The Monday Fungo: June 3

June 3, 1984: Orioles 2 – Tigers 1

W: Mike Flanagan (4-4) – L: Milt Wilcox (6-3) | Boxscore

Record: 38-11

Highlights

  • Wilcox gave up just two runs (one earned) but did not have command: four hits and six walks in five and two-thirds.
  • Flanagan, on the other hand, was terrific, scattering seven hits in a complete-game win, striking out six and walking only one.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Rich Garcia, 1B – Mike Reilly, 2B – Al Clark, 3B – Don Denkinger
  • Time of Game: 2:42
  • Attendance: 34,228

Video Clips: Darrell Evans and Chet Lemon

Darrell and Chet talk about the Tigers’ torrid start to the 1984 season.

Birthdays

Ed Glynn and the late John Bassler and Bill McTigue

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 428 8/9: Rarity: 152

See you tomorrow.

The Sunday Fungo: May 26

May 26, 1984: Mariners 9 – Tigers 5

W: Mike MooreL: Juan Berenguer | Boxscore

Record: 35-7

Highlights

  • Kirk Gibson hit a first-inning homer to put the Tigers up 1-0 … and then the Mariners took control, scoring four off Berenguer in the home half.
  • Berenguer retired only one batter: Seattle’s leadoff hitter, Jack Perconte. The following hitters walked, singled, singled, singled, then a wild pitch, and two more singles. Mariners 4, Tigers 1.
  • The Tigers scored three in the ninth and out-hit the Mariners, 13 to 11.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Seattle Kingdome
  • Umpires: HP – Mike Reilly, 1B – Al Clark, 2B – Don Denkinger, 3B – Rich Garcia
  • Time of Game: 2:51
  • Attendance: 41,342

Bob Sykes #27

The Tigers drafted lefty Bob Sykes in the 19th round of the 1974 MLB June Amateur Draft from Miami Dade College.

  • After three seasons in the minors, he made his debut on April 9, 1977, at age 22, pitching four-and-two-thirds in a Royals 16-2 rout — but he managed to blank K.C., allowing just two hits and a walk.
  • Sykes appeared in 32 games that season, 20 of them starts, and finished with a record of 5-7 and a 4.41 ERA.
  • In 1978, appeared in 22 games, starting 10 and throwing a pair of shutouts. His record was 6-6 with a 3.94 ERA; he also earned two saves.
  • That offseason, Dec. 4, 1978, he was traded to the Cardinals, with minor leaguer John Murphy, in a deal that worked out well for the Tigers, who received Aurelio López and Jerry Morales in return.
  • Sykes’ final numbers in Detroit: 11-13, 4.22 ERA and two saves. He pitched three seasons in St. Louis before being traded to the Yankees for a young outfielder named Willie McGee.

Birthdays

Darrell Evans and the late Jack Cronin

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 420 8/9: Rarity: 154

See you tomorrow.

The Sunday Fungo: May 19

May 19, 1984: Tigers 5 – A’s 4

W: Jack Morris (8-1) L: Steve McCatty (3-3) – Save: Aurelio López (5) | Boxscore

Record: 31-5

Highlights

  • One of Whitaker’s hits was his fourth homer of the year.
  • Morris 7.1 IP, eight hits, six walks and six strikeouts.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Dan Morrison, 1B – Marty Springstead, 2B – Jim McKean, 3B – Durwood Merrill
  • Time of Game: 3:00
  • Attendance: 42,906

Luis Salazar #12

The Tigers signed veteran utility man Luis Salazar as a free agent on Feb, 20, 1988. He has spent the previous season with the Padres, where he began his career in 1980.

  • Salazar spent the 1985 and ’86 season in Chicago and went back to San Diego as a free agent in 1989.
  • He had one year in Detroit and he was solid: appearing in 130 games and batting .270 with 12 homers.
  • Sparky plugged him in everywhere: all three outfield slots and all four infield positions.
  • At the end of spring training 1989, the Tigers sent him back to the Padres for Mike Brumley. He played his final four seasons with the Cubs.

Birthdays

Tim Corcoran, Brandon Inge, Alan Zinter and Luis Salazar

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 413 9/9: Rarity: 34

See you tomorrow.

The Saturday Fungo: May 18

May 18, 1984: Tigers 8 – A’s 4

W: Dan Petry (6-1) – L: Bill Krueger (1-1) | Boxscore

Record: 30-5

Highlights

  • The Tigers scored five first-inning runs and built up a 6-1 lead.
  • After a rain delay, the game was called with one out in the top of the sixth inning.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Durwood Merrill, 1B – Dan Morrison, 2B – Marty Springstead, 3B – Jim McKean
  • Time of Game: 2:08
  • Attendance: 41,136

On this Date in 1982 …

Larry Herndon hit three home runs in an 11-9 win over Oakland, and became the 14th player in major league history to hit home runs in four consecutive plate appearances. On May 16, he homered in his final at-bat to give the Tigers a 7-6 victory over the Twins. — Courtesy of Baseball Reference, of course.

Birthdays

Joakim Soria, the late Don Lund and Rufe Gentry

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 412 9/9: Rarity: 99

See you tomorrow.

The Saturday Fungo: May 11

May 11, 1984: Tigers 8 – Angels 2

W: Milt Wilcox (4-0) – L: Mike Witt (4-2) – S: Willie Hernández (4) | Boxscore

Record: 26-4

Highlights

  • Six solid, scoreless innings from Wilcox and a less-than-pristine three-inning save from Willie: 5 hits allowed, 2 runs.
  • A lot of traffic on the base paths during this one: 25 combined hits (14 for Detroit) and seven combined walks (6 for the Tigers.)

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Drew Coble, 1B – Jim Evans, 2B – Greg Kosc, 3B – Ted Hendry
  • Time of Game: 2:55
  • Attendance: 44,187

Birthdays

Francisco Cordero, Bill Bean, Mark Huismann, Walt Terrell, the late Rip Sewell and Charlie Gehringer 

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 405 9/9 – Rarity: 17

See you tomorrow.

The Thursday Fungo: May 9

May 9, 1984: Tigers 3 – Royals 1

W: Dan Petry (5-1) – L: Danny Jackson (0-4) – Save: Aurelio López (4) | Boxscore

Record: 25-4

Highlights

  • Petry pitched six and two-thirds, allowing seven hits and just one run. Aurelio López pitched the rest of the way, giving up just a walk and striking out four.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Royals Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Larry McCoy, 1B – Nick Bremigan, 2B – Vic Voltaggio, 3B – Joe Brinkman
  • Time of Game: 2:48
  • Attendance: 15,709

Birthdays

Ian Krol, Daniel Schlereth, Prince Fielder, Ron Jackson, and the late Tom Yewcic and Lew Drill

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 403 9/9 – Rarity: 11

See you tomorrow.

The Wednesday Fungo: May 8

May 8, 1984: Tigers 5 – Royals 2

W: Jack Morris (6-1) – L: Bud Black (3-2) | Boxscore

Record: 24-4

Highlights

  • After seemingly years of being stymied by Dan Quisenberry, the Tigers got to him in the seventh inning — with an exclamation mark.
  • The Tigers trailed 2-0 and, with Quisenberry on the mound, the road winning streak again looked in peril … until a two-out grand slam by Alan Trammell as part of a five-run rally.
  • Morris turned in a seven-hit, five-strikeout complete game.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Royals Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Joe Brinkman, 1B – Larry McCoy, 2B – Nick Bremigan, 3B – Vic Voltaggio
  • Time of Game: 2:35
  • Attendance: 14,304

Birthdays

Wily Peralta, Alfredo Simón and the late Norman “Turkey” Stearnes and John Skopec

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 402 9/9: Rarity: 39

See you tomorrow.