Detroit Tigers: Father’s Day Boxscore Review

It feels strange without baseball on Father’s Day so we look back at a few box scores in Detroit Tigers’ history.

We are all missing baseball, especially today. Some people may have a tradition going back to Tiger Stadium, watching a Detroit Tigers’ game with your father, uncle, or grandfather while having your pre-game ritual of hitting up your favorite eating establishment.  For myself, It would be going to Armando’s for some chunky beef burritos.

Baseball is ingrained into the zeitgeist of every generation. We may have a favorite baseball memory, whether it’s one at the ballpark or listening to the game on the radio. I present a few boxscores of Detroit Tigers’ baseball on Father’s Day.

June 16th, 1968: Micky Lolich and Denny McLain in the same day

In the first game of a doubleheader on the road against the Chicago White Sox, the Tigers, at 40-22, Mickey Lolich would start game one.  Tied at 2 into the bottom of the seventh inning, Lolich would allow a home run to Tommy Davis that would put the White Sox ahead before the bullpen combo of Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm, who came in to face one batter and Wilbur Wood shut down the Tigers’ for the 3-2 Chicago win.  In the second game, with Denny McLain taking the mound, the Tigers were trailing 1-0 in the eight. Detroit would continue their theme of coming back late in games in 1968. Detroit would score five runs, highlighted by Jim Northrup’s double to score two, to take the 5-1 lead. McLain would go seven innings to earn his 11th win on the season.

June 20th, 1976-The Bird invades Minneapolis

1976 was a special season for Detroit Tigers’ fans as the nation would watch Mark Fidrych rise to the national stage. On Father Day’s, despite six walks, Fidrych earned the win to go 6-1 on the season and John Hiller would pick up the save. Jason Thompson on back to back days would go yard, driving in four runs. Ron LeFlore would continue his impressive season that would earn him his lone All-Star appearance, going 3 for 5, raising his batting average to .356.

June 17th, 1984-Dave Rozema shuts down the Milwaukee Brewers

Detroit was rolling along in 1984 and had a good Father’s Day to boot. Dave Rozema and Aurelio Lopez, who would go four innings for the save, would combine for the shutout for the 3-0 win at County Stadium. Chet Lemon would go 3 for 5 with a double and a triple and Barbaro Garbey would steal home.

June 18th, 2006-The Tigers Hit 8 Home Runs in Wrigley

The Tigers would tie their own team record against the Blue Jays for most home runs in one game with 8  as they would tee off on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.  Mark Prior, making his first start of 2006 after coming off a horrible broken elbow injury in 2005, allowed home runs to Curtis Granderson, Vance Wilson, Carlos Guillen, and Chris Shelton, who would have another one off reliever Roberto Novoa. Kenny Rogers would cruise to his tenth victory in a 12-3 win.