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Welcome to The Detroit Tigers Podcast. This is Episode #97, a four-minute podcast about the Detroit Tigers recorded live from Scottsdale, Ariz.

This marks the final episode of the Detroit Tigers Podcast. I’m shifting my focus back to The Daily Fungo where you may find occasional podcasts, interviews and such, but for the most part, it’s the end of an era here.

Thanks to everyone who has downloaded and listened to an episode, referred a listener, commented on an episode, or otherwise participated in this podcast over the past three-and-a-half seasons. I could not have done it without you.

As always, Go Tigers.

Download the audio file here.

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Final comments? Leave a message on the listener line: (602) 903-5174 or send a note here.

Theme music for the podcast produced by Paul Minshall.

1. Why can’t this Tigers team sustain any momentum? Miguel Cabrera seemingly got the Tigers on the path to victory tonight during the ninth with his opposite-field shot. Instead, the Tigers hacked away at Kerry Wood’s offerings — despite Placido Polanco leading off the inning with a four-pitch walk. Infuriating.

2. Here’s a nugget from Baseball-Reference.com: On this date in 1917, Boston’s Babe Ruth tops the Tigers 1-0 in Detroit, allowing just Donie Bush’s scratch single in the 8th. Ruth deflects the ball but the throw by the shortstop is too late. Ruth has a single and triple, but a pinch triple by Chick Shorten in the 9th drives home the only run. Ruth strikes out Bobby Veach, Sam Crawford and Ty Cobb in the 9th; for the last he shakes off catcher and player/manager Carrigan. In early 1942, in a speech in Los Angeles, Ruth will call this game his greatest thrill.

3. Remember how the loss of alleged catching prospect James Skelton in the Rule 5 draft seemed like a catastrophe waiting to happen? Funny how things turn out:
   

   James Skelton, who hit just .182 in Mobile, was demoted to Visalia this week. He went 3 for 12 with two doubles and three walks in his first three games. He had just 10 extra-base hits in 214 at-bats with Mobile.

One bonus item of sorts: here’s a Q&A with former Tigers first baseman Tony Clark.

My brother and I attended the 1984 ALCS Game 3 Clincher versus the Royals at Tiger Stadium (seated in straightaway centerfield in the lower-deck bleachers) but this was before we had a VCR (remember those?) and I never got to see it replayed.

Twenty-five years later, it’s iTunes to the rescue.

I stumbled on the game as a download from the iTunes Store for a mere $1.99. (!)

You’ll find a boatload of games available for that price in the “Baseball’s Best” section. If you’re going to buy the ‘84 game, scroll to Item #87. For whatever reason, the games are not in chronological order.

Do yourself a favor and buy it if only to enjoy Al Michaels‘ afro and the beauty of Howard Cosell interviewing Willie Wilson about his drug-related suspension that included early parts of the ‘84 season.

One technical note: You don’t need an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPod with video to view the game; you can watch the game on your computer in iTunes.

Yeah, so Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney ruined our night tonight. We’re used to that. Take heart. The Tigers still cling to first place.

Doesn’t do much for you? Me either.

So instead of cursing the Tigers bullpen, let’s travel back 30 years to July 12, 1979 and revisit Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park, courtesy of Joe LaPointe’s article in yesterday’s New York Times.

Unlike the commonplace pyrotechnics of Zumaya/Rodney, this doubleheader included the on-field destruction of disco albums between games. Then things got, well, unruly. As Alan Trammell sums it up:

“The outfielders were definitely a little scared and Ronnie (LeFlore) wasn’t usually afraid of anything.”

The thing I remember most about that game was watching Sox owner Bill Veeck limp out on the field with his wooden leg — I had no idea he lost an appendage — to beg the rock-and-rollers to get off the field (and keep their rainchecks!). And I can still hear George Kell trying to describe the action without falling into a “kids-these-days” rant. (Or did he? Does anyone else remember?)

Even Dave Dombrowski, then a 22-year-old gopher for White Sox GM Roland Hemond, had a role in keeping the peace.

Oh, as for the games, the Tigers swept the double-dip 4-1 in the opener and then won the nightcap in a 9-0 forfeit. The victories brought the Tigers within 14 games of the division lead.

What are your memories of Disco Demolition Night?

Here are a couple of fond memories from the Tigers’ recent play on Independence Day, courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com:

• 2000 – In the Tigers’ 11 – 0 win over Tampa Bay, Shane Halter takes over the catching duties in the eighth from Brad Ausmus. Halter has now played every position in the majors: with the Royals, he pitched on July 17, 1998. Dave Mlicki is the winner with Dean Palmer powering a pair of home runs.

• 2001 – The 50 people stranded on the Ferris wheel ride at Comerica Park for two hours during the Royal-Tiger game are rescued by firefighters and emergency crews using a cherry picker and a fire truck ladder. The fans received tickets to another game, free dinner and team autographs from the Tigers.

Hope yours was a safe and festive Fourth.

Happy Birthday to Frank Tanana who turns 56 today. Last year I wrote a two-part series on his 1987 stretch-run starts against Toronto. Here’s Part 1. And Part 2.