Ruppert Jones

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

Facing Bret Saberhagen again, the Tigers after three innings had a 3-0 lead, powered by Kirk Gibson‘s solo homer.

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.

Lance Parrish led off the 11th with a single, followed by a Darrell Evans walk. Ruppert Jones bunt created a force at third, and Lance was out. Johnny Grubb came up next and drilled a two-strike double to center, scoring Evans and Jones.

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.

Sept. 24, 1984: Tigers 7 – Brewers 3

W: Juan Berenguer (10-10) – L: Paul Hartzell (0-1) | Boxscore

Record: 101-55 — 14^1/2 games up on Toronto

Highlights

Berenguer evened his record by going five innings, giving up just five hits. Dave Rozema, Doug Bair, Bill Scherrer and Aurelio López each pitched one inning to close it out.

Chet Lemon, number 20, and Lou Whitaker, his 12th, both homered off Milwaukee reliever Rick Waits.

Dave Bergman had three hits, and Lou, Ruppert Jones, Nelson Simmons and Doug Baker all had two hits.

Miscellany

Venue: County Stadium
Umpires: HP – Marty Springstead, 1B – Durwood Merrill, 2B – Dan Morrison, 3B – Jim McKean
Time of Game: 2:32
Attendance: 9,506

Birthdays

Nate Cornejo, John McDonald and the late Dixie Walker, Tom Seats, Joe Sargent and John Kane

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid #541: 9/9 — Rarity 14

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 15, 1984: Tigers 2 – Blue Jays 1

W: Milt Wilcox (17-7) – L: Dave Stieb (14-7) – S: Willie Hernández (29) | Boxscore

Record: 94-54 — 11 games up on Toronto

Magic Number: 4

Highlights

Milt was superb: seven innings, one run, one hit and one walk but eight strikeouts.

The Tigers scored first thanks to Alan Trammell‘s first-inning double and a single by Darrell Evans. Toronto evened it in the second on George Bell‘s solo homer.

Ruppert Jones homered off Stieb in the fourth and that was it for the scoring.

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Derryl Cousins, 1B – Richard Shulock, 2B – Terry Cooney, 3B – Larry Young
Time of Game: 2:33
Attendance: 44,349

Birthdays

Javier Cardona, John Pacella and the late Jean Dubuc

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 532: 9/9 — Rarity: 23

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 11, 1984: Tigers 9 – Orioles 2

W: Dan Petry (17-8) – L: Bill Swaggerty (3-2) | Boxscore

Record: 93-52 — 11.5 games up on Toronto

Magic Number: 7

Highlights

The game was scoreless until a five-run fifth inning, part of a 16-hit Tigers attack. Petry went 6^2/3, allowing two runs on five hits before handing it over to Doug Bair and Willie Hernández.

Larry Herndon pinch hit for Ruppert Jones in the fifth and proceeded to have a three-for-three night, including a homer and three RBI.

Darrell Evans homered and went four for four, and Kirk Gibson had three hits in five at bats.

Miscellany

Venue: Memorial Stadium
Umpires: HP – Rich Garcia, 1B – Al Clark, 2B – Tim McClelland, 3B – Don Denkinger
Time of Game: 3:07
Attendance: 25,193

Birthdays

Shannon Penn and the late Dave Roberts, Clay Smith and Frank Kitson

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 528 9/9 — Rarity: 22

Comment

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 31, 1984: A’s 7 – Tigers 6 (13)

W: Keith Atherton (7-5) – L: Dave Rozema (7-5) | Boxscore

Record: 87-48 — 9.5 games up on Toronto

Highlights

Sparky had a short leash on Milt Wilcox, with good reason, pulling him after 3^2/3 innings in which he gave up five runs on four hits and five walks. Aurelio López and Willie Hernández pitched the next eight and a third, allowing just three hits and combining for eight strikeouts.

The Tigers let four leads slip away, including in the ninth when they took a 6-5 lead. Rozema’s wild pitch with two out in the 13th allowed Mike Davis to score from third with the winning run.

Ruppert Jones and Alan Trammell homered off A’s starter Ray Burris. Trammell, Johnny Grubb and Howard Johnson each had two hits.

Miscellany

Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Umpires: HP – Rick Reed, 1B – Jerry Neudecker, 2B – Dave Phillips, 3B – Steve Palermo
Time of Game: 4:19
Attendance: 15,836

Birthdays

John Hicks, Ramon Santiago, Shane Loux, Hideo Nomo, Morris Madden, Bill Nahorodny, former Tigers coach Boots Day, and the late Jack Burns and Norman Glaser.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 517 7/9 — Rarity: 276

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 28, 1984: Tigers 5 – Mariners 4

W: Willie Hernández (8-2) – L: Mike Stanton (4-4) | Boxscore

Record: 87-45 — 11.5 games up on Toronto

Highlights

The Mariners took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh, but the Tigers tied it in the eighth, thanks to an Alan Trammell two-run homer.

Juan Berenguer started, going 6^2/3 and allowing four runs (only one earned.) Bill Scherrer made his Tigers debut, relieving Berenguer and getting the final out of the seventh.

Darrell Evans and Ruppert Jones both had two hits, and Kirk Gibson homered. Jones drove in the winning run in the top of the ninth.

Miscellany

Venue: The Kingdome
Umpires: HP – Tim Welke, 1B – Marty Springstead, 2B – Durwood Merrill, 3B – Dan Morrison
Time of Game: 2:51
Attendance: 8,353

Birthdays

Joe Yeager, he hit .260 with the Tigers from 1901-03.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 514 9/9 — Rarity: 19

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 25, 1984: Tigers 5 – Angels 1

W: Jack Morris (17-8) – L: Bruce Kison (3-3) | Boxscore

Record: 85-45 — 12 games up on Toronto

Highlights

Morris pitched eight innings and allowed nine hits and five walks. He allowed to singles in the ninth and Sparky brought in Willie Hernández.

Willie got Juan Beníquez to ground into a double play, then struck out Gary Pettis to end the game.

Ruppert Jones drove hit a three-run homer, Darrell Evans had a solo shot and Lou Whitaker had three hits.

Miscellany

Venue: Anaheim Stadium
Umpires: HP – Joe Brinkman, 1B – Nick Bremigan, 2B – Vic Voltaggio, 3B – Larry McCoy
Time of Game: 2:40
Attendance: 51,203

Birthdays

Justin Upton, and Detroit Wolverines outfielder and shortstop Frank Jones

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 512 9/9 – Rarity: 7

See you tomorrow.