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.

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 6, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Cardinals 10, Tigers 1
Cardinals Lead Best of Seven Game Series 3-1

This game went south in a hurry and with it, the Tigers chances in the 1968 World Series looked grim.  Denny McLain, the Tigers ace all season, couldn’t even last through the end of the third inning and while Bob Gibson wasn’t nearly as good as in game one, he did give up just one run on five hits with ten strikeouts.

The Cardinals didn’t wait long to put runs on the board because Lou Brock led off the game with a solo homer.  Roger Maris reached base with one out in the inning on an error by Norm Cash before Orlando Cepeda struck out.  Tim McCarver kept the inning going with a single and then Mike Shannon drove home Maris with a single to make it 2-0 Cardinals before the Tigers even took their first turn at bat.

McLain put the Cardinals down in order in the second but it was more trouble in the third.  Curt Flood led off with a single and while it looked like he’d get out of the inning unscathed after he got Maris to line out to center and Cepeda to pop out to first, Tim McCarver struck again with a triple to make it 3-0.  Mike Shannon followed that up with a double which made it 4-0 and then Julian Javier drew a walk before the rain hit.  After a 1:14 rain delay, Joe Sparma took the mound in place of McLain and he got Dal Maxvill to ground out to end the inning.

Joe Sparma didn’t last long though.  In the sixth, Bob Gibson led off with a homer and Lou Brock followed that up with a triple.  Daryl Patterson came in to try to stop the bleeding and while he got Curt Flood to fly out for out number one, Brock scampered home on Roger Maris’ ground out to make it 6-0.

The Tigers finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning although it was hardly a rally.  Jim Northrup took Bob Gibson deep with a solo homer.  That was sandwiched between strikeouts by Willie Horton and Bill Freehan.

John Hiller was bombed in the eighth inning to the turn of four runs on two hits and an error.  The big hit was a bases loaded clearing double by Lou Brock and that made it 10-1.

Al Kaline was the only hitter who figured out Gibson and he singled and doubled.  The only other Tiger to reach base more then once was Eddie Mathews, who singled and drew a walk.  Bill Freehan had a particularly tough game and he struck out in each of three plate appearances.

With the loss, the Tigers backs were against the wall.  They now needed three consecutive wins to lock up their first World Series win since 1945.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.