Tag: Dave Bergman

November 14, 2024

Number 14

From 1977 to 1992, only two players wore number 14 for the Tigers, both of them (mostly) played first base and were fan favorites:

  • John Wockenfuss, wore it from 1977-1983, resurrecting the number after a three-year layoff following Bill Slayback’s two-season tenure, 1973 and ‘74. In his 10 seasons in Detroit, Johnny B played in 677 games and hit .261 with 80 home runs and 284 RBI.
  • Dave Bergman put on number 14 within days after being traded for Wockenfuss in March 1984. From then until he retired in 1992, he wore it in 871 games, batting .259 with 39 homers and 219 RBI.

A.J. Hinch currently wears it, but wore number 40 when he played for Detroit in 2003.

Birthdays

Clete Thomas, Fu-Te Ni, Johnnie Seale and the late Willie Hernández and Fred Carisch

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 24, 1984: Tigers 7 – Brewers 3

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

Record: 101-55 — 141/2 games up on Toronto

Highlights

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. 22, 1984: Tigers 6 – Yankees 0

W: Dan Petry (18-8) – L: Clay Christiansen (2-4) | Boxscore

Record: 99-55 — 131/2 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Sparky certainly wasn’t thinking about saving Peaches’ arm for the postseason. Petry dazzled with a complete-game four hitter. He struck out nine and walked just two.
  • Dave Bergman batted ninth; he batted leadoff in the previous game.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Al Clark, 1B – Mike Reilly, 2B – Don Denkinger, 3B – Rich Garcia
  • Time of Game: 2:31
  • Attendance: 38,897

Birthdays

Danny Klassen, Vince Coleman and the late Anse Moore, Chuck Hostetler, Frank Walker, Ira Flagstead and Hooks Dauss

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid #539: 9/9 — Rarity: 18

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 7, 1984: Tigers 7 – Blue Jays 4 (10)

W: Willie Hernández (9-2) – L: Ron Musselman (0-1) | Boxscore

Record: 90-51 — 91/2 games up on Toronto

Magic Number: 13

Highlights

  • Dan Petry started and gave up two runs in the third and fourth innings before being pulled. Bill Scherrer, Doug Bair and Willie kept the Jays scoreless the rest of the way.
  • A pair of clutch three-run homers put the Tigers over the top. They scored four in the eighth to tie it — thanks to Kirk Gibson‘s homer off Doyle Alexander — and three on Dave Bergman‘s three-run shot in the 10th to win it. Bergie was 4 for 5 on the night.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Exhibition Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Dave Phillips, 1B – Steve Palermo, 2B – Rick Reed, 3B – Jerry Neudecker
  • Time of Game: 3:28
  • Attendance: 37,420

Birthdays

Jarrod Patterson and the late Tom Matchick

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 524: 9/9 — Rarity: 14

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 24, 1984: Angels 5 – Tigers 3

W: Mike Witt (12-10) – L: Dan Petry (15-7) – S: Don Aase (4) | Boxscore

Record: 84-45 — 11 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • The Angels jumped on Peaches for four runs in the first, yet he went the distance allowing the one more run; all in he allowed six hits plus three walks.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Anaheim Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Larry McCoy, 1B – Joe Brinkman, 2B – Nick Bremigan, 3B – Vic Voltaggio
  • Time of Game: 2:33
  • Attendance: 41,459

Birthdays

Tony Bernazard, who played in six games for the 1991 Tigers, and the late Hal Woodeshick and Frank Secory

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 510 6/9 — Rarity: 338

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 15, 1984: Tigers 8 – Angels 3

W: Dan Petry (15-5) – L: Tommy John (7-10) | Boxscore

Record: 78-43 — 9 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • The Tigers gently knocked around Tommy John: 10 hits — all singles — and four runs (three earned) in six innings.
  • Detroit got five hits and three RBI from the number-three slot with Bárbaro Garbey going 3 for 3 and Dave Bergman, replacing Garbey in the seventh, having a 2 for 2 night — a pair of triples! — and three RBI. Tom Brookens also went 3 for 3.
  • Peaches went eight innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk, and struck out five. Willie Hernández pitched 1-2-3 ninth.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Don Denkinger, 1B – Mike Reilly, 2B – Rich Garcia, 3B – Tim McClelland
  • Time of Game: 2:46
  • Attendance: 33,940

Birthdays

Roberto Novoa, Bob James, Duffy Dyer, Arlo Brunsberg, Barney Schultz and the late Chris Brown, Joe Casey and Jack Warner

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 501 9/9 — Rarity: 16

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 1, 1984: Indians 4 – Tigers 2

W: Steve Farr (2-7) – L: Dan Petry (14-5) – S: Ernie Camacho (13) | Boxscore

Record: 71-34 — 11 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • A strong start from Petry wasn’t strong enough as Steve Farr throttled the Tigers offense, allowing just two hits and striking out eight in 61/3 innings.
  • Peaches threw 71/3, giving up six hits and three runs. Two homers by Petry-nemesis George Vukovich was pretty much the difference.
  • Dave Bergman hit a two-run homer, his sixth, in the fifth inning.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Greg Kosc, 1B – Ted Hendry, 2B – Drew Coble, 3B – Jim Evans
  • Time of Game: 2:46
  • Attendance: 27,271

Birthdays

Kevin Jarvis, Brian Bohanon, Gregg Jefferies and Milt May

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 487 9/9 — Rarity: 11

See you tomorrow.

July 24, 1984: Tigers 9 – Indians 5

W: Milt Wilcox (10-6) – L: Steve Farr (1-7) | Boxscore

Record: 68-29 — 11.5 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Doug Baker had a career day, going 4 for 5 with two runs scored, and Milt allowed six hits across 62/3 innings — plus four unearned runs.
  • Detroit won their sixth straight and 11th of their last 12.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Cleveland Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Ted Hendry, 1B – Drew Coble, 2B – Jim Evans, 3B – Greg Kosc
  • Time of Game: 3:21
  • Attendance: 15,578

Birthdays

Jason Smith, Joe Oliver and Jeff Kaiser

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 479 9/9 — Rarity: 23

See you tomorrow.

July 22, 1984: Tigers 2 – Rangers 0

W: Dan Petry (13-4) – L: Charlie Hough (10-8) – S: Willie Hernández (20) | Boxscore

Record: 66-29 — 9 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Another pitchers duel, this one between Dan Petry and Charlie Hough. I remember watching this one on Channel 4: Peaches threw 82/3 innings, allowing a mere four hits, walking one and striking out eight.
  • The one walk was to Wayne Tolleson to lead off the ninth. He got the next two hitters to pop out to short. With left-handed hitting Pete O’Brien coming up Sparky summoned Willie — to a chorus of boos.
  • Hernandez threw one pitch, and O’Brien popped out to short.
  • Dave Bergman batted leadoff and led off the first with a solo homer. The Tigers’ other run scored on a bases-load wild pitch.

The crowd booed me. All 38,000 of them, because they wanted Danny to get that shutout. I don’t blame them. They’re great fans and Danny is such a great guy.
But the object is to win, not make friends.

Sparky, “Bless You Boys”

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Larry Barnett, 1B – Rocky Roe, 2B – Ken Kaiser, 3B – Dale Ford
  • Time of Game: 2:11
  • Attendance: 37,846

Birthdays

Redford High graduate Bill Zepp and the late Doc Cramer

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 477 7/9: Rarity: 226

See you tomorrow.

July 21, 1984: Tigers 7 – Rangers 6

W: Sid Monge (3-1) – L: Dickie Noles (3-3) – S: Willie Hernández (19) | Boxscore

Record: 65-39 — 9 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • You could file this one under “winning ugly.” The Tigers gave Glenn Abbott a 2-0 lead but he couldn’t hold it — he was pulled with one out in the third after giving up five runs on five hits.
  • Thankfully, Rangers’ starter Dickie Noles was worse: 42/3 innings, six hits, five walks and seven runs.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Dale Ford, 1B – Larry Barnett, 2B – Rocky Roe, 3B – Ken Kaiser
  • Time of Game: 2:38
  • Attendance: 46,219

Birthdays

Kimera Bartee and Denny Harriger

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 476 9/9: Rarity: 17

See you tomorrow.