1968 Tigers Tribute Site

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.

July 21, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Orioles 5, Tigers 2  (59-35)

Earl Wilson had a tough time as the Tigers dropped the first game of a Sunday doubleheader with the Orioles.  Wilson fell to 7-8 and he gave up four runs on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings.

Tom Matchick tripled, hit his third homer and drove in a pair in the loss.  Bill Freehan went two for four with a double and a run.

July 21, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Orioles 4, Tigers 1  (59-36)

The Tigers were held to just three hits and were swept by the Orioles in a series they lost three games to one.  Dick McAuliffe had one of the three hits and he scored the lone Tigers run.

Pat Dobson fell to 3-2 with a rough start.  He gave up two runs on four hits and a walk with a strikeout in just 2 1/3 innings.

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 16, 1968 at Anaheim Stadium
Tigers 4, Angels 0  (57-32)

Denny McLain did it again.  He not only helped the Tigers avoid a sweep at the hands of the Angels, but he also helped them snap a three game losing streak.  McLain improved to 18-2 and he gave up just eight hits with eight strikeouts in the complete game shutout.

Al Kaline had just one hit in four at bats but it was a solo homer.  Tom Matchick finished two for four and he drove in a run.

July 2, 1968 at Tiger StadiuM
Tigers 3, Angels 1  (50-27)

The Tigers won their second straight game and this time it was Earl Wilson who got it done on the mound.  He improved to 6-5 and he gave up just one run on seven hits and one walk with nine strikeouts in the complete game.

Willie Horton singled and drove in a pair of runs.  The other Tiger run came on a solo homer by Tom Matchick.

June 23, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
Indians 3, Tigers 0  (43-26)

The Tigers suffered their third straight loss and their second straight shutout at the hands of the Indians.  This time, the offense was held to just three hits, two of which were by Don Wert.  He singled and doubled while Tom Matchick had the only other hit with a single.

John Hiller was roughed up and he gave up three runs while he pitched just 1/3 of an inning.  Dennis Ribant did a fine job in relief and he pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings and he also got the Tigers out of their first inning jam, but it wasn’t enough as the hitters could never get going.

June 23, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
Tigers 4, Indians 1 (44-26)

The Tigers snapped their three game losing streak behind a solid outing by Joe Sparma.  He gave up one run on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.  Pat Dobson threw two no-hit innings to close out the game and he picked up his third save of the season.

Dick Tracewski had a big day at the plate in the win. He went two for five and his three run homer was the difference.  Dick McAuliffe had a pinch hit, RBI single and he later drew a walk.

June 11, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 3, Twins 1 (36-20)

Pat Dobson outdueled Dean Chance as the Tigers took the first game of a series opening doubleheader that saw an over an hour rain delay in the second inning.  Dobson improved to 2-0 and he gave up one run on five hits and five walks with ten strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. Daryl Patterson gave up a hit in the final 1 1/3 innings and he picked up his second save of the season.

Backup catcher Jim Price was the hitting star in this one and he played a role in all three Tigers runs.  He went two for three with a double, two RBIs and a run.

June 11, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 3, Twins 2 (37-20)

The Tigers came from behind to finish their doubleheader sweep over the Twins.  Norm Cash singled home Mickey Stanley in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie it 2-2 and then Tom Matchick scored on a fielders choice by Mickey Stanley in the bottom of the ninth for the game winner.  Stanley finished the game three for five with two runs while Norm Cash singled, doubled and drove in the eighth inning run.

Joe Sparma pitched seven solid innings but he wasn’t given the decision.  He gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and walk with five strikeouts.  John Hiller improved to 4-1 with two perfect innings to close out the game.