Tag: Mark Thurmond

The Sunday Fungo

Chuck Cary – #43

There was a lot of anticipation for what was being sold to Tigers fans as the next wave of homegrown talent behind Jack Morris, Dan Petry, Lance Parrish, Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell. One player that held promise was lefty Chuck Cary, along with Roger Mason, Randy O’Neal, et al.

Cary debuted on Aug. 22, 1985 against the A’s in Oakland, in a 13-inning game, earning a save with a sparkling line: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 2 K, 0 BB, 0 ER. (The Tigers won 5-3 in a game that featured a pair of soft-tossing lefties: Frank Tanana versus Tommy John.)

Later in his career, Cary was a starter but in Detroit, he worked out of the bullpen. He finished ’85 with 16 appearances, a 0-1 record, two saves, and a 3.42 ERA. The following year he was one of several left-handers on the Tigers staff including Tanana, newly acquired Dave LaPoint, Willie Hernandez, and Mark Thurmond

He appeared in 22 games in 1986, finished 1-2 with a 3.41 ERA. In his 33.2 innings pitched, he allowed 18 runs and 15 walks. The next offseason he was dealt to the Braves, along with O’Neal, for minor leaguer Freddy Tiburcio and Terry Harper.

After two seasons in Atlanta, he signed with the Yankees and pitched in the Bronx from 1989-91. Cary didn’t pitch in the majors in 1992, but in ‘93 appeared in 16 games for the White Sox. His last appearance came on Oct. 2, 1993 against the Indians.

Birthdays

Brent Dlugach, Matt Treanor, A.J. Sager, Chuck Cary, Skeeter Barnes and the late Stephen “Bud” Souchock.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 336 9/9 — Rarity: 28

See you tomorrow.

The Tuesday Fungo

Ray Knight?

On this date in 1988, the Orioles traded third baseman Ray Knight to the Tigers for lefty Mark Thurmond.

I remember hearing about this move and thinking it was a brilliant way to further the ’84 team’s last-gasp effort to be a force in the American League East. 😐 

  • Knight appeared in 105 games in his ‘88, and hit .217 with 3 home runs and 33 RBI.
  • According to Baseball-Reference, he wore numbers 9 and 22 in Detroit.
  • He one-third of his season HR total on Oct. 2, the final game of the season and of his career: a two-run shot off Yankees starter Pat Clement, scoring Chet Lemon.
  • Knight also made two errors in the game.
  • His final career at bat was a ground out to third baseman Luis Aguayo.

Remembering Johnny B.

Today would have been John Wockenfuss’s 75th birthday.

Never a superstar, he was a Super Sub before the phrase existed. He played key roles for the Tigers and helped the club bridge the gap between emerging contender and World Series Champion.

‘Fuss was drafted by the Washington Senators in the 42nd round of the 1967 amateur draft. His road to Detroit wound through Arlington, Texas, after the Senators relocated following the 1971 season.

On June 6, 1973 he was traded by the Rangers with Mike Nagy to the Cardinals for Jim Bibby. Less than six months later – on Dec. 3 – St. Louis sent him to the Tigers for minor-leaguer Larry Elliott.

During the lean years of the mid-1970s, Johnny B. – wearing first #45 and then, from 1976 on, #14 – steadily gained playing time, primarily behind the plate for manager Ralph Houk. When Sparky Anderson was hired in 1979, ‘Fuss became more of a first baseman/outfielder/DH hybrid.

For the next four seasons, Wockenfuss had a .265 average. His best year at the plate for Detroit was in 1982 when hit batted .301 in 79 games.

Read the full appreciation in the Archives.

Birthdays

Anibal Sanchez, Craig Monroe, Matt Stairs, Greg Cadaret, and the late Johnny Pesky and Cy Perkins.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 331 9/9 — Rarity: 38

See you tomorrow.

October Surprise Part 5: Setting the Bear Trap

As the Tigers and Twins wrap up the biggest series of the year with the division title hanging in the balance, we continue our look back on the last great race in Tigers history: 1987 and the seven games against the Toronto Blue Jays in the season’s final 10 days. Today: Game 4, the final game in Toronto.

American League East Standings: September 27, 1987

Team Record Pct. GB
Toronto 96-59 .619 –
Detroit 92-62 .597 3.5

As the Tigers arrived at Exhibition Stadium for the series finale, they knew what was at stake. The chances of coming back from four-and-a-half game deficit in less than a week bordered on the absurd. If ever there were a must-win game, this was it.

GoodMorning.jpgThe Tigers turned to Doyle Alexander to stop the bleeding. Toronto looked to right-hander Jim Clancy to bury the Tigers’ fading division title hopes.

Nelson Liriano led off the home half of the first with a single to right and promptly stole second. Eventual league MVP George Bell drove in Liriano for Toronto’s first run. Though he baffled the Jays for the next eight innings, Alexander and the Tigers trailed 1-0 heading into the top of the ninth.

Continue reading “October Surprise Part 5: Setting the Bear Trap”