Detroit Tigers
Established: 1901
Other Names:
none
2016 results: 86-75,
2nd in AL Central
2017 Prediction: 3rd
World Series Titles: 4
Most Recent: 1984
Last World Series
Appearance: 2012
Last Division Title: 2014
Ballpark: Comerica
Park
Est: 2000
Best Season: 1984
The 1984 Tigers had the greatest
start to a season in MLB history by compiling a 34-4 record to start the year.
They kept it on cruise-control and easily captured the AL East title with a
104-58 record, 15 games ahead of the second-place Toronto Blue Jays. They swept
the Kansas City Royals in three games in the ALCS, then took out the San Diego
Padres in five games in the World Series. Offensively, the Tigers were led by
Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker and Lance Parrish. The rotation
featured Jack Morris, Dan Petry and Milt Wilcox, while Willie Hernandez
anchored the bullpen.
Best All-time Player:
Ty Cobb
Everything you need to know
about Ty Cobb can be summarized in a 1948-quote from Ernest Hemingway: “Ty
Cobb, the greatest of all ballplayers—and an absolute sh**.” While it’s true
that Cobb was never a role-model for being a good guy, his baseball prowess is
unprecedented. Briefly, Cobb’s 4189 hits are second all-time to Pete Rose, but
his all-time .366 batting average over 24 years puts Rose’s .303 to shame. Cobb
was the MVP in 1910, his only time winning the award. He most likely would have
won quite a few more had he not been such a jerk. He won 12 batting titles
including nine in a row from 1907 to 1915. He batted .350 or better 14 times
and reached the .400 mark three times. His best average was .420 in 1911.
Best Player on the
Current Roster: Miguel Cabrera
Provided he’s still with the
Tigers on opening day (with all the trade rumours and all) Cabrera is clearly
the best player on the Tigers. With his 2016 stats (38 home runs, 108 RBIs and
.316 batting average) you could argue he’s the best player in the American
League. Cabrera has been dominating AL pitching since joining Detroit in 2008
after five years with the Marlins. While with the Tigers, he has been a
seven-time All-Star, won the AL MVP twice (2012 and 2013), and (an oddity for a
slugger) has won four batting titles. In 2012, he became the first player since
1967 to win baseball’s Triple Crown (winning the batting, home run and RBI
titles all in the same season). He is well on his way to the Hall of Fame as he
has compiled 2519 hits, a .321 batting average, 446 home runs and 1553 RBIs
over his 14-year career.
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