The Detroit Tigers and the World Series

Olde-time baseball by C. Philip Francis  –  September 20, 2006

     The Detroit Tigers have not been in a World Series since 1984, and are now in post-season play for the first time in 19 years.  They could make it to the World Series again, and here are thumbnail sketches of each of their previous nine Series games.

1907 – THE CHICAGO CUBS DEFEAT THE TIGERS 4 GAMES TO 0 WITH ONE TIE

     In Game One the Tigs were up 3-0 going into the ninth when Chicago tied the game.  It was still 3-3 in the 12^th when the umpires called the game due to darkness.  It was declared a tie to be played the next day.  Detroit never recovered, and Chicago took the Series 4-0. 

1908 – THE CHICAGO CUBS DEFEAT THE TIGERS 4 GAMES TO 1

     In a World Series repeat Game 1 was played in Detroit under snow, sleet, and heavy rain, and while the Tigers led 6 to 5 going into the top of the ninth the Cubs scored five runs to win 10 to 6.  Chicago was up two games before the Detroit won their first ever World Series game 8-3 when Cobb finally came to life with four hits.   

     The Motor City men never scored again as the Cubs went on to capture their second consecutive Championship flag.

1909 – THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES DEFEAT THE TIGERS 4 GAMES TO 3

     This World Series was played in the Pirates’ new Forbes Field that had opened for business on June 30^th.  As the Pittsburgh ballplayers were taking batting practice their manager, Fred Clarke, walked over to rookie pitcher Charles “Babe” Adams, and tossed him a ball.  Surprised and in near shock Adams stammered, “What’s this for Skipper?”  “Babe, you better warm up as you’re going to be pitching for us today.”  Although the Indiana farm boy had won 12 games that season he was at the bottom of the team’s pitching rotation, and did not expect to play in the Series.  

     On the manager’s hunch Babe Adams became the first pitcher to ever win three Championship games in one Series. 

1934 – THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS DEEAT THE TIGERS 4 GAMES TO 3

     The colorful 1934 Cardinal team was called the Gas House Gang because of their hard-playing and exuberant energy.  The spirited players included Pepper Martin, Dizzy and brother Paul Dean, Leo Durocher, Joe Medwick, and led by manager Frank Frisch.  The Tigers also had a great team with Hank Greenberg, Charlie Gehringer, Goose Goslin, and Elden Auker.  (Note:  Auker died this year at the age of the age of 95.)

      Dizzy won Game 1 on five Tiger infield errors.  In Game 7 the Cards scored seven runs in the third inning, and romped home to win the game 11-0 and the Series.  In the sixth inning with the Cards far ahead, Medwick cut Tiger third baseman Marv Owen with a hard slide.  After the angry fans pelted the field with fruit and bottles baseball commissioner Landis ordered Medwick out of the game for his own protection. 

1935 – THE TIGERS DEFEAT THE CHICAGO CUBS 4 GAMES TO 2

     Detroit was led by Hall of Fame catcher and manager Mickey Cochrane, and Pete Fox and Charlie Gehringer who were at the top of their game in this six-game Series.  In Game 2 Cub hurler Fabian Kowalik broke Greenberg’s wrist with a fastball that put  Hank out of the Series and also much of the following season. 

     The Tigers were up three games to two going into Game 6 in Detroit on October 7 with Larry French pitching for Chicago and Tommy Bridges for Detroit.  It was 3 to 3 in the bottom of the ninth when Goose Goslin singled Cochrane home for their first World Championship sending the city into wild ecstasy     

1940 – THE CINCINNATI REDS DEFEAT THE TIGERS 4 GAMES TO 3

     It was a time of sorrow for both teams.  The Reds’ catcher, Willard Hershberger, committed suicide in August after believing he had caused a crucial loss, and the father of Detroit’s ace pitcher, Bobo Newsom, died during the Series.  In Game 1 Cincinnati’s top hurler, Paul Derringer, was yanked in the second inning as Newsom won a complete game 7-2.

     Derringer and Newsom were again matched in Game 7 with the Series tied at 3 games each.  Bobo wanted to win one for his dad, but the Reds scored two runs in the seventh to win their first Championship since the tainted Chicago Black Sox Series of 1919. 

1945 – THE TIGERS DEFEAT THE CHICAGO CUBS 4 GAMES TO 3

     The 1945 Tigers were called “the nine old men”, but had their great left-hander, Hal Newhouser, who won 25 games, “Dizzy” Trout who won 18, and slugging Hank Greenberg just back from the service.    

     Newhouser was bombed early in Game 1 losing to Hank Borowy and the Cubs 9-0.  He did, however, win Game 5, and the decisive final game 9-3.  Forty-year-old Doc Cramer guided the Tigers with 11 hits and a .379 batting average.

1968 – THE TIGERS DEFEAT THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 4 GAMES TO 3

     In Game 1 Detroit’s almost invincible Denny McLain, the last pitcher to win 30 or more games, lasted only five innings as the Cardinals’ Bob Gibson struck out a Series record 17 batters.  McLain did win Game 6, but left-hander Mickey Lolich was the pitching star with three victories and his only ever home run.  Al Kaline and Norman Cash were the Detroit hitting stars.

1984 – THE TIGERS DEFEAT THE SAN DIEGO PADRES 4 GAMES TO 1

     Detroit’s Jack Morris won two games while Kirk Gibson and Alan Trammell pounded the Padres with two home runs each as second baseman Lou Whitaker became the Tigers’ defensive star.  The World Series win made Sparky Anderson the first manager to win championships in both the American and National leagues.

     Note:  The Detroit Tigers have just knocked the Yankees out of the playoffs, and are ready to take on the Oakland A’s.  Can the Tigs make it to their tenth World Series? 

Chatter from the Dugout welcomes all comments and questions, and may be reached at:  dugoutchatter@ejourney.com

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