Stan Bahnsen

Career Overview

New York Yankees vs Detroit Tigers - Clincher - Radio Broadcast / On Tuesday, September 17, 1968, the Detroit Tigers hosted the New York Yankees at Tiger Stadium. Stan Bahnsen took the mound for the Yankees, while Joe Sparma was the starting pitcher for the Tigers. At this point in the season, the Tigers were on the brink of clinching the pennant, leading the American League, while the Yankees were struggling, sitting in the middle of the pack. Mickey Mantle, a perennial star for the Yankees, was nearing the end of his illustrious career, and the 1968 season was notable for the "Year of the Pitcher," with pitchers dominating hitters to an extent not seen in decades. The game began as a pitchers' duel, with both Bahnsen and Sparma throwing scoreless innings through the first four frames. The Yankees had a chance to break the deadlock in the first inning when Horace Clarke and Mantle hit consecutive singles, but Roy White grounded into a double play to end the threat. The Tigers also had a scoring opportunity in the second inning when Norm Cash singled, but they were unable to capitalize. The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning when the Tigers were finally able to break through. In the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers' Bill Freehan led off with a single, and Tom Matchick followed with a strikeout. Don Wert then singled, advancing Freehan to second. Sparma helped his own cause by singling to drive in Freehan, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead. The Yankees managed to tie the game in the top of the ninth when Gene Michael was replaced by pinch-hitter Charley Smith, who singled. Pinch-runner Jerry Kenney scored on a single by Jake Gibbs. However, the Tigers responded in the bottom of the ninth. Al Kaline, pinch-hitting for Norm Cash, drew a walk. Freehan sacrificed him to second, and after an intentional walk to Gates Brown, Wert singled to drive in Kaline, giving the Tigers a 2-1 walk-off victory. The victory helped the Tigers clinch the pennant in the American League, and they would go on to win the World Series in 1968. The Yankees, meanwhile, finished in fifth place in the American League. The 1968 season is remembered as the "Year of the Pitcher," and this game was a perfect example of that, with the two teams combining for just three runs. Despite the loss, Stan Bahnsen had a strong performance, further contributing to the year's pitching dominance. He would go on to win the American League Rookie of the Year award.