Today in 1969 - Baltimore Orioles vs Detroit Tigers

September 4, 1969 – Today in 1969, the Baltimore Orioles visited the Detroit Tigers in Tiger Stadium.

Detroit got started in the bottom of the 1^st inning with a leadoff homerun by Tom Tresh.  Later in the inning, Tommy Matchick hit a two RBI single and the score was 3-0. 

Baltimore responded in the top of the 3^rd.  Paul Blair hit a sacrifice fly and Mark Belanger scored.  The score was now 3-1.

In the bottom of the 8^th, Al Kaline added to Detroit’s lead by hitting a solo homerun.  The score was 4-1.

The Orioles came roaring back in the top of the 9^th.  Frank Robinson, Boog Powell, and Brooks Robinson hit consecutive solo homeruns.  The score was now 4-4. 

Tom Timmerman relieved Earl Wilson for the Tigers.  He didn’t fare much better.  Davey Johnson hit a double into left field.  Elrod Hendricks hit a fly ball into center field and Johnson advanced to third.  Belanger grounded out to second and Johnson scored.  Then Timmerman struck out Pete Richert and the inning was over.

In the bottom of the 9^th, Richert was on the mound.  Willie Horton popped out on a foul ball.  Jim Price hit a fly to left field and was out.  Bill Freehan was Detroit’s last chance to get a hit.  Freehan hit a ground ball to shortstop and was thrown out at first.  Game over.  The Baltimore Orioles scored four in the 9^th to beat the Detroit Tigers 5-4.

Pete Richert got the win and went to 7-3.  Tom Timmerman fell to 2-2.

The Baltimore Orioles improved to 93-44 and Detroit fell to 79-57.  The Orioles were 13.5 games ahead of the second place Tigers in the AL East.

Notables

• There were 4 people playing or managing in this game: players Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, and manager Earl Weaver for the Orioles, and Al Kaline for the Tigers.
• This was Earl Weaver’s second season managing the Orioles.  He would lead them to the AL Pennant at the end of the season and a World Series loss to the New York Mets.  He managed the team from 1968-82 and 1985-86.  Weaver led the team to a World Series win in 1970 over the Cincinnati Reds and two more AL Pennants in 1971 and 1979.
• This was Mayo Smith’s third season managing the Tigers.  He led the team from 1967-70 and to a World Series title in 1968.
• Frank Robinson went on to manage the Orioles from 1988-91.
• Davey Johnson also went on to manage the Orioles from 1996-97.  He’s best known for managing the New York Mets from 1984-90 and winning the 1986 World Series over the Boston Red Sox.

Game stats and other data can be found on Baseball-Reference.com at Baltimore Orioles vs Detroit Tigers - September 4, 1969.