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 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 27, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Senators 3, Tigers 1  (103-57)

The Tigers came out a little flat as they kicked off their final regular season home series with a loss.  The hitters were held to just six hits and it was Norm Cash who provided the bulk of the offense.  He finished two for four and he drove in the lone run with his 25th homer of the season.

Joe Sparma pitched just three innings and he gave up a run on two hits with four strikeouts.  Pat Dobson took the loss when he gave up a pair of runs in the seventh inning.  That dropped his record to 5-7 on the season.

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 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 16, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 9, Yankees 1  (97-54)

The Tigers ensured themselves of at least a tie in the American League with their seven straight win.  John Hiller got it done on the mound in this one.  He gave up one run on eight hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in yet another complete game for a Tigers starter.

Norm Cash had a big day at the plate.  He went three for five with a homerun, a double and five RBIs.  Jim Northrup went two for three with a walk, two runs and an RBI.

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 8, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Twins 3, Tigers 1  (90-54)

The Tigers picked up just six hits as they were held in check by Dean Chance in their rubber game with the Twins.  Like the day before, the lone run came on a solo homer.  This time it was Gates Brown who went yard with his fifth of the season.  Norm Cash had two hits and he was the only hitter to reach base twice.

Earl Wilson fell to 12-12 on the season.  He gave up three runs on five hits with nine strikeouts in the complete game loss.

August 27, 1968 at Comiskey Park
White Sox 2, Tigers 1  (82-50)

The Tigers were held to just four hits as they failed to follow up their win yesterday.  Norm Cash drove in the lone Tigers run with a solo homer in the fifth inning and no Tiger hitter reached base more the once.

A very solid start by John Hiller went to waste and he fell to 6-4.  He gave up two runs (one earned) on eleven hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings.  The run went against Hiller, but Daryl Patterson gave up the walk off RBI single in the ninth inning with just one out.

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 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 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 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 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 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 1, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Senators 9, Tigers 3  (65-40)

Pat Dobson was hit hard by the Senators as the Tigers kicked off the month of August with a loss.  He fell to 3-3 and he gave up six runs on five hits and four walks in just 3 1/3 innings.

Jim Northrup went three for four with a double, a triple, a run and an RBI.  Norm Cash drove in a run with his fifteenth homer of the season, a solo shot in the sixth inning.

July 29, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Yankees 7, Tigers 2  (63-39)

The Tigers suffered their second straight defeat as Joe Sparma was roughed up by the Yankees offense.  Sparma gave up five runs on nine hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in just five innings of work.

Norm Cash hit his fourteenth homer of the season, a solo homer in the seventh inning.  Jim Northrup tripled and he drove in the other Tigers run.

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 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 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 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.

June 29, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, White Sox 2 (48-26)

The Tigers won their fifth straight game and once again, it was Denny McLain who pitched the Tigers to victory.  He improved to 14-2 and he gave up two runs on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts in another complete game.

Jim Northrup hit another grand slam and those four RBIs turned out to be the difference in the game.  Norm Cash drove in the other run with a solo shot in the second inning and Denny McLain helped out his own cause with two hits and a run.

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.

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.