A Retrospective of the Detroit Tigers' 1984 World Championship Run The 1984 Detroit Tigers season was nothing short of legendary. The team started
A Retrospective of the Detroit Tigers’ 1984 World Championship Run
The 1984 Detroit Tigers season was nothing short of legendary. The team started off the season with a hot winning streak, it was an incredible 35-5 record in their first 40 games. This Tigers team set the tone for a dominant season. They finished with a 104-58 record, leading the American League East from start to finish—a rare wire-to-wire victory. Managed by the legendary Sparky Anderson, the team excelled in all aspects of the game—pitching, hitting, and defense.The 1984 Detroit Tigers team was a perfect blend of power, defense, and pitching, which led them to clinch the Division title, the AL playoffs, and ultimately, a World Series championship.
In the postseason, the Tigers swept the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS and went on to defeat the San Diego Padres in the World Series, clinching the championship in five games. Kirk Gibson’s iconic three-run homer in Game 5 remains one of the most memorable moments in Tigers history. It was a season of dominance, teamwork, and unforgettable moments.
Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey were iconic voices of the Detroit Tigers, bringing the excitement of baseball to life for fans on WJR radio. Today, the USA Radio Museum presents the 1984 WJR recording: “Wire to Wire Champions – With Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey.”
Ernie Harwell spent 42 seasons in the broadcasting booth with the Tigers, earlier in his career on WKMH 1310, and shortly later, on WJR radio. Quickly a fan favorite, he became one of the most beloved figures in Detroit sports history. Known for his poetic style and warm demeanor, Harwell had a unique ability to connect with listeners. He was the only broadcaster ever traded for a player—an unusual deal that brought him to the Brooklyn Dodgers early in his career. Harwell’s storytelling and signature phrases, like “That one is long gone!” for home runs, made him unforgettable behind the mike, and, as an author. Born on January 25, 1918, in Washington, Georgia, Harwell had a passion for baseball from a young age. He began his broadcasting career with the Atlanta Crackers and later became the only announcer in history to be traded for a player when the Brooklyn Dodgers acquired him in exchange for catcher Cliff Dapper.
Harwell joined the Tigers in 1960 and quickly became a beloved figure in Detroit. His warm, poetic style and iconic phrases, like “That one is long gone!” for home runs, endeared him to fans. Beyond his broadcasting, Harwell was known for his humility and deep connection with the community. In 1990, Bo Schembechler, who was the Detroit Tigers’ team president at the time, was involved in the controversial decision to let Ernie Harwell go. Harwell announced in December 1990 that his contract would not be renewed after the 1991 season. This decision was met with widespread backlash from fans, fellow broadcasters, and the media, as Harwell was a beloved figure in Detroit sports.
He received numerous accolades, including the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981. Harwell retired in 2002 and passed away on May 4, 2010, from cancer, at the age of 92. But his legacy as one of baseball’s greatest voices lives on.
Wire-to-Wire Champions | Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey | WJR 760
Audio Digitally Remastered by USA Radio Museum | A USARM Note: The voice introducing this special WJR program is that of Frank Beckmann, Sports Director, WJR, in 1984.
Paul Carey was Harwell’s broadcasting partner for 19 seasons, from 1973 to 1991. A Michigan native, Carey had a deep, resonant voice that perfectly complemented Harwell’s style. He was known for his professionalism and calm delivery, which balanced the excitement of the games. Born on March 15, 1928, in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, he began his broadcasting career in the late 1940s and joined WJR in Detroit in 1956. Carey became well-known as the play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Tigers. Together, they created one of the most iconic duos in baseball broadcasting history. Carey retired in 1991, leaving behind a legacy of excellence in sports broadcasting.
Carey’s deep, resonant voice and calm, professional style perfectly complemented Harwell’s poetic and folksy approach. Beyond baseball, Carey also covered other sports, including Detroit Pistons basketball and Michigan high school football and basketball. He retired in 1992 after a remarkable career spanning six decades. Paul Carey passed away on April 12, 2016, but his contributions to sports broadcasting and his legacy as a beloved Tigers announcer remain unforgettable. He was 88.
Together, Harwell and Carey created a golden era of Tigers radio broadcasts, becoming cherished voices for generations of fans in the Motor City and across the country as well.
“Bless You, Boys!”
Any Detroit Tigers fan would likely summarize the 1984 season with immense pride and excitement, describing it as a year of sheer dominance and unforgettable moments. They’d proudly recall the team’s phenomenal 35-5 start, which was one of the greatest season openings in MLB history, and their incredible wire-to-wire success in leading the division from start to finish.
They’d highlight the leadership of Sparky Anderson, the clutch performances of Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker, and the lights-out brilliance of Willie Hernández, who won both the Cy Young and MVP awards. Of course, they’d never forget Jack Morris’s no-hitter and Kirk Gibson’s iconic World Series Game 5 homer that sealed the championship.
For Tigers fans, 1984 was far more than just another season—it was a remarkable period when everything fell perfectly into place, leading to their first World Series championship since 1968. It remains an unforgettable chapter in Tigers’ history, deeply cherished in the hearts and memories of fans everywhere, some forty years having passed, when the Detroit Tigers last won the World Series crown. And Opening Day for the 2025 baseball season is officially just two weeks away. . . .
“Let’s Go, Tigers!”
