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 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 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 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 21, 1968 at D.C. Stadium
Tigers 4, Nationals 3  (101-54)

The Tigers tied their franchise record in wins with 101st and they did it with their eleventh straight victory.  Mickey Stanley went three for five with a run while Al Kaline went two for five with an RBI.

Earl Wilson didn’t get the decision with a five inning start.  He gave up two runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts.  Joe Sparma pitched the final four innings and he gave up one run on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts and he improved to 10-10.

September 19, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 6, Yankees 2  (99-54)

It’s funny how this Denny McLain win is almost more memorable then his 30th.  With the pennant and the game firmly in hand, McLain grooved a pitch to Mickey Mantle in the eighth inning to give him a nice send off in what was his final at bat at the ballpark.  The end result was Mantle’s 535rd career homer.  Still McLain threw a nice game and he improved to 31-5.  He gave up two runs on eight hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.

Norm Cash belted two homers and drove in three in the win.  He finished a perfect three for three with a walk.

This game was also significant because it was the first big league start at shortstop by Mickey Stanley.  With a loaded outfield and a lack of hitting at shortstop, Mayo Smith took the chance of a position move for Stanley and this game was the beginning of his warm up at the position heading into the World Series.

September 14, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Athletics 4  (95-54)

Denny McLain needed some ninth inning heroics but the end result was his historic 30th win of the season.  With the A’s up 4-3, the Tigers picked up two runs in the ninth to win it.  Al Kaline came home on a fielder’s choice by Jim Northrup and then Willie Horton singled home Mickey Stanley for the game winner.  McLain improved to 30-5 and he gave up four runs on six hits and one walk with ten strikeouts.

Norm Cash was the hitting star.  He went two for four with a homerun and three RBIs.  The homer was his 21st of the season.

September 9, 1968 at Anaheim Stadium
Tigers 6, Angels 0  (91-54)

Mickey Lolich had one of his best starts of the season as the Tigers snapped a two game losing streak.  He gave up just two hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in the shutout win which pushed his record to 14-9 on the season.

Willie Horton, Al Kaline and Mickey Stanley all homered in the win.  Stanley had a particularly good game with three hits and two runs.

September 7, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Twins 2, Tigers 1  (90-53)

The Tigers outhit the Twins 8-6 but they came up short where it counted in a 2-1 loss that ended their four game winning streak.  Pat Dobson went the distance but he gave up a ninth inning run to fall to 5-6.  He gave up two runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts and both runs came on solo homers.

Mickey Stanley went three for five.  Don Wert drove in the lone Tiger run with his twelth homerun of the season.

September 6, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 8, Twins 3  (90-52)

Denny McLain marched closer to his 30th win of the season and while it wasn’t his best start, it was good enough because the Tigers gave him plenty of offense.  He gave up three runs on nine hits and one walk with twelve strikeouts in the complete game win.  His record was 28-5 after the impressive outing.

Willie Horton had a monster day at the plate.  He went two for four with his 32nd homerun and five RBIs.  Mickey Stanley had a pair of singles and he scored two runs.

September 4, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum
Tigers 4, Athletics 2  (89-52)

The Tigers march towards the American League pennant continued behind a solid start by John Hiller.  He gave up two runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.  Pat Dobson picked up his sixth save of the season with two innings of shutout relief.

Jim Northrup had a big game and he went three for four with a run and an RBI.  Mickey Stanley went one for three with two runs.

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 25, 1968 at Yankee Stadium
Yankees 6, Tigers 5  (81-48)

The Tigers blew a four run lead as they dropped their third straight to the Yankees in another doubleheader.  Pat Dobson gave up the first five runs in 5 2/3 innings but it was Daryl Patterson who gave up the final run, and for that he took the loss.  He fell to 2-3 and the inning in question was the sixth in which the Yankees scored five runs.

Al Kaline had a big day at the plate and he went three for five with a double, a run and an RBI.  Dick Tracewski singled twice and he also scored two runs.

August 25, 1968 at Yankee Stadium
Yankees 5, Tigers 4  (81-49)

The Yankees finished up a sweep over the Tigers in a series that saw all four games decided by one run.  Mickey Lolich gave up the bulk of the damage and he fell to 12-8. He gave up five runs on three hits and seven walks with three strikeouts in just three innings.

Jim Northrup tripled and drove in a pair of runs.  Tom Matchick went two for four and he scored twice while Mickey Stanley went two for four with a run and an RBI.

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 21, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 3, White Sox 2  (80-45)

The Tigers got some timley hitting and some good pitching as they came back to beat the White Sox to ensure at least a split in their four game series.  Down 2-1, Mickey Stanley belted a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game up and then Jim Price hit a walk off homer in the bottom of the tenth to win it.

Daryl Patterson picked up the win and he improved to 2-2 with two shutout innings of relief.  A solid start by Pat Dobson almost went to waste.  He gave up just two runs on four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in eight innings.

August 20, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 7, White Sox 0  (79-44)

John Hiller gave up a leadoff single in the top of the fifth inning and that was the lone hit against him in an incredible one hit shutout.  He walked two, struck out seven and improved to 6-3 as the Tigers took the opener in both their series with the White Sox and their doubleheaderr.

Gates Brown got a rare start in left field and he made the most of it.  He went two for three with a homerun and two RBIs.  Mickey Stanley went two for four with two RBIs and a run.

August 20, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
White Sox 10, Tigers 2  (79-45)

Denny McLain fell to 25-4 with a rough outing as the Tigers failed to sweep the White Sox in their twin bill.  McLain gave up nine runs but just two them were earned as a result of four Tiger errors.  He gave up nine hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Willie Horton was the hitting star in the loss.  He went two for four with a double and an RBI.

August 13, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
Indians 1, Tigers 0  (75-43)

The Tigers four game winning streak came to an end as they were held to just four hits in a shutout loss to the Indians.  No Tiger reached base more then once and Mickey Stanley had the only extra base hit with a triple.

A solid start by Pat Dobson went to waste.  He fell to 3-5 and he gave up one run on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts in seven innings.

August 12, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
Tigers 6, Indians 3  (75-42)

Denny McLain improved to 24-3 with his fifth straight complete game.  In this one, he gave up three runs on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts although two of the five hits he gave up left the park.

Norm Cash homered and drove in a pair in the win.  Mickey Stanley went one of three with two RBIs and a run.

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 9, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Red Sox 5, Tigers 3  (71-42)

The Tigers five game winning streak came to an end at the hands of the defending American League champion Red Sox.  Pat Dobson was cruising in this one until he ran into trouble in the eighth inning.  In that frame, both he and John Wyatt combined to give up four runs that sealed the Tigers fate.  Dobson fell to 3-4 and he gave up three runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.

All three Tiger runs came via the long ball.  Gates Brown, Mickey Stanley and Dick Tracewski all hit solo homers in the loss.

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.

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 24, 1968 at D.C. Stadium
Senators 6, Tigers 3  (60-37)

Mickey Lolich was shelled and he fell to 7-6 as the Tigers failed once again to put together a winning streak.  Lolich gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.

Mickey Stanley was the hitting star in the loss.  He went three for four with a double and a run.  Al Kaline went two for three with a walk and an RBI.

July 20, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Orioles 5, Tigers 3  (59-34)

Denny McLain lost just his third decision of the season and had his shortest start as the Orioles evened their series with the Tigers.  McLain fell to 18-3 and he gave up five runs on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Mickey Stanley was the hitting star in the loss.  He went two for four with a double, two RBIs and a run.

July 14, 1968 at Anaheim Stadium
Angels 7, Tigers 3  (56-31)

The Tigers kicked off a west coast trip with a loss as Earl Wilson had a tough time in his start.  He fell to 6-7 and he gave up six runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk with two strikeouts in just three innings of work.

Norm Cash and Don Wert both hit solo shots to account for most of the Tigers offense.  Mickey Stanley was the only Tiger with two hits and Cash finished with a pair of runs.

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.

June 30, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
White Sox 12, Tigers 0 (48-27)

The Tigers five game winning streak came to an abrupt end as Tommy John shut out the Tigers and Joe Sparma and the Tigers pen were pummelled for twelve runs.  Sparma fell to 6-8 and he gave up six runs in 2 2/3 innings and all four relievers used in the contest gave up at least a run each.

The Tigers scattered five singles and all five were by different hitters.  Nobody drew a walk and even one of those baserunners was negated when Mickey Stanley grounded into a double play.

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 22, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
Indians 2, Tigers 0 (43-25)

The Tigers dropped their second straight game to the Indians in a contest that saw the road team pick up just five hits.  Willie Horton was the only hitter to reach base twice with a single and a walk while Mickey Stanley and Norm Cash both doubled.

Earl Wilson fell to 5-5 despite a solid start.  He gave up two runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts in seven innings of work.