Detroit Tigers Memories:
#1 - October 10, 1968. With 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth, Mike Shannon homered to break up Mickey Lolich's shutout. The next hitter, Tim McCarver, hits a pop foul down the first base line. Bill Freehan settles under it and makes the catch, ending Game 7 of the World Series.
This finished off the Cardinals, and made the #Tigers the 1968 World Champions. Mickey Lolich, having finished his third complete game victory of the Series (NOBODY has accomplished that since), leaps into the big catcher's arms. It's the greatest hug in Tiger history.
#2 - With the score 5-4 #Tigers in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 5 of the 1984 World Series, Goose Gossage talked his manager out of intentionally walking Kirk Gibson. Gibson made him pay by depositing his third pitch into the upper deck in RF at Tiger Stadium.
With AL MVP Willie Hernandez slated to be on the mound for the ninth inning, the HR put the game and the Series out of reach. Three outs later, the #Tigers were World Champions.
#3 - In the 4th game of the 2006 American League Championship Series, Magglio Ordo?ez' 3 run walk off HR in the bottom of the ninth inning finishes a sweep of the Oakland A's and propels the #Tigers into the World Series.
#4 - With 2 on and 2 outs in the seventh inning of a scoreless Game 7 of the 1968 World Series, Jim Northrup drives a deep fly to left center field. Any chance of Curt Flood making the catch ended when he slipped in the Busch Stadium turf.
Cash and Horton scored, Northrup ended up at third base with a triple. The #Tigers had broken through against the great Bob Gibson and soon would be celebrating a World Championship.
#5 - In front of a large crowd of 47,855 and a national TV audience on June 28, 1976, Mark Fidrych beats the Yankees, 5-1. #Tigers fans, love his antics, talking to himself between pitches, manicuring the mound before an inning, pumping up his teammates when they make an error.
This Monday night, they don't leave Tiger Stadium until he returns to the field for a curtain call.
#6 - In front of a large crowd of 33,688 and a national TV audience on September 14, 1968, Willie Horton singles home Mickey Stanley with the winning run as the #Tigers beat the Athletics. Denny McLain becomes the only pitcher in the past 86 years to win 30 games in a season.
#7 - On September 27, 1999, Robert Fick hit a grand slam HR almost over the RF roof in the bottom of the eighth inning as #Tigers beat the Royals, 8-2, in the final game at Tiger Stadium. Todd Jones strikes out Carlos Beltran swinging for the final out at the old ballpark.
In the ceremony after the game, Tiger greats from various eras dating back to the 1935 World Champions take their positions in this great ball park for one last time.
#8 - Frank Tanana shuts out the Toronto Blue Jays, 1-0 as the #Tigers clinch the 1987 American League East Championship on the final day of season. Detroit finishes 2 games ahead of the Blue Jays after being 3.5 games behind 8 days earlier.
#9 - Miquel Cabrera leaves the field on the last night of the 2012 season in Kansas City and receives a standing ovation as he officially became the first player in 45 years to win the Triple Crown. Miggy hit .330 with 44 HRs and 139 RBIs for the pennant bound #Tigers.
#10 - The #Tigers 1984 season record hits 35-5 with a 5-4 victory over the California Angels in Anaheim on May 24. It was the team's 17th straight victory on the road (a major league record) and 9th straight overall (their 4th winning streak of 7+ games of the young season).
Honorable mentions:
Jack Morris no-hitter (1984)
Phil Coke slams his glove to the ground as the #Tigers win the pennant (2012)
Bergman's HR vs. Blue Jays (1984)
Al Kaline's 3000th hit in Baltimore (1974)
Galaraga's 28 out "perfect game" (2010)
Cecil Fielder's 50th HR (1990)
Justin Verlander's first no-hitter (2007)
Beating the Yankees in the ALDS (2006)
Jim Northrup singles to cap off 3 run tenth inning rally to win fourth game of ALCS 4-3 (1972)
