The 1989 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 89th season and the 78th season at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers finished 59–103 and in last place in the American League East. It was the team's first losing season since 1977, the worst record in the Major Leagues, as well as (at the time) the franchise's second-worst season ever in terms of both losses (103) and win percentage (.364). It was also (at the time) the franchise's worst full 162-game season (those marks would be surpassed in 1996, 2003, and 2019).
Offseason Roster Moves at a glance October 28, 1988: Walt Terrell was traded by the Tigers to the San Diego Padres for Chris Brown and Keith Moreland. November 4, 1988: Darrell Evans was granted free agency. Larry Herndon was released by the Detroit Tigers. November 16, 1988: Ray Knight was released by the Tigers. November 30, 1988: Randy Bockus was signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers. January 13, 1989: Doyle Alexander was signed as a free agent by the Tigers. February 22, 1989: Mark Huismann was released by the Tigers. March 23, 1989: Tom Brookens was traded by the Tigers to the New York Yankees for Charles Hudson. March 23, 1989: Eric King was traded by the Tigers to the Chicago White Sox for Kenny Williams.
Offseason News
January 17: While on the team's annual midseason bus tour throughout the state of Michigan, Sparky Anderson compares new acquisition Chris Brown to former Cincinnati Reds star Joe Morgan: "I once had a player named Joe Morgan who had the same kind of stories following him. Seven years later, I asked Joe if he tricked me. He said 'No, you tricked me Sparky. You lockered me next to Pete Rose.'" Sparky was referring to the concerns over Brown's previous injuries and playing time and the speculation that he would locker next to Tigers' star Alan Trammell.
February 17: Even though many preseason publications pick the Tigers for the second division, Sparky Anderson remains optimistic. "We'll be in there again," said Anderson, referring to the Tigers' 1987 AL East title and second-place showing in 1988 despite similar predictions from the media. "They better play good baseball because we're going to."
February 21: Manager Sparky Anderson tells the media that his roster is "set" for the 1989 season. When asked if he will bring a little-known player to the major league roster for Opening Day, Anderson says "I can't see doing that this year."
February 24: As the Tigers prepare for their first Spring Training game, shortstop Alan Trammell is asked about the team's chances in 1989. The consensus is that the Tigers will not contend for a pennant: "We like it that way. Nobody's looking over our shoulder all the time and aiming for us and we know deep down inside that we can win it all." Trammell elaborated to say that in his view, six teams had a legitimate shot to win the American League East.
Spring Training
March 1: Manager Sparky Anderson confirms his intention to bat veteran second baseman Lou Whitaker third in the batting lineup for the upcoming season.
Newly acquired third baseman Chris Brown reports to camp 30 pounds over his playing weight. Speculation begins that he will not be able to take it off by Opening Day.
March 3: The Tigers win their first spring training game a 6–4 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Matt Nokes and Torey Lovullo both homer, in support of victor Eric King, who pitched three innings of relief. Jack Morris started and allowed one-hit over three innings and Guillermo Hernandez earned the save.
March 4: Shortstop Alan Trammell signs the richest contract in team history, a three-year, $6.4 million deal. Trammell negotiated the deal with General Manager Bill Lajoie without the help of an agent.
March 12: The first telecast of the 1989 season came when the Tigers played the Texas Rangers at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. George Kell and Al Kaline were the announcers. WDIV had changed their opening graphics and music with this airing and discontinued referring to the year in their opening graphics. Instead of following the previous pattern calling the broadcast "Tigers '89", they were now designated as "Tiger Baseball Network".
March 15: Despite losing to the Texas Rangers and Nolan Ryan 4–1, a confident manager Sparky Anderson tells the media, "If we stay healthy, we can win it. We're going to be good. We'll be in the thick of things. They're picking us for fifth again. That'll be enough to let me look smart."
March 16: Owner Tom Monaghan announces his support for a new open-air stadium that would remain in Detroit. A consulting firm based in Kansas City, Missouri, provided several options, also including renovations of Tiger Stadium and a new retractable dome option.
March 21: Centerfielder Gary Pettis jammed his thumb trying to steal second during the Tigers' 6–3 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Pettis, who was also slated to start the season as the Tigers' leadoff hitter, would go on to miss the first month and a half with the injury.
March 23: The Tigers make three separate trades with the stated goal to address an aging roster. Long-time fan favorite Tom Brookens is traded to the New York Yankees for pitcher Charles Hudson. Brookens, 35, and his teammates were surprised by the trade and was quoted as saying the he "spent more time in limbo than some dancers." Teammate Jack Morris was incensed, telling the media "they (Tiger management) talk about loyalty. They crapped on Tommy for nine years, then they trade him." Alan Trammell was more philosophical saying, "I thought in the back of my mind he'd be a Tiger all his life. That's gone now."
The other trades saw pitcher Eric King traded to the Chicago White Sox for outfielder Kenny Williams and utility player Luis Salazar traded to the San Diego Padres for infielder Mike Brumley. King, 24, apparently, was in Tiger manager Sparky Anderson's doghouse for a subpar 1988 season, despite pitching very well during spring training (3–0, 1.96 ERA). King was quoted as saying "Obviously, I made someone mad in this organization and I couldn't change it."
Anderson claimed at the time that Williams, 25 was "key" despite hitting .147 during spring training at the time of the trade. Salazar, 33, had a strong first half of the 1988 season with Detroit, and played seven different positions, but Brumley, 25, was considered a younger switch-hitting version.
General Manager Bill Lajoie said the trade "gives us some added speed and also adds youth to the roster. We'll now start the season with a balanced club. Williams and Brumley are every scout's dream. They're young players with tools."
March 27: In a surprise announcement, Torey Lovullo is named the Opening Day first baseman by manager Sparky Anderson. Lovullo, a 24-year old switch hitting rookie, wins the job due his versatility (he plays all four infield positions in Spring Training) and a prolonged slump by veteran Keith Moreland, who was expected to be the first baseman after being traded for Walt Terrell. When Spring Training began, the general consensus was the Tiger roster was set. This announcement, along with Anderson's insistence that Lovullo was "the new heart of the lineup" and get 500 at-bats in the upcoming season was newsworthy.
Veteran outfielder Dwayne Murphy was released. With the acquisition of Kenny Williams and a strong spring showing by the younger Billy Bean, the 34-year old Murphy was expendable, despite hitting .300 in Spring Training.
March 31: The Tigers announce their Opening Day roster:
Pitchers: Doyle Alexander, Dave Beard, Paul Gibson, Mike Henneman, Guillermo Hernandez, Charles Hudson, Jack Morris, Jeff Robinson, Frank Tanana, Frank Williams
Catchers: Mike Heath, Matt Nokes
Infielders: Billy Bean, Dave Bergman, Chris Brown, Mike Brumley, Torey Lovullo, Keith Moreland, Al Pedrique, Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker
Outfielders: Chet Lemon, Fred Lynn, Pat Sheridan, Ken Williams
April 1: The Tigers defeat the Boston Red Sox 4–2 in Lakeland to finish the Grapefruit League season 15–16–1.
Regular season
April April 4: Before the largest Opening Day crowd in Texas Rangers' history, the Tigers are shut out by Charlie Hough 4–0. The Tigers never really get their offense going, collecting only five hits. It is the first time the Tigers are shut out on Opening Day since 1975. Chet Lemon has the first hit of the Tigers' season and Jack Morris takes the loss. Morris tied the American League record with his tenth consecutive Opening Day start. He would go on to set the Major League record with 14 straight Opening Day assignments, breaking the record of Robin Roberts of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Before the game, the first pitch is delivered by at the time recently fired Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry. Landry is joined by the new ownership of the Rangers, headed by George W. Bush.
April 7: The Tigers win their first home game of the season, a 10–3 rout of the Milwaukee Brewers before 51,473 fans at Tiger Stadium. Doyle Alexander earns the victory in the home opener, displaying a knuckleball he developed during Spring Training. The Tigers scored eight runs in the seventh and eighth innings and were led by Matt Nokes (2 run homer) and Kenny Williams (2 clutch hits and 3 RBI). Manager Sparky Anderson won his 1700th game as a manager, making him only the 10th manager at the time to reach that plateau.
April 9: The Tigers have their first cancellation of the season as their game against Milwaukee is postponed. The game is rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on August 7 due to cold temperatures and snow flurries.
April 12: Despite the team's worst start in nine years and hitting a collective .202, manager Sparky Anderson tells the media "We've got the most wins in baseball during the 80s. How can you lead baseball for nine years and the get off to a slow start one year and have people start panicking? Come October, we'll be there."
April 14: The Tigers fall into last place in the American League East following their 4–2 loss to the Texas Rangers. Despite this, the Tigers are only 2 games out in the American League East as no team in the division has a winning record.
April 17: With the Tigers in last place with a 2–7 record, there is only 3 games difference from first to last place in the American League East. Sparky Anderson tells the media, "Nobody else is doing anything. But if we keep going on like this, we'll get separated from the others."
April 20: A frustrated Jack Morris complains to Minnesota reporters after the Tigers 7-2 loss at the Metrodome. Morris blames the poor start on the trades the team made in Spring Training and the loss of several veteran ballplayers. When the comments make their way to Detroit, Morris refuses to speak to the local media.
April 21: The Tigers lose to the Milwaukee Brewers 2–1 at County Stadium to see their record drop to 3–10 on the season. Jack Morris is the hard luck loser, and his record falls to 0–4. It is only the second time in Morris' career that he is four games under .500. Even with the poor start to the season and batting only .221 as a team, the Tigers are still only 3.5 games out of first place in the lowly AL East.
April 23: Outfielder/DH Gary Ward, released by the New York Yankees, is signed by the Tigers. Ward appeared in eight games with New York and batted .294. To make room for the 35-year old former All Star, infielder Billy Bean is optioned to Toledo.
April 24: At Tiger Stadium, the Tigers edge the Seattle Mariners 1-0, marking the teams' only 1-0 victory of the season. Doyle Alexander outduels Mark Langston to earn the victory raising his record to 3-0 on the season. The Tigers have won three straight and are two games out of first in the AL East. Future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. makes his first ever appearance in Detroit, singling in his first appearance, and going 2-2 with a walk.