Tag: Joe Sparma

A Look Back on Tigers’ Last 10-Game Winning Streak (Actually 11)

The Tigers tonight notched the club’s longest winning streak since 1968 when the eventual World Series champs won 11 straight. Thanks to the wonder that is Baseball-Reference.com, here’s a game-by-game look at that ’68 string.

Date   Opp R RA Win Loss Save
Monday, Sept. 9 boxscore @ CAL 6 0 Lolich Bennett
Tuesday, Sept. 10 boxscore @ CAL 7 2 McLain Messersmith
Wednesday, Sept. 11 boxscore @ CAL 8 2 Hiller Brunet
Friday, Sept. 13 boxscore OAK 3 0 Wilson Hunter
Saturday, Sept. 14 boxscore OAK 5 4 McLain Segui
Sunday, Sept. 15 boxscore OAK 13 0 Lolich Krausse
Monday, Sept. 16 boxscore NYY 9 1 Hiller Verbanic
Tuesday, Sept. 17 boxscore NYY 2 1 Sparma Hamilton
Thursday, Sept. 19 boxscore NYY 6 2 McLain Stottlemyre
Friday, Sept. 20 boxscore @ WSA 6 3 Lolich Humphreys Dobson
Saturday, Sept. 21 boxscore @ WSA 4 3 Sparma Cox

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/12/2011

August 2 in Tigers History: How the Tigers Have Celebrated My Birthday

I thought it was my birthday gift from the Indians — Carl Pavano starting? That’s gotta be a win waiting to happen, no? No. Not against this mirage of a first-place club.

Some birthday for me. Actually, yesterday was a fine day and I never let the Tigers’ performance impact my birthday mood.

Because there’s absolutely nothing positive to discuss about the Tigers’ finale against the Tribe, humor me as I walk through notable Tigers games and events that happened on Aug. 2 since the year I was born.

  • Overall, the Tigers are 20 and 15 on my birthday; in seven years they didn’t play, including during the 1981 strike.
  • The Tigers beat the Twins 6-5 at Metropolitan Stadium on the day I was born in 1968. Don McMahon got the win in relief of Joe Sparma. Bill Freehan drove in three runs while the Twins’ Rod Carew went 3 for 4, of course.
  • On Aug. 2, 1972, the Tigers purchases the contract of P Woodie Fryman from the Phillies. Two days later, they purchased C Duke Sims‘s contract from the Dodgers. Fryman, just 4-10 for Philadelphia, goes 10-3 for Detroit, while Sims hits .316 for the Tigers in 38 games.
  • In 1975, at Fenway Park the game-time temperature was 103 degrees and the Tigers wilted under the heat of Rick Wise and the Red Sox and lost 7-2.
  • In 1984, I was there when Jack Morris out dueled Bert Blyleven as the Tigers beat the Indians 2-1.
  • On Aug. 2, 1985, Frank Tanana allowed one hit, a homer by Ben Oglivie in the 5th, and struck out eight on his way to beating the Brewers, 4-1.
  • In 1990, Yankees rookie Kevin Maas hits his 10th home run in just 77 at bats, the fastest any player has ever reached that mark. Big deal. The Tigers won 6-5 in 11 innings.

Thanks for taking the trip down memory lane with me. Assuming you’re still there. Hello…?