Happy Anniversary Randy O'Neal - 25 Year Since The Tigers Clinched

September 18th, 2009 | by jelletlambie |

Tonight in Minnesota a rookie will take the mound for the Tigers. His 27 starts and 13 victories make him less of a rookie than Randy O’Neal was 25 years ago today, but he’s a rookie none the less. As Rick Porcello attempts to right the ship, hold the Tigers slim lead, and pad his stats for the AL Rookie of the Year award - Randy O’Neal is celebrating a wonderful anniversary. On September 18, 1984 he won his first major league game. Winning your first big league game has to be an incredible feeling. Being the winning pitcher in the game that clinched the AL East and sent the Tigers to the post-season seems beyond incredible. Randy has the distinction of accomplishing both in the same start, 25 years ago today.

O’neal threw seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out six to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 at Tiger Stadium. Willie Hernandez pitched two scoreless innings for his 30th save of the season. Tom Brookens hit his fifth home run of the year and Lance Parrish drove in the game winning run for the 11th time in 1984 to seal the victory.

It was the first major league start for Randy O’Neal. Can you imagine that? Your first start in the big leagues ends with a champagne soaked celebration as you help your team clinch the division, not a bad way to spend an evening.

On the wall in my office is the printing plate from the front page of the September 19, 1984 edition of the Detroit News, a gift from my lovely betrothed. The headline reads simply Tigers Win It. Below that is a picture of O’Neal, a millisecond after releasing a pitch. His right arm bent at the elbow, his glove hand tucked close to his chest, a look of sheer determination upon his face. John Broder wrote the headline story, beginning with the very appropriate phrase “The fairy tale came true”.

I remember that night. So does Randy O’Neal. After seven years in the big leagues and another six trying to make a comeback he started a bat company called Stix Baseball Inc, that was later sold to Easton Sports. He’s teaching at Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida these days, where he also coaches the high school baseball team, which finished last season with a record setting 21-5 mark. It seems the game of baseball is still a big part of his life. I had the good fortune to speak with him today about his first win and what he’s doing these days:

I remember listening to the radio the day of the game and hearing people ask who is this guy? Why is he pitching tonight? Jack Morris and Dan Petry were lobbying Sparky pretty hard to let them pitch, but Sparky had faith in me and stuck with me. It was scheduled to be my first start and he let me keep it. I’m eternally grateful for that.

I struck out Robin Yount on a pitch out of the zone early and thought, even hall of famers make mistakes. I can do this. I’ve always been a very driven guy. I knew once I got rolling that night that I had a chance to get the win.

I asked Randy when he knew that his first win was a likelihood:

In about the seventh inning they brought the horses and the extra security out, I could feel then something special was coming. I had dreamed of that moment all my life, it was such a special feeling, I’m very proud of that to this day. I loved my time in Detroit, and that was certainly a great night.

After the game he was swallowed up in the celebration that seemed to envelop all of us. Longtime coach Billy Consolo gave him the lineup card, which Randy had the team autograph. He still has it and cherishes it.

With horses like Jack Morris, Dan Petry and Milt Wilcox on the staff expected to be the pitcher of record for such an event, it was an unlikely, baby faced 24 year old kid who made that celebration possible that night. And celebrate people did.

Sparky Anderson talked about the ensuing party in his book Bless You Boys:

I though I had seen some parties in Cincinnati, but they were nothing like this. It was crazy. I was so happy for these fans

The celebration was wild. That’s the way it should be. I’m very glad we clinched this thing in Detroit because the fans deserved to see it

This is a blue-collar town with people who are real human beings. They work hard, they play hard, and they’re loyal

That party would extend into mid October after the Tigers dispatched the Royals in three games and banished the Padres in five. All told in 1984 O’Neal appeared in four games, starting three of them. He recorded two victories that year, with one defeat. Both of his victories came against the Brewers. After his memorable performance to clinch the division he shut down the Brew Crew again a week later with five shutout innings. He lost his final start of the ‘84 season, getting roughed up by the Yankees for seven runs in 3.2 innings. In total he posted a 3.38 ERA. He pitched three of his seven MLB seasons with the Tigers, before hurling for the Braves, Cardinals, Phillies and Giants.

These days he’s actively working on some very unique and interesting bats, designed to help pitchers have a keepsake from special games, other than the game ball. Randy came up with a bat concept, that he has patented, with a baseball size hole through the barrel that has been burned with a torch to simulate a ball thrown so hard that it burned through the wood. He’s had discussions with players and teams about some limited edition releases to celebrate 300th wins, Cy Young awards and the like. Based on the determination I picked up from him in our brief chat I expect we’ll be seeing them in the marketplace soon.

So on this the 18th of September, 2009, a very happy 25th anniversary goes out to Randy O’Neal. His first big league win was one Tigers fans will remember forever. Big thanks to Randy for taking the time to reminisce.