Kurt Bevacqua was the last DH in a national league park.
The Designated Hitter, which was used in every AL ballpark starting in 1973, wasn't used in the World Series until 1976. From there, even years DH. Odd years, no DH. Every World Series game. But starting in 1986, the designated hitter was only used in Amercian League ballparks.
The San Diego Padres were looking overmatched in the 1984 World Series against a Detroit team that started out 35-5. And just to prove that they were for real, they beat the Padres 3-2 in game one of the 1984 Fall Classic. Close, but no cigar for the Padres. A loss in game 2, and it's off to Detroit for three games. But down 2-0? Game five would not be necessary, for sure.
Detroit wasted no time in getting 'er going in game 2. Picking off where they'd left off from the opening tilt, the Tigers touched home three times in the top of the second inning. Kirk Gibson, Lance Parrish and Darrell Evans each got an RBI. The Tigers' DH, Johnny Grubb hit a single, but it did not fair into the scoring. Was Detroit setting the tone?
San Diego actually got one back in the bottom of the first as Greg Nettles got a sac fly to score Alan Wiggins. Bevacqua led off the second for the Padres and was retired on a ground ball to Evans at third.
Bevacqua led off the bottom of the fourth against Tigers' starter Dan Petry. This time he singled. After a strikeout and another single, Bobby Brown got the job done for San Diego. His ground out scored the Padres' DH. 3-2, Detroit. Wiggins hit another single to keep the ball rolling, but one run would be all San Diego got.
Andy Hawkins, who relieved battered starter Ed Whitson, was keeping Detroit off the scoreboard following the first. He got 'em 1-2-3 in the top of the 5th. Our boy put the icing on the cake in the bottom of the frame.
Steve Garvey led off by flying out. But Nettles walked. Then Terry Kennedy, the catcher, singled. Guess who's next?
Bevacqua stroked a three-run home run on the second pitch by Petry. It was now 5-3 San Diego! How about that? DH stood for designated hero on this day for San Diego! It was also the end of the line for Petry.
Grubb was pinch-hit for by Rusty Kuntz in the top of the 7th. He fanned. Bevacqua also batted in San Diego's half of the 7th. Now facing Bill Scherrer, Kurt hit a single. It was his last plate appearance. When the next batter hit into a double play, the inning was over and San Diego still led, 5-3.
With two outs and Kuntz in the on deck circle, Larry Herndon popped out to second. San Diego had won the game 5-3. But the Padres would lose all three games in Detroit as the Tigers won the 1984 World Series, four games to one.
Bevacqua might be best remembered as mentioned in between profanities by Tommy Lasorda during a memorable blow-up, but in Fall Classic history, he's the man in game 2 for the San Diego Padres back in 1984. The last DH in a national league park in the World Series, as well!
The Designated Hitter, which was used in every AL ballpark starting in 1973, wasn't used in the World Series until 1976. From there, even years DH. Odd years, no DH. Every World Series game. But starting in 1986, the designated hitter was only used in Amercian League ballparks.
The San Diego Padres were looking overmatched in the 1984 World Series against a Detroit team that started out 35-5. And just to prove that they were for real, they beat the Padres 3-2 in game one of the 1984 Fall Classic. Close, but no cigar for the Padres. A loss in game 2, and it's off to Detroit for three games. But down 2-0? Game five would not be necessary, for sure.
Detroit wasted no time in getting 'er going in game 2. Picking off where they'd left off from the opening tilt, the Tigers touched home three times in the top of the second inning. Kirk Gibson, Lance Parrish and Darrell Evans each got an RBI. The Tigers' DH, Johnny Grubb hit a single, but it did not fair into the scoring. Was Detroit setting the tone?
San Diego actually got one back in the bottom of the first as Greg Nettles got a sac fly to score Alan Wiggins. Bevacqua led off the second for the Padres and was retired on a ground ball to Evans at third.
Bevacqua led off the bottom of the fourth against Tigers' starter Dan Petry. This time he singled. After a strikeout and another single, Bobby Brown got the job done for San Diego. His ground out scored the Padres' DH. 3-2, Detroit. Wiggins hit another single to keep the ball rolling, but one run would be all San Diego got.
Andy Hawkins, who relieved battered starter Ed Whitson, was keeping Detroit off the scoreboard following the first. He got 'em 1-2-3 in the top of the 5th. Our boy put the icing on the cake in the bottom of the frame.
Steve Garvey led off by flying out. But Nettles walked. Then Terry Kennedy, the catcher, singled. Guess who's next?
Bevacqua stroked a three-run home run on the second pitch by Petry. It was now 5-3 San Diego! How about that? DH stood for designated hero on this day for San Diego! It was also the end of the line for Petry.
Grubb was pinch-hit for by Rusty Kuntz in the top of the 7th. He fanned. Bevacqua also batted in San Diego's half of the 7th. Now facing Bill Scherrer, Kurt hit a single. It was his last plate appearance. When the next batter hit into a double play, the inning was over and San Diego still led, 5-3.
With two outs and Kuntz in the on deck circle, Larry Herndon popped out to second. San Diego had won the game 5-3. But the Padres would lose all three games in Detroit as the Tigers won the 1984 World Series, four games to one.
Bevacqua might be best remembered as mentioned in between profanities by Tommy Lasorda during a memorable blow-up, but in Fall Classic history, he's the man in game 2 for the San Diego Padres back in 1984. The last DH in a national league park in the World Series, as well!
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