Tag: John Wockenfuss

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.

Aug. 27, 1984: Heading to Seattle

After taking two of three from the Angels, the Tigers hit the road for three games in Seattle, looking to settle a score from May’s sweep at the hands of the Mariners.

Al Greene – OF #21

Detroit Cooley High grad Altar Alfonse “Al” Greene had one of the more brief Tigers careers: 29 games in 1979, which was a surprise given the power numbers he posted in the minors.

Here are a few things to know about the left-handed hitting outfielder:

  • Greene is the first player from Northwood Institute (now Northwood University) to appear in the majors. He signed with the Tigers as an amateur free agent on Nov. 10, 1976.
  • In 1978, he hit .263 with 32 homers, 84 RBI and an .885 OPS with Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Evansville.
  • In 70 plate appearances, he had eight hits — three of them solo homers — six RBI and a .136 average. His final appearance came on Sept. 30, 1979 at Tiger Stadium against the Red Sox. He batted seventh as the Tigers’ DH and went 0 for 4.
  • On June 2, 1980, the Tigers traded him and John Martin to the Cardinals for Jim Lentine. He passed away in Detroit on Feb. 18, 2014 at 59.

Birthdays

Jordy Mercer, Buddy Bell and the late Em Lindbeck, Bob “Bun” Troy and William “Baldy” Louden

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 513 9/9 — Rarity: 14

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 13, 1984: Off Day in Detroit

The Angels are coming to town for a three-game series, starting with a doubleheader to make up for a May 13 rainout.

Aug. 13, 1980: Tigers 2 – Red Sox 1

W: Dan Petry (8-6) – L: John Tudor (3-2) – S: Aurelio López (17) | Boxscore

Record: 59-50 — Third place, 8.5 games behind the Yankees

Highlights

  • Petry pitched seven innings, scattered nine hits and struck out four. Tudor was good, too: six innings, four hits and two unearned runs.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Fred Spenn, 1B – Al Clark, 2B – Steve Palermo, 3B – Larry McCoy
  • Time of Game: 2:56
  • Attendance: 24,565

Birthdays

Dustin Garneau, Román Colón, Jarrod Washburn, Eddie Gaillard and the late George Susce

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 499 5/9 — Rarity: 6

A mic-drop Grid.

See you tomorrow.

July 30, 1984: An Off Day in Detroit

The Tigers had a Monday off day at home before the Indians came to town for a three-game set. Let’s look back on a game played on this date 45 years ago …

July 30, 1979: Tigers 6 – Rangers 4

W: John Hiller (4-7) – L: Danny Darwin (2-2) – S: Aurelio López (9) | Boxscore

Record: 53-49 — 5th place, 16 games behind Baltimore

Highlights

  • Jack Morris started and went six innings, allowing eight hits and two runs. He departed with a 4-0 lead.
  • John Hiller blew a save opportunity but the Tigers scored a run in the eighth and again in the ninth to secure the win.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Arlington Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Bill Deegan, 1B – Greg Kosc, 2B – George Maloney, 3B – Dan Morrison
  • Time of Game: 2:40
  • Attendance: 14,297

Birthdays

Scott Fletcher, Mickey Mahler, and the late Gus Triandos and Joe Coleman, Sr.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 485 9/9 — Rarity: 58

See you tomorrow.

July 11, 1984: The All-Star Break Continues

July 11, 1984: The All-Star Break Continues

‘Twas the final day of the 1984 All-Star Break and the Tigers prepared to start the second half with a four-game series against the Twins at the Metrodome.

So, let’s look at a game from this date in another season: 1977.

July 11, 1977: Tigers 9 – Blue Jays 7

W: Steve Grilli (1-0) – L: Dennis DeBarr (0-1) | Boxscore

Record: 38-46 — 6th place, 10.5 games behind Boston

Highlights

  • The Blue Jays tagged Tigers starter Dave Roberts with five runs in the top of the first. Detroit answered with a run of their own in the first, and another four in the second to make it 5-5 heading to the third.
  • Rusty Staub led the Tigers’s 10-hit attack, with a two-for-three night — including a second-inning three-run homer — and four RBI.
  • Roberts pitched 62/3, allowing seven runs on nine hits, and gave way to Steve Grilli who pitched 21/3 hitless innings to secure the win.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Vic Voltaggio, 1B – Marty Springstead, 2B – Larry Barnett, 3B – Jim Evans
  • Time of Game: 2:30
  • Attendance: 9,057

Dickie Noles – RHP #27

The first, and perhaps last, thing to know about Dickie Noles‘ Tigers career is that he was the player to be named later in the trade that brought him to Detroit. On Sept. 21, 1987, he was traded by the Cubs to the Tigers for a player to be named later.

He appeared in four games:

Sept. 22: He entered the game against Boston with bases load and two out in the bottom of the ninth, and got Dwight Evans to hit into a 1-3 ground out. Noles earned the save.

Sept. 25: Facing the Blue Jays, he pitched 11/3 innings, allowing a hit, a walk and a run. The Tigers lost 3-2.

Sept. 26: This one still hurts. The Tigers took a 9-7 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Mike Henneman allowed a leadoff double to Jesse Barfield, an infield single to Willie Upshaw and then hit former Tiger Rick Leach. The next batter, Juan Beníquez, laced a triple to left off Noles and the Jays won, 10-9. We sobbed.

Sept. 27: Noles’ final Tigers appearance came in a huge, season-saving Tigers win. Doyle Alexander pitched the first 102/3 innings, and four relievers covered the final 21/3. Noles was the fourth; he entered with two out in the bottom of the 13th and they tying run on first. He got Barfield to hit it to shortstop for a force out at second. Tigers won 3-2 and that was it for Noles in Detroit.

On Oct. 23, 1987, he was returned to the Cubs. That’s a 32-day Tigers career. But given the mayhem of those final 10 days of the 1987 season, those were pretty good days to be with Detroit.

Birthdays

Johnny Barbato, Yorman Bazardo and the late Al Federoff

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 466 7/9: Rarity: 285

Ugly.

See you tomorrow.

June 28, 1984: Off Day at Home

June 28, 1984: Off Day at Home

The Tigers have an off day after losing the series to the Yankees in New York. Up next: a doubleheader against the Twins in Detroit. Let’s look back on a game played on June 28 in another year.

June 28, 1980: Tigers 8 – Blue Jays 3

W: Dave Rozema (4-4) – L: Jack Kucek (1-1) | Boxscore

Record: 37-30 — 3rd place, 6.5 games behind the Yankees

Highlights

  • Rozema pitched seven innings, scattered seven hits and allowed just two earned runs. Dan Schatzeder and Aurelio López covered the final two innings.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Exhibition Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Ted Hendry, 1B – Larry Barnett, 2B – Fred Spenn, 3B – Jim Evans
  • Time of Game: 2:53
  • Attendance: 20,059

Birthdays

Chris Spurling, Greg Keagle, Tom Fletcher, Orlando McFarlane, Frank Scheibeck and the late Fred Gladding

See you tomorrow.

May 21, 1984: Travel Day to the West Coast

May 21, 1984: Travel Day to the West Coast

After sweeping the A’s over the weekend, the Tigers head West to face the Angels, Mariners and A’s once again.

Record: 32-5, 8.5 games up

On the Air: May 21, 1978 – Red Sox @ Tigers

Here’s your boxscore.

Bob Molinaro #34, #37

The Tigers drafted outfielder Bob Molinaro in the second round of the 1968 June Amateur Draft from Essex Catholic High School in Newark, N.J.

He played in parts of seven minor-league seasons before making his debut on Sept. 18, 1975 against the Indians. He batted fifth, played right field and went hitless in two at bats, facing Jim Bibby — but he walked in his first plate appearance.

In his second game, on Sept. 20 against the Red Sox, he went 3 for 4 and got his first major-league hit — a triple — off Luis Tiant. He appeared in six games in ’75.

Molinaro spent the 1976 season in Evansville and was a September call up in 1977, appearing in four games before being selected off waivers on Sept. 22 by the White Sox.

He had two tours with White Sox, and short stints with Baltimore, the Cubs and the Phillies before wrapping his career how it started: September games with the Tigers.

After being released by the Phillies, Detroit signed him as a free agent on Sept. 1, 1983 and he appeared in eight games, five as a pinch runner, three as pinch hitter. He was 0 for 3 with a walk.

Molinaro’s final big-league game was Oct. 2, 1983 against the Brewers. He was a pinch runner for John Wockenfuss in the eighth inning. The Tigers released him on Oct. 21.

Birthdays

Jacob Turner, Andrew Miller, Bryce Florie, Bob Molinaro, and the late Earl Averill and Doc Ayers 

See you tomorrow.

May 13, 1984: Rained Out in Detroit

May 13, 1984: Rained Out in Detroit

The Tigers are rained out yet again in the first six weeks. Seattle comes to town for three starting tomorrow.

Record: 26-5, 7.5 games up

Glenn Wilson #12

A torrid start in Evansville led to Glenn Wilson‘s promotion to the Tigers in time for the Tigers on Opening Day in Detroit, April 15, 1982, against the Blue Jays.

Just two years earlier Wilson was a Tigers first-round pick, 18th overall, out of Sam Houston State University in Texas.

Wilson entered the ’82 home opener in the bottom of the eighth pinch-hitting for DH Jerry Turner. Facing Jays’ reliever Jerry Garvin, he stuck out looking.

The next day, Wilson collected his first major-league hit the next day against Ron Guidry, leading off the ninth with a double to left center.

Wilson made the most of his opportunity, hitting .467 in his first six games, and playing excellent defense in the outfield. Thanks to his hot start, he stuck with the Tigers until early May when he was sent back to Evansville only to return in July.

Wilson ended up playing in 84 big-league games that season, 80 of them in centerfield, and finished at .292 with 12 home runs.

In 1983 the Tigers were depending on Wilson to maintain the pace he began in his rookie season. He shifted from centerfield to right, allowing Chet Lemon to take over his natural position. Wilson appeared in 144 games that year and hit .268 with 11 HR and 64 RBI.

The Tigers saw him as a key piece of the puzzle heading into 1984. But the Tigers were determined to make Kirk Gibson their regular right fielder in ’84 which complicated the outfield picture and likely meant Wilson was a man without a position.

On March 24, the Tigers sent Wilson and John Wockenfuss to the Phillies for Willie Hernandez and Dave Bergman. Wilson spent four seasons with the Phillies and was named to the National League All-Star team in 1985. He finished the season with a .275 average, 14 home runs and 102 RBI.

With stops in Seattle, Pittsburgh and his hometown Astros, Wilson had a solid 10-year major-league career. His place in Tigers lore is set, if only as a player traded away on the eve of a magical season.

I for one enjoyed watching him play in Detroit — he was one of my favorite players — and wish he’d hung around a bit longer.

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to the late, old-time Tigers: Alex Main (1914 Tigers), Jimmy Archer (1907 Tigers) and Jack Burns (1903-04 Tigers)

See you tomorrow.

🐇 The Sunday Fungo

The Tigers on Easter Sunday

Happy Easter! Here’s a rundown of the Tigers’ performance on Easter Sunday in games from 1977 through ’94. They appeared in nine games, winning three:

April 10, 1977: Royals 5 – Tigers 0 | W: Colborn – L: Ruhle – Save: Gura
April 15, 1979: Tigers 11 – Rangers 6 | W: Burnside – L: Lyle
April 19, 1981: Blue Jays 9 – Tigers 1 | W: Bomback – L: Morris
April 11, 1982: Tigers 2 – Royals 1 | W: Rozema – L: Blue – Save: Saucier
April 22, 1984: Tigers 9 – White Sox 1 | W: Berenguer – L: Brennan
April 19, 1987: White Sox 7 – Tigers 1 | W: Bannister – L: Petry
April 15, 1990: Orioles 6 – Tigers 0 | W: Milacki – L: Robinson
April 19, 1992: Orioles 3 – Tigers 2 | W: Milacki – L: Terrell – Save: Olson
April 11, 1993: Angels 7 – Tigers 6 | W: Crim – L: Krueger – Save: Grahe

Birthdays

Tracy Jones, Bill Denehy and the late Marv Grissom and Johnny Couch.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 364 9/9 – Rarity: 3

I don’t think I can do better than this. It checks all boxes except for the all-Tigers box.

See you tomorrow.

The Sunday Fungo

40 Years Ago: The Trade

Forty years ago today, March 24, 1984, the Tigers acquired relief pitcher Willie Hernandez and first baseman Dave Bergman from the Philadelphia Phillies for catcher John Wockenfuss and outfielder Glenn Wilson. 

And the insanity that was the Summer of ’84 began.

As if you need a refresher:

  • Hernandez won the American League MVP and Cy Young awards after saving 32 games with an 1.92 ERA and 140.1 innings in 80 appearances.

Here’s a longer piece from the Archives.

3 Things to Know About Bill Fahey – #17

  1. The Detroit native played high school ball at Redford Union, and college ball at St. Clair County Community College and University of Detroit.
  2. On March 24, 1981 — 43 years ago today! — the Tigers purchased his contract from the Padres.
  3. In parts of three Tigers seasons, Fahey appeared in 74 games and hit .212 with one home run and 15 RBI.

Today’s Birthdays

Jose Valverde, former Tigers LHP and scout, Dick Egan, and the late Dick Kryhoski.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 357 9/9 – Rarity: 48

See you tomorrow.