Eddie Mathews

Oct. 13, 1984: World Series Game 4

Tigers 4 – Padres 2

W: Jack Morris – L: Eric Show | Boxscore

Tigers lead series, 3-1

Highlights

Alan Trammell all but sewed up his World Series MVP in this game, driving in all four runs with a pair of two-run homers — both off Padres starter Show. Tram finished the day three for four.

The Cat was superb: a complete-game five-hitter, striking out four. It was his second World Series win, and third in the postseason.

One more to go.

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Rich Garcia, 1B – Paul Runge, 2B – Mike Reilly, 3B – Doug Harvey, LF – Larry Barnett, RF – Bruce Froemming
Time of Game: 2:20
Attendance: 52,130

Birthdays

Ricky Vanasco and the late Jim Price, Jerry Robertson, Eddie Mathews, Eddie Yost, Fred McMullin, Jack Onslow and Bill Donovan

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 560 7/9 — Rarity: 219

See you tomorrow.

The Thursday Fungo – April 4

April 4, 1984: Off Day in Minneapolis

The Tigers and Twins had an off day between Opening Day and the final two games of the series.

It makes as little sense now as it did back then — why a day off when the Twins played indoors?

Today’s Random Game: Aug. 16, 1981

Tigers 5 – Yankees 4

W: Aurelio Lopez – L: Ron Davis | Boxscore

Highlights

Aurelio Lopez went four innings of relief.

In the bottom of the ninth, after walks by Lance Parrish and Rick Leach, Bill Fahey lined a single to score Parrish and cut the Yankees lead to 4-2.

Then with one out in the bottom of the ninth …

Miscellany

Umpires: HP – Ken Kaiser, 1B – Mark Johnson, 2B – Bill Haller, 3B – Dan Morrison
Time of Game: 2:54
Attendance: 21,077
Start Time Weather: 68° F, Cloudy, No Precipitation

Birthdays

Cameron Maybin and Louis Coleman

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 368 9/9 – Rarity: 15

See you tomorrow.

The Thursday Fungo

Chuck Scrivener – #9

If ever there were a time to break into major leagues, the forlorn Tigers of the mid-1970s presented a golden opportunity … unless you happened to play middle infield.

That was the scenario facing Chuck Scrivener who, it appeared, had the talent to be a big leaguer. I mean, he was drafted four times over three years:

Twins in the 17th round of the 1966 MLB June Amateur Draft
Braves in the 4th round of the 1967 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase
Giants in the 8th round of the 1967 MLB June Draft-Secondary Phase
Tigers in the 2nd round of the 1968 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase

Here’s a snapshot of Scrivener’s career:

Played nine seasons in the Tigers minor-league system before making his major-league debut on Sept. 18, 1975 against the Indians. He started at shortstop, batting leadoff, and struck out looking against Jim Bibby. Scrivener finished the night 0 for 4.

He hit two career home runs:
- The first on Aug. 8, 1976, off Cleveland’s Tom Buskey in the bottom of a seven-run Tigers fifth, a solo shot to left. He went 3 for 4, part of the Tigers’ 15-hit attack in a 15-5 win.
- The second came on Sept. 25, off the Yankees’ Dick Tidrow, a sixth-inning, three-run homer that cut New York’s 10-3 lead to 10-6.

His final four appearances came as a defensive replacement, capped by his last Sept. 29, 1977, against his hometown Orioles, subbing in for rookie Alan Trammell.

Scrivener’s final plate appearances came on Sept. 22, 1977, against Boston’s Don Aase — a strike out and flyout — before being lifted for pinch-hitter Tim Corcoran.

With Trammell and Lou Whitaker establishing themselves, there was no path for Scrivener in Detroit. After spending 1978 in Evansville, hitting .262, the Tigers released him on Dec. 4. A month later, he signed with the Blue Jays, but didn’t appear in a game, in Toronto or in the minors.

Chuck Scrivener: By the Numbers

Birthdays

Blaine Hardy and the late Mike Strahler, Marty McManus and Hub Pernoll

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 347 9/9 — Rarity: 26

See you tomorrow.