The 1984 World Series began on October 9 and ended on October 14, 1984. The American League champion Detroit Tigers played against the National League champion San Diego Padres….with the Tigers winning the series four games to one. This was the city of Detroit’s first sports championship since the Tigers themselves won the 1968 World Series.
The Tigers struck first in Game 1 when Lou Whitaker doubled to lead off the top of the first….and scored on Alan Trammell’s single….but Tigers starter Jack Morris…who was a 19-game winner during the season….struggled in the bottom half of the 1st….as he surrendered two-out singles to Steve Garvey and Graig Nettles….which were followed by a two-run double by Terry Kennedy. Padre starter Mark Thurmond took a 2–1 lead into the fifth….but then surrendered a crucial two-out, two-run homer to Larry Herndon. However, Nettles and Kennedy both singled to open the San Diego sixth, but Morris snuffed out their momentum by striking out the rest of the side. Padres Kurt Bevacqua started what looked to be a comeback with a lead-off double in the seventh….but was thrown out at third while attempting to stretch the hit into a triple. Despite the close call, Morris remained focused and set down the last nine remaining Padre batters for a complete game, 3–2 victory.
