Today in 1977 - Cleveland Indians vs California Angels

Today in 1977, the California Angels hosted the Cleveland Indians in Anaheim Stadium. Wayne Garland of the Indians would face off against Frank Tanana of the Angels.

  The game became a pitcher's duel with both pitchers allowing a combined total of six hits for the game, with Tanana pitching a no-hitter for half the game.

   In the second inning, Bobby Bonds hit a leadoff solo homerun, getting California on the board.

   Tanana's no-hitter ended in the fifth inning, when Buddy Bell hit a double. However, during that play, he tried to make it to third base and was thrown out.

   The score remained the same into the top of the ninth. Ron Pruitt hit a double into center field. Frank Duffy had a sacrifice bunt, sending Pruitt to third. Larvell Blanks pinch hit for Duane Kuiper, but struck out looking. Tanana walked Paul Dade and now with runners at the corners, Andre Norton pinch hit for Jim Norris. Thornton hit a fly ball to right field. Bonds caught the ball, ending the game. The California Angels beat the Cleveland Indians 1-0.

   Tanana got the win, going to 10-2. Garland was charged with the loss and fell to 2-6. Tanana struck out seven batters, while Garland struck out two. California improved to 27-26, 3rd in the AL West, 4.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins. Cleveland went to 23-27, 5th in the AL East, 6.5 games behind the New York Yankees. Cleveland ended the season at 71-90, 5th in the AL East. California ended the season at 74-88, 5th in the AL West.


Trivia

• There was 1 Hall of Famer playing in or managing this game: Manager Frank Robinson for the Indians.
  
• The was Robinson's third season managing the Indians. He was a player/manager in his first two seasons with the team, but only a manager this season. He would be replaced after 57 games by Jeff Torborg.
  
• Robinson also managed the San Francisco Giants (1981-84), Baltimore Orioles (1988-91), and Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals (2002-06). He never achieved higher than second place as a manager.
  
• This was Norm Sherry's second season managing the Angels. He would be replaced by Dave Garcia after 81 games. Ironically, Garcia would be replaced after 46 games in his second season by Jim Fregosi. This was the only time Sherry managed a major league team.
  
• Buddy Bell went on to manage the Detroit Tigers (1996-98), Colorado Rockies (2000-02), and Kansas City Royals (2005-07).
  
• Robinson and Sherry faced each other as players from 1959-63. Robinson played for the Cincinnati Reds during that time and Sherry played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1959-62) and New York Mets (1963).
  
• Robinson was best known for playing for the Baltimore Orioles from 1966-71. He was the AL MVP in 1966 and played in four World Series during his time there. Baltimore won two (1966 and 1970) and lost two (1969 and 1971).

Game stats can be found at Baseball-Reference.com on the box score page at Cleveland Indians vs California Angels - June 10, 1977.

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.