October 10, 1968: Mickey Lolich wins his 3rd game of the Series – matching Harry Brecheen as the only lefthander ever to do it thus far – and the Detroit Tigers win their 1st World Series in 23 years (to the day), beating the indomitable Bob Gibson and the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7, 4-1 at Busch Memorial Stadium.
Mike Shannon hits a home run for the Cardinals, Jim Northrup's triple past the normally sure-fielding Curt Flood in the top of the 7th makes the difference. In the bottom of the 7th, Roger Maris, the Cardinals' right fielder pops up to short, closing an 0-for-3 day. It is the last at-bat of his career, as he has already decided to retire.
Mike Shannon hits a home run for the Cardinals, Jim Northrup's triple past the normally sure-fielding Curt Flood in the top of the 7th makes the difference. In the bottom of the 7th, Roger Maris, the Cardinals' right fielder pops up to short, closing an 0-for-3 day. It is the last at-bat of his career, as he has already decided to retire.
After the race riot and near-miss for the Pennant in 1967, after 23 years without a Pennant (let alone a title), after 11 years without a World Championship in any sport (since the 1957 NFL Champion Lions), and after 16 years without a Pennant for their legendary star Al Kaline, Detroit needed this World Championship very badly. With Kaline, Lolich, Northrup and Willie Horton being the stars of the Tigers' comeback from 3-games-to-1 down, the '68 Tigers remain the most beloved team in the history of Michigan sports, ahead of any Lions, Pistons, Red Wings, Michigan Wolverine or Michigan State Spartan team.
Lolich, who would retire with 217 wins and as the all-time strikeout leader among lefthanders with 2,832, was criticized for being fat. He was the original "hefty lefty." He was 6 feet even, and is usually listed as having been 210 pounds. Seriously, that was considered fat for a pitcher in 1968. Paging David Wells. Paging CC Sabathia. And on the right side, paging Bartolo Colon. Paging Rich Garces.
The last at-bat was future broadcaster Tim McCarver, popping up halfway down the 1st base line. Catcher Bill Freehan caught it, and Lolich jumped into his arms. Freehan must have been a very strong man to be able to hold Lolich in his arms for 6 seconds.
Michigan sports fans have held the '68 Tigers in their hearts ever since. In spite of the achievements of the Tigers in 1984, the Pistons in 1989-90 and 2004, the Red Wings from 1997 to 2008, and various teams at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, the 1968 Tigers remain the most beloved team in Michigan sports history.
UPDATE: The Tigers do not have a team Hall of Fame. But they honor their players who have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the outfield wall at Comerica Park. From the 1968 World Champions, they honor right fielder Al Kaline and broadcaster Ernie Harwell. They also honor left fielder Willie Horton, who is not in the Hall of Fame, but whose uniform Number 23, like Kaline's 6, is retired.
They are in the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, along with shortstops Dick McAuliffe and Mickey Stanley, 1st baseman Norm Cash, catcher Bill Freehan, outfielder Gates Brown, center fielder Jim Northrup; pitchers Denny McLain, Mickey Lolich and John Hiller; executive Jim Campbell; and broadcasters George Kell and Ray Lane. Manager Mayo Smith, however, has not received any of these honors.
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October 10, 1968 was a Thursday. This was the only baseball game played that day. Football was in midweek. The NHL season started the next day, the NBA season 4 days after that, and the ABA season 3 days after the NBA. So there were no other scores on this historic day.
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