Tag: Kirk Gibson

Oct. 14, 1984: World Series Champions

Game 5: Tigers 8 – Padres 4

W: Aurelio López – L: Andy Hawkins – S: Willie Hernández | Boxscore

Tigers win series, 4-1

Highlights

  • I was going to write about Game 5, but why waste your time when you can relive it down here 👇🏻. If you want the short version from Ernie, try this one.
  • Poor Dan Petry finished the postseason with a 0-1 record and an ERA of 6.00!

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Paul Runge, 1B – Mike Reilly, 2B – Doug Harvey, 3B – Larry Barnett, LF – Bruce Froemming, RF – Rich Garcia
  • Time of Game: 2:55
  • Attendance: 51,901

Postscript

Was there a downside to the Tigers winning this game? For me, yes.

Weeks before the postseason began, I was asked to be on clean-up duty at a small wedding reception for the aunt of my then-girlfriend. I didn’t even think to look at the postseason calendar — I was 16! As luck would have it, I missed the entire game.

Using a phone on the wall at the reception hall, I was left to listen to Ernie and Paul through a phone my sister placed next to the radio at home.

So, the next World Series the Tigers win, will be the first one I ever see.

Birthdays

Miguel Del Pozo, Erik Sabel and the late Vincent Maney

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 561 9/9 — Rarity: 16

See you tomorrow.

Oct. 10, 1984: World Series Game 2

Padres 5 – Tigers 3

W: Andy Hawkins – L: Dan Petry – S: Craig Lefferts | Boxscore

Series tied at 1

Highlights

  • I call this one The Kurt Bevacqua Revenge Game. The Tigers looked to be on the road to taking Game 2 with a five-hit, three-run first inning that dispatched Padres started Ed Whitson after he retired only two outs.
  • Petry started and lasted just 41/3 innings and gave up five earned runs on eight hits and three walks. The big blow was Bevacqua’s three-run homer in the fifth which sent Peaches to the showers.
  • Padres reliever Andy Hawkins was pretty much untouchable over his 51/3 innings, allowing just one hit, and Craig Lefferts was just as good in his three innings.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Jack Murphy Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Larry Barnett, 1B – Bruce Froemming, 2B – Rich Garcia, 3B – Paul Runge, LF – Mike Reilly, RF – Doug Harvey
  • Time of Game: 2:44
  • Attendance: 57,911

Birthdays

Shelby Miller, Plácido Polanco, Ramón Martínez, Jim Weaver and the late Brian Powell, Saul Rogovin, Harry Eisenstat and John Stone

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 557: 9/9 – Rarity: 39

See you tomorrow.

Oct. 9, 1984: World Series Game 1

Tigers 3 – Padres 2

W: Jack Morris – L: Mark Thurmond | Boxscore

Tigers lead series 1-0

Highlights

  • The Tigers jumped on Thurmond and got half of their eight hits in the first inning. A Lou Whitaker leadoff double followed by an Alan Trammell single brought home the game’s first run. Lance Parrish and Larry Herndon also singled in the inning but were stranded.
  • The difference in the game was Herndon’s fifth-inning two-run homer off Thurmond.
  • In the bottom of the seventh, we witnessed a dazzling defensive play by Kirk Gibson, who fielded Kurt Bevacqua‘s liner to the right field corner and threw a perfect relay to Whitaker who nailed Bevacqua at third.
  • Morris cruised the rest of the way, scattering eight hits, walking three and striking out nine.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Jack Murphy Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Doug Harvey, 1B – Larry Barnett, 2B – Bruce Froemming, 3B – Rich Garcia, LF – Paul Runge, RF – Mike Reilly
  • Time of Game: 3:18
  • Attendance: 57,908

Birthdays

Derek Holland

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 556: 9/9 — Rarity 29

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. 25, 1984: Tigers 9 – Brewers 1

W: Randy O’Neal (2-0) – L: Bob Gibson (1-5) | Boxscore

Record: 102-55 — 151/2 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Howard Johnson hit a first-inning grand slam and the Tigers built a 9-0 lead before the Brewers scored in the seventh.
  • Johnson also had a double and Kirk Gibson tripled as part of a two-hit, two-RBI night.

Miscellany

  • Venue: County Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Durwood Merrill, 1B – Dan Morrison, 2B – Jim McKean, 3B – Marty Springstead
  • Time of Game: 2:34
  • Attendance: 8,804

Birthdays

Kyle Ryan, Steve Wapnick, Ed Putman, Sal Butera and the late Dick Harley

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid #542: 9/9 — Rarity: 39

See you tomorrow.