Books and articles about Doyle Alexander

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RELATED LINKS Submissions » The 1971 Swap Meet by Bruce Markusen Around the Web » Retrosheet.org, Tigers starters have gone at least eight innings in four straight games for the first time in 17 years. The last time it had happened, in 1988, the Tigers pitchers who went at least eight innings in succession were Eric King, Walt Terrell, Jack Morris and Doyle Alexander. Wednesday, May 11, 2005 GAME 32: Rangers 5, Tigers 4 from freep.com » Doyle Alexander from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Dour Doyle Alexander moved around enough to become the fourth pitcher to record wins over all 26 teams. He became increasingly effective late in his career, by developing an assortment of pitches, speeds, and deliveries, and relying more on guile and control than overpowering stuff.

In 1983 Alexander seemed like a journeyman pitcher at the end of his career when he put himself on the disabled list (and in Yankee owner George Steinbrenner's doghouse) by injuring his hand punching a concrete wall in frustration. He was picked up by the Blue Jays and, though he started out by losing his first six games, he turned it around with a club record 8-game winning streak. He went on to win a club record 17 games the following season. In 1985 he won 17 games again, including the game that clinched the AL East pennant on the penultimate day of the season.

Despite Alexander's success, he accused Toronto management of not wanting to win badly enough to pay him what he felt he was worth. After badmouthing local fans, he was dealt to Atlanta, where his pitching was uninspiring.

Traded to Detroit for John Smoltz midway through the 1987 season, Alexander had a 1.53 ERA and a 9-0 record in an exciting pennant race for the Tigers, including two dramatic victories over the Blue Jays in the final days of the season. Often a slow starter, he had a surprisingly good first half in 1988, earning his first All-Star selection. However, he pitched less well for the remainder of the season as the weak Tigers were beset by injuries and fell out of first place. Alexander retired after a 6-18 campaign in 1989. (TF)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » December 2, 1971: The teams keep trading. Among those changing teams are Doyle Alexander (Baltimore), Dick Allen (White Sox), Tommy John (LA), and John Mayberry (KC). » April 16, 1972: With a rainout yesterday, the Orioles and Yankees decide to open the season in Baltimore with a doubleheader. But rain wipes out the nitecap and the O's win the rain-shortened opener before just 11,995 fans, 3–1. There is one out in the bottom of the 7th when the game is called. The O's score an unearned run in the 2nd and Brooks Robinson knocks in two more to back Pat Dobson's pitching. After a long rain delay, Doyle Alexander pitched the 7th for the O's. » June 15, 1976: In what stands as one of the O's best trades ever, Baltimore obtains pitchers Rudy May, Tippy Martinez, Dave Pagan, Scott McGregor and C Rick Dempsey from the Yankees for veteran pitchers Doyle Alexander, Ken Holtzman, Grant Jackson and C Elrod Hendricks. The veterans will help the Yankees win in 1976 and then fade. » May 6, 1982: At the Kingdome, Gaylord Perry (3-2) becomes the 15th pitcher to win 300 career games, beating the Yankees 7–3. Perry gives up nine hits and six walks in beating Doyle Alexander, and he is the first pitcher to reach the 300-win plateau since Early Wynn in 1963. Perry allegedly wears a different uniform each inning in order to sell them as memorabilia. The Yanks and Alexander lose more than the game: after giving up five runs in 3rd, Alexander enters the dugout and punches the wall, breaking a knuckle and sidelining himself for two months. » October 5, 1985: Willie Wilson singles home the winning run as Kansas City beats Oakland 5–4 in 10 innings. Doyle Alexander pitches a 5-hitter, as Toronto beats 2nd-place New York 5–1 to wrap up its first American League East crown. Dave Winfield drives in the lone run, his 100th RBI of the year. He is the first Yankee to have 100 RBIs and score 100 runs in the same year since Joe DiMaggio in 1941-42. » October 15, 1985: The Royals once again stave off elimination to the Blue Jays, aided by George Brett's 3rd home run of the series, all off Doyle Alexander. The Royals win 5–3. » January 8, 1987: Ten free agents (Tim Raines, Lance Parrish, Bob Horner, Andre Dawson, Rich Gedman, Ron Guidry, Bob Boone, Doyle Alexander, Toby Harrah, and Gary Roenicke) fail to meet a midnight deadline and thus will not be allowed to re-sign with their former clubs until May 1st if they are not offered contracts by new teams. The general lack of interest in the players will become the focus of the Players' Association's first anti-collusion suit against the owners. » May 1, 1987: Free-agents Ron Guidry (Yankees), Rich Gedman (Red Sox), Bob Boone (Angels), and Tim Raines (Expos) all re-sign with their former clubs on the first day that they are allowed to do so. Doyle Alexander will re-sign with the Braves on May 5th. » August 12, 1987: The Braves send veteran pitcher Doyle Alexander to the Tigers in exchange for minor leaguer John Smoltz. Alexander will help lead the Tigers to the American League East title by posting a perfect 9-0 record, while Smoltz will anchor the Braves for the 1990s. » September 23, 1987: Bill Madlock collects his 2,000th career hit as the Tigers beat Boston 4–0 on Doyle Alexander's 2-hitter. » May 30, 1992: By beating the Milwaukee Brewers, 8–1, Scott Sanderson of the Yankees becomes the 9th pitcher to beat all 26 major league teams in his career. He joins Nolan Ryan, Tommy John, Don Sutton, Mike Torrez, Rick Wise, Gaylord Perry, Doyle Alexander and Rich Gossage as the only pitchers to accomplish the feat.