1968 Tigers Tribute Site

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.

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.

August 23, 1968 at Yankee Stadium
Yankees 2, Tigers 1  (81-46)

There was no late inning comeback in this one as the Tigers kicked off both their doubleheader and series against the Yankees with a loss. A solid start by Earl Wilson and the Tigers pen went to waste.  Wilson fell to 10-11 and he gave up two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.  His start was cut short when he was hit in the shoulder by a comebacker.

Earl Wilson was also the hitting star in the loss.  He had two of the Tigers six hits and he drove in the lone run with his fourth homerun of the season. 

August 23, 1968 at Yankee Stadium
Yankees 3, Tigers 3  (81-46)

There was no outcome as the Tigers and Yankees played a five hour, nineteen inning 3-3 tie in the finale of their doubleheader.  Pitching was the name of the game in this one and John Hiller was the star.  He threw nine shutout innings of relief in which he gave up four hits and six walks.  Don McMahon took over from there and threw the final three innings without giving up a run before the game was called.

Norm Cash finished the game four for eight and he scored a run.  Mickey Stanley went three for eight with a run and an RBI.

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 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.