www abdopublishing com Published by Abdo Publishing a division of ABDO PO Box 398166 Minneapolis Minnesota 55439 Copyright 2015 by Abdo Consulting Group Inc International copyrights reserved in all countries No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher SportsZone is a trademark and logo of Abdo Publishing Printed in the United States of America North Mankato Minnesota 052014 092014 Editor Chrös McDougall Copy Editor Nicholas Cafarelli Interior Design and Production Christa Schneider Cover Design Christa Schneider Photo Credits Mark Duncan AP Images cover 31 AP Images 1 14 17 19 20 23 26 42 top and bottom 44 Amy Sancetta AP Images 4 43 bottom Jeff Roberson AP Images 7 Library of Congress 8 11 13 42 middle Focus On Sport Getty Images 25 Walter Iooss Jr Sports Illustrated Getty Images 29 Ron Heflin AP Images 33 43 top John Swart AP Images 34 Duane Burleson AP Images 37 43 middle Paul Sancya AP Images 39 Jim Mone AP Images 41 Carlos Osorio AP Images 47 Library of Congress Control Number 2014932916 Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gerstner Joanne 1971 Detroit Tigers by Joanne Gerstner p cm Inside MLB Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN 978-1-62403-469-5 1 Detroit Tigers Baseball team History Juvenile Literature I Title GV875 D6G47 2015 796 357’640977434 dc23 2014932916
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Restoring the Roar 4 Chapter 2 From Wolverines to Tigers 8 Chapter 3 Ty Cobb Then a Title 14 Chapter 4 The Al Kaline Era 20 Chapter 5 The Roar of 84 26 Chapter 6 From Low to High 34 Timeline 42 Quick Stats 44 Quotes and Anecdotes 45 Glossary 46 For More Information 47 Index 48 About the Author 48
CHAPTER 1 RESTORING THE ROAR
O n a beautiful October afternoon in 2006 fans filled Comerica Park in Detroit for a special day of baseball The fans could barely stay in their seats The Detroit Tigers were hosting the Oak land Athletics in the American League Championship Series ALCS The Tigers led the series 3 0 With one more win they would advance to the World Series for the first time since 1984 The game stayed close throughout With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning the Tigers and A’s were tied at 3 3 Two runners were on base as Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez stepped to the plate With a base hit the Tigers would be going to the World Series With an out they would go to extra innings Ordonez was one of the top batters for the Tigers in 2006 He had hit 298 with 24 home runs and 104 runs batted in RBIs that season He had Magglio Ordonez celebrates his three-run homer as he runs around the Magglio Ordonez celebrates his three-run homer as he runs around the bases The home run sent the Tigers to the 2006 World Series bases The home run sent the Tigers to the 2006 World Series RESTORING THE ROAR 5
