1968 Tigers Tribute Site

September 29, 1968 at Tiger Stadium

The Tigers finished their regular season with a whimper as they dropped their third straight game in a series sweep at the hands of the Senators.  The Tigers scored two in the first then failed to score the rest of the way as the Senators won it in the ninth for the second straight day.  Al Kaline was the lone Tiger with more then one hit and he went two for five with a run while Bill Freehan singled, drove in a run and drew two walks.

Mickey Lolich got his final tune up before the World Series.  He gave up a pair of runs in four innings.  Pat Dobson gave up an unearned run in the ninth and he fell to 5-8 on the season.  The Tigers did have a couple of days off but they had the unenviable task of flying to St. Louis to take on the defending World Series Champions.

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 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 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.

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 23, 1968 at Memorial Stadium
Orioles 2, Tigers 1  (101-56)

The Tigers failed to set their new franchise win record for the second straight day and Denny McLain lost his sixth game of the season.  Blame the offense on this one though because McLain definitely threw a good enough game.  He gave up just two runs (one earned) on five hits and five walks with four strikeouts in seven innings.  The loss dropped his record to 31-6.

Gates Brown went two for three with a double.  Don Wert singled and he scored the lone Tigers run.

September 22, 1968 at D.C. Stadium
Senators 6, Tigers 0  (101-55)

The Tigers eleven game winning streak came to an end in a game that saw the offense sputter.  The Tigers managed only four hits and the lone extra base hit came off the bat of Bob Christian.  The double was also Christian’s first major league at bat.

John Hiller fell to 9-6 with a rough outing.  He gave up three runs on four hits and three walks with one strikeout in just three innings of work.

September 20, 1968 at D.C. Stadium
Tigers 6, Senators 3  (100-54)

The Tigers won their tenth straight and in the process, they reached the 100 win mark for just the fourth time in franchise history.  They were hoping they wouldn’t repeat history though because the other three times they won 100, they couldn’t get that World Series ring.  Still, Mickey Lolich threw a very nice game and he improved to 16-9.  He gave up three runs on three hits and seven walks with nine strikeouts in seven innings.  Pat Dobson threw two shutout innings to close the game out and he picked up his seventh save of the season.

All six Tigers run came via the long ball.  Jim Northrup belted a pair of two run homers while Al Kaline and Jim Price also went yard with solo homers in the win.

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 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 15, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 13, Athletics 0  (96-54)

The Tigers continued to roll in a number of ways.  They not only ran up the score on the A’s, but Mickey Lolich threw a shutout and the Tigers cut their magic number down to just two.  Lolich continued to build on his strong second half and he gave up just three hits and two walks with twelve strikeouts in the shutout.

Three different Tigers belted a combined five homers in this one.   Jim Northrup and Bill Freehan both belted a pair.  Freehan finished with four RBIs while Northrup drove in three.  Willie Horton also went yard with his 36th of the season.  He went two for four and his homerun was a solo shot.

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 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 11, 1968 at Anaheim Stadium
Tigers 8, Angels 2  (93-54)

The Tigers finished up a three game sweep over the Angels and the big stick was Willie Horton.  He belted a pair of solo homers which brought his season total up to 35.  Bill Freehan went two for four with a homerun and three runs.

John Hiller had a nice start and he improved to 8-5.  He gave up two runs on ten hits and three walks with six strikeouts in a complete game.

September 10, 1968 at Anaheim Stadium
Tigers 7, Angels 2  (92-54)

Denny McLain improved to 29-5 and he was now one away from the magical 30 win mark.  He gave up two runs on nine hits and a walk with twelve strikeouts in another complete game.

Jim Northrup doubled twice, scored a run and drove in one.  McLain helped out his own cause with a team high three hits and he tripled, drove in two and scored a run.

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 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.

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 3, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum

Tigers 6, Athletics 3  (88-52)

It looked like the Tigers were going to let this game get away.  Up 2-0 in the eighth inning, Earl Wilson was finally touched up for three runs and the Tigers entered the ninth down by a run.  Fortunately, they stormed back and scored four in the ninth to escape with a win.  The big hit of the inning was a two run single by Jim Northrup that gave the lead back to Detroit.  Earl Wilson helped out his own cause earlier in the game with a solo shot, his sixth homer of the season. 

Wilson threw a solid game he just had the one bad inning.  He gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.  Pat Dobson threw a shutout ninth and he improved to 5-5 on the season.

September 2, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum
Athletics 4, Tigers 0  (86-52)

The Tigers were held to four hits in a shutout loss as the Tigers kicked off their series with the A’s with a pair of games.  Bill Freehan had two of the Tigers hits while Willie Horton was the tough luck hitter at the plate.  He struck out in all four of his at bats.

Mickey Lolich fell to 13-9 with a rough start.  He gave up three runs on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

September 2, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum
Tigers 4, Athletics 3  (87-52)

Bill Freehan belted a tenth inning homerun that proved to be the game winner as the Tigers salvaged a split in their doubleheader with the A’s.  For Freehan, it was his 21st of the season and Jim Northrup pitched in with two singles, a double and an RBI.

Pat Dobson picked up the win after he threw two innings of shutout relief to close out the game.  He improved to 4-5 on the season.  Longtime reliever Roy Face made his Tiger debut in this game.  He gave up a walk, a hit and he struck out one in 2/3 of an inning.

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.