It's deja vu all over again. Back to 1972. The Detroit Tigers against the Oakland A's. Back then, however, the A's would win and go on to three World Series Championships. The Tigers wouldn't make it back to the Series until 1984, the "Bless You Boys" year of Sparky Anderson and that amazing 35-5 start to the season. Now here we are again. Detroit has just taken game 1 of the ALCS 5-1 and turned a record-setting five double plays in the game. And this was with their number 4 starting pitcher, Nate Robertson.
That is now four games in a row in the playoffs. Those of us who long for another championship watch actively. Hanging on every pitch. Holding our breath during the tense moments and wanting to be there to congratulate the players, like Brandon Inge, who had more hits tonight than in the entire Yankees's series.
This was never meant to be a sports blog, but at this time of the year and the Tigers still playing in October, I am fantasizing about another World Series title. I see the Tigers beating the Cardinals in 7 games like 1968. I imagine the Tigers beating the Mets, whom they've never played in the post season. I wear my Tigers jersey and remember my week at fantasy baseball camp with players from the '68 team. I close my eyes and relive my one at bat against Mickey Lolich and the hit down the first base line that drove in a run.
Most of us will never know what it is like to face a 100 MPH fastball or what it is like to hit a home run or make the winning play in a major league game. Very few in life ever do. We live vicariously through the exploits of our favorite teams. And as a lifelong Tigers fan, this year the exploits have been much more enjoyable.
Game one down. Three more wins to go before the Series. Let's go, Tigers!
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