On September 18, 1984, Sparky Anderson’s Detroit Tigers sealed their dominance over the American League East with a 3-0 shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers. Rookie pitcher Randy O’Neal made his first major league start and delivered a gem, with seven innings of four-hit ball, striking out future Hall of Famer Robin Yount to kick things off. Tom Brookens drove in the runs, and Willie Hernández, who would go on to win both the Cy Young and MVP that year, closed it out in front of a roaring crowd of 48,810 at Tiger Stadium.
This win didn’t just clinch the division. It etched the Tigers into the annals of baseball history as only the fourth team ever to lead their division from Opening Day to the final out. The elite company?
– ⚾️ 1923 New York Giants
– ⚾️ 1927 New York Yankees
– ⚾️ 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers
– 🐯 1984 Detroit Tigers
The Tigers didn’t just win, they dominated. The Tigers finished the season 104–58 and went on to win the World Series, capping off one of the most iconic seasons in MLB history.