For those who followed the Tigers even casually, June 12, 1979, a Tuesday afternoon, was one of those where-were-you-when-you-heard-the-news days.
The radio news bulletin hit like a thunderbolt:
Les Moss had been fired as Tigers manager. Sparky Anderson, only three years after his last World Series steering the Big Red Machine, was getting a five-year deal to skipper the Tigers.
It made no sense.
And yet it absolutely did.
The Tigers were 27-26, two months into a new season, which is not typically when managers are zapped, especially when Moss’ win-loss record was above sea level.