ALCS - Detroit (4) vs Oakland (3)
This was a classic series between two of the most tenured managers in KOD. I for one would like to thank Tom Davis, manager of Detroit, for being one of my greatest rivals. This was a series that had some classic games, went the distance, and had an ESPN instant classic game 5, where both of us thought we were dead and buried numerous times. When you play against a skilled opponent who knows you as well as you know him these games tend to take on a life of their own and become mini epics.
10/16/1981 - GAME 1 - Oakland Coliseum
Morris vs McCatty
Tigers 2, A's 1
The series opener treated us to a classic pitcher's duel, which was won by the greatest money pitcher of his generation, Jack Morris. For Mr. Morris not to be in the HOF is a travesty. He was the winningest pitcher during the decade of the 1980's and his brilliance in this game is quite evident. After both teams exchanged runs in the 1st, Jack clamped down on the A's and shut them out the rest of the way. Lou Whitaker led off the game with a homer. Dwayne Murphy's RBI triple scored Rickey Henderson to tie it. Steve Kemp's RBI double off of Steve McCatty in the top of the 5th provided Morris with the 1 run margin that he would need. McCatty, to his credit, had his best outing of the year, but he could not out duel the legendary Morris.
Tigers lead series 1-0
10/17 - GAME 2
Wilcox vs Langford
A's 2, Tigers 0
Rickey Henderson stole a run for the A's in the home half of the first. His base running antics rattled Milt Wilcox, who served up an RBI single to Dwayne Murphy and a sac fly to Tony Armas to give Oakland a 2-0 lead after 1 inning of play. If you like offense you could have turned your TV set off at this point. Both pitchers settled into a groove that saw neither team score again. Detroit would manage just 6 hits off of Oakland starter Rick Langford, who was simply brilliant in going the distance while fanning 7 and walking just 1. Langford's clutch 6 hit shutout kept the A's from falling to 0-2 in the series.
Series tied 1-1
10/19 - GAME 3 - Tiger Stadium
Norris vs Petry
Tigers 6, A's 5
The series shifted to the corners of Michigan and Trumbull in good old Corktown. Dan Petry got in trouble early and by the end of the second inning the Tigers were down 4-1. Mike Norris, who entered the game with a 9-1 record looked like he was going to be unbeatable. A solo homer by Lance Parrish in the bottom of the 4th cut Oakland's lead in half. A sac fly by Kirk Gibson and a 2 run shot by Steve Kemp in the bottom of the 5th gave the Tigers a 5-4 lead. Oakland tied it back up in the 7th with an RBI single by Tony Armas. Norris was still on the mound battling in the 8th when he gave up a lead off double to Parrish. After Rich Hebner struck out swinging Tom Underwood was brought in to face lefty Champ Summers. Manager Davis quickly went to his bench and brought in righty Mick Kelleher, who rewarded his skipper with an RBI single to put Motown up 6-5. Closer Kevin Saucier came on in the bottom of the 9th to set the A's down in order to save the game.
Tigers lead series 2-1
10/20 - GAME 4
Keough vs Schatzeder
A's 7, Tigers 4
In a battle of shaky 4th starters the A's managed to slip by the Tigers and push the ALCS to the brink of finality. Each team's respective offenses victimized both starters. Oakland kept handing Keough a nice lead, but the enigmatic righty kept opening the door to let the Tigers back in. Oakland's manager finally lost his patience and put the ball in the hands of middle reliever extraordinaire Jeff Jones, who went 3 scoreless innings before handing the ball off to Bob Owchinko for the final out. Jones' unsung performance was the difference maker, because up until that point the Keough had no answer for Detroit's offense. Oakland hit 3 homers off of Tiger starter Dan Schatzeder. Mike Heath and Rob Picciolo hit solo shots in the 2nd and super sub Mickey Klutts hit a 2 run shot in the 5th that chased "Schatzy" from the bump.
Series tied 2-2
This was a classic series between two of the most tenured managers in KOD. I for one would like to thank Tom Davis, manager of Detroit, for being one of my greatest rivals. This was a series that had some classic games, went the distance, and had an ESPN instant classic game 5, where both of us thought we were dead and buried numerous times. When you play against a skilled opponent who knows you as well as you know him these games tend to take on a life of their own and become mini epics.
10/16/1981 - GAME 1 - Oakland Coliseum
Morris vs McCatty
Tigers 2, A's 1
Tigers lead series 1-0
Wilcox vs Langford
A's 2, Tigers 0
Rickey Henderson stole a run for the A's in the home half of the first. His base running antics rattled Milt Wilcox, who served up an RBI single to Dwayne Murphy and a sac fly to Tony Armas to give Oakland a 2-0 lead after 1 inning of play. If you like offense you could have turned your TV set off at this point. Both pitchers settled into a groove that saw neither team score again. Detroit would manage just 6 hits off of Oakland starter Rick Langford, who was simply brilliant in going the distance while fanning 7 and walking just 1. Langford's clutch 6 hit shutout kept the A's from falling to 0-2 in the series.
Series tied 1-1
10/19 - GAME 3 - Tiger Stadium
Norris vs Petry
Tigers 6, A's 5
Tigers lead series 2-1
10/20 - GAME 4
Keough vs Schatzeder
A's 7, Tigers 4
In a battle of shaky 4th starters the A's managed to slip by the Tigers and push the ALCS to the brink of finality. Each team's respective offenses victimized both starters. Oakland kept handing Keough a nice lead, but the enigmatic righty kept opening the door to let the Tigers back in. Oakland's manager finally lost his patience and put the ball in the hands of middle reliever extraordinaire Jeff Jones, who went 3 scoreless innings before handing the ball off to Bob Owchinko for the final out. Jones' unsung performance was the difference maker, because up until that point the Keough had no answer for Detroit's offense. Oakland hit 3 homers off of Tiger starter Dan Schatzeder. Mike Heath and Rob Picciolo hit solo shots in the 2nd and super sub Mickey Klutts hit a 2 run shot in the 5th that chased "Schatzy" from the bump.Series tied 2-2
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