Aug. 4, 1984: Royals 9 – Tigers 5

W: Joe Beckwith (4-2) – L: Doug Bair (4-3) | Boxscore

Record: 72-36 — 9.5 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Let’s see, the Tigers had a 4-2 lead at one point in this one, then the Royals scored seven runs across the sixth and seventh innings and that was it. K. C. had 15 hits, with Don Slaught and Pat Sheridan each collecting three.
  • Doug Bair allowed just two runs — half of starter Glenn Abbott‘s total, and less than Sid Monge‘s three — but took the loss anyway. He faced five batters in the sixth: two walked, two got hits.
  • The Royals’ win got them within four games of the .500 mark … and 20 fewer wins than the Tigers.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Terry Cooney, 1B – Derryl Cousins, 2B – Richard Shulock, 3B – Bill Kunkel
  • Time of Game: 2:57
  • Attendance: 41,714

Birthdays

John Farrell, Terry Humphrey, Johnny Grubb, Frank Kostro, and the late Kevin Collins, Ray Oyler, Tuck Stainback, George Caster and Chick Galloway.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 490 9/9 — Rarity: 23

See you tomorrow.

July 31, 1984: Doubleheader versus Cleveland

Game 1: Tigers 5 – Indians 1

W: Juan Berenguer (5-7) – L: Roy Smith (4-3) | Boxscore

Record: 71-32

Highlights

  • This was a makeup game from the previous week’s rainout in Cleveland.
  • Berenguer was solid: 61/3 innings, four hits, two walks and four strikeouts — and just one run.
  • The Tigers jumped all over Indians’ starter Smith with five runs in the second inning. Doug Baker hit a bases-loaded triple and Ruppert Jones hit a solo shot which sent Smith to the showers.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Drew Coble, 1B – Jim Evans, 2B – Greg Kosc, 3B – Ted Hendry
  • Time of Game: 2:30

Game 2: Indians 6 – Tigers 4

W: Neal Heaton (8-10) – L: Dave Rozema (7-3) – S: Tom Waddell (5) | Boxscore

Record: 71-33 — 12 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Cleveland chased Rozey with six runs on seven hits in 21/3 innings.
  • At the time, I wish I had better appreciated the freak of nature that was Aurelio López. Sparky used him in every situation except for spot starter — and he probably would have excelled in the role. In this one, he pitched 62/3 of shutout relief, allowing just four hits, one walk and striking out five.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Jim Evans, 1B – Greg Kosc, 2B – Ted Hendry, 3B – Drew Coble
  • Time of Game: 2:50
  • Attendance: 32,158

Birthdays

Reese Olson, Andy Van Hekken, Gabe Kapler, Howard Bailey, Dave Dombrowski, Terry Fox and the late Al Aber, Harry Malmberg and Billy Hitchcock

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 486 9/9 — Rarity: 37

See you tomorrow.

July 28, 1984: Red Sox 3 – Tigers 2

W: Bob Stanley (7-6) – L: Jack Morris (13-7) – S: Mark Clear (3) | Boxscore

Record: 69-32 — 12 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Morris had one of his better starts of late, seven innings pitched, three runs, eight hits and seven strikeouts, but the Boston trio of John Henry Johnson, Bob Stanley and Mark Clear held the Tigers’s offense in check.
  • The Tigers had bases loaded with two out in the ninth, but Ruppert Jones grounded out.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Don Denkinger, 1B – Al Clark, 2B – Mike Reilly, 3B – Tim McClelland
  • Time of Game: 2:58
  • Attendance: 49,372

Birthdays

Brendon Davis the late Ted Lepcio, Ben Steiner, John Glaiser, Hank Perry and Bob Wood

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 483 — Rarity:25

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.

July 19, 1984: Tigers 9 – Rangers 2

W: Milt Wilcox (9-6) – L: Dave Stewart (4-11) | Boxscore

Record: 63-29 — 8 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • A terrific start for Wilcox: 71/3 innings, eight hits, two runs, seven strikeouts and no walks.
  • The Tigers are in the middle of a 15-game stretch where they go 12-3. 🔥

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Rocky Roe, 1B – Ken Kaiser, 2B – Dale Ford, 3B – Larry Barnett
  • Time of Game: 2:32
  • Attendance: 26,908

Mark Carreon OF — #15

Mark Carreon played just one season in Detroit, 1992, but what the hay, let’s look back on it:

  • His final game also came against Toronto, on Oct. 4, but no highlights to speak of in this one: 0 for 5 with an error.
  • All told, he hit .232 with 10 homers in 101 games. After the ’92 season he became a free agent and signed with the Giants.

Birthdays

Phil Coke, Mark Carreon, the late Mark Koenig, Earl Hamilton and Erve Beck

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 474 9/9: Rarity: 59

See you tomorrow.

July 17, 1984: Tigers 3 – White Sox 2

July 17, 1984: Tigers 3 – White Sox 2

W: Dan Petry (12-4) – L: Gene Nelson (1-2) – S: Willie Hernández (17) | Boxscore

Record: 62-28 — 9 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • The Tigers scored three in the first and let it ride the rest of the way, thanks to a strong 72/3 innings from Dan Petry. He allowed just five hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts.
  • Nelson was equally solid, allowing just the three runs in eight innings.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Drew Coble, 1B – Mark Johnson, 2B – Greg Kosc, 3B – Ted Hendry
  • Time of Game: 2:03
  • Attendance: 34,579

Mike Muñoz LHP – #43

Here are six things to know about lefty reliever Mike Munoz:

  1. The Tigers acquired him on Sept. 30, 1990 from the Dodgers for minor leaguer Mike Wilkins.
  2. Muñoz made his Tigers debut on June 19, 1991 against the A’s tossing one inning of relief.
  3. He spent most of the ’91 season in Toledo, apart from the six games for the Tigers that amounted to a 0-0 record with a 9.64 ERA in 91/3 innings.
  4. In 1992, Muñoz was a fixture in Sparky’s bullpen, appearing in 65 games and notching a 1-2 record, two saves and a 4.71 ERA.
  5. He appeared in eight games for the ’93 Tigers — 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA — before being released. Muñoz’s last game as a Tiger came on April 28 against the Rangers, in which he took the loss. His final Tigers line: 1-3, two saves and a 4.18 ERA in 79 games.
  6. Muñoz eventually signed with the Rockies where he carved out a nice career, pitching six seasons in Denver.

Birthdays

Hal Erickson and Guy Tutwiler

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 472 9/9: Rarity: 25

See you tomorrow.

July 7, 1984: Tigers 5 – Rangers 2

July 7, 1984: Tigers 5 – Rangers 2

W: Dave Rozema (5-1) – L: Danny Darwin (5-5) – S: Willie Hernández (16) | Boxscore

Record: 57-26 — 7 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • A solid start for Rozema: six innings, nine hits and one earned run.
  • Hernández with another multi-inning save — three! — albeit a bit wild. Three walks and a hit.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Arlington Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Mark Johnson, 1B – Joe Brinkman, 2B – Larry McCoy, 3B – Nick Bremigan
  • Time of Game: 2:41
  • Attendance: 29,262

Birthdays

Alfredo Figaro, Dan Gladden and the late Mel Clark and the Georges: Smith, Spencer, Moriarty and Suggs.

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 41/3, 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.

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 24, 1984: Tigers 7 – Brewers 1

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.

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 7, 1984: Tigers 5 – Blue Jays 3

June 7, 1984: Tigers 5 – Blue Jays 3

W: Jack Morris (11-2) – LJim 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:

  1. The Tigers selected him off waivers from the Cardinals on April 4, 1975.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.