The 1987 MLB Season was a special season. The Milwaukee Brewers jumped out to a 13-0 record to make MLB history, The Detroit Tigers 5 games down caught the Toronto Blue Jays with 9 days remaining in the season. The San Francisco Giants gave their fans the most excitement they had in 25 years, and Mark McGwire shattered the MLB rookie season home run mark with 49 HR's in what is considered a juiced ball season for the Majors. Andre Dawson and George Bell also had nearly 50 HR's.
For me, it was the first real season that I actually followed closely. The 1986 Postseason pulled me in, while it was the 1987 season that I was officially all-in. The 1987 Topps Baseball Cards were also the first set that I bought packs of cards on a regular basis. Seeing Lance Parrish's 87' Topps card was odd, knowing that he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was probably the first Tigers star that reminded me of the cruelty of free agency, the first Tigers star that made me realize that our heroes can go to other teams. Of course, rookie Matt Nokes would help us forget the loss of Parrish, as Nokes had an excellent rookie year which helped the Tigers win the division.
I was 10 years old when the season started, and when I was turning 11 on October 28th, I feel it should have been my Tigers winning the whole thing, than the (I hate to say it) fluky Minnesota Twins. The Twins had a Pythagorean record of 79-83, and came from a division in which no team truly had a real championship identity. Meanwhile, the A.L. East had four teams with 89+ wins. Most of the American League's best hitters also came out of the East with Alan Trammell, George Bell, Wade Boggs, Paul Molitor & Don Mattingly having huge years.
Our teacher rolled the TV into the classroom for us to watch Game #162 between the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers at Tigers Stadium. Frank Tanana was fantastic, while it was Larry Herndon's solo HR, the game's only run that helped us break the hearts of Blue Jays fans. The previous two games were also 1-run victories over the Jays... Talk about close!
Doyle Alexander was 9-0 with a 1.53 ERA for us, after we acquired him from Atlanta. Those final weeks of the season, the excitement around Alexander was the most excitement Tiger fans had around a pitcher since Denny McLain and Mark Fidrych. He was like a God in Motown down that stretch.
We also took advantage of signing Bill Madlock, who was considered washed up by the Los Angeles Dodgers and released. The former 4-time N.L. Batting Champion Madlock was only batting .180 through 21 games for L.A. when they released him. Tigers signed him on June 4th, and he would go on to bat .279 with 14 HR & 50 RBI through 87 games. I was really bummed that he retired after the season.
So this was one of the reasons I bought the 1987 digital data file from APBA, and why this is one of the seasons that I am playing in the BBW (APBA Baseball for Windows) format.
So here is what happened on opening day in the 1987 APBA Replay...
The day experienced 3 walk-off wins (all in extras), starting with the Boston Red Sox at the Milwaukee Brewers...
The Brewers' pinch-hitter Bill Schroeder hit a walk-off single, while Paul Molitor collected 4 hits (2 doubles), Glenn Braggs batted 2-4 with 2 RBI & Mike Felder batted 2-4 with an RBI triple. The Red Sox' Dave Henderson batted 2-for-2 with a solo HR (2 runs), while Boston backstop Marc Sullivan, who came into the game with a lifetime .200 batting average, had a two-run single that momentarily gave Boston a 3-1 lead. Milwaukee wins 4-3 in the 10th on Schroeder's hit.
By the way, we are doing actual transactions for this, so Henderson, Don Baylor & Bill Buckner are still with the Red Sox at the moment.
The Houston Astros win with a walk-off hit by Billy Hatcher at the Astrodome over the Dodgers. Billy (like Molitor in Milwaukee) also had 4 hits, which included a double, RBI & 2 runs. Rookie Gerald Young had a fantastic debut, batting 2-for-5 with 2 stolen bases. It helped that the Astros had Nolan Ryan on the mound, who got the no-decision, pitching 9 solid innings, allowing no earned runs on 4 hits, to go along with his 7 strikeouts and 2 walks. The Dodgers' Franklin Stubbs momentarily tied the game with a two-run homer early on in the game, while Dodgers starter Orel Hershiser allowed 2 earned runs with 4 K's through 9 innings. Reliever Alejandro Pena was credited with the loss, allowing 2 hits & the winning run in no innings.
The last walk-off came in San Francisco, as the San Francisco Giants won 5-4 through 11 innings over the San Diego Padres. Giants' catcher Bob Brenly gave the Giants a 3-1 lead with a three-run HR during the 3rd inning. The Padres' catcher Benito Santiago matched Brenly with a three-run blast of his own, to tie the game, 4-4 during the 6th inning. The game went to extras and veteran 3B Chris Speier (who came in for Chris Brown a few innings back) would deliver the game-winning hit off Padres' Greg Booker.
Other Games...
Charlie Hough pitches a complete game against the Baltimore Orioles, allowing only 5 hits and no earned runs (1 run) as the Texas Rangers win easily, 7-1. The Rangers' Scott Fletcher batted 3-for-5 with 2 RBI & the Rangers' Jerry Browne batted 2-for-4 with 2 doubles, an RBI, while swiping a base. Mike Boddicker (0-1, 5.40 ERA) gets the loss.
Don Mattingly's three-run home run off the Tigers' Jack Morris (0-1, 3.86) would be the difference as the New York Yankees come into Tiger Stadium with a 3-1 win. The Yankees Dennis Rasmussen (1-0, 1.23 ERA) earns the win, while the Tigers' Alan Trammell batted 2-for-4 with an RBI in a losing effort.
The Kansas City Royals had to earn their win in a difficult way, as the Royals' starting pitcher Bret Saberhagen hurt himself on the first pitch. Kansas City 'benched' their rotation prior to the game, and had to call on Steve Farr to basically start the game. Farr would go on to pitch an excellent game, pitching 6 innings, allowing 5 hits, and only 2 runs & a walk -- while striking out 7 Chicago White Sox hitters. The Royals' George Brett hit a two-run homer in the 3rd. The White Sox eventually tied the game, but it was the Royals' Frank White (2-for-4) who would hit the go-ahead, winning single during the 8th. The White Sox' Carlton Fisk batted 2-for-3 with a double & RBI in the loss.
The Toronto Blue Jays were too much for the Cleveland Indians, winning big, 12-3. The Blue Jays' trio of outfield stars, Lloyd Moseby, Jesse Barfield & George Bell all played major factors. Moseby was the game's biggest star, batting 3-for-5 with a HR, 3 ribbies, 2 runs & a stolen base. Barfield also hit a home run, while batting 3-for-4 with 4 RBI (which included a sac fly) & 2 runs. Bell drew a walk, while hitting a two-run homer in the 1st inning. Jimmy Key (1-0, 3.38) earned the win, allowing only 1 run through his first 8 innings. The Indians' Cory Snyder collected 3 hits, which included a double, while it wasn't a good day for Tom Candiotti (0-1, 13.50 ERA).
Last, but not least... The Montreal Expos, despite 3 errors in the field, win 7-2 over the Cincinnati Reds, on a solid complete by Pascual Perez. Perez allowed 6 hits, 2 runs (none earned) & 3 walks, while striking out 6 batters. The Expos' Mitch Webster batted 3-for-5 with 2 RBI, while Montreal's 9th hitter in the lineup Reid Nichols batted 2-4 with a two-run HR (2 runs). The Reds' Buddy Bell batted 2-for-4 with a RBI & run scored, while Reds starter Bill Gullickson (0-1, 10.80) earned the loss.
That concludes opening day for the 1987.
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