25th Anniversary of Magical 1984 Tigers Season On Deck

Today it almost seems like a distant dream.  I was 13 years old in 1984 and manning a souvenir stand on the corner of Cochrane & Kaline Drive.  My team was inside the ballpark performing magic acts every night and the entire city, region and state stood captivated by the entire script.

I was just a kid, but I realized at the time how unique the 1984 season was as it played itself out.  A no-hitter the first week of the season; a 35-5 start; record crowds at The Corner; a wire-to-wire first place year. 

1984 even had its perfect nemesis: the pesky Toronto Blue Jays.  Because they made it close throughout much of the season, it made it even sweeter when the Tigers pounded them repeatedly and they finished in second place — 15 games behind the best team in baseball.

2009 will mark the 25th anniversary of one of the most memorable seasons in baseball history.  1984 was far from Orwellian.  It was a boyhood dream come true.

This Bless You Boys video produced in the midst of the magic by WDIV-TV, Channel 4 captures the spirit and energy of the season from the fans’ perspective.  My brother Dave and I can be seen in the clip selling our wares on the street corner if only for a brief moment.

Enjoy.