Twenty-two years ago today the 1984 Detroit Tigers - our beloved Bless You Boys - won game 5 vs. the Padres and became World Series Champions. It seemed the inevitable outcome of a dream season where the team jumped out to a 35-5 start and led the division wire-to-wire. The names still bring a smile to my face: Trammell, Whittaker, Evans, Parrish, Gibson, Brookens, Lemon, Bergman, Petry, Morris, Wilcox, Hernandez, and of course, Sparky Anderson.
Today, the 2006 Detroit Tigers won the American League pennant in a most dramatic fashion (and isn't that the best way?)... a come-from-behind victory capped by a walk-off 3 run homerun with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, completing a 4-game sweep of the Oakland A's. It couldn't have been scripted any better. And now the smiles come from Polanco, Guillen, Inge, Casey, Rodriguez, Robertson, Rogers, Verlander, Bonderman, Ordonez, Granderson, Monroe, and, of course, Jim Leyland.
In 1984 I took for granted that this is how baseball would always be... that the Tigers would be in the thick of the pennant race year after year, and the World Series would be a frequent event. It almost happened again in '87, but didn't. And then came the years and years of wandering in the wilderness.
Now, I know better. And so although I believe this team is just getting started, that they have years of good baseball ahead of them, I certainly won't take what they've accomplished this year for granted. I'm savoring every moment, storing some memories, filling up my reservoir of baseball optimism and joy to carry me through those seasons to come that won't live up to all we hope.
So congratulations to the Detroit Tigers, 2006 American League Champions. You done great. Now rest well, and we'll see you next week in the Series.
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2 comments:
My belated condolences on your loss...
Ah, thank you - it's much appreciated.
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