Howell hammers Tigers - and a child’s pride
MY FIRST GAME - PART TWO OF TWO
By The Heckler
Now, The Heckler ain’t going to lie to ya – I had to look a lot of this information up, but it paints a nice picture of the time and place (including one unforgettable moment that allowed me to piece everything together). That’s another great thing about baseball – box scores. Each one holds its own story, just waiting to be retold. For those just coming in, The day is Tuesday, July 3, 1979. The Detroit Tigers are taking on the Toronto Blue Jays at Tiger Stadium. It is The Heckler’s first baseball game.
On each hill were two pitchers I can’t believe I forgot! I mean, geez, it’s not everyday a kid gets to see legends like Jack Billingham taking on Balor Moore. Ahem.
Some background: a distant relative of Christy Mathewson and former cog in Sparky Anderson’s Big Red Machine in Cincinnati, Billingham was brought to D-Town in a trade during the previous season for George Cappuzzello and another minor leaguer. Billingham had a decent year for the Tigers in ’78, going 15-8 in 30 starts. He also won 19 games twice for the Red legs (along with a win in each of the ’72 and ’76 World Series). For his career, he went 145-113, including 4-2 in the postseason with a sparkling 1.93 era. Of note, he was also on the hill to serve up Hank Aaron’s record-tying 714th home run. Not too shabby of a career all in all, – but hardly a pitcher I truly remembered.
As for Balor Moore? This guy is even more of a footnote to me. Having the distinction of being the Montreal Expos first pick in the 1969 draft, he was initially called a “left-handed Nolan Ryan” and averaged almost 10K’s a game in 1972 while going 9-9. He even pitched a perfect game in winter ball that year in San Juan. But the bottom would soon fall out for Moore – falling to 7-16 the next season before elbow surgery in 1975 robbed him of his fastball. He didn’t win another game until 1978 in Toronto (where he pitched his final three years). Not that that meant much that night in Tiger Stadium.
Can you see where this is heading? ‘Cause I sure didn’t, especially as a then-eight-year-old already with a head full of stats, players and teams (baseball cards and I were inseparable during summer months). I gladly cast my lot with my Bengals, who fielded a team that evening consisting of Ron LeFlore, a young Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell, Steve Kemp, Lance Parrish, Aurelio Rodriguez and – personal favorite – John B. Wockenfuss. The Jays, meanwhile, consisted of players like Alfredo Griffin, Al Woods, Rick Bosetti, Big John Mayberry, Rick Cerone, Danny Ainge (yes, that Danny Ainge) along with some guy named Howell, Roy – DH.
Oh, how I would come to remember that name.
The game was over before it ever really began. With the bases-loaded with Jays in the opening inning, Billingham served one up to the mighty Roy – who promptly hit a ball so far and so hard that my little mind could barely conceive another human capable of such a feat. It was indeed a mighty wallop – and a grand slam at that. If memory serves true, and so help me - this is what I recall - it ended up hitting the base of the light-tower in right field. The majority of my teammates squealed like little girls. Me? I stewed.
From there, it only got worse to be a Tigers fan as the night wore on.
Billingham was chased in the fourth as the Jays would pile on four more (after scoring another in the third) and Howell – yes, the mighty Roy Howell, he of the burly red-colored beard – would end the day with six rbi’s in total. A career day for this obscure third-baseman? Hardly. In September of 1977, Howell knocked in an amazing nine runs in one game against the World Champion New York Yankees on route to a 19-3 win inside Yankee Stadium. Surely, somewhere, Howell is probably still telling that story.
But for this kid from Windsor, I will always choose to tell another tale – I remember the light tower. How accurate that is? Who’s to say. You don’t get them kind of details in a box score, unfortunately.
Moore went on to pitch the complete game actually, surrendering but one unearned run along the way, scattering nine hits and striking out five. Also, Milt Wilcox – who would go on to be a key member in his own right for the Tigers as the years unfolded - pitched five innings in relief. A tidy two-hour, eighteen-minute game played before 20,885 fans. Ron Luciano was even one of the umps.
That was my first Tigers game. A forgettable blow-out for the majority of those in attendance. One historic evening for this life-long fan. Damn you Roy Lee Howell!
some fun links, first – the box score:
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=197907030DET
some Balor Moore info and pics:
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/balor_moore_autograph.jpg
http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/M/Moore_Balor.stm
http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mooreba02.shtml
some Jack Billingham info and pics:
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/jack_billingham_autograph.jpg
http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/B/Billingham_Jack.stm
http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/billija01.shtml
and of course, the immortal Roy Howell:
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/roy_howell_autograph.jpg
http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/howelro02.shtml
http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/howelro02.php
April 15th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
Always nice to hear about people’s first ballgame, although yours had a slightly less sunny outcome than mine. I often wonder at games how many people are at the park for the first time in their life.
I recently posted about my first ballgame, brought on by the opening of the new Bush Stadim. Link. It’s complete with ticket stubs and a photo of a kid decked out in red-bird home whites and a smile.
Enjoy your site, take care!
April 18th, 2006 at 8:39 pm
Thanks for the kind words - and thanks for linking up with my site! Always nice to meet another diehard fan. Your site is great - very cool.
I see in your bio that you are also a poker fan - I think you might like this site as well - allgamingnews.com
Don’t be a stranger! The Heckler bids you a permanent warm welcome!