Editing Detroit Tigers (section)

=====1968 World Series=====
{{main|1968 World Series}}
[[File:1968 World Series program and tickets.jpg|thumb|right|1968 World Series program and tickets for Games 4 and 5 at [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]]]]
In the 1968 World Series, the Tigers met the defending World Series champion [[1968 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]], led by starter [[Bob Gibson]], who had posted a modern-era record 1.12 ERA during the regular season, and speedy outfielder [[Lou Brock]].<ref name=Herzog/><ref>{{cite web|first=Jonah|last=Keri|title=Forty years later, Gibson's 1.12 ERA remains magic number|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/blackhistory2008/columns/story?page=keri/080221|website=ESPN.com|date=February 7, 2008|access-date=September 12, 2018|archive-date=September 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913040039/http://www.espn.com/espn/blackhistory2008/columns/story?page=keri/080221|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Brock, Lou|url=https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/brock-lou|website=Baseball Hall of Fame|access-date=September 12, 2018|archive-date=October 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029052857/http://baseballhall.org/hof/brock-lou|url-status=live}}</ref> This was the first time the Tigers and Cardinals had met in the World Series since 1934.<ref name="1968 Game 7">{{cite web|first=Jerry|last=Nechal|title=October 10, 1968: Lolich outduels Gibson in dramatic Game Seven victory|url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-10-1968-lolich-outduels-gibson-dramatic-game-seven-victory|website=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=September 13, 2018|archive-date=September 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914022710/https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-10-1968-lolich-outduels-gibson-dramatic-game-seven-victory|url-status=live}}</ref> The series was predicated with a bold decision by manager Mayo Smith to play center fielder Mickey Stanley at shortstop, replacing the slick fielding but weak hitting of [[Ray Oyler]].<ref name="Hall SI">{{cite web|first=Donald|last=Hall|title=How a Stopgap Shortstop Won a World Series|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1988/10/17/118693/how-a-stopgap-shortstop-won-a-world-series|website=SI.com|date=October 17, 1988|access-date=September 12, 2018|archive-date=September 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913040108/https://www.si.com/vault/1988/10/17/118693/how-a-stopgap-shortstop-won-a-world-series|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Decisions>{{cite web|title=Greatest coaching decisions|url=https://www.espn.com/endofcentury/s/other/coaches.html|website=ESPN.com|access-date=September 12, 2018|archive-date=July 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704124914/http://www.espn.com/endofcentury/s/other/coaches.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Stanley had never played shortstop before, but was a Gold Glover in the outfield and an excellent athlete.<ref name="Hall SI"/> Smith played him at short for the final nine games of the regular season and all seven World Series games, with Oyler only appearing as a late-inning defensive replacement.<ref name="Hall SI"/><ref name=Decisions/> This allowed Smith to play an outfield of Willie Horton, Jim Northrup and Al Kaline in every game.<ref name="Hall SI"/><ref name=Decisions/>

In Game 1, Gibson completely shut down the Detroit lineup, striking out a World Series record 17 batters en route to an easy 4–0 win.<ref>{{cite web|first=Craig|last=Muder|title=Bob Gibson fans 17 Tigers in Game 1 of 1968 World Series|url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/bob-gibson-strikeout-record|website=Baseball Hall of Fame|access-date=September 12, 2018|archive-date=September 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913002551/https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/bob-gibson-strikeout-record|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1968 World Series Game 1, Tigers at Cardinals, October 2|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN196810020.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=September 12, 2018|archive-date=September 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913002311/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN196810020.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> However, due in no small part to pitcher Mickey Lolich's victories in Games 2 and 5, the Tigers climbed back into the World Series.<ref name="1968 Freep">{{cite web|first=Ryan|last=Ford|title=The Tigers' 1968 World Series victory: Seven games to glory|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2018/09/07/detroit-tigers-seven-games-1968-world-series-glory/1207158002/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=September 7, 2018|access-date=September 13, 2018|archive-date=November 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108204226/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2018/09/07/detroit-tigers-seven-games-1968-world-series-glory/1207158002/|url-status=live}}</ref> Many fans believe the turning point came in the fifth inning of Game 5, with the Tigers down three games to one, and trailing in the game, 3–2. Left fielder Willie Horton made a perfect throw to home plate to nail Lou Brock, who tried to score from second base standing up, as catcher [[Bill Freehan]] blocked the plate with his foot.<ref name="1968 Freep"/><ref name=Paul>{{cite web|first=Tony|last=Paul|title=Fifty years later, 1968 Detroit Tigers can't forget World Series-changing play|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2018/09/05/fifty-years-later-1968-detroit-tigers-cant-forget-world-series-changing-play/1208379002/|website=The Detroit News|date=September 5, 2018|access-date=September 13, 2018|archive-date=November 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130121209/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2018/09/05/fifty-years-later-1968-detroit-tigers-cant-forget-world-series-changing-play/1208379002/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Tigers came back with three runs in the seventh to win that game, 5–3, and stay alive.<ref name="1968 Freep"/><ref name=Paul/> The Cardinals would not threaten to score the rest of this game, and scored only two more meaningless runs over the remainder of the series. In Game 6, McLain ensured a Game 7 by notching his only win of the World Series, a 13–1 blowout, despite pitching on only two days' rest.<ref name="1968 Freep"/>
[[File:Mickey Lolich 1975.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Mickey Lolich]] was the 1968 World Series MVP]]

In Game 7 at [[Busch Memorial Stadium]], Lolich, also pitching on two days' rest, faced Gibson.<ref name="1968 Game 7"/> Both men pitched brilliantly, putting zeros up on the scoreboard for much of the game.<ref name="1968 Game 7"/> In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cardinals looked primed to take the lead as Lou Brock singled to lead off the inning, only to be promptly picked off by Lolich.<ref name="1968 Game 7"/> One out later, [[Curt Flood]] followed with another single, and was also picked off by Lolich.<ref name="1968 Game 7"/> In the top of the seventh, an exhausted Gibson finally cracked, giving up two-out singles to Norm Cash and Willie Horton.<ref name="1968 Game 7"/> Jim Northrup then struck the decisive blow, lashing a triple to center field over the head of Flood, who appeared to misjudge how hard the ball was hit.<ref name="1968 Game 7"/> That scored both Cash and Horton; Northrup himself was then brought home by a Bill Freehan double.<ref name="1968 Game 7"/> Detroit added an insurance run in the ninth.<ref name="1968 Game 7"/> A ninth-inning solo home run by [[Mike Shannon]] was all the Cardinals could muster against Lolich as the Tigers took the game, 4–1, and the World Series, 4–3.<ref name="1968 Game 7"/><ref name="1968 Freep"/> 

The Tigers became only the third team to ever win the World Series after being down 3–1.<ref name="1968 Game 7"/> For his three victories that propelled the Tigers to the championship, Lolich was named the [[World Series MVP Award|World Series Most Valuable Player]].<ref name="1968 Game 7"/><ref name="1968 Freep"/> {{As of|2024}}, Lolich is the last pitcher to have three complete-game victories in a single World Series.<ref name=Lolich/><ref name="1968 Game 7"/>