Favorite Baseball Moments While Waiting for Release

[silvam14]

If this is about games that we actually went to, I would have to say it was 10/3/1990, the last day of the regular season and the Red Sox were playing the White Sox. If the sox won, they won the AL East. I was in the bleachers when Tom Brunansky made a terrific sliding catch in the RF corner to win the game. The place went nuts!

As a bonus, I remember how excited I got when I saw the scoreboard behind showed the HRs around the league and saw Cecil Fielder hit 50 and 51 on that day. Up to that time, I had never seen anyone hit 50 HRs in a season since I followed the game.

Edit: I believe George Foster was the last guy to do it at that point

[silvam14]

One other great moment.

I was at the Sox/Mariners game at Fenway, I think it was 1996. Roger Clemens was pitching, the team had Canseco and Kevin Mitchell at the time. Something happened in the game and Roger Clemens actually came to bat in the late innings. He went to the plate with the Canseco Elbow guard and the Mitchell Leg guard and he singled off of Norm Charlton. The place went nuts! I thought it was an amazing feat at the time. haha

[GDawg]

Originally Posted by BirdWatcher

I was at Tiger Stadium in 1974 and saw one of the great Al Kaline's final home runs (which landed not far from where my father and I were sitting.) I was only 9 at the time and it was my first in-person MLB game and I don't remember a great deal of detail but I will never forget that. I can't be sure what the date was, but given that Kaline hit just 13 homers that season and given that my father and I would likely have been at a weekend game during the summer (out of the school year), I think the most likely date was Saturday, August 3rd versus the Baltimore Orioles. This is a game that Kaline went 3 for 4 in as the DH, driving in both of the Tigers runs in a 6-2 loss. Lolich would have been on the mound for the complete game loss.

Also, a few years later, in 1976, was at Tiger Stadium to see Mark Fidrych pitch against the then California Angels and future Tiger Frank Tanana (pretty sure this was the game of August 17th, which saw Fidrych get the 1-run win and improve to 14-4 in the Year of the Bird). My father decided we should stick around overnight and we returned to see the great Nolan Ryan pitch the next day, a game in which Ryan pitched 10 innings and struck out 17 Tigers batters (wow, I forgot that part completely, until I looked this up on Retrosheet) and the Tigers lost in 11. (Fidrych, the previous day, had a typical start for him- 9 innings pitched, just 5 hits allowed, 2 K's and just 1 walk allowed, although he did give up a home run to Ron Jackson.)

As might be guessed by my user name and photo here, the Year of the Bird was probably what sealed the deal in my fate of being a lifelong baseball fan.

Such a cool story. I didn't know all that much about Mark Fidrych, looked up his career which was sadly shortened by injury (they apparently did not know -let alone treat- torn rotator cuff back in the early '80's). It was also great to find out about that last game in 1980 which the Bird won and was watched by over 48,000 Detroit fans at Tiger stadium. It's stories like these that make me cherish baseball so much. So much history and infinite things to discover.

Did you ever replay a 1981 season in which you had Fidrych try to return to his former glory? He is playing for the Tigers triple A team that season. I might do this as I think 1981 is an interesting historical choice - it was a strike-shortened season which makes it cool for a what-if scenario, and Detroit is a fun team in those days with Gibson, Trammell, Whitaker, Morris etc. all in their younger years.

[Pelican]

Rochester Red Wings at Richmond Braves, April of 1978. On the way back to DC for a Grateful Dead concert at William & Mary, my then-girlfriend, future wife and I stopped to eat. I bought a local paper and went to the sports section, realized that the game was starting in about an hour, and that Jim Bouton was in the early days of his improbable comeback with the Braves. We of course went to the game, and although Bouton did not pitch, we did see a triple play on a 5-4-3 ground ball. Quite a weekend.

[BirdWatcher]

Originally Posted by GDawg

Such a cool story. I didn't know all that much about Mark Fidrych, looked up his career which was sadly shortened by injury (they apparently did not know -let alone treat- torn rotator cuff back in the early '80's). It was also great to find out about that last game in 1980 which the Bird won and was watched by over 48,000 Detroit fans at Tiger stadium. It's stories like these that make me cherish baseball so much. So much history and infinite things to discover.

Did you ever replay a 1981 season in which you had Fidrych try to return to his former glory? He is playing for the Tigers triple A team that season. I might do this as I think 1981 is an interesting historical choice - it was a strike-shortened season which makes it cool for a what-if scenario, and Detroit is a fun team in those days with Gibson, Trammell, Whitaker, Morris etc. all in their younger years.

When I first started playing OOTP it was always my intention to do some sort of project with Fidrych, trying to find an alternate reality in which he has a long and at least moderately successful career. And then I got sucked into the joy of a completely fictional league and never have played even a single OOTP game in which the Bird is present.
Maybe some day.
Of course, after Fidyrch my favorite players were Whitaker and Tram (probably in that order, too). I spent countless hours in our big side yard in a small Michigan town hitting the ball right handed (my natural side), pretending I was Tram, and then switching around to hit left handed, being Sweet Lou. Taught myself how to be a fairly competent (for someone far from being a competitive athlete) switch-hitter that way.

The other great part of the Fidrych story is how humble he was the entire time, and how he settled into a quiet small town life, having bought a farm in his home state of Massachusetts, after his baseball career and was beloved in his community, with many not having any idea of his former, fleeting fame. Everything about the Bird always seemed so authentic, no matter how quirky.
And his death was from such a tragic and brutal accident. But a good life it seems he had, in spite of what the rest of us might see as the bad hand he was dealt, the loss of what could have been.

[BirdWatcher]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Ugh, completely missed out on seeing The Bird in action. I did get to see him start a game, but it was in 1980 and it was not pretty. In fact, the Rangers destroyed the Tigers in both games of a doubleheader that day. Al Oliver had 3 bombs in the second game, 1 in the first and drove in I want to say 7 or 8 runs. Only good thing for the Tigers that day was the ceremony between games honoring Al Kaline.

I only wish that I remembered more details about this. Most of the details I have are courtesy of Retrosheet, and that is assuming I have actually identified the correct series (though from what my father and I do remember I'm pretty sure I did).

Oddly, I feel like I have more vivid memories from a game we saw earlier in that season when my father and I were traveling back from out west (which is funny to say now that I live "out west"), and just happened to be coming back through the Kansas City area when the Tigers were in town. The Tigers of 1976 were better than the atrocious 1975 version of the team, but still not great. The Royals of George Brett, Hal McRae, Amos Otis, Al Cowens, Frank White, John Mayberry, etc., much better.
I'll have to find this one on Retrosheet later but mostly I just remember that the Royals completely dismantled the Tigers, who looked inept out there. I suppose because they were. I think this was early enough in the season that Bird-mania hadn't fully spread yet. He certainly wasn't on the mound in still pretty new Kaufman Stadium (still officially Royals Stadium at that time) that night.
The highlight for us was that young Bruce Kimm was behind the plate for the Tigers and members of Kimm's family were seated very near us in the stands and we struck up a conversation.

Okay, looking at Retrosheet I'm thinking this would have been Monday, June 7th, a game which the Tigers lost 10-0. Vern Ruhle was on the mound, and that sounds right to me. And young Mr. Kimm actually hit a double and walked once, though he also committed an error (I seem to recall a throwing error with a Royals base runner stealing second) and struck out twice.

[r0nster]

I will never forget my first game in 1976 Tigers won 10-0 and in the following season watch Steve Kemp hit 2 home runs to the same guy 2 rows in front of me. Ball Hog LOL. anyways Got to watch Carl Yaz George Brett and Ernie harwell last game as well. each time we had no clue they were retiring that year or that game be their last also went to Harwell statue unveiling too got a CD too. (not sure if i have still)

Tiger stadium has a special place in my heart as it was my home away from home as it was where i would go when having a bad day. My best friend would say Tiger Stadium was built for me and Comerica Park was built for him. Point was Tiger Stadium is where you watch game paying attention and Comerica Park was where you do not have to pay attention to game and talk amongst friends.

[professor ape]

My favorite moment watching on TV has to be the Cubs finally winning the Series.

Living in DC, I have been in the stadium for some pretty cool moments by the Nationals including:
- The opening night game to open Nats Park when Zimmerman won the game with a walk off HR
- Strasburg’s first game when he struck out 14 in seven scoreless innings
- Werth’s Game 4 walk-off home run to tie the Divisional Series against the Cards (we were there the next night when the Nats blew a five run lead to lose the series)
- Game 4 of the 2019 NLCS when the Nats got the sweep against the Cards to take the pennant.

One other memorable game was when I was in Fenway on the night of both A-Rod’s debut with Seattle and Valentin’s unassisted triple play.

[Anteater]

Great to see lots of Tigers fans and hear about their memories.

[progen]

After 52 years, this is still the best game I ever saw. 1970, Phils against the Giants with Mays, McCovey, Jim Ray Hart, Bobby Bonds, etc, and the last year for good old Connie Mack Stadium.

Bottom of the 9th, bases loaded, Phils down 6-3,Tony Taylor at bat, who seemingly couldn't hit a HR if he threw up and hit it, ran out and hit it again, somehow, someway, swings and hits a grand slam to win the game. My dad and I were two of just over 10,000 fans to witness the miracle.

The thing I also remember is Deron Johnson, the big, slow first baseman for the Phils hit 3 doubles, once to centerfield, 410 feet away, and was nearly thrown out by Mays who played the ball off the wall, and threw it on one hop to second base.

Here's the box score for that incredible game:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/b...97008020.shtml

[r0nster]

Originally Posted by progen

After 52 years, this is still the best game I ever saw. 1970, Phils against the Giants with Mays, McCovey, Jim Ray Hart, Bobby Bonds, etc, and the last year for good old Connie Mack Stadium.

Bottom of the 9th, bases loaded, Phils down 6-3,Tony Taylor at bat, who seemingly couldn't hit a HR if he threw up and hit it, ran out and hit it again, somehow, someway, swings and hits a grand slam to win the game. My dad and I were two of just over 10,000 fans to witness the miracle.

The thing I also remember is Deron Johnson, the big, slow first baseman for the Phils hit 3 doubles, once to centerfield, 410 feet away, and was nearly thrown out by Mays who played the ball off the wall, and threw it on one hop to second base.

Here's the box score for that incredible game:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/b...97008020.shtml

What a come from behind WIN. bet you glad you stayed to the end

[Bobfather]

2004 ALCS game 4, bottom of the 9th Dave Robert's steals second. Starting the biggest post season MLB series ever.

[silvam14]

Originally Posted by Bobfather

2004 ALCS game 4, bottom of the 9th Dave Robert's steals second. Starting the biggest post season MLB series ever.

Love it. The biggest choke job in the history of sports and it belongs to the Yankees!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ubernoob]

Adding in another one to the minor league derby.

Was stationed in DC for Strasburg's debut. Never seen a city go from not caring about baseball to electric for it, easily the most fun MLB game I've been to.

[Bunktown Ballers]

Originally Posted by Reed

Okay, showing my age.
First MLB game I went to. July 1961.
Our little league team and several others took train from Ft. Wayne to Chicago to watch Yankees play White Sox. Sat in Left Field and remember Yogi Berra playing left and waiving at us. Roger Maris hit a home run enroute to his 61. The Sox had 3 home runs making to scoreboard go off. The Sox got a 4 or 5 run lead but the Yankees came back to win 9-8 in 10 innings. Minnie Minoso made an outstanding defensive play. The experience was a thrill.
During the pandemic while shut in I found a radio broadcast of the game on the internet so I got to listen to it after seeing it 60 years earlier. My wife thought I was crazy for listening to it.

WOW...nice....I was 1 year old

[sentry85]

For me it is the 1980 Phils vs Astros NLCS series. any team leading in the 6th inning lost the game, a crazy triple play that was called back, key pinch hits. i can remember dreading every time Jose Cruz came to bat.