1984 Detroit Tigers season


The 1984 Detroit Tigers won the 1984 World Series, defeating the San Diego Padres, 4 games to 1. The season was their 84th since they entered the American League in 1901.
It was the franchise's best season in terms of overall wins and their best win percentage in a 162-game season. The Tigers led the American League Eastern Division wire-to-wire, opening the season 9–0 and eventually topping out at 35–5 after 40 games. The team won its first Division title since 1972, their first AL Pennant since 1968 and the franchise's fourth World championship.
Detroit relief pitcher Willie Hernández won the Cy Young Award and was chosen as the American League Most Valuable Player.

Players

Catcher: Parrish

Catcher Lance Parrish, known as the "Big Wheel", led the team in home runs and RBIs -- and strikeouts as well. Parrish was the starting catcher for the American League All Star team and won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards in 1984. He hit 2 home runs and had 5 RBIs in postseason play.

Infield: Bergman, Whitaker, Trammell and Johnson

was acquired from the Giants in March 1984 and became the Tigers' principal first baseman, playing 114 games at the position. He hit.273 in the regular season, but failed to get a hit in 5 games of the 1984 World Series. On June 4, 1984, Bergman had an 11th inning at-bat at home in a big game against second-place Toronto, who at that point trailed the Tigers by only five games. The at-bat lasted 13 pitches, with Bergman fouling off seven straight pitches from Roy Lee Jackson before hitting a walk-off, three-run home run. Sparky Anderson called it the greatest at-bat he had ever seen.
Second baseman Lou Whitaker, known as "Sweet Lou", had his best year in 1983, hitting.320 with 40 doubles and 206 hits. Though his batting numbers were much lower in 1984, he was selected as the starting second baseman for the American League All Star team and won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards in 1984.
Shortstop Alan Trammell had a big year in 1984. His.314 batting average was 5th best in the American League and 25 points higher than any other Tiger. He was selected for the American League All Star team and won his 4th Gold Glove award at shortstop. Trammell was also named the Most Valuable Player of the 1984 World Series after batting.450, driving in 6 runs and hitting 2 home runs.
Third base was a weak spot in the Detroit lineup, with light-hitting Tom Brookens entering as the starter from 1980 to 1983. In 1984, manager Sparky Anderson searched for the right third baseman, as five different players appeared in 19 or more games at the position that season: 108 by Howard Johnson, 68 by Brookens, 33 by Marty Castillo, 20 by Bárbaro Garbey, and 19 by Darrell Evans.
Howard Johnson, nicknamed "HoJo", was the starting third baseman on Opening Day and through most of the 1984 season. Johnson had a disappointing year, batting.248 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. In the 1984 World Series, Sparky Anderson gave the third base job to Marty Castillo, and HoJo had only 1 pinch-hit at bat. Johnson was traded to the Mets less than 2 months after the World Series, and went on to have some big years in New York.

Outfield: Gibson, Lemon and Herndon

The image of Kirk Gibson with his arms raised above his head after hitting a 3-run home run in the 1984 World Series has become the iconic symbol of the Tigers' 1984 season. The blast came off Goose Gossage, the best reliever in the National League, in the 8th inning of the 5th and final game. It put the Tigers ahead, 8–4, and sealed the championship. During the regular season, the Detroit area native played right field and led the team with a.516 slugging percentage. He also contributed 27 home runs, 91 RBIs and 29 stolen bases, and was #6 in the American League Most Valuable Player voting.
Chet Lemon was the starting center fielder in the 1984 All Star game and a major contributor to the Tigers' success in 1984. One of the best defensive outfielders in baseball, Lemon had 427 putouts in 1984 with a.995 fielding percentage; his 3.09 Range factor rating was far above the league average of 2.17. Lemon also contributed to the team's offensive output with a.287 batting average, 20 home runs, 34 doubles, 76 RBIs, and a.495 slugging percentage.
Larry Herndon played 117 games in left field for the 1984 Tigers and hit.280. In the World Series, he had a.333 batting average and hit a home run. His 2-run homer in Game 1 was the difference in a 3–2 Tigers win. He also caught the final out of the World Series, a fly ball off the bat of Tony Gwynn.

Pitching: Morris, Petry, Wilcox, Hernandez, Rozema, and Lopez

was the leader of the Tigers pitching staff. He started the season with a no-hitter in April and was 10–1 before the end of May. He was selected for the 1984 All Star team, but finished the season 9–10 from June through September. He was 19–11 in the regular season with a 3.60 ERA. He won all three of his post-season starts, tossing two complete games and allowing only five earned runs in 25 innings.
The team's #2 starter, Dan Petry, finished the year 18–8 with the 3rd best winning percentage in the American League. His 3.24 ERA in the regular season was the lowest among the Tiger starters.
The team's #3 starter, Milt Wilcox, was 17–8 with a 4.00 ERA. Wilcox was 2–0 in the post-season, giving up only 1 run in 14 innings. He combined with the bullpen to shut out the Royals, 1–0, in the third and final game of the ALCS.
Though Morris was the ace, the Tigers' MVP was Willie Hernández. The Tigers traded John Wockenfuss and Glenn Wilson to the Phillies in March for Hernández and Dave Bergman. Hernández appeared in a team record 80 games for the 1984 Tigers and was virtually untouchable. He allowed 96 hits and only 6 home runs while throwing an incredible innings out of the bullpen, and finished the season with a stellar 1.92 ERA. His Adjusted ERA+ of 204 is one of the highest in Detroit Tigers history. With 32 saves and 68 games finished, Hernandez won the Cy Young Award and was voted the American League's Most Valuable Player. His 32 saves came in 33 opportunities, his only blown save coming in late September after the Tigers had already secured the AL East Division title. Hernandez saved three post-season games, including the series-clinching games in both the ALCS and World Series.
The popular Aurelio López, known as "Señor Smoke", also had a strong season as the Tigers #2 relief pitcher. Lopez finished the season with 41 games finished, a record of 10–1 and a 2.94 ERA. He also saved 14 games while pitching innings. Lopez earned a win in Game 2 of the ALCS, tossing three scoreless innings as the Tigers won in 11 innings. Almost lost in the World Series Game 5 hitting heroics of Kirk Gibson was Lopez earning the win with innings of scoreless relief, in which he didn't allow a baserunner.

Designated Hitter: Darrell Evans

was the Tigers' big free agent signing before the 1984 season. Though he had big years in 1985 and 1987, Evans struggled in his first year in the American League, batting.232 with 16 home runs and 63 RBIs. In the 1984 World Series, Evans went 1-for-15 for an.067 batting average.

Role players: Garbey, Jones, Kuntz and Castillo

The 1984 Tigers had several non-starters who made big contributions to the team's success.
As a rookie in 1984, Bárbaro Garbey played in 110 games, including appearances at first base, second base, third base, DH, and each of the outfield positions. Garbey hit.287 and had more RBIs than several starters, including Howard Johnson, Larry Herndon and Dave Bergman.
Ruppert Jones was signed as a free agent one week into the season on April 10, 1984. He played in 79 games, mostly as a backup in left field. Jones contributed 12 home runs and 49 RBIs in only 215 at-bats. His.516 slugging percentage was tied with Kirk Gibson for the team lead.
Slick-fielding outfielder Rusty Kuntz played in 84 games, primarily as a late-inning defensive replacement, and hit.286 in 140 at-bats—easily the best offensive season of his major league career. Kuntz's sacrifice fly in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the 1984 World Series broke a 4-4 tie and turned out to be the game-winning and Series-clinching RBI.
Possibly the most popular of the role players was Marty Castillo. In 1984, Castillo appeared in 70 games as a third baseman and backup catcher, and came through in the clutch at several key moments, including: scoring 3 runs to secure a win on August 26; hitting a home run to beat the Yankees on September 23; collecting the game-winning, pennant clinching RBI in Game 3 of the ALCS, a 1–0 victory; catching the ball at third base for the final out of the ALCS; hitting.333 with a.455 on-base percentage and a.667 slugging percentage in the World Series; hitting a two-run home run in Game 3 of the World Series; and scoring in Game 5 when Kirk Gibson hit his 3-run home run off Goose Gossage.

Manager: Sparky Anderson

Detroit manager Sparky Anderson is fifth on the all-time list for manager career wins in Major League Baseball, and in 1984 he became the first manager to win the World Series while leading clubs in both leagues. He previously managed the Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, but the Reds inexplicably fired him after a second-place finish in the 1978 season. Sparky kept a journal during the 1984 season, which was published under the title "". On the day the Tigers clinched the pennant, Sparky wrote in his journal: "I have to be honest. I've waited for this day since they fired me in Cincinnati. I think they made a big mistake when they did that. Now no one will ever question me again."

Offseason

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Roster

Season summary

The Tigers began the year with an unprecedented start of 35–5. For the rest of the season, the team went 69–53. There was a stretch in late July and August where the team lost 12 out of 18. The Tigers finished with a 104–58 record, 15 games ahead of the second place Toronto Blue Jays. They outscored their opponents 829–643.
The 1984 Tigers' 104 wins is a franchise record and their.642 winning percentage ranks as the 4th best in team history, as follows:

Season highlights

Regular season

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
CLance Parrish147578137.2373398
1BDave Bergman12027174.273744
2BLou Whitaker143558161.2891356
3BHoward Johnson11635588.2481250
SSAlan Trammell139555174.3141469
CFChet Lemon141509146.2872076
RFKirk Gibson149531150.2822791
LFLarry Herndon125407114.280743
DHDarrell Evans98362109.2321663

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
Bárbaro Garbey11032794.287552
Tom Brookens11322455.246526
Ruppert Jones7921561.2841237
Johnny Grubb8617647.267817
Marty Castillo7014133.234417
Rusty Kuntz8414040.286222
Doug Baker4310820.24427
Dwight Lowry324511.24427
Scott Earl14354.11401
Nelson Simmons93013.43303
Rod Allen15278.29603
Mike Laga9116.54501

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
Jack Morris35240.119113.60148
Dan Petry35233.11883.24144
Milt Wilcox33193.21784.00119
Juan Berenguer31168.111103.48118
Dave Rozema29101763.7448

Other pitchers

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W= Wins; L= Losses; SV = Saves; GF = Games Finished; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGWLSVGFERASO
Willie Hernández809332681.92112
Aurelio López7110114412.9494
Doug Bair47534123.7557
Sid Monge1910064.2519
Bill Scherrer1810021.8916

Postseason

American League Championship Series

The Tigers defeated the Kansas City Royals in the 1984 American League Championship Series, three games to none.
Detroit won the opening game 8–1. Jack Morris pitched 7 innings and allowed a single run, with Willie Hernández pitching the final 2 innings. Alan Trammell hit a triple and a home run for 3 RBIs, and Larry Herndon and Lance Parrish also hit home runs for Detroit.
In Game 2, the Tigers won in extra innings 5–3. Kirk Gibson doubled to drive in Lou Whitaker in the 1st inning and hit a home run in the 3rd. Dan Petry pitched 7 innings and gave up 2 runs, but a rare blown save by Willie Hernández cost him a victory. Johnny Grubb hit a double off Dan Quisenberry in the 11th inning to drive in Darrell Evans and Ruppert Jones. Aurelio López held the Royals scoreless in the 9th, 10th and 11th innings to earn the win.
Game 3 was a pitching duel between Milt Wilcox and Charlie Leibrandt. Leibrandt pitched a complete game, allowing only 1 run and 3 hits, while Wilcox gave up 2 hits and struck out 8 Royals, with Hernández pitching the 9th inning for the save. Marty Castillo batted in Chet Lemon for the game's only run, as the Tigers completed a 3-game sweep and advanced to the World Series.
Kirk Gibson was named the Most Valuable Player of the AL Championship Series.

American League Championship Series vs Kansas City Royals

World Series

The Tigers beat the San Diego Padres in the 1984 World Series, winning the series 4 games to 1.
In Game 1, the Padres led, 2–1, until Larry Herndon hit a 2-out, 2-run home run in the 5th. Jack Morris did not allow another run in his complete-game effort, and the Tigers won, 3–2.
The Padres evened the series in Game 2, on the strength of a Kurt Bevacqua 3-run homer off Dan Petry, as San Diego won its first World Series game.
In Game 3, the Tigers scored 4 runs in the 2nd inning, including 2 on a home run by Marty Castillo, while the San Diego pitchers gave up 11 bases on balls in the first 5 innings, en route to a 5–2 victory for Milt Wilcox.
In Game 4, Alan Trammell hit a pair of 2-run home runs to account for all of Detroit's offense as the Tigers beat Eric Show, 4–2. Jack Morris got his 2nd Series victory and 2nd complete game.
In Game 5, the Tigers scored 3 runs in the 1st inning, but the Padres rallied to tie it in the 4th inning. In the 8th, with Detroit leading 5–4, the Tigers got runners to 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Padres manager Dick Williams called on Goose Gossage to walk Kirk Gibson and set up a possible double play. Gossage talked Williams into letting him pitch to Gibson, and Gibson responded with a 3-run blast into the right-field upper deck. Detroit radio announcer Ernie Harwell called Gibson's home run on WJR radio as follows:
Following the Tigers' victory in Game 5, the celebration by Detroit fans turned violent. A well known photograph taken outside Tiger Stadium shows a Tigers "fan" holding a World Series pennant in front of an overturned burning Detroit Police car. The image was printed in newspapers across the country, and became a symbol of Detroit's decline. One writer described the press reaction to the post-game violence as follows:

World Series vs San Diego Padres

World Series player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
Dave Bergman550.00000
Tom Brookens330.00000
Marty Castillo393.33312
Darrell Evans5151.06701
Bárbaro Garbey4120.00000
Kirk Gibson5186.33327
Johnny Grubb431.33300
Larry Herndon5155.33313
Ruppert Jones230.00000
Rusty Kuntz210.00001
Chet Lemon5175.29401
Lance Parrish5185.27812
Alan Trammell5209.45026
Lou Whitaker5185.27800

Pitching

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
Jack Morris218202.0013
Dan Petry28019.004
Milt Wilcox16101.504
Willie Hernández35.1001.690
Aurelio López23100.004
Bill Scherrer33003.000
Doug Bair10.2000.001

Award winners and league leaders

Sparky Anderson
Kirk Gibson
  • AL Championship Series MVP
  • Finished 6th in AL MVP voting
  • AL leader in errors by an outfielder
  • AL leader in Power/Speed Number
  • #3 in AL in triples
  • #4 in AL in times hit by pitch
  • #6 in AL in slugging percentage
  • #8 in AL in stolen bases
  • #10 in AL in OPS
Willie Hernández
Chet Lemon
  • AL leader in fielding percentage by a center fielder
  • AL All Star Team, starting center fielder
  • #7 in AL in intentional walks
  • #8 in AL in doubles
  • #8 in AL in times hit by pitch
Jack Morris
  • AL All Star Team, pitcher
  • AL Babe Ruth Award
  • Pitcher of the Month Award, April
  • Finished 7th in AL Cy Young Award voting
  • AL leader in wild pitches
  • #2 in AL in wins
  • #4 in AL in games started
  • #9 in AL in winning percentage
  • #9 in AL in strikeouts
  • #9 in AL in bases on balls allowed
Lance Parrish
Alan Trammell
  • Player of the Month Award, April
  • AL All Star Team, shortstop
  • 1984 World Series MVP
  • AL Gold Glove Award, shortstop
  • Finished 9th in AL MVP voting
  • #4 in AL in Power/Speed Number
  • #5 in AL in batting average
  • #6 in AL in times caught stealing
  • #8 in AL in on-base percentage
  • #8 in AL in doubles
Lou Whitaker
  • AL Gold Glove Award, second base
  • AL Silver Slugger Award, second base
  • AL All Star Team, starting second baseman

    Players ranking among top 100 all time at position

The following members of the 1984 Detroit Tigers are among the top 100 of all time at their position, as ranked by The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract in 2001:
PlayerPositionRankNote
Lance ParrishC19th
Lou Whitaker2B13th
Alan TrammellSS9th
Darrell Evans3B10thplayed in 131 games, but only 19 at third base in 1984
Howard Johnson3B47th
Kirk GibsonLF36thplayed in 149 games, but none in left field in 1984
Chet LemonCF48th

Not one of the players named above have been elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and any eligibility to be elected as a player by the BBWAA has expired. Manager Sparky Anderson was inducted by the Veterans Committee in 2000. In December 2017, the Modern Baseball Era Committee elected to induct Trammell and pitcher Jack Morris in 2018.

Farm system

OWIKI.org. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.