July 10, 1984: National League 3 – American League 1

W: Charlie Lea (1-0) – L: Dave Stieb (0-1) – S: Rich Gossage (1) | Boxscore

Highlights

Lou Whitaker led off the game with a double to right off the Expos’ Charlie Lea. (Baseball Reference’s box score describes the hit as “Pop Fly to Short RF Line”.)

In the third, he singled off Fernando Valenzuela and finished two for three before being replaced by the Blue Jays’ Dámaso García in the sixth.

Lance Parrish started and batted seventh. He went hitless with two strikeouts. Jim Sundberg replaced him in the fifth.

Jack Morris relieved Stieb in the third and tossed two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk, and striking out two.

Chet Lemon started and batted eighth. In the second inning he singled to center off Lea. In the top of the fifth, Lance, Chet and the Mariners’ Alvin Davis were struck out in succession by Dwight Gooden.

Willie Hernández allowed an eighth-inning homer to Dale Murphy which gave the N.L. the insurance run they needed.

Notable: A.L. Manager Joe Altobelli used five pitchers, two from Toronto (Stieb and Bill Caudill), two from Detroit and one, Richard Dotson, from Chicago.

Miscellany

Venue: Candlestick Park
Umpires: HP – Lee Weyer, 1B – Al Clark, 2B – Dutch Rennert, 3B – Durwood Merrill, LF – Fred Brocklander, RF – Rocky Roe
Time of Game: 2:29
Attendance: 57,756

Birthdays

Buddy Groom, the late Jim Walsh and Bobby Lowe

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 465 9/9: Rarity: 7

See you tomorrow.

July 9, 1984: The All-Star Break

The Tigers had six players on the 1984 American League All-Star team, three in the starting lineup …

… and three reserves:

Tram was on the disabled list, as I recall, with an elbow issue and wouldn’t play in the game, played at Candlestick Park.

I had held out hope that Morris would start the game. Alas, that assignment went to the Blue Jays’ Dave Stieb.

The Standings

A seven-game lead at the All-Star Break, even knowing how it all ends, is still remarkable. What I did not realize, until I started writing this post, was the Padres entered the break with the best record in the National League.

Birthdays

Orville Inman “Coot” Veal and the late Bud Black, Jimmy Shevlin, Glenn Myatt and Carl Holling

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 464 8/9 —Rarity: 159

See you tomorrow.

July 3, 1984: White Sox 9 – Tigers

July 3, 1984: White Sox 9 – Tigers 5

W: Tom Seaver (7-6) – L: Jack Morris (12-5) – S: Ron Reed (4) | Boxscore

Record: 55-24 — 8 games up Toronto

Highlights

The Tigers lost their third-consecutive game for the first time since the Memorial Day sweep at the hands of the Mariners.

Morris fooled no one and Seaver was not much better — but good enough to win. The Cat lasted 4^1/3, giving up eight runs on nine hits. Tom Terrific allowed five earned runs on five hits — three of them homers — walked three and struck out seven.

Lance Parrish, Ruppert Jones and Howard Johnson each took Seaver deep.

Miscellany

Venue: Comiskey Park
Umpires: HP – Drew Coble, 1B – Jim Evans, 2B – Greg Kosc, 3B – Ted Hendry
Time of Game: 2:42
Attendance: 43,094

Birthdays

Logan Kensing, Frank Tanana, Phil Meeler and the late Luke Hamlin and Jack Dalton

See you tomorrow.

June 29, 1984: Doubleheader in Detroit

Game 1: Twins 5 – Tigers 3

W: Albert Williams (3-3) – L: Jack Morris (12-4) – S: Ron Davis (15) | Boxscore

Record: 53-21

Highlights

Morris began — or maybe he was already mired in? — his mid-season slump. He allowed 10 hits, three walks and five earned runs over 5^2/3 innings.

Doug Bair pitched the final 3^1/3 giving up just two hits in a scoreless outing.

Lou Whitaker had three hits and Lance Parrish drove in two.

Miscellany

Umpires: HP – Nick Bremigan, 1B – Mark Johnson, 2B – Joe Brinkman, 3B – Larry McCoy
Time of Game: 2:50
Attendance: Not Given

Game 2: Tigers 7 – Twins 5

W: Willie Hernández (4-0) – L: Pete Filson (4-2) | Boxscore

Record: 54-21 — 10 games up on Toronto

Highlights

The Tigers chased Twins starter Mike Smithson after 1^1/3 with five hits — three of them homers — and four earned runs.

Kirk Gibson‘s two-run shot in the first, and solo homers by Chet Lemon and Ruppert Jones in the second sent Smithson to the showers.

That 4-0 Tigers lead turned into a 5-4 deficit thanks to the Twins’ tagging Milt Wilcox for five runs on five hits in five innings.

Detroit tied it in the seventh and the Gibby hit his second two-run homer of the game to walk it off.

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Mark Johnson, 1B – Joe Brinkman, 2B – Larry McCoy, 3B – Nick Bremigan
Time of Game: 3:00
Attendance: 44,619

Birthdays

Eddie Miller, Bruce Kimm, the late Bob Shaw, Dizzy Trout and Bobby Veach

See you tomorrow.

June 24, 1984: Tigers 7 – Brewers 1

W: Jack Morris (12-3) – L: Moose Haas (4-6) – S: Aurelio López (9) | Boxscore

Record: 52-18 — 8.5 up on Toronto

Highlights

The Tigers scored five runs on five hits off Brewers starter Moose Haas.

Morris, 6 innings, 1 hit, and Señor Smoke, 3 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, throttled Milwaukee.

Lance Parrish had a 3 for 4 day with a solo homer, and Ruppert Jones hit a three-run shot.

Miscellany

Venue: County Stadium
Umpires: HP – Durwood Merrill, 1B – Dan Morrison, 2B – Marty Springstead, 3B – Jim McKean
Time of Game: 2:32
Attendance: 39,067

Birthdays

George Harper

See you tomorrow.

June 12, 1984: Blue Jays 12 – Tigers 3

W: Jim Clancy (5-6) – L: Jack Morris (11-3) | Boxscore

Record: 44-15 — 7 games up on Toronto

Highlights

All the highlights in this one belonged to the Blue Jays. They took it to all three Tigers pitchers.

Morris: Three innings, eight hits, six runs.

Sid Monge: Four innings, six hits, three runs.

Aurelio López: One inning, two hits (one homer), three runs.

Oh, here’s one Tigers highlight: Lou Whitaker went three for four with a single, double and triple

Miscellany

Venue: Exhibition Stadium
Umpires: HP – Jerry Neudecker, 1B – John Hirschbeck, 2B – Steve Palermo, 3B – Dave Phillips
Time of Game: 2:43
Attendance: 40,437

Elias Sosa #36

Here are five things to know about right-hander Elias Sosa, who spent one year in Detroit:

Sosa was sent to the Tigers by the Expos on March 30, 1982 as part of a conditional deal. I have no idea what that means.
He made his Tigers debut on April 12, 1982, pitching the ninth inning in a 9-5 Tigers loss.
Of his 38 appearances, 23 were multiple innings, and he averaged 1^2/3 innings of work.
Sosa’s longest outing was a five-inning stint on July 12 against the White Sox.
His final line: 3-3 record, 4.43 ERA and four saves. The Padres purchased his contract from the Tigers on Oct. 7, 1982.

Birthdays

Avisaíl García, Scott Aldred and the late Matty McIntyre

See you tomorrow.

June 7, 1984: Tigers 5 – Blue Jays 3

W: Jack Morris (11-2) – L: Jim Clancy (4-6) | Boxscore

Record: 40-13

Highlights

Another complete game for Morris; he allowed seven hits, struck out four and walked just one.

Ruppert Jones earned the Rooftop nickname after launching his first Tigers homer, a three-run shot, off Clancy in the sixth inning.

Despite the 35-5 start and the Tigers earning their 40th win of the year, the Blue Jays were not far behind with 36 wins. Forty years later it’s still too close for comfort.

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Bill Kunkel, 1B – Terry Cooney, 2B – Richard Shulock, 3B – Derryl Cousins
Time of Game: 2:38
Attendance: 40,879

Ray Bare #21

Here are five things to know about the late right-hander Ray Bare:

The Tigers selected him off waivers from the Cardinals on April 4, 1975.
Bare debuted on April 10, 1975, pitching the ninth inning in at in an Orioles 10-0 rout. He allowed two runs on two hits and a pair of walks.
He appeared in 59 games for the Tigers over 1975 and ’76, 42 of those were starts. His 8-13 record in 1975 falls in line with that bad Tigers team.
His final major-league game was on May 3, 1977, a 13-0 Rangers blowout. Bare came into the game with two outs in the second inning, and the Tigers down 6-0. He allowed four hits and three runs and was lifted without recording an out.
Bare’s final record with the Tigers: 15-23 and a 4.94 ERA.

Birthdays

Mark Lowe, Virgil Vasquez and the late Ed Wells

See you tomorrow.

June 2, 1984: Orioles 5 – Tigers 0

W: Storm Davis (6-1) – L: Jack Morris (10-2) | Boxscore

Record: 38-10

Highlights

Cue that tired expression: “They should have saved some for today.” The Orioles bounced back from the previous night’s drubbing and tagged Morris for five runs in six innings.

Storm Davis pitched a complete-game three-hitter.

Alan Trammell, Dave Bergman and Howard Johnson accounted for the Tigers offense.

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Don Denkinger, 1B – Rich Garcia, 2B – Mike Reilly, 3B – Al Clark
Time of Game: 2:11
Attendance: 40,292

Game Highlights

Birthdays

Neifi Perez, Darnell Coles and the late Lou Skizas, Gene Michael, Jerry Lumpe and Jack Pierce

See you tomorrow.

May 28, 1984: Tigers 6 – A’s 2

W: Jack Morris (10-1) – L: Chris Codiroli (1-2) | Boxscore

Highlights

Another complete game win for Morris: 7 hits, 2 runs, 0 walks, 8 strikeouts.

On the other side, Codirolio faced the first seven batters, got only one out and surrendered four Tigers runs before being pulled.

Alan Trammell went 3 for 4, Lou Whitaker had three walks, and Lance Parrish hit his eighth homer of the year.

Miscellany

Venue: Oakland Coliseum
Umpires: HP – Jerry Neudecker, 1B – Steve Palermo, 2B – Rick Reed, 3B – Dave Phillips
Time of Game: 2:57
Attendance: 46,238

Birthdays

Lester Oliveros, Jhonny Peralta, Mike Difelice, Kirk Gibson and the late Jim Middleton

See you tomorrow.

May 24, 1984: Tigers 5 – Angels 1

W: Jack Morris (9-1) – L: Jim Slaton (1-2) | Boxscore

Record: 35-5

Highlights

A complete-game four-hitter for The Cat — with 10 strikeouts.

Homers by Alan Trammell, his fifth of the year, and Lance Parrish, number seven, fuel the offense.

The win puts the Tigers at the still-mind blowing 35 and 5 mark. Certainly, with the mediocre Mariners next on the schedule, 38 and 5 is assured. Right?

Miscellany

Venue: Anaheim Stadium
Umpires: HP – Terry Cooney, 1B – Richard Shulock, 2B – Derryl Cousins, 3B – Bill Kunkel
Time of Game: 2:14
Attendance: 43,580

Birthdays

Brad Penny, Danny Bautista, Dave Machemer and the late Milt Jordan

See you tomorrow.