1968

Tonight I'm going to Comerica Park to see the Tigers play the St. Louis Cardinals. It's part of the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Detroit's 1968 World Series title, which the Tigers won over the Redbirds.

I can't believe it's been fifty years. Fifty years since I rushed home from school in time to see Jim Northrup's triple put the Tigers ahead to stay in the seventh inning of game seven. Since Bill Freehan's joyful catch of Mickey Lolich after the catcher hauled in Tim McCarver's foul popup to end the series. Fifty years since me Pops brought home pizza for dinner on a Thursday to celebrate. Since me Mom sowed tiger patches on our clothes to wear to school the next day. I was the happiest eight year old boy on the face of the earth.

McLain wins 31 games on the hill that season. Kaline hits .379 in the series. Horton throws out Brock at home in game five, the play which changed the momentum of the series and led directly to the Detroit win. Lolich, the classic pitcher who couldn't hit, hit his only career homerun in game two and drove in a run later in game five. Oh, and he won three complete games, the last pitcher to do that in a World Series. And of course, manager Mayo Smith putting center fielder Mickey Stanley at short, to get more offense in the lineup. Gutsy, inventive, and successful.

It feels like yesterday. And for the little kid in me, it still feels good.