The Sunday Fungo: Feb. 18

Happy Birthday, Jerry Morales

On Dec. 4, 1978, outfielder Jerry Morales was acquired, along with Aurelio Lopez, from the Cardinals for Bob Sykes and minor leaguer John Murphy. Not sure if Jim Campbell saw Señor Smoke as the key to the trade but he certainly made the deal worthwhile.

Morales, wearing #27, played in 129 games in 1979, most of them in right field. His hefty combo of a .211 average and .260 OBP helped make his stay in Detroit a short one.

On Oct. 31, 1979, he was traded with Phil Mankowski to the New York Mets for offseason grave digger Richie Hebner.

Random Game: May 19, 1980

Milt Wilcox versus Ron Guidry in a terrific pitching duel.

Milt matched Louisiana Lightnin’ — 6 hits, 3 walks, and a complete-game performance — and only surrendered Graig Nettles’ sac fly for the Yankees’, and the game’s, lone run.

Monday, May 19, 1980
Start Time: 8:00 p.m. Local
Attendance: 27,715
Venue: Tiger Stadium
Game Duration: 2:29

Boxscore

More Birthdays

Isaac Paredes, Nick Maton and the late Leo Marentette, Frank “Pig” House and Herm Wehmeier.

Marentette, who died in 2014, was a Lambertville, Mich., native. He appeared in two games for 1965 Tigers: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K.

Today’s Grid

Yikes.

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 322 5/9: Rarity: 466

See you tomorrow.

The Wednesday Fungo: Feb. 14

On the Radio: Tigers vs. A’s – July 25, 1978

Milt Wilcox vs. Steve Renko at Tiger Stadium.

Here’s your boxscore.

Birthdays

Alejandro Sanchez. In 71 games for 1985 Tigers, the alleged power bat hit 6 HR in 133 ABs, 39 Ks, 0 walks.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 318 7/9: Rarity: 240

One former Tiger.

See you tomorrow.

The Sunday Fungo: Feb. 4

Happy Birthday, Stan Papi.

Today is Stan Papi‘s 73rd birthday, so let’s take a look back on his brief time in Detroit:

On May 29, 1980, the Tigers purchased Papi’s contract from the Phillies and the infielder made an immediate splash in Detroit.

The next day, Papi, wearing number 9, started at second base and batted ninth — behind the number-eight hitter, Kirk Gibson — against the Angels.

He struck out against Frank Tanana in the bottom of the second but in the fourth hit a two-run home run off Tanana to give the Tigers and Milt Wilcox a 4-1 lead.
He singled in his next at bat and then tripled in the sixth off Jim Barr. The Tigers won the game 12-1.

Papi finished the 1980 campaign with a .237 average, three homers and 17 RBI in 46 games. He hung around for 40 games in the strike-shortened 1981 season, hitting just .204.

His last appearance in a big-league game came on Oct. 1, against the Orioles at Tiger Stadium. Sparky inserted him as a pinch hitter for Rick Leach in the seventh; Papi struck out against Tippy Martinez to end the inning.

Other Birthdays

Doug Fister, Germany Schaefer, Joe Sparma, Rusty Kuntz and Chris Bando.

Today’s Grid

Immaculate Grid 308: 9/9 — Rarity: 37

Three former Tigers and one Detroit native today.

See you tomorrow.