1968 Tigers Tribute Site

October 10, 1968 at Busch Stadium
Tigers 4, Cardinals 1
Tigers Win Best of Seven Game Series 4-3

The Tigers and Mickey Lolich saved the best for last as the Tigers completed a historic comeback to secure their first World Series win since 1945.  In a first time battle between both team’s best postseason pitchers, it was Mickey Lolich who came out on top with a fantastic outing that saw him surrender just one run on five hits to go a perfect 3-0 in three complete game wins for the Tigers.

Through six innings, this was a total nail biter.  The Tigers managed just a single hit off of Bob Gibson while the Cardinals picked up just four.  The biggest threat came in the bottom of the sixth inning but Lolich picked both Lou Brock and Curt Flood off of first base to negate any damage.  Both times Lolich was able to get the ball over to first base on stolen base attempts.

The Tigers finally shined in the seventh inning.  Mickey Stanley struck out and Al Kaline grounded out to lead things off but with two outs, the Tigers got it going.  Norm Cash and Willie Horton belted back to back singles and then Jim Northrup belted a triple to drive them both in.  Bill Freehan followed that up with a double to make it 3-0 and just like that, the Tigers were three innings away from taking the series. 

The Cardinals got nothing in the seventh and eighth and then in the top of the ninth, the Tigers got an insurance run.  Willie Horton singled with one out before Dick Tracewski came in to run for him.  Tracewski moved to third on Jim Northrup’s single and then Don Wert singled him home to make it 4-0.

The Cardinals finally got on the board in their last frame.  With two outs, Mike Shannon belted a solo homer but the optimism was short lived because Tim McCarver followed that up with a pop out to Norm Cash to end the game.

Lolich was nothing short of fantastic and in the process, he secured World Series MVP honors.  In his third consecutive complete game, he gave up just one run on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts and he finished the series a perfect 3-0.

October 9, 1968 at Busch Stadium
Tigers 13, Cardinals 1
Best of Seven Game Series Tied 3-3

The 1968 World Series moved back to St. Louis and the Tigers showed up like they did in game two, the last time a game was played at Busch Stadium.  The Tigers scored enough runs to put this one away with two in the second but the ten they scored in the third frame turned this game into a big time blowout.  In the process, the Tigers forced a pivotal winner take all game seven.

It was Denny McLain going up against Ray Washburn and the 31 win variety of McLain showed up.  The Tigers first got to Washburn in the second inning.  Norm Cash led off with a walk and he scored on Willie Horton’s double.  An out later, Horton scored on Bill Freehan’s single to left.  The inning could have been worse because with two men on, Denny McLain grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The third inning was one for the record books.  The Tigers picked up ten runs on seven hits against four different pitchers.  Dick McAuliffe led off with a walk and he moved to second on Mickey Stanley’s single.  McAuliffe scored on Al Kaline’s single before Larry Jaster came in to relieve Washburn.  Norm Cash singled home Stanley and Willie Horton walked to load up the bases before Jim Northrup came through with one of his trademark grand slams to open the game up.  Ron Willis came in to pitch for Jaster but still the Tigers weren’t done.  Bill Freehan walked and Don Wert was hit by a pitch before Denny McLain moved them both over with a bunt, the first out of the inning.  Dick McAuliffe was given a free pass before Mickey Stanley forced out Bill Freehan at the plate to make it two outs.  Still, Al Kaline picked up his second hit of the inning with a two run single before Dick Hughes came in to replace Willis.  Norm Cash singled home Stanley and Willie Horton singled home Kaline to put the tally at ten runs in the inning.  Finally, Jim Northrup flied out to left to end the inning.

Al Kaline belted a solo homer in the fifth to further pad the lead.  The Cardinals finally got to McLain in the ninth when Julian Javier singled home Roger Maris with two outs.

McLain finished with his first and only win of the series.  He gave up one run on nine hits without a walk and he struck out seven in the complete game.  Al Kaline and Norm Cash both had three hits and Kaline and Northrup both drove in four runs.  The only Tiger starter to not reach base at least once was Denny McLain, who struck out in four at bats.

October 6, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Cardinals 10, Tigers 1
Cardinals Lead Best of Seven Game Series 3-1

This game went south in a hurry and with it, the Tigers chances in the 1968 World Series looked grim.  Denny McLain, the Tigers ace all season, couldn’t even last through the end of the third inning and while Bob Gibson wasn’t nearly as good as in game one, he did give up just one run on five hits with ten strikeouts.

The Cardinals didn’t wait long to put runs on the board because Lou Brock led off the game with a solo homer.  Roger Maris reached base with one out in the inning on an error by Norm Cash before Orlando Cepeda struck out.  Tim McCarver kept the inning going with a single and then Mike Shannon drove home Maris with a single to make it 2-0 Cardinals before the Tigers even took their first turn at bat.

McLain put the Cardinals down in order in the second but it was more trouble in the third.  Curt Flood led off with a single and while it looked like he’d get out of the inning unscathed after he got Maris to line out to center and Cepeda to pop out to first, Tim McCarver struck again with a triple to make it 3-0.  Mike Shannon followed that up with a double which made it 4-0 and then Julian Javier drew a walk before the rain hit.  After a 1:14 rain delay, Joe Sparma took the mound in place of McLain and he got Dal Maxvill to ground out to end the inning.

Joe Sparma didn’t last long though.  In the sixth, Bob Gibson led off with a homer and Lou Brock followed that up with a triple.  Daryl Patterson came in to try to stop the bleeding and while he got Curt Flood to fly out for out number one, Brock scampered home on Roger Maris’ ground out to make it 6-0.

The Tigers finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning although it was hardly a rally.  Jim Northrup took Bob Gibson deep with a solo homer.  That was sandwiched between strikeouts by Willie Horton and Bill Freehan.

John Hiller was bombed in the eighth inning to the turn of four runs on two hits and an error.  The big hit was a bases loaded clearing double by Lou Brock and that made it 10-1.

Al Kaline was the only hitter who figured out Gibson and he singled and doubled.  The only other Tiger to reach base more then once was Eddie Mathews, who singled and drew a walk.  Bill Freehan had a particularly tough game and he struck out in each of three plate appearances.

With the loss, the Tigers backs were against the wall.  They now needed three consecutive wins to lock up their first World Series win since 1945.

October 3, 1968 at Busch Stadium
Tigers 8, Cardinals 1
Best of Seven Game Series Tied 1-1

The Tigers bounced back in a big way as they evened their series with the Cardinals behind an eight run, thirteen hit attack.  Nelson Briles took the brunt of it and before the Cardinals scored their lone run, the Tigers already had five on the board.

Willie Horton drove in the first run with a solo shot in the second inning.  Mickey Lolich helped out his own cause with a solo homer in the third while the big inning came in the top of the sixth.  Norm Cash led off the inning with a solo homer and then Horton followed that up with a single.  Briles left the game and Steve Carlton took his turn but it didn’t stem the damage.  Jim Northrup singled to put runners at first and scored before Bill Freehan made the first out with a pop out to first base.  Don Wert drew a walk to load the bases and it looked like the runners might be wasted because Mickey Lolich struck out.  Dick McAuliffe kept things going though and he singled home Horton and Northrup to give the Tigers a 5-0 lead

The Cardinals did finally put a run on the board against Mickey Lolich in the bottom of the sixth.  Lou Brock led off with a walk, stole second, moved to third on Curt Flood’s single and then scored on an Orlando Cepeda single.  The inning was cut short though because Mike Shannon grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Al Kaline scored on a Jim Northrup double play to make it 6-1 and then Don Wert and Mickey Lolich drew bases loaded walks in the top of the ninth to make it 8-1.  Cash finished with a team high three hits while Don Wert drew three walks and drove in a run.

Lost in all of the offense was an outstanding game by Mickey Lolich.  He gave up just one run on six hits and he walked just two with nine strikeouts in the complete game win.

September 29, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Senators 3, Tigers 2  (103-59)

The Tigers finished their regular season with a whimper as they dropped their third straight game in a series sweep at the hands of the Senators.  The Tigers scored two in the first then failed to score the rest of the way as the Senators won it in the ninth for the second straight day.  Al Kaline was the lone Tiger with more then one hit and he went two for five with a run while Bill Freehan singled, drove in a run and drew two walks.

Mickey Lolich got his final tune up before the World Series.  He gave up a pair of runs in four innings.  Pat Dobson gave up an unearned run in the ninth and he fell to 5-8 on the season.  The Tigers did have a couple of days off but they had the unenviable task of flying to St. Louis to take on the defending World Series Champions.

September 28, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Senators 2, Tigers 1  (103-58)

Denny McLain failed to pick up his 32nd win of the season despite seven shutout innings as the Tigers dropped their second straight game.  McLain gave up just two hits, gave up no walks and struck out four.  Don McMahon gave up a pair in the ninth and he took the loss and fell to 5-2.

McLain helped out his own cause with a pair of singles.  Mickey Stanley singled and drove in the lone run while Bill Freehan drew a walk and scored.

September 25, 1968 at Memorial Stadium
Tigers 4, Orioles 3  (103-56)

The Tigers added to their win total as they stormed back to beat the Orioles for their 103rd win.  Gate Brown came through in a huge way with a ninth inning, three run homer that gave the Tigers the win.  Bill Freehan also had a nice game and he went two for three with an RBI.

Earl Wilson threw seven solid innings but he didn’t get the decision.  He gave up three runs on five hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in seven innings.  Don McMahon improved to 5-1 with two shutout innings to close out the game.

September 24, 1968 at Memorial Stadium
Tigers 5, Orioles 3  (102-56)

The Tigers entered new territory with their 102nd win of the season.  The previous franchise record of 101 wins was set back in 1934 and tied in 1961, but this was definitely a team for the ages as the Tigers made history with a truly memorable season.  Bill Freehan belted a two run homer in the win while Dick McAuliffe went three for four with a pair of runs.

Mickey Lolich improved to 17-9.  He gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts in six innings.  Daryl Patterson threw three shutout innings to close the game out and he earned his seventh save of the season.

September 17, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 2, Yankees 1  (98-54)

The Tigers clinched their first American League pennant since 1945 with their eighth straight win.  Joe Sparma got it done in a pitcher’s duel in another September complete game and he gave up one run on five hits and one walk with two strikeouts.  The win improved his record to 9-10 on the season.

Don Wert had the big hit with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.  Bill Freehan went two for three with a run while Norm Cash went two for three.

September 15, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 13, Athletics 0  (96-54)

The Tigers continued to roll in a number of ways.  They not only ran up the score on the A’s, but Mickey Lolich threw a shutout and the Tigers cut their magic number down to just two.  Lolich continued to build on his strong second half and he gave up just three hits and two walks with twelve strikeouts in the shutout.

Three different Tigers belted a combined five homers in this one.   Jim Northrup and Bill Freehan both belted a pair.  Freehan finished with four RBIs while Northrup drove in three.  Willie Horton also went yard with his 36th of the season.  He went two for four and his homerun was a solo shot.

September 11, 1968 at Anaheim Stadium
Tigers 8, Angels 2  (93-54)

The Tigers finished up a three game sweep over the Angels and the big stick was Willie Horton.  He belted a pair of solo homers which brought his season total up to 35.  Bill Freehan went two for four with a homerun and three runs.

John Hiller had a nice start and he improved to 8-5.  He gave up two runs on ten hits and three walks with six strikeouts in a complete game.

September 2, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum
Athletics 4, Tigers 0  (86-52)

The Tigers were held to four hits in a shutout loss as the Tigers kicked off their series with the A’s with a pair of games.  Bill Freehan had two of the Tigers hits while Willie Horton was the tough luck hitter at the plate.  He struck out in all four of his at bats.

Mickey Lolich fell to 13-9 with a rough start.  He gave up three runs on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

September 2, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum
Tigers 4, Athletics 3  (87-52)

Bill Freehan belted a tenth inning homerun that proved to be the game winner as the Tigers salvaged a split in their doubleheader with the A’s.  For Freehan, it was his 21st of the season and Jim Northrup pitched in with two singles, a double and an RBI.

Pat Dobson picked up the win after he threw two innings of shutout relief to close out the game.  He improved to 4-5 on the season.  Longtime reliever Roy Face made his Tiger debut in this game.  He gave up a walk, a hit and he struck out one in 2/3 of an inning.

August 28, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 6, Angels 1  (83-50)

Denny McLain followed up his two consecutive losses with his 26th win as the Tigers took care of the Angels in their series opener.  McLain gave up one run on six hits and two walks with eleven strikeouts in yet another complete game.

Jim Northrup had a big day at the plate. He went three for four with a homerun, three RBIs and two runs.  Bill Freehan hit his 20th homer of the season and Willie Horton went three for four with two runs.

August 26, 1968 at County Stadium
Tigers 3, White Sox 0  (82-49)

The Tigers snapped their four game losing streak behind a very nice start by Earl Wilson.  The Duke improved to 11-11 and he gave up six hits and a walk with five strikeouts in the shutout.

Earl Wilson got it done at the plate as well with a single and two RBIs.  Norm Cash went two for four with a run and an RBI while Bill Freehan doubled twice and scored a run.

August 18, 1968 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 4, Tigers 1  (78-44)

The Tigers fell short of a sweep as they were held to single run on four hits in their road finale with the Red Sox.  Willie Horton provided the lone Tiger run with his 28th homer of the season and Bill Freehan reached base twice with a walk and a single.

Earl Wilson fell to 10-10 in the loss.  He gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

August 17, 1968 at Fenway Park
Tigers 10, Red Sox 9  (78-43)

The Tigers outlasted the Red Sox in a game that saw the two teams combined for 19 runs on 28 hits.  The Tigers blew an 8-1 lead only to win it in the eleventh inning on a solo homer by Bill Freehan.  Norm Cash and Dick McAuliffe also went yard in the win and Cash went an impressive five for six with five RBIs to lead the way.

Pat Dobson gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings as he fell apart and gave up the bulk of the damage in the Red Sox seven run sixth inning.  Don McMahon picked up the win and he gave up one run in four innings of relief while John Wyatt got the final batter out to pick up his second save of the season.

August 14, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
Tigers 3, Indians 0  (76-43)

The Tigers won their rubber game with the Indians behind a combined shutout by Joe Sparma and Mickey Lolich.  Sparma got into trouble and in the fourth inning and he pitched  3 1/3 shutout innings when Mickey Lolich came in to get the Tigers out of said jam.  He then went on to throw 5 2/3 shutout innings and he improved to 11-7 on the season.

Bill Freehan belted a solo homer, his eighteenth of the season.  Norm Cash went two for four with a triple and an RBI.

August 11, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Red Sox 4 (73-42)

A long day was made even longer as the Tigers and Red Sox kicked off a doubleheader with a 4 1/2 hour, 14 inning contest.  The Tigers were down 4-0 after the Red Sox scored four in the first but the pitching staff held the Red Sox scoreless over the final thirteen frames.  Mickey Lolich provide the bulk of the relief pitching and he gave up two hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five innings of shutout relief to close out the game.  The win pushed his record to 10-7 on the season.

The game winner came on a walk off solo homer by Gates Brown in the bottom of the fourteenth.  Bill Freehan and Wayne Comer also pitched in with solo homers.  For Comer, it was the first homerun of his career.   Mickey Stanley had a team high three hits in six at bats.

August 11, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 6, Red Sox 5  (74-42)

The Tigers worked their magic yet again as they finished up a sweep over the Red Sox in their doublheader.  Down 2-0, the Tigers scored two in the bottom of the eighth to tie it only to see the Red Sox scored three in the top of the ninth.  Then in the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers stormed back and scored four to walk away with the win.  It was Gates Brown who provided the heroics again with his second walk off hit of the day. He singled home Mickey Stanley to win it while Norm Cash was the hitting star with three hits and two RBIs.

Jon Warden picked up the win and improved to 4-1 although he was in the right place at the right time.  He gave up two of the Red Sox ninth inning runs.  John Hiller had a solid start in a no decision and he gave up two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

August 8, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 13, Indians 1  (71-41)

The Tigers wrapped up a four game sweep with a beatdown over the Indians in their series finale.  Bill Freehan was one of several hitting stars and he homered twice and drove in four.  Denny McLain also helped out his own cause with a double, a run and an RBI.

McLain coasted to an easy win and he improved to 23-3.  He gave up one run on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts in another complete game win.

August 6, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 2, Indians 1  (68-41)

It can be tough enough playing a doubleheader, but when the first game goes seventeen innings, it makes it that much tougher.  Down 1-0, Don Wert hit a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game up.  Then neither side scored until the bottom of the seventeenth when Dick Tracewski singled home Bill Freehan for the game winner. 

John Hiller threw the first eight innings and he held the Indians to just one run.  Then five relievers held the Indians to just three hits in nine shutout innings to finish up the game.  John Wyatt threw the final frame and he picked up the win to improve to 2-4.

August 6, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Indians 2  (69-41)

The Tigers didn’t finish up their sweep over the Indians until August 7 because this one was suspended at the end of eight innings where they picked up the next day.  Mickey Lolich picked up the win and he improved to 8-7 with 2 2/3 innings of shutout relief while John Wyatt threw three shutout innings to pick up his first save of the season.

Norm Cash was the hiting star.  He went two for four with a solo homerun while Al Kaline doubled in two at bats and he drove in a pair.

August 2, 1968 at Metropolitan Stadium
Tigers 6, Twins 5  (66-40)

Bill Freehan led the Tigers offensive attack as the Tigers edged the Twins in the opener of a road series for Detroit.  Freehan went two for four with a double, three RBIs and a run.  Mickey Stanley went one for three with a walk and a run.

Joe Sparma and Mickey Lolich were both shelled in the early of innings of this game.  Don McMahon saved the day though and he threw four innings of shutout relief to improve to 3-1 while Daryl Patterson struck out the final batter of the game to pick up his fifth save of the season.

July 23, 1968 at D.C. Stadium
Tigers 6, Senators 4  (60-36)

The Tigers took game one of their series with the Senators with another dramatic comeback.  Down 4-3 in the eighth inning, Jim Price singled home Al Kaline to tie the game up and then Gates Brown singled home Bill Freehan for the game winner.  Jim Northrup doubled home Al Kaline in the ninth for some insurance that the Tigers didn’t need.  Speaking of Kaline, he was a perfect two for two with three walks, two runs and two RBIs.

Denny McLain improved to 19-3 despite a mediocre start.  He gave up four runs on eight hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in seven innings.  Jon Warden threw the final 1 2/3 innings and he picked up his third save of the season.

July 21, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Orioles 5, Tigers 2  (59-35)

Earl Wilson had a tough time as the Tigers dropped the first game of a Sunday doubleheader with the Orioles.  Wilson fell to 7-8 and he gave up four runs on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings.

Tom Matchick tripled, hit his third homer and drove in a pair in the loss.  Bill Freehan went two for four with a double and a run.

July 21, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Orioles 4, Tigers 1  (59-36)

The Tigers were held to just three hits and were swept by the Orioles in a series they lost three games to one.  Dick McAuliffe had one of the three hits and he scored the lone Tigers run.

Pat Dobson fell to 3-2 with a rough start.  He gave up two runs on four hits and a walk with a strikeout in just 2 1/3 innings.

July 19, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Orioles 4  (59-33)

The Tigers put on a show for their home town fans with a dramatic comeback win in the ninth inning.  Down by two runs, Jim Northrup kicked off the ninth with a single and he moved to second on a walk by Al Kaline.  Kaline was then forced out at second base on a fielders choice by Norm Cash to put runners at the corners before Bill Freehan forced Cash out at second to score Northrup.  Then with two outs, Tom Matchick belted a huge two run walk off homer to complete the comeback.

Mickey Lolich was roughed up and he gave up four runs in five innings in his start.  Pat Dobson threw a shutout ninth inning and he improved to 3-1 on the season.

July 5, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 8, Athletics 5  (53-27)

The Tigers won their fifth straight game in the month of July and their fifth straight game over all as Bill Freehan put the team on his back.  He hit a pair of three runs homers to account for most of the Tigers offense and Willie Horton pitched in with a pair of runs.

Mickey Lolich improved to 7-4 with a mediocre start. He gave up four runs on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.  Pat Dobson gave up a run in 3 2/3 innings and he picked up his fifth save of the season.

July 4, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 13, Angels 10  (52-27)

The Tigers held on to win a wild one as they finished up a four game sweep over the Angels for their fourth straight win.  Jim Northrup and Norm Cash both hit a pair of homeruns and Northrup had a team high five RBIs.  Bill Freehan and Willie Horton both also went yard in the win.

Pitching was not the name of the game in this one.  Dennis Ribant picked up the win and he improved to 2-1 but he was more in the right place at the right time because he pitched just 2/3 of an inning.  John Hiller pitched a perfect ninth inning and he picked up his second save of the season.

July 3, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Angels 2  (51-27)

The Tigers remained perfect in the month of the June and they won their third game behind a trio of homeruns.  Norm Cash belted two run shot while both Dick Tracewski and Willie Horton went yard with nobody on base.  For Horton, it was his ninteenth of the season and Bill Freehan pitched in with a double, two singles and an RBI.

Denny McLain improved to 15-2 on the season with another nice start.  He gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with ten strikeouts in the complete game win.

July 1, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Angels 1 (49-27)

The Tigers kicked off the month of July with an impressive win behind the arm of Mickey Lolich.  He gave up just a single run on five hits with fourteen strikeouts in the complete game win.

Bill Freehan provided the bulk of the offense with a pair of homeruns and three RBIs.  Dick Tracewski also went yard in the win with his second of the season.

June 24, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
Tigers 14, Indians 3 (45-26)

Jim Northrup put a huge exclamation point as the Tigers finished up their series with the Indians with a blowout win.  Northrup hit not one, but two grand slams and he finished with eight RBIs.  Jim Price hit his first homer of the season and Bill Freehan went two for five with a double, two runs and two RBIs.

Lost in all of the offense was another nice start by Denny McLain.  He gave up three runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts and the win pushed his record to 13-2 on the season.

June 16, 1968 at Comiskey Park
White Sox 3, Tigers 2  (40-22)

Mickey Lolich fell to 5-4 on the season despite a solid outing as the Tigers lost to the White Sox in the first game of their Sunday doubleheader.  He gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. 

Bill Freehan was the only Tiger with two hits in the contest.  Don Wert doubled, scored a run and drew a walk.

June 16, 1968 at Comiskey Park
Tigers 6, White Sox 1 (41-22)

The Tigers salvaged both a split in their doubleheader with the White Sox as well as their four game series behind another fantastic outing by Denny McLain.  He improved to 11-2 and he gave up one run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.  Pat Dobson got the final five outs and he picked up his first save of the season.

Jim Northrup doubled, singled and drove in a pair.  Dick McAuliffe doubled, drove in two and scored a run in the win.