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On August 17, 1969 — The Tigers tie a club record with six homers, and Denny McLain wins his 19th, beating the A’s at Oakland, 9 – 4. Al Kaline homers in the 7th and 9th off relievers, but the first three Bengal homers come off starter Catfish Hunter.
The real story of the game was Mclain vs Oakland owner Charlie Finely
McLain of the Detroit Tigers celebrated his 19th victory of the season by launching a verbal blast at owner Charles Finley of the Oakland Athletics. An hour after Sunday’s 9-4 win, McLain was still angry over what he termed “bush” antics by Finley, who ordered Oakland Coliseum organist Lloyd Fox to play loud music while McLain was pitching in the first inning. “I expected elephants to come marching in from the center field with Charlie – the man not the mule- leading the way,” McLain said, “I don’t know if Finley wants to own a baseball team or a three-ring circus.” Finley had promised he would use organ music to upset Mclain and he lived up to the boast. It bothered McLain to the extent that he gave up the two-run homer to Oakland’s Reggie Jackson in the first inning, his 43rd of the year. “That’s the kind of stuff that is bush,” McLain said.” You don’t hear people talking when musicians are playing and I don’t expect musicians to play when I’m pitching. McLain, incidentally, is a nightclub organist during the off-season. He complained to plate umpire Bill Stewart about the organ music and Stewart called Oakland Manager Hank Bauer out of the dugout for a talk. After that the music stopped. “I don’t think Bauer liked it either,” McLain said “He has. some good ballplayers. If Finley wants to do that bush stuff, he should buy one of those Global League teams.” Jackson was the only other player who commented on the music. “It bothered me the first time I was up,” he said, I couldn’t concentrate.” Jackson tried to get the organist to stop playing by waving his bat at him. Sunday’s defeat dropped the A’s two games behind the Minnesota Twins in the American League West race. Oakland pitcher Jim Hunter was the victim of three of the six homers Detroit hit in the game. Hunter, 9-11, has given up 29 homers this season. Don Wert and Jim Northrup each hit two-run homers, and Tom Tresh hit a solo shot. Later in the game Al Kaline hit a pair of homers and Mickey Stanley hit one.
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