October 5, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Cardinals 7, Tigers 3
Cardinals Lead Best of Seven Game Series 2-1

The Tigers played a World Series game in front of home crowd for the first time since 1945 but they failed to get it done because some of lackluster hitting and mediocre pitching.  Earl Wilson walked six and gave up three runs in just 4 1/3 innings and Pat Dobson and Don McMahon were also touched up for runs.  While the Cardinals were beating up the Tigers pitching staff, the offense was held to just four hits and while two of those hits left the park, it wasn’t nearly enough to snag the win.

At first, the game looked like it was going to settle into a pitchers duel because neither team got a hit until the third inning.  In the bottom of the third, the Tigers struck and scored two on an Al Kaline two run blast.  Unfortunately, it would be the only time the Tigers would have the lead.

The Cardinals big inning came in the fifth.  Ray Washburn struck out and then Lou Brock singled.  He stole second then scored on Curt Flood’s double.  Roger Maris then drew a walk before Mayo Smith went to his pen.  Pat Dobson took the ball but it hardly stopped the bleeding.  Orlando Cepeda did pop out to give Tiger fans some hope, but Tim McCarver blasted a big three run homer to make it 4-2 Cardinals.

Dick McAuliffe hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth to make it 4-3 but that was as close as the Tigers would get.  Don McMahon gave up a three run homer to Orlando Cepeda in the seventh and from that point on, the blowout was on.  Neither team scored the rest of the way, but the Cardinals came up big time to take a 2-1 lead in the series and more importantly, they had Bob Gibson throwing the next game.

The Tigers finished their regular season with a whimper as they dropped their third straight game in a series sweep at the hands of the Senators.  The Tigers scored two in the first then failed to score the rest of the way as the Senators won it in the ninth for the second straight day.  Al Kaline was the lone Tiger with more then one hit and he went two for five with a run while Bill Freehan singled, drove in a run and drew two walks.

Mickey Lolich got his final tune up before the World Series.  He gave up a pair of runs in four innings.  Pat Dobson gave up an unearned run in the ninth and he fell to 5-8 on the season.  The Tigers did have a couple of days off but they had the unenviable task of flying to St. Louis to take on the defending World Series Champions.

The Tigers came out a little flat as they kicked off their final regular season home series with a loss.  The hitters were held to just six hits and it was Norm Cash who provided the bulk of the offense.  He finished two for four and he drove in the lone run with his 25th homer of the season.

Joe Sparma pitched just three innings and he gave up a run on two hits with four strikeouts.  Pat Dobson took the loss when he gave up a pair of runs in the seventh inning.  That dropped his record to 5-7 on the season.

The Tigers won their tenth straight and in the process, they reached the 100 win mark for just the fourth time in franchise history.  They were hoping they wouldn’t repeat history though because the other three times they won 100, they couldn’t get that World Series ring.  Still, Mickey Lolich threw a very nice game and he improved to 16-9.  He gave up three runs on three hits and seven walks with nine strikeouts in seven innings.  Pat Dobson threw two shutout innings to close the game out and he picked up his seventh save of the season.

All six Tigers run came via the long ball.  Jim Northrup belted a pair of two run homers while Al Kaline and Jim Price also went yard with solo homers in the win.

The Tigers outhit the Twins 8-6 but they came up short where it counted in a 2-1 loss that ended their four game winning streak.  Pat Dobson went the distance but he gave up a ninth inning run to fall to 5-6.  He gave up two runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts and both runs came on solo homers.

Mickey Stanley went three for five.  Don Wert drove in the lone Tiger run with his twelth homerun of the season.

The Tigers march towards the American League pennant continued behind a solid start by John Hiller.  He gave up two runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.  Pat Dobson picked up his sixth save of the season with two innings of shutout relief.

Jim Northrup had a big game and he went three for four with a run and an RBI.  Mickey Stanley went one for three with two runs.

Tigers 6, Athletics 3  (88-52)

It looked like the Tigers were going to let this game get away.  Up 2-0 in the eighth inning, Earl Wilson was finally touched up for three runs and the Tigers entered the ninth down by a run.  Fortunately, they stormed back and scored four in the ninth to escape with a win.  The big hit of the inning was a two run single by Jim Northrup that gave the lead back to Detroit.  Earl Wilson helped out his own cause earlier in the game with a solo shot, his sixth homer of the season. 

Wilson threw a solid game he just had the one bad inning.  He gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.  Pat Dobson threw a shutout ninth and he improved to 5-5 on the season.

The Tigers were held to four hits in a shutout loss as the Tigers kicked off their series with the A’s with a pair of games.  Bill Freehan had two of the Tigers hits while Willie Horton was the tough luck hitter at the plate.  He struck out in all four of his at bats.

Mickey Lolich fell to 13-9 with a rough start.  He gave up three runs on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

September 2, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum
Tigers 4, Athletics 3  (87-52)

Bill Freehan belted a tenth inning homerun that proved to be the game winner as the Tigers salvaged a split in their doubleheader with the A’s.  For Freehan, it was his 21st of the season and Jim Northrup pitched in with two singles, a double and an RBI.

Pat Dobson picked up the win after he threw two innings of shutout relief to close out the game.  He improved to 4-5 on the season.  Longtime reliever Roy Face made his Tiger debut in this game.  He gave up a walk, a hit and he struck out one in 2/3 of an inning.

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.

The Tigers got some timley hitting and some good pitching as they came back to beat the White Sox to ensure at least a split in their four game series.  Down 2-1, Mickey Stanley belted a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game up and then Jim Price hit a walk off homer in the bottom of the tenth to win it.

Daryl Patterson picked up the win and he improved to 2-2 with two shutout innings of relief.  A solid start by Pat Dobson almost went to waste.  He gave up just two runs on four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in eight innings.

The Tigers outlasted the Red Sox in a game that saw the two teams combined for 19 runs on 28 hits.  The Tigers blew an 8-1 lead only to win it in the eleventh inning on a solo homer by Bill Freehan.  Norm Cash and Dick McAuliffe also went yard in the win and Cash went an impressive five for six with five RBIs to lead the way.

Pat Dobson gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings as he fell apart and gave up the bulk of the damage in the Red Sox seven run sixth inning.  Don McMahon picked up the win and he gave up one run in four innings of relief while John Wyatt got the final batter out to pick up his second save of the season.

The Tigers four game winning streak came to an end as they were held to just four hits in a shutout loss to the Indians.  No Tiger reached base more then once and Mickey Stanley had the only extra base hit with a triple.

A solid start by Pat Dobson went to waste.  He fell to 3-5 and he gave up one run on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts in seven innings.

The Tigers piled on twelve hits and eight walks to win their third straight game.  Willie Horton led the way and he went two for five with a triple, two runs and two RBIs while Jim Northrup tripled, drove in two and drew two walks.

Mickey Lolich was roughed up and he gave up four runs before he even finished the third inning.  Dennis Ribant picked up the win and he improved to 1-1.  He gave up one unearned run on three hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings.  Pat Dobson got the final batter out and he picked up his fourth save of the season.

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.

The Tigers blew a thirteenth inning lead as they dropped their series opener to the Indians.  Jim Northrup had doubled home Mickey Stanley in the top of the thirteenth inning but Pat Dobson gave up a two run homer in the bottom of the inning and he fell to 2-1.  This was after a solid start by Mickey Lolich, who gave up two runs on six hits with three strikeouts in nine innings.

The Tigers picked up seven hits and they were all by different hitters.  Norm Cash drew three walks while Dick McAuliffe doubled, drove in a run and drew a walk.

Earl Wilson got it done on the mound for the Tigers as they came back home to take on the Red Sox.  He gave up one run on four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in eight innings of work and the win pushed his record to 5-4.  Pat Dobson got into trouble and gave up a pair of hits in the ninth but he struck out two and picked up his second save in as many games.

Jim Northrup played a role in both Tigers runs.  He singled, doubled, drove in one and scored.  Mickey Stanley singled twice and scored the other run for the Tigers.

Mickey Lolich fell to 5-4 on the season despite a solid outing as the Tigers lost to the White Sox in the first game of their Sunday doubleheader.  He gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. 

Bill Freehan was the only Tiger with two hits in the contest.  Don Wert doubled, scored a run and drew a walk.

June 16, 1968 at Comiskey Park
Tigers 6, White Sox 1 (41-22)

The Tigers salvaged both a split in their doubleheader with the White Sox as well as their four game series behind another fantastic outing by Denny McLain.  He improved to 11-2 and he gave up one run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.  Pat Dobson got the final five outs and he picked up his first save of the season.

Jim Northrup doubled, singled and drove in a pair.  Dick McAuliffe doubled, drove in two and scored a run in the win.

This time it was the hitters who bailed out the pitchers as the Tigers won their fifth straight contest despite needing fourteen innings to notch the win.  Earl Wilson helped out his own cause with a three run homer and Don Wert belted a solo homer in the top of the fourteenth for the game winner.  Bill Freehan had a team high three hits and he scored and drove in a run.

Wilson gave up four runs in seven innings before yielding to the pen.  Pat Dobson came up huge with five shutout innings while John Hiller shut the White Sox out in the final two frames to improve to 5-1.

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.

A pretty good start by Mickey Lolich went to waste as the Tigers dropped the first game of their doubleheader with the Red Sox.  Lolich gave up two runs on just two hits but he walked six with four strikeouts in seven innings.  For his efforts, he fell to 3-3.

The Tigers actually outhit the Red Sox 3-2 but that wasn’t saying much.  Gate Brown got the start in left and he was the only Tiger to reach base twice with a single and a walk.

June 4, 1968 at Fenway Park
Tigers 2, Red Sox 0  (31-19)

The Tigers returned the favor and Pat Dobson shut out the Red Sox on just five hits in the second game of their doubleheader.  Dobson picked up his first win of the season and he gave up the five hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

The Tigers scored both of their runs in the seventh frame.  Don Wert belted a solo homer, his sixth of the season.  Norm Cash was the only Tiger with more then one hit and he had a pair of singles.

The Tigers overcame a four run first inning deficit to top the Yankees by a single run.  Les Cain was bounced in the first inning after getting just one batter out and he was tagged for four runs on five hits.  Back to back homers by Willie Horton and Norm Cash in the sixth inning tied the game and then Jim Northrup scored on Bill Freehan’s single in the seventh inning for the game winner.

Bill Freehan finished the game with three RBIs while Willie Horton had a team high three hits.  His homerun was his fifteenth of the season and for Cash, it was just his third.

Pat Dobson did a fantastic job after that first inning and he went on to pick up the win.  He did allow one inherited runner to score in the first but after that, he didn’t allow a run in 5 2/3 innings.  Fred Lasher gave up just one hit in three shutout frames and he improved to 3-1.

It took twelve innings but the Tigers lost for the fifth time in six games in their series opener against the Angels.  The Tigers hitters did get it done though and Eddie Mathews homered twice and drove in three runs while Norm Cash belted a two run shot to provide the bulk of the Tigers offense.

Mickey Lolich struggled and he gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings.  Dobson was touched up for a run on five hits in two innings and Daryl Patterson took the loss when he gave up the twelth inning run.  He fell to 1-2 on the season.

The Tigers lost their home opener against the defending American League champs.  The Red Sox got to Earl Wilson early to the tune of five runs in five innings and both Pat Dobson and Daryl Patterson were touched up for a piece as well.

Wilson did help out his own cause with the stick though and he belted the Tigers only homer, a solo shot in the third inning.  Mickey Stanley had a team high three hits while Willie Horton went two for three with a double and an RBI.