You see, the last time the Tigers won the World Series was in 1984 over the San Diego Padres, and our first child was still in the womb, not being born until December, a couple of months after the Motown team celebrated the title. But, she had already attended a Major League game that summer when Terri (my wife) and I attended a Cardinals game in steamy St. Louis (vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers) while visiting friends nearby. My pregnant spouse was miserable in that heat.

I do remember that day Cardinal outfielder Andy Van Slyke hit a home run. Later, Van Slyke was a first base coach for the 2006 Tigers who lost to the Cardinals in the World Series.

So, this year when the Tigers clinched the Central Division, I was ready for a repeat of a World Series title for our first grandchild - Emily Joy.

When the Tigers swept the Yankees, and the Cardinals had a 3-game 1ead over the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS I was ready for the déja vu moment when the Tigers would beat the Cardinals in the World Series in 1968 when I was a high school sophomore.

But, that didn’t work out. As was played out in front of an international audience, the Giants came back to beat St. Louis to win the National League title, and continued to sweep the Tigers in the World Series.

So much for a repeat Tigers World Series title for our granddaughter. But, as they say in sports, there’s always next season.