney, 3B – Larry Young
  • Time of Game: 2:33
  • Attendance: 44,349

Birthdays

Javier Cardona, John Pacella and the late Jean Dubuc

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 532: 9/9 — Rarity: 23

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 11, 1984: Tigers 9 – Orioles 2

W: Dan Petry (17-8) – L: Bill Swaggerty (3-2) | Boxscore

Record: 93-52 — 11.5 games up on Toronto

Magic Number: 7

Highlights

  • The game was scoreless until a five-run fifth inning, part of a 16-hit Tigers attack. Petry went 62/3, allowing two runs on five hits before handing it over to Doug Bair and Willie Hernández.
  • Larry Herndon pinch hit for Ruppert Jones in the fifth and proceeded to have a three-for-three night, including a homer and three RBI.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Memorial Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Rich Garcia, 1B – Al Clark, 2B – Tim McClelland, 3B – Don Denkinger
  • Time of Game: 3:07
  • Attendance: 25,193

Birthdays

Shannon Penn and the late Dave Roberts, Clay Smith and Frank Kitson

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 528 9/9 — Rarity: 22

Comment

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 8, 1984: Tigers 10 – Blue Jays 4

W: Bill Scherrer (2-1) – L: Luis Leal (13-6) – S: Aurelio López (13) | Boxscore

Record: 91-51 — 101/2 games up on Toronto

Magic Number: 11

Highlights

  • Sparky had starter Jack Morris on a short leash, pulling him with one out in the fifth after giving up just two runs.
  • This was a 2-2 game in the fifth. Then, the Tigers scored two in the seventh and six in the eighth to break it open.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Exhibition Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Steve Palermo, 1B – Rick Reed, 2B – Jerry Neudecker, 3B – Dave Phillips
  • Time of Game: 3:06
  • Attendance: 41,059

Birthdays

Bobby Parnell, Chance Ruffin, Mike Rivera and the late Casey Wise and Lou Sleater

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 525: 9/9 — Rarity: 54

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 3, 1984: Orioles 7 – Tigers 4

W: Sammy Stewart (7-2) – L: Jack Morris (17-10) | Boxscore

Record: 88-50 — 8.5 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Morris was lifted from this one in eighth*, with the score tied at three and two outs. The problem was, he walked the bases loaded. Sparky brought in Aurelio López who coughed up a grand slam to Mike Young.

*According to Roger Craig’s entry in his “Inside Pitch” diary, The Cat had thrown 128 pitches.

  • All told, Morris gave up six earned runs on nine hits and four walks; he struck out six.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Joe Brinkman, 1B – Nick Bremigan, 2B – Vic Voltaggio, 3B – Larry McCoy
  • Time of Game: 3:14
  • Attendance: 36,797

Birthdays

Nate Robertson, Luis Gonzalez, Dave Clark, and the late Bill Gilbreth, Steve Boros and Bill Moore.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 520 9/9 — Rarity: 19

See you tomorrow.