Other noteworthy outings
On September 18,1985,Mahler pitched 7+2⁄3 innings of one-hit relief to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 5–2 victory over the New York Yankees, thus denying a bid by Phil Niekro to win his 300th game. Mahler, who relieved Juan Berenguer after he got into trouble in the first inning, retired 23 of the 25 hitters he faced, including the first 15 hitters who came up against him. A former teammate of Niekro's, Mahler told reporters after the game that "The thing I remember most about (Niekro) is what a great guy he was. I didn't think about the Niekro thing at all. I hated to be the one to beat him but that's the game."
In that same game, New York Yankees manager Billy Martin sent left-handed-hitter Mike Pagliarulo up to bat right-handed against Mahler. Detroit Tigers catcher Bob Melvin was reported to have asked Pagliarulo, "What the hell are you doing?" Pagliarulo's reply: "I'm trying to get a base hit!" Ultimately, however, Pagliarulo took a called third strike.
On July 7, 1986, Mahler gave up the 2,000th hit to Dave Winfield.
On September 2, 1986, Mahler plunked Brett Butler in the shoulder and immediately was removed the game, which Mahler's Blue Jays lost 9–5 to the Cleveland Indians. He would only pitch in one more game.
Witticisms
Throughout his career, Mahler had a rapport with the press. In 1986, he told USA Today, "If I were commissioner, I'd send every major league player down to Triple-A after three years to see how good they have it now," only to be sent down to Triple-A the following day, on July 29, 1986.
In 1986, after hitting Cleveland's Brett Butler with a pitch, Mahler told reporters, "The thing is, the signal here for the fastball is the signal for the curve in Texas and Oklahoma. When I got the sign, my mind said 'curve.' I took my grip, went into the stretch, kicked up the leg and, right in the middle of my motion, it dawned on me 'fastball.' I wound up trying to change my grip mid-motion."
In reflecting on his career as a journeyman, Mahler told the Toronto Star in 1986: "It's not a pleasant way to spend a career, but the memories will be incredible. I've played with Reggie Jackson and Rod Carew and Dale Murphy, I've learned from Tom House and (Johnny) Sain, the two best pitching coaches in the business. I've been around, seen the best. It's not so bad a life. This is the best job in the world and I'll do anything they say - chalk the field before the game, sweep the dugout."
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