A little diversion today.
Taking a little side trip.
Feel free to come along. Jump in the back, remember to fasten your seat belt.
May not be as fun a diversion as, oh, stopping at the Weekie Watchie Alligator Farm. Or a spinoff to Buc-ees for a brisket on bun, one of those killer iced cinnamon buns, and a logo mini surboard for the grandkid.
But I’m looking forward to it.
Venturing into the world of post-season baseball. Because (for context) . . .
. . . my maternal grandfather owned a fruit/ vegetable stand outside the clubhouse entrance at Navin Field l/k/a Briggs Stadium l/k/a Tiger Stadium. The home of my faves, the Detroit Tigers. He knew a lot of the stars that came through.
My dad loved baseball.
Among the moments I cherish most from my youth are playing pitch and catch with him after dinner in the yard of our apartment building. I still drive by there, and many times just stop and soak in the memories.
Such was his affection, when they started a little league (small caps, was never Williamsport “official”) at the JCC, dad became Commissioner. Which some of my long time pals continued to call him until he passed away.
My first MLB game was at Briggs Stadium for the home opener of the 1956 season, the year after Al Kaline became the youngest winner of an AL batting crown. My Aunt Martha took my cousin Eddie and me. On a gloriously gray and drippy and chilly April afternoon, we sat in deep center field seats.
In 10 innings, the Tigers lost to the then Cleveland Indians 4-3. Mike Garcia started for the victors. Don Mossi — don’t get me started on this guy, we could be here forever — got the W in relief. Frank Lary took the L. Kaline got a couple hits. Vic Wertz and Bobby Avila had three each for Cleveland.
So, anyway, because I was born in Detroit, the Tigers have been my team.
Loved it when Detroit bested St. Louis in the ’68 Series. The boss at my part time job was a huge Cardinals fan. Bob Gibson won twice for St. L. Mickey Lolich thrice for the Tigers, including besting Gibson in Game 7, 4-1.
1984 was seriously fun. The Tigers were the best team all year, dominating from opening day, with 104 wins. They beat San Diego in the Series in five. Though I really was hoping they’d play the Cubs, who blew the NL Championship Series.
2012 wasn’t so fun at the end. A really good Tigers team was broomed by the Giants.
The Tigers really haven’t been very good since.
Even this year. When Smarts and SABR and I went to see them in Cincy early in July — a masterpiece by AL triple crown winner Tarik Skubal to complete a sweep of the Reds — Detroit was way out of contention for the playoffs.
Early in August, the Tigers were eight games under .500 with a .02 chance of making the playoffs. Since, they’ve had the best record and ERA. And, with a SS Trey Sweeney who played at St. X.
They did the impossible. Which means I got October baseball, starting today in Houston.
While I’ll be as nervous as when sitting in Bar Mitzvah class on LL game days in my uniform, praying my game that evening wouldn’t get rained out, it’s all gravy.
Frankly, the Tigers have done it with smoke and mirrors and scotch tape and twine. And sticktoitiveness.
I’m just glad they’ve made it.
In this time of calamity, when sports are one of our diversions from the chaos around us, this is a blessing.
OK, if you’re still around, didn’t ask to be dropped off to catch an Uber awhile ago, thanks.
Go Tigers.
— c d kaplan
From one who remembers those pitch and catch evenings after dinner, what a great story.
Still around as you got my attention with the baseball of my youth. I was but a year old when you went to your first game, but I know Vic Wertz hit that ball that Willie Mays famously ran down. I had a baseball card of Don Mossi, and as I recall it was unusual in that rather than showing him in pitching motion or holding a glove it was a full head shot, and he had a face you did not want to look at for very long. After having seen a lot of Bob Gibson dominating the Cubs on WGN, and thinking of him as the best pitcher once Koufax retired – I could not have been more shocked at seeing Jim Northrup hammer that triple to center field, the decisive hit in that ’68 series. Good luck to your Tigers this year!
Nice read CD
Me and Dad did the same ,and great memories indeed.
My parents before I was born lived in Maryland.I was born in Louisville,and always the odd one I had to root for Baltimore ,never realized the Maryland connection then,but guess some of the blue crabs stayed in my DNA perhaps.
Like Detroit the Orioles have had an amazing couple years coming back from over 100 losses 2 years in a row,to win division ,and now a wild card.
Go Orioles!!!
Great piece. For some of us, it’s Baseball Season Plus. IF your team makes The Show. Go O’s !!!, who I’ve rooted for since 1966.
May I please add Louisville Men’s Basketball is a tad over a month away from their first game? I’m seriously impressed by their intensity. Hepburn will turn heads, Kader’s motor is intense and you may have noticed, so’s Coach PK.
Destroya, hope everything is good in you neck of the woods….
I’m OK, Red, thank you for asking. 2 trees were downed Friday, but no damage to structures. LOTS of rain; +5″.
Hope all’s well with you.