Tag: Kirk Gibson

Oct. 14, 1984: World Series Champions

Game 5: Tigers 8 – Padres 4

W: Aurelio López – L: Andy Hawkins – S: Willie Hernández | Boxscore

Tigers win series, 4-1

Highlights

  • I was going to write about Game 5, but why waste your time when you can relive it down here 👇🏻. If you want the short version from Ernie, try this one.
  • Poor Dan Petry finished the postseason with a 0-1 record and an ERA of 6.00!

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Paul Runge, 1B – Mike Reilly, 2B – Doug Harvey, 3B – Larry Barnett, LF – Bruce Froemming, RF – Rich Garcia
  • Time of Game: 2:55
  • Attendance: 51,901

Postscript

Was there a downside to the Tigers winning this game? For me, yes.

Weeks before the postseason began, I was asked to be on clean-up duty at a small wedding reception for the aunt of my then-girlfriend. I didn’t even think to look at the postseason calendar — I was 16! As luck would have it, I missed the entire game.

Using a phone on the wall at the reception hall, I was left to listen to Ernie and Paul through a phone my sister placed next to the radio at home.

So, the next World Series the Tigers win, will be the first one I ever see.

Birthdays

Miguel Del Pozo, Erik Sabel and the late Vincent Maney

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 561 9/9 — Rarity: 16

See you tomorrow.

Oct. 10, 1984: World Series Game 2

Padres 5 – Tigers 3

W: Andy Hawkins – L: Dan Petry – S: Craig Lefferts | Boxscore

Series tied at 1

Highlights

  • I call this one The Kurt Bevacqua Revenge Game. The Tigers looked to be on the road to taking Game 2 with a five-hit, three-run first inning that dispatched Padres started Ed Whitson after he retired only two outs.
  • Petry started and lasted just 41/3 innings and gave up five earned runs on eight hits and three walks. The big blow was Bevacqua’s three-run homer in the fifth which sent Peaches to the showers.
  • Padres reliever Andy Hawkins was pretty much untouchable over his 51/3 innings, allowing just one hit, and Craig Lefferts was just as good in his three innings.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Jack Murphy Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Larry Barnett, 1B – Bruce Froemming, 2B – Rich Garcia, 3B – Paul Runge, LF – Mike Reilly, RF – Doug Harvey
  • Time of Game: 2:44
  • Attendance: 57,911

Birthdays

Shelby Miller, Plácido Polanco, Ramón Martínez, Jim Weaver and the late Brian Powell, Saul Rogovin, Harry Eisenstat and John Stone

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 557: 9/9 – Rarity: 39

See you tomorrow.

Oct. 9, 1984: World Series Game 1

Tigers 3 – Padres 2

W: Jack Morris – L: Mark Thurmond | Boxscore

Tigers lead series 1-0

Highlights

  • The Tigers jumped on Thurmond and got half of their eight hits in the first inning. A Lou Whitaker leadoff double followed by an Alan Trammell single brought home the game’s first run. Lance Parrish and Larry Herndon also singled in the inning but were stranded.
  • The difference in the game was Herndon’s fifth-inning two-run homer off Thurmond.
  • In the bottom of the seventh, we witnessed a dazzling defensive play by Kirk Gibson, who fielded Kurt Bevacqua‘s liner to the right field corner and threw a perfect relay to Whitaker who nailed Bevacqua at third.
  • Morris cruised the rest of the way, scattering eight hits, walking three and striking out nine.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Jack Murphy Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Doug Harvey, 1B – Larry Barnett, 2B – Bruce Froemming, 3B – Rich Garcia, LF – Paul Runge, RF – Mike Reilly
  • Time of Game: 3:18
  • Attendance: 57,908

Birthdays

Derek Holland

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 556: 9/9 — Rarity 29

See you tomorrow.

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

  • 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. 
  • 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.

Oct. 2, 1984: ALCS Game 1

Tigers 8 – Royals 1

W: Jack Morris (1-0) – L: Bud Black (0-1) – | Boxscore

Tigers lead series, 1-0.

Highlights

  • Alan Trammell had a night. He went 3 for 3 — with a triple and a homer — three RBI, two walks and two runs scored.
  • Morris was terrific: seven innings, one run on five hits, a walk and four strikeouts. Willie Hernández pitched two flawless innings.
  • How in the world did the Royals, with 20 fewer wins than the Tigers, get to host the first two games of this series? Baseball’s ridiculous alternate-year home-field advantage nonsense, that’s how.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Royals Stadium
  • Replacement Umpires: HP – Bill Deegan, 1B – Jon Bible, 2B – Randy Christal, 3B – Larry Zirbel, LF – Harold Jordan, RF – Mike O’Dell
  • Time of Game: 2:42
  • Attendance: 41,973

Birthdays

Alex Lange, Chad Smith, Victor Santos, Matt Walbeck, Dave Beard and the late Earl Wilson

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 549 8/9 — Rarity: 207

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 25, 1984: Tigers 9 – Brewers 1

W: Randy O’Neal (2-0) – L: Bob Gibson (1-5) | Boxscore

Record: 102-55 — 151/2 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Howard Johnson hit a first-inning grand slam and the Tigers built a 9-0 lead before the Brewers scored in the seventh.
  • Johnson also had a double and Kirk Gibson tripled as part of a two-hit, two-RBI night.

Miscellany

  • Venue: County Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Durwood Merrill, 1B – Dan Morrison, 2B – Jim McKean, 3B – Marty Springstead
  • Time of Game: 2:34
  • Attendance: 8,804

Birthdays

Kyle Ryan, Steve Wapnick, Ed Putman, Sal Butera and the late Dick Harley

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid #542: 9/9 — Rarity: 39

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 23, 1984: Tigers 4 – Yankees 1

W: Jack Morris (19-11) – L: Ray Fontenot (8-9) – S: Willie Hernández (32) | Boxscore

Record: 100-55 — 141/2 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • This win was the Tigers’ 100th of the year, only the sixth time in franchise history to that point, and the first since 1968, they reached that mark. It was also The Cat’s final win and Willie’s final save of the regular season.
  • Speaking of Morris, he was outstanding: six innings, two hits, four walks and four strikeouts.
  • Detroit’s next home game will be Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Mike Reilly, 1B – Don Denkinger, 2B – Rich Garcia, 3B – Al Clark
  • Time of Game: 2:30
  • Attendance: 39,198

Birthdays

Easton Lucas, Joba Chamberlain, Jim Morrison, Jim Rooker, and the late Lefty Stewart and Walter “Biff” Schaller

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid #540: 9/9 — Rarity 4

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 62/3, 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.

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.

Sept. 10, 1984: Orioles 3 – Tigers 1

W: Mike Flanagan (12-12) – L: Juan Berenguer (8-10) | Boxscore

Record: 92-52 — 11.5 games up on Toronto

Magic Number: 8

Highlights

  • Berenguer pitched well in this one but, except for a Kirk Gibson homer, got no run support. Juan pitched seven innings, gave up five hits and two runs, and he walked four.
  • Flanagan pitched his fourth complete game against the Tigers in 1984 — and allowed two earned runs total. He gave up five hits and struck out five.
  • The score was 2-1 heading to the bottom of the eighth and Eddie Murray added an insurance run with his 27th homer of the year, off Aurelio López.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Memorial Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Don Denkinger, 1B – Rich Garcia, 2B – Al Clark, 3B – Tim McClelland
  • Time of Game: 2:38
  • Attendance: 27,440

Birthdays

Dustin Peterson, Riccardo Ingram, Bruce Robbins, the late Augie Johns and Sammy Hale

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 527 9/9 — Rarity: 6

See you tomorrow.