Tram Walks It Off with a Grand Slam
The Tigers were down 6-3 entering the ninth inning …
W: Eric King (1-0) – L: Cecilio Guante (4-4)| Boxscore
Tag: Eric King
The Wednesday Fungo: April 10
Game 6: April 10, 1984
Tigers 5 – Rangers 1
W: Dan Petry (2-0) L: Dave Stewart (0-2) | Boxscore
Highlights
The Rangers got off to a fast start in the first, greeting Petry with a couple of singles — one by Buddy Bell and, after a groundout, another by Larry Parrish — and jumping out to a 1-0 lead.
It didn’t last.
- In the bottom half, Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell walked, leading to Darrell Evans‘ first Tiger Stadium at bat. Evans blasted Dave Stewart‘s 1-0 pitch deep into the upper deck in right and, I think I can speak for most of us, we could hardly contain ourselves.
- Lance Parrish popped out, Kirk Gibson singled, and walks to Larry Herndon and Chet Lemon loaded the bases for Howard Johnson* — and he walked, giving the Tigers a 4-1 lead and ending Stewart’s day at two-thirds of an inning.
- Petry threw a four-hit complete game, walking three and striking out seven.
- With one out in the third, Herndon doubled and the next man up, Dave Bergman, drove him in for the Tigers’ final run.
- Record: 6-0
*Somehow, Howard Johnson did not make it on my Top-5 Tigers list Honorable Mentions. I’m correcting that now. I was not happy when he was traded to the Mets after the ’84 season.
Miscellany
- Umpires: HP – Marty Springstead, 1B – Jim McKean, 2B – Durwood Merrill, 3B – Tim McClelland
- Time of Game: 2:32
- Attendance: 51,238
- Start Time Weather: 62° F, Sunny, No Precipitation
Birthdays
Eric King and the late Frank Lary, Cliff Bolton and Rudy Kneisch
Today’s Grid
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 374 8/9 – Rarity: 170
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See you tomorrow.
The Friday Fungo
Morris Madden – #42
Lefty Morris Madden had a micro-career with the Tigers, appearing just twice during the 1987 season.
Appearance 1: On June 11 versus Milwaukee at Tiger Stadium, he came in during the sixth inning to relieve Eric King, who had relieved starter Jeff Robinson, with the bases loaded and walked Brewers second baseman Jim Gantner.
In his one inning of work, he allowed two earned runs and three walks. The Tigers lost the game 8-5.
Appearance 2: Robinson’s next start*, on June 16 at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium, Madden came in to start the fifth inning.
*The Jays lit up Robinson for eight runs in three and two-thirds on the way to a 10-4 win.
- The first hitter he faced, Fred McGriff doubled to center.
- Then Garth Iorg grounded out to Alan Trammell, advancing McGriff to third.
- Tony Fernandez singled, Lloyd Moseby flied out to center, then Jesse Barfield got an infield single.
- And that was the end of Morris Madden’s Tigers career.
Less than a month later, on Aug. 12, 1987, the Tigers sent Madden to the Pirates to complete the Aug. 7 trade of Darnell Coles for Jim Morrison.
If you’re wondering how he fared with Jim Leyland‘s Pirates, it depends on the year.
- In 1988, he appeared in five games, allowed five hits and seven walks in five innings but didn’t allow a run.
- In ’89, Madden pitched 14 innings across nine games — including three starts — he allowed a stunning 13 walks, 17 hits, 14 runs, 11 earned. Final ERA: 7.07.
On Nov. 21, 1989, he was released by the Pirates, and though he pitched for the AAA Albuquerque Dukes in 1990, his major-league career was over.
Birthdays
Michael Fulmer, Robert Fick and the late Ralph “Sailor” Stroud, George Disch and James Casey
Today’s Grid
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 348 9/9 — Rarity: 19
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See you tomorrow.
Today’s Tiger: Morris Madden
Morris Madden
- Born: Aug. 31, 1960 in Laurens, S.C.
- Bats: Left Throws: Left
- Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 155 lb.
- Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Nov. 23, 1985.
- Seasons in Detroit: 1 (1987)
- Uniform Number: 42
- Stats: 0-0, 16.20 ERA, 1.2 IP
Don’t feel bad if you don’t remember Morris Madden‘s mini-career with the Tigers. He pitched just twice for Detroit during the 1987 season and one look at his stats tells you why.
On June 11 versus Milwaukee at Tiger Stadium, he came in during the sixth inning to relieve Eric King (who had relieved starter Jeff Robinson) with the bases loaded and promptly walked Brewers second baseman Jim Gantner. In his one inning of work, he allowed two earned runs and three walks. The Tigers lost the game 8-5.
Robinson’s next start, five days later at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium, the lefty Madden came in to start the fifth inning. The first hitter he faced, Fred McGriff doubled to center, then Garth Iorg grounded out to Alan Trammell, advancing McGriff to third. Tony Fernandez singled, Lloyd Moseby flied out to center, then Jesse Barfield got an infield single. And that was the end of Morris Madden’s Tigers career.
Less than a month later, on Aug. 12, 1987, Madden was sent by the Tigers to the Pirates to complete the Aug. 7, 1987 trade of Darnell Coles for Jim Morrison.
If you’re wondering how he fared with Jim Leyland‘s Pirates, well it depends on the year. In 1988, he appeared in five games, allowed five hits and seven walks in five innings (!) but didn’t allow a run. In ’89, Madden pitched 14 innings across nine games — including three starts — he allowed a stunning 13 walks, 17 hits, 14 runs, 11 earned. Final ERA: 7.07.
On Nov. 21, 1989, he was released by the Pirates and while he pitched for the AAA Albuquerque Dukes in 1990, his major-league career was over.
Happy Birthday, Morris Madden
Don’t feel bad if you don’t remember Morris Madden‘s mini-career with the Tigers. He pitched just twice for Detroit during the 1987 season and one look at his stats tells you why.
On June 11 versus Milwaukee at Tiger Stadium, he came in during the sixth inning to relieve Eric King (who had relieved starter Jeff Robinson) with the bases loaded and promptly walked Brewers second baseman Jim Gantner. In his one inning of work, he allowed two earned runs and three walks. The Tigers lost the game 8-5.
Robinson’s next start, five days later at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium, the lefty Madden came in to start the fifth inning. The first hitter he faced, Fred McGriff doubled to center, then Garth Iorg grounded out to Alan Trammell, advancing McGriff to third. Tony Fernandez singled, Lloyd Moseby flied out to center, then Jesse Barfield got an infield single. And that was the end of Morris Madden’s Tigers career.
Less than a month later, on Aug. 12, 1987, Madden was sent by the Tigers to the Pirates to complete the Aug. 7, 1987 trade of Darnell Coles for Jim Morrison.
If you’re wondering how he fared with Jim Leyland‘s Pirates, well it depends on the year. In 1988, he appeared in five games, allowed five hits and seven walks in five innings (!) but didn’t allow a run. In ’89, Madden pitched 14 innings across nine games — including three starts — he allowed a stunning 13 walks, 17 hits, 14 runs, 11 earned. Final ERA: 7.07.
On Nov. 21, 1989, he was released by the Pirates and his career was over. But today we celebrate his 48th birthday. Three cheers for Morris Madden.
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