On Opening Day, Tiger rookie Barbaro Garbey becomes the first Cuban refugee to play in the majors when he grounds out in the seventh inning as a pinch-hitter for Dave Bergman. The 27 year-old utility player will stay in the game, playing first base in Detroit’s 8-1 rout of Minnesota in the Metrodome.

On Opening Day, Tiger rookie Barbaro Garbey becomes the first Cuban refugee to play in the majors when he grounds out in the seventh inning as a pinch-hitter for Dave Bergman. The 27 year-old utility player will stay in the game, playing first base in Detroit’s 8-1 rout of Minnesota in the Metrodome.

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On Opening Day, Tiger rookie Barbaro Garbey becomes the first Cuban refugee to play in the majors when he grounds out in the seventh inning as a pinch-hitter for Dave Bergman. The 27 year-old utility player will stay in the game, playing first base in Detroit’s 8-1 rout of Minnesota in the Metrodome.

Detroit Tigers acquire reliever Willie Hernandez and first baseman Dave Bergman from the Philadelphia Phillies

Detroit Tigers acquire reliever Willie Hernandez and first baseman Dave Bergman from the Philadelphia Phillies

ByThis Day in Baseball

On March 24, 1984 — 1984 – The Detroit Tigers acquire relief pitcher Willie Hernandez and first baseman Dave Bergman from the Philadelphia Phillies for catcher John Wockenfuss and outfielder Glenn Wilson. Hernandez will win the American League MVP and Cy Young awards after saving 32 games with an 1.92 ERA and 140.1 innings in 80 pitching appearances. His brilliant pitching during the postseason will help Detroit to the World Championship. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@

Don Sutton twirls a five-hit shutout to blank St. Louis, 3-0 the 53rd of his career

Don Sutton twirls a five-hit shutout to blank St. Louis, 3-0 the 53rd of his career

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1981 – Don Sutton twirls a five-hit shutout to blank St. Louis, 3-0. Art Howe adds a two-run homer. Off the field, Mike Ivie is hospitalized for mental exhaustion less than a month after he was traded to Houston for Jeff Leonard and Dave Bergman. Expected to be the cleanup hitter, Ivie bats .237 with no homers in 19 games. He will miss the rest of the season. 

Houston tastes their first post-season win, a 7-4 ten-inning victory in Philadelphia
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Houston tastes their first post-season win, a 7-4 ten-inning victory in Philadelphia

ByThis Day in Baseball

1980 – Houston tastes their first post-season win. It’s a 7-4 ten-inning victory in Philadelphia to even the N.L.C.S. at 1-1. Frank LaCorte pitches out of a jam to send the game into extras at 3-3. Jose Cruz and Cesar Cedeno drive in runs in the tenth before Dave Bergman lashes a two-run triple to put the game out of reach