1968 Tigers Tribute Site

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 7, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Cardinals 3 
Cardinals Lead Best of Seven Game Series 3-2

The Tigers avoided elimination for at least one day as they closed out Tiger Stadium for the season.  They needed a huge fielding play by Willie Horton as well as some timely hitting to lock up the win but still, it was enough to allow them to fight another day.

Things got off to a grim start in the first inning with Mickey Lolich on the mound.  Lou Brock led off with a double before Julian Javier grounded out to short.  Curt Flood singled home Brock and he stole second before Orlando Cepeda belted a huge two run homer to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.

From there, the game turned into a bit of a pitchers duel until the Tigers finally got to Nelson Briles in the fourth inning.  Mickey Stanley led off with a triple and he after an Al Kaline ground out to the pitcher, Norm Cash drove home Stanley with a sac. fly.  Willie Horton followed that up with a two out triple and then he scored on Jim Northrup’s single to shave the Tiger’s deficit down to 3-2.

The Cardinals looked like they might get something going in the fifth inning but Willie Horton came up big with what many think was the biggest play of the series.  Nelson Briles led off the inning with a strikeout but Brock followed that up with a double.  Julian Javier singled and Brock looked like he was going to score easily from second but Willie Horton came up throwing.  After getting the scouting report that Brock tended to let up without sliding into home plate, Horton threw a strike to the plate to get Brock by a step.  Instead of having one out and a run in, the Tigers had two outs with a runner on first with no damage so far.  Curt Flood followed that up with a fly out and the Tigers one run deficit was maintained.

The Tigers loaded the bases in the sixth but couldn’t push a run across.  In the meantime, Mickey Lolich had settled in and he held the Cardinals hitless in the sixth and seventh inning.

The Tigers finally hit pay dirt in the seventh inning.  Don Wert led off with a strikeout before Mickey Lolich helped out his own cause with a single.  Joe Hoerner came in to relieve Briles and he was pummelled by the Tigers hitters.  Dick McAuliffe singled, and then a Mickey Stanley walk loaded the bases.  Al Kaline then came in and singled home Lolich and McAuliffe to give the Tigers their first lead of the game.  Norm Cash singled home Stanley some insurance but Ron Willis finally came on in relief to get to get the Cardinals out of the jam.

Lolich gave up just a single in the eighth but he finally ran into trouble in the ninth.  Tim McCarver led off with a single and after a Phil Gagliano fly out, Ed Spiezio single to put two runners on.  Lolich buckled down though and he got Roger Maris to strike out and Lou Brock to ground out to end the game.

Lolich finished his second complete game of the series with some solid numbers.  He gave up three runs on nine hits and a walk with eight strikeouts.  Al Kaline and Norm Cash both had two hits and two RBIs while Stanley was the lone Tiger with two runs.

October 5, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Cardinals 7, Tigers 3
Cardinals Lead Best of Seven Game Series 2-1

The Tigers played a World Series game in front of home crowd for the first time since 1945 but they failed to get it done because some of lackluster hitting and mediocre pitching.  Earl Wilson walked six and gave up three runs in just 4 1/3 innings and Pat Dobson and Don McMahon were also touched up for runs.  While the Cardinals were beating up the Tigers pitching staff, the offense was held to just four hits and while two of those hits left the park, it wasn’t nearly enough to snag the win.

At first, the game looked like it was going to settle into a pitchers duel because neither team got a hit until the third inning.  In the bottom of the third, the Tigers struck and scored two on an Al Kaline two run blast.  Unfortunately, it would be the only time the Tigers would have the lead.

The Cardinals big inning came in the fifth.  Ray Washburn struck out and then Lou Brock singled.  He stole second then scored on Curt Flood’s double.  Roger Maris then drew a walk before Mayo Smith went to his pen.  Pat Dobson took the ball but it hardly stopped the bleeding.  Orlando Cepeda did pop out to give Tiger fans some hope, but Tim McCarver blasted a big three run homer to make it 4-2 Cardinals.

Dick McAuliffe hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth to make it 4-3 but that was as close as the Tigers would get.  Don McMahon gave up a three run homer to Orlando Cepeda in the seventh and from that point on, the blowout was on.  Neither team scored the rest of the way, but the Cardinals came up big time to take a 2-1 lead in the series and more importantly, they had Bob Gibson throwing the next game.

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.

October 2, 1968 at Busch Stadium
Cardinals 4, Tigers 0
Cardinals Lead Best of Seven Game Series 1-0

The Tigers ran into a buzz saw in game one of the 1968 World Series and the end result was a game one loss.  Bob Gibson struck out a World Series record seventeen batters as he was the star of game one with a five hit shutout.  The Tigers had almost as many errors (3) as they did hits in this one and a mediocre start by Denny McLain meant little because he would have had to have been perfect for the Tigers to walk away with this one. 

The Cardinals got on the board in the fourth inning with three runs.  Roger Maris led off with a walk before Orlando Cepeda popped out to Norm Cash.  Tim McCarver drew a walk and then Mike Shannon drove in Maris with an RBI single.  McCarver moved to third and Shannon moved to second on the play after an error by Willie Horton and then Julian Javier singled them both home to make it 3-0 Cardinals.

The Tigers only real threat came in the sixth inning.  Dick McAuliffe singled and then moved to third on a two out double by Al Kaline but Norm Cash struck out to end the inning.  The Cardinals added a run in the seventh off of Pat Dobson when Lou Brock belted a solo homer but the insurance was unneccesary.

Mickey Stanley was the lone Tiger to reach base more then once with a pair of singles.  Kaline’s double was the lone extra base hit but even he had a tough day with three strikeouts. 

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 13, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 3, Athletics 0  (94-54)

You don’t see too many ten hit shutouts but that’s just what Earl Wilson hurled in the Tigers fourth straight win.  He gave up the ten hits along with one walk and he struck out nine en route to his 13th win of the season.

Wilson once again helped out his own cause with a solo homer, his seventh of the season.  Dick McAuliffe hit his sixteenth and Jim Northrup went two for three with a run.

September 1, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 7, Orioles 3  (86-51)

The Tigers entered the final month of their historic and took care of business behind another solid start by Denny McLain.  He improved to 27-5 and he gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks with nine strikeouts.  McLain not only had to contend with a 43 minute rain delay that put off the start of the game, but he also had to deal with a 51 minute delay after the Tigers hit in the bottom of the first inning.

Jim Northrup had a big game and he went three for five with a homerun, three RBIs and two runs.  Mickey Stanley also had three hits to go along with run and RBI while Dick McAuliffe went one for three with two walks and three runs.

August 31, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Orioles 5, Tigers 1  (85-51)

The Tigers three game winning streak came to an end in a game where the offense picked up just six hits.  Al Kaline had two of those and he drove in a run while Dick McAuliffe tripled and scored.

John Hiller fell to 6-5 with a rough start.  He gave up four runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.

August 22, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 4, White Sox 2  (81-45)

Some fireworks flew as the Tigers finished up their series with the White Sox in winning fashion.  The Tigers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when things went south in the third inning.  Tommy John threw two balls at Dick McAuliffe’s head in lieu of a walk and as McAuliffe started to walk towards first, Tommy John baited him into a fight.  McAuliffe ended up dislocating John’s shoulder and for his efforts, he was suspended for five games.

Al Kaline and Willie Horton both went yard in the win.  For Horton, it was his 29th and it was number eight for Kaline.  Don Wert finished the win three for four.

Mickey Lolich was given the start after some time in the bullpen.  He improved to 12-7 and he gave up two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings.  Don McMahon threw two shutout innings of relief and he picked up his first save of the season.

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 16, 1968 at Fenway Park
Tigers 4, Red Sox 0  (77-43)

Denny McLain put on another pitching show as he won his 25th game of the season.  He gave up just seven hits and a walk with nine strikeouts in his shutout win.  It was his sixth straight complete game and his sixth shutout of the season.

Dick McAuliffe was the hitting star in the win. He doubled, tripled and scored two runs.  Al Kaline belted a two run homer and he drew two free passes in the win.

August 10, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 4, Red Sox 3  (72-42)

The Tigers came back from a 3-1 deficit to bounce back and beat the Red Sox.  The Tigers scored single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to complete the comeback and the game winner came on a solo homer by Norm Cash.  The hitting star in the win, Cash finished three for four while Dick McAuliffe doubled, drew a walk and scored a run.

Daryl Patterson had his first start of his career and he gave up three runs in 4 1/3 innings in a no decision.  Mickey Lolich struck out four in 1 2/3 shutout innings and he improved to 9-7.

August 4, 1968 at Metropolitan Stadium
Tigers 2, Twins 1  (67-41)

The Tigers jumped on Denny McLain’s back once again and he led the team to a win in their rubber with the Twins.  McLain improved to 22-3 and he gave up just one unearned run on five hits and four walks with four strikeouts in another complete game.

Mickey Stanley was the hitting star with a triple, a single and a run.  Dick McAuliffe also tripled and he scored the other Tiger run.

July 31, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 4, Senators 0  (65-39)

Denny McLain threw his second straight shutout and picked up his 21st win of the season as the Tigers kicked off their series against the Senators with a win.  McLain gave up just four hits and a walk with nine strikeouts.

Dick McAuliffe was the hitting star in the win.  He was a perfect four for four with two doubles, a solo homer, and he scored all four Tigers runs.

July 30, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Yankees 0  (64-39)

The Tigers bounced back and ended their two game mini skid behind a very solid outing by Earl Wilson.  The Duke improved to 9-8 and he gave up just three hits and three walks with five strikeouts in eight shutout innings.  Daryl Patterson struck out one in a perfect ninth inning to pick up his fourth save of the season.

Earl Wilson helped out his own cause with a solo homer, his third long ball of the season.  Dick McAuliffe went one for three with two walks, a solo homerun and two runs while Jim Northrup went three for five with a double.

July 27, 1968 at Memorial Stadium
Tigers 9, Orioles 0  (63-37)

Tiger stars Willie Horton and Denny McLain shined as the team won for the 63rd time at the 100 game mark today.  McLain improved to 20-3 with an impressive three hit shutout.  He walked two and struck out seven and with 20 out of the way, McLain had his eyes set on 30 wins with over two months left in the season.

Willie Horton homered twice and drove in four.  The two long balls brought his season total up to 25 on the season.  Dick McAuliffe, Don Wert and Al Kaline all went yard as well while Norm Cash went four for five with two doubles and two runs.

July 26, 1968 at Memorial Stadium
Tigers 4, Orioles 1  (62-37)

Earl Wilson threw five shutout innings and the Tigers got just enough offense to put away the Orioles in the opener of their three game series.  Wilson improved to 8-8 and he gave up five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five shutout innings while Daryl Patterson gave up one run on one hit (solo homer) and a walk with five strikeouts in four innings of relief to pick up his third save of the season.

Dick McAuliffe went two for three with a double, two walks, a run and an RBI.  Willie Horton went two for four with a double and a run.

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 18, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum
Tigers 3, Athletics 1  (58-33)

Earl Wilson bounced back from a rough start and he helped the Tigers salvage a split with the A’s in their two game series.  Wilson improved to 7-7 and he gave up just one run on six hits with five strikeouts in the complete game.

Dick McAuliffe went two for four with a double and a run.  Jim Northrup singled, drove in a run and scored.

July 13, 1968 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 7, Tigers 6 (56-30)

The Tigers lost a tough one as they blew a three run eighth inning lead then lost it in the fourteenth inning.  Joe Sparma gave up two runs in six innings in a solid start but it was John Hiller and Fred Lasher who combined to give up the three runs in the eighth.  Then in the fourteenth, after the Tigers had scored a run in the top of the inning, Dennis Ribant and John Wyatt combined to give up a pair of runs on back to back bases loaded walks to lose it.

Mickey Stanley and Willie Horton both went yard in the loss.  For Horton, it was his 22nd of the season and Stanley belted his eighth.  Dick McAuliffe went two for seven with a double, a run and an RBI.

July 11, 1968 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 5, Tigers 4  (55-29)

The Tigers kicked off their second half with a loss in a game that saw the pitching staff blow a 4-2 lead.  Mickey Lolich gave up a pair of runs in the seventh inning and then John Hiller gave up a ninth inning run that was the game winner.  He fell to 5-3 on the season.

Mickey Stanley provided the bulk of the Tigers offense with a three run blast.  Dick McAuliffe accounted for the other Tigers run and he belted a solo homer.

July 7, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Athletics 4  (54-28)

Willie Horton belted a walk off solo homer as the Tigers bounced back and beat the A’s in the first game of their doubleheader.  Dick McAuliffe was also one of the hitting stars and he went two for four with a solo homer and two runs. 

Denny McLain got it done again.  He improved to 16-2 and he gave up four runs on five hits and a walk with nine strikeouts in another complete game.

July 7, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 7, Athletics 6  (55-28)

The Tigers held on to beat the Athletics and they completed a sweep over the team in their doubleheader.  The Tigers jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the seventh but the A’s chipped away at the deficit and while they made it a one run game, Mickey Lolich was able to strikeout the final batter with a runner on to end the game.  For Lolich, it was his first save of the season (check career marks).

Al Kaline was back and he hit his fourth homer of the season.  Dick McAuliffe doubled twice, scored a run and drove in one.  This was the Tigers last game as they headed into the All Star Break for some much needed rest.

June 28, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, White Sox 4 (47-26)

After two days off because of rain, the Tigers got right back to it with their fourth straight win in front of a home crowd against the White Sox.  Mickey Stanley homered and drove in three runs while Norm Cash hit a two run shot.  Dick McAuliffe was the hitting star though.  He went three for three with a walk and he scored twice.  The two run shot by Stanley in the seventh inning was the game winner.

Earl Wilson had a tough time but because the hitters bailed him out, he didn’t get a decision.  He gave up four runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts in six inning.  Fred Lasher was perfect through the final three innings and he improved to 5-1.

June 23, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
Indians 3, Tigers 0  (43-26)

The Tigers suffered their third straight loss and their second straight shutout at the hands of the Indians.  This time, the offense was held to just three hits, two of which were by Don Wert.  He singled and doubled while Tom Matchick had the only other hit with a single.

John Hiller was roughed up and he gave up three runs while he pitched just 1/3 of an inning.  Dennis Ribant did a fine job in relief and he pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings and he also got the Tigers out of their first inning jam, but it wasn’t enough as the hitters could never get going.

June 23, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
Tigers 4, Indians 1 (44-26)

The Tigers snapped their three game losing streak behind a solid outing by Joe Sparma.  He gave up one run on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.  Pat Dobson threw two no-hit innings to close out the game and he picked up his third save of the season.

Dick Tracewski had a big day at the plate in the win. He went two for five and his three run homer was the difference.  Dick McAuliffe had a pinch hit, RBI single and he later drew a walk.

June 21, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
Indians 4, Tigers 3 (43-24)

The Tigers blew a thirteenth inning lead as they dropped their series opener to the Indians.  Jim Northrup had doubled home Mickey Stanley in the top of the thirteenth inning but Pat Dobson gave up a two run homer in the bottom of the inning and he fell to 2-1.  This was after a solid start by Mickey Lolich, who gave up two runs on six hits with three strikeouts in nine innings.

The Tigers picked up seven hits and they were all by different hitters.  Norm Cash drew three walks while Dick McAuliffe doubled, drove in a run and drew a walk.

June 19, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Red Sox 8, Tigers 5 (42-23)

Joe Sparma took it on the chin again and he fell to 5-7 with a subpar outing.  He gave up five runs on eight hits and four walks with eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.  Daryl Patterson gave up three runs in his 2/3 of an inning, but all three were unearned because Patterson himself made an error in the inning.

Wille Horton and Norm Cash both hit solo homers in the loss.  For Horton, it was his 18th of the season and Dick McAuliffe went one for two with three walks and two runs.

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.

June 15, 1968 at Comiskey Park
White Sox 7, Tigers 4 (40-21)

Joe Sparma had a rough outing and he fell to 5-6 as the Tigers five game winning streak came to an end.  He gave up five runs on five hits and three walks with a strikeout in four innings of work.

Bill Freehan went four for five with a solo homer.  Dick McAuliffe and Willie Horton both went yard with solo shots.  For Horton, it was his 17th of the season.

June 12, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 2, Twins 1 (38-20)

The Tigers made it three straight over the Twins behind a solid outing by Mickey Lolich.  He improved to 5-3 and he gave up one run on five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in the complete game.

Dick McAuliffe was the hiting star.  He went two for four with a solo homer and a pair of runs.  Willie Horton drove in the other run with a sac. fly.