Editing Detroit Tigers (section)

===The "Bless You Boys" era (1979–1987)===
Houk's immediate successor as Tigers manager in [[1979 Detroit Tigers season|1979]] was [[Les Moss]], but Moss would only last until June of that year.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dan|last=Holmes|title=Faithful soldier Moss stepped aside for Sparky in '79|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2012/05/14/faithful-soldier-moss-stepped-aside-for-sparky-in-79/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=May 14, 2012|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116045032/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2012/05/14/faithful-soldier-moss-stepped-aside-for-sparky-in-79/|url-status=live}}</ref> From June 14, 1979, until the end of the 1995 season, the team was managed by [[Sparky Anderson|George "Sparky" Anderson]], one of baseball's winningest managers and winner of two [[World Series ring]]s as manager of the [[Cincinnati Reds]] during their peak as [[The Big Red Machine]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Dow|title=What a coup: 35 years ago the Tigers hired Sparky Anderson|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2014/02/24/coup-35-years-ago-tigers-hired-sparky-anderson/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=February 24, 2014|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116043037/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2014/02/24/coup-35-years-ago-tigers-hired-sparky-anderson/|url-status=live}}</ref> When Anderson joined the Tigers in 1979 and assessed the team's young talent, he boldly predicted that it would be a pennant winner within five years.<ref>{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Kelly|title=Sparky Anderson becomes first manager to win 100 games in both leagues|url=https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/inside-pitch/sparky-anderson-first-manager-to-win-100-games-in-both-leagues|website=Baseball Fame of Fame|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120232045/https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/inside-pitch/sparky-anderson-first-manager-to-win-100-games-in-both-leagues|url-status=live}}</ref>

Acerbic Detroit TV sports anchor Al Ackerman initiated the phrase "Bless You Boys". Originally used as a sarcastic remark, Ackerman's phrase would take on a new meaning in 1984.<ref name="Ackerman BYB">{{cite web|author=GregEno|title=Bless You Boys! Our name has sarcastic roots, thanks to 'Acid Al' Ackerman|url=https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/4/16/5618884/bless-you-boys-our-name-has-sarcastic-roots-thanks-to-acid-al-ackerman|website=Bless You Boys|date=April 16, 2014|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=October 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002020033/https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/4/16/5618884/bless-you-boys-our-name-has-sarcastic-roots-thanks-to-acid-al-ackerman|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ackerman COD">{{cite web|first=Dave Jr.|last=Bartkowiak|title=Mort Crim: Al Ackerman originally used 'Bless You Boys' sarcastically|url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/mort-crim-al-ackerman-originally-used-bless-you-boys-sarcastically|website=ClickOnDetroit.com|date=June 8, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=October 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001220558/https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/mort-crim-al-ackerman-originally-used-bless-you-boys-sarcastically|url-status=live}}</ref>

====The Roar of '84: 1984 World Series Champions====
[[File:Sparky Anderson.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Sparky Anderson]] was the manager of the Tigers from 1979 to 1995]]
{{Main|1984 Detroit Tigers season}}
As in 1968, the Tigers' next World Series season would be preceded by a disappointing second-place finish, as the [[1983 Detroit Tigers season|1983 Tigers]] won 92 games to finish six games behind the [[1983 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] in the AL East.<ref>{{cite web|title=1983 American League Season Summary|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1983.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=October 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002065008/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1983.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first major news of the 1984 season actually came in late 1983, when broadcasting magnate John Fetzer, who had owned the Tigers since 1957, sold the team to [[Domino's Pizza]] founder and CEO [[Tom Monaghan]] for $53 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tom Monaghan – Domino's Pizza|url=http://www.giantsforgod.com/tom-monaghan-dominos-pizza/|website=Giants for God|access-date=February 13, 2017|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804153322/http://www.giantsforgod.com/tom-monaghan-dominos-pizza/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Richard|last=Bak|title=A Place for Summer: A Narrative History of Tiger Stadium|url=https://archive.org/details/placeforsummerna0000bakr|url-access=registration|year=1998|page=[https://archive.org/details/placeforsummerna0000bakr/page/332 332]|publisher=Wayne State University Press|isbn=978-0814325124}}</ref>

The 1984 team got off to a 9–0 start highlighted by [[Jack Morris]] tossing a nationally televised no-hitter against [[1984 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago]] in the fourth game of the season.<ref>{{cite web|first=Bruce|last=Markusen|title='84 Tigers had the best start in the history of the game|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2014/05/14/84-tigers-best-start-history-game/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=May 14, 2014|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-date=December 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224153638/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2014/05/14/84-tigers-best-start-history-game/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Brendan|last=Savage|title=Jack Morris no-hitter was sign of big things to come for 1984 Tigers|url=https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2017/04/jack_morris_no-hitter_four_gam.html|website=MLive|date=April 20, 2017|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309004832/https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2017/04/jack_morris_no-hitter_four_gam.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They stayed hot for most of the year, posting a 35–5 record over their first forty games and cruising to a franchise-record 104 victories.<ref name=DeCamp>{{cite web|first=Scott|last=DeCamp|title=It was good to be a Detroit Tigers fan in 1984|url=https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2017/08/relive_a_magical_year_of_detro.html|website=MLive|date=August 2, 2017|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119024452/https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2017/08/relive_a_magical_year_of_detro.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Tigers led the division from opening day until the end of the regular season and finished a staggering 15 games ahead of the second-place [[1984 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]].<ref name=DeCamp/> Closer [[Willie Hernández]], acquired from the 1983 NL champion [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in the offseason, won both the Cy Young Award and AL MVP, a rarity for a relief pitcher.<ref>{{cite web|first=Murray|last=Chass|title=Hernandez Adds M.V.P. to Cy Young|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/07/sports/hernandez-adds-mvp-to-cy-young.html|website=The New York Times|date=November 7, 1984|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=October 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002071738/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/07/sports/hernandez-adds-mvp-to-cy-young.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=====1984 ALCS=====
{{main|1984 American League Championship Series}}

The Tigers faced the [[1984 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] in the American League Championship Series. In Game 1, Alan Trammell, Lance Parrish and [[Larry Herndon]] went deep to crush the Royals 8–1 at Royals Stadium (now [[Kauffman Stadium]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=1984 American League Championship Series (ALCS) Game 1, Tigers at Royals, October 2, 1984|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA198410020.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=June 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001116/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA198410020.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> In Game 2, the Tigers scored twice in the 11th inning when [[Johnny Grubb]] doubled off Royals closer [[Dan Quisenberry]] en route to a 5–3 victory.<ref name=Lantz>{{cite web|first=Susan|last=Lantz|title=October 5, 1984: Slurves, Yackadoos, and an American League pennant|url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-5-1984-slurves-yackadoos-and-american-league-pennant|website=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=October 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002102235/https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-5-1984-slurves-yackadoos-and-american-league-pennant|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1984 American League Championship Series (ALCS) Game 2, Tigers at Royals, October 3, 1984|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA198410030.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=October 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002064901/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA198410030.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> The Tigers completed the sweep at Tiger Stadium in Game 3. [[Marty Castillo]]'s third-inning RBI fielder's choice would be all the help Detroit would need. [[Milt Wilcox]] outdueled [[Charlie Leibrandt]], and after Hernandez got [[Darryl Motley]] to pop out to preserve the 1–0 win, the Tigers were returning to the World Series.<ref name=Lantz/><ref>{{cite web|first=Jane|last=Gross|title=Wolcox Stops Royals as Tigers Win Pennant|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/06/sports/wolcox-stops-royals-as-tigers-win-pennant.html|website=The New York Times|date=October 6, 1984|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=October 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002071632/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/06/sports/wolcox-stops-royals-as-tigers-win-pennant.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=====1984 World Series=====
{{main|1984 World Series}}

In the [[1984 National League Championship Series|NLCS]], the [[1984 San Diego Padres season|San Diego Padres]] rallied from losing the first two games to overcome the [[1984 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] and prevent a fifth Cubs-Tigers series. The Tigers would open the [[1984 World Series]] on the road in San Diego.<ref>{{cite web|first=Bradford|last=Doolittle|title=Chicago Cubs' six darkest days finally lead to their brightest|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/42355/finally-the-cubs-six-darkest-days-leads-to-their-brightest|website=ESPN.com|date=October 23, 2016|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=October 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003221148/http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/42355/finally-the-cubs-six-darkest-days-leads-to-their-brightest|url-status=live}}</ref>

In Game 1, Larry Herndon hit a two-run home run that gave the Tigers a 3–2 lead.<ref name="1984 World Series">{{cite web|title=1984 World Series|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/postseason/mlb_ws_recaps.jsp?feature=1984|website=MLB.com|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429082516/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/postseason/mlb_ws_recaps.jsp?feature=1984|url-status=live}}</ref> Jack Morris pitched a complete game with 2 runs on 8 hits, and Detroit drew first blood.<ref name="1984 World Series"/><ref>{{cite web|title=1984 World Series Game 1, Detroit Tigers at San Diego Padres, October 9, 1984|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN198410090.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=October 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021454/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN198410090.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> The Padres evened the series the next night despite pitcher [[Ed Whitson]] being chased after pitching {{frac|2|3}} of an inning and giving up three runs on five Tiger hits.<ref name="1984 World Series"/><ref name="1984 WS Game 2">{{cite web|title=1984 World Series Game 2, Detroit Tigers at San Diego Padres, October 10, 1984|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN198410100.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=October 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021323/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN198410100.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Tigers starter [[Dan Petry]] exited the game after {{frac|4|1|3}} innings when [[Kurt Bevacqua]]'s three-run homer gave San Diego a 5–3 lead they would not relinquish.<ref name="1984 World Series"/><ref name="1984 WS Game 2"/>

When the series shifted to the Motor City, the Tigers took command. In Game 3, a two-out rally in the second inning, highlighted by Marty Castillo's 2-run homer, led to four runs and the yanking of Padres starter [[Tim Lollar]] after {{frac|1|2|3}} innings.<ref name="1984 World Series"/><ref name="1984 WS Game 3">{{cite web|title=1984 World Series Game 3, Detroit Tigers at San Diego Padres, October 12, 1984|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET198410120.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=October 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004103735/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET198410120.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> The Padres never recovered, losing 5–2.<ref name="1984 World Series"/><ref name="1984 WS Game 3"/> [[Eric Show]] continued the parade of bad outings in Game 4, getting bounced after {{frac|2|2|3}} innings after giving up a pair of 2-run homers to World Series MVP Alan Trammell in his first two at-bats. Trammell's homers held up with the help of another Morris complete game, and the Tigers' 4–2 win gave them a commanding lead in the series.<ref name="1984 World Series"/><ref>{{cite web|title=1984 World Series Game 4, Detroit Tigers at San Diego Padres, October 13, 1984|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET198410130.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=October 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021509/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET198410130.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Kirk Gibson 83Tigers.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Kirk Gibson]], a [[Michigan State University|Michigan State]] alumni, hit the clinching home run in Game 5 of the 1984 World Series]]
In Game 5, [[Kirk Gibson]]'s two-run shot in the first inning would be the beginning of another early end for the Padres' starter [[Mark Thurmond]].<ref name="1984 World Series"/><ref name="1984 WS Game 5">{{cite web|title=1984 World Series Game 5, Detroit Tigers at San Diego Padres, October 14, 1984|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET198410140.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=October 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021343/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET198410140.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Wulf>{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Wulf|title=Detroit Jumped All Over 'Em|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1984/10/22/620774/detroit-jumped-all-over-em|website=SI.com|date=October 22, 1984|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=October 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004062432/https://www.si.com/vault/1984/10/22/620774/detroit-jumped-all-over-em|url-status=live}}</ref> Although the Padres would pull back even at 3–3, chasing Petry in the fourth inning in the process, the Tigers retook the lead on a [[Rusty Kuntz]] sacrifice fly (actually a pop-out to retreating second baseman [[Alan Wiggins]] that the speedy Gibson was able to score on), and then went up 5–3 on a solo homer by Parrish.<ref name="1984 World Series"/><ref name="1984 WS Game 5"/><ref name=Wulf/>

Gibson came to bat in the eighth inning with runners on second and third and the Tigers clinging to a 5–4 lead.<ref name="1984 World Series"/><ref name="1984 WS Game 5"/><ref name=Wulf/> A "Sounds of the Game" video made during the Series by MLB Productions captured this moment, and has been played on TV a number of times since then. Padres manager [[Dick Williams]] was shown in the dugout flashing four fingers, ordering an intentional walk, before San Diego reliever [[Goose Gossage]] summoned him to the mound. Sparky Anderson was seen and heard yelling to Gibson, "He don't want to walk you!", and making a swing-the-bat gesture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmukTdo-WuY | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/dmukTdo-WuY| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=YouTube video of Kirk Gibson's 1984 World Series Game 5 home run, Sparky Anderson mic'd |publisher=YouTube.com |date=September 18, 2012 |access-date=December 27, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> As Anderson had suspected, Gossage threw a 1–0 fastball on the inside corner, and Gibson was ready. He launched the pitch into Tiger Stadium's right field upper deck for a three-run homer, giving the Tigers a four-run lead and effectively clinching the game and the series.<ref name="1984 World Series"/><ref name="1984 WS Game 5"/><ref name=Wulf/><ref>{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Dow|title=Rare Video of Sparky Anderson during Kirk Gibson's 1984 World Series Home Run|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2011/03/11/kirk-gibson%E2%80%99s-dramatic-world-series-home-run-off-of-goose-gossage/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=March 11, 2011|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308182135/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2011/03/11/kirk-gibson%E2%80%99s-dramatic-world-series-home-run-off-of-goose-gossage/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Aurelio López]] pitched {{frac|2|1|3}} innings of relief and retired all seven batters he faced, earning the win. Despite allowing a rare run in the top of the 8th inning, Willie Hernández got the save as [[Tony Gwynn]] flew out to Larry Herndon to end the game, sending Detroit into a wild victory celebration.<ref name="1984 World Series"/><ref name="1984 WS Game 5"/><ref name=Wulf/>
[[File:Alan Trammell.jpg|thumb|upright=1.05|1984 World Series MVP, [[Alan Trammell]] (SS)]]
The Tigers led their division wire-to-wire, from opening day and every day thereafter, culminating in the World Series championship. This had not been done in the major leagues since the [[1955 Brooklyn Dodgers season|1955 Brooklyn Dodgers]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Victor|last=Mather|title=Jordan Spieth, Count Fleet and the 1927 Yankees: Wire-to-Wire Champions|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/sports/golf/wire-to-wire-champions-besides-jordan-spieth.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/sports/golf/wire-to-wire-champions-besides-jordan-spieth.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |url-access=limited|website=The New York Times|date=April 13, 2015|access-date=October 1, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> With the win, Anderson became the first manager to win the World Series in both leagues.<ref>{{cite web|first=Cindy|last=Thomson|title=Sparky Anderson|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/8762afda|website=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403045338/https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/8762afda|url-status=live}}</ref>

====1987 AL East Champions====
{{Main|1987 Detroit Tigers season}}
After a pair of third-place finishes in 1985 and 1986,<ref>{{cite web|title=1985 American League Season Summary|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1985.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=October 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010094120/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1985.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1986 American League Season Summary|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1986.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=October 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005235919/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1986.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> the 1987 Tigers faced lowered expectations&nbsp;– which seemed to be confirmed by an 11–19 start to the season.<ref name=Duke>{{cite web|first=Mike|last=Duke|title=30 years ago—the 1987 Detroit Tigers|url=http://www.thedailyreporter.com/news/20170913/30-years-ago-the-1987-detroit-tigers|website=The Daily Reporter|date=September 13, 2017|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006000522/http://www.thedailyreporter.com/news/20170913/30-years-ago-the-1987-detroit-tigers|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the team hit its stride thereafter and gradually gained ground on its AL East rivals.<ref name=Duke/> This charge was fueled in part by the acquisition of pitcher [[Doyle Alexander]] from the [[Atlanta Braves]] in exchange for minor league pitcher [[John Smoltz]]. Alexander started 11 games for the Tigers, posting a 9–0 record and a 1.53 ERA. Smoltz, a Michigan native, went on to have a long and productive career, mostly with the Braves, and was ultimately inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.<ref name=Duke/><ref>{{cite web|first=Ryan|last=Turnquist|title=Tigers trade John Smoltz to Braves|url=https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/inside-pitch/tigers-trade-john-smoltz-to-braves|website=Baseball Hall of Fame|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006000524/https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/inside-pitch/tigers-trade-john-smoltz-to-braves|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite the Tigers' great season, they entered September neck-and-neck with the [[1987 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]]. The two teams would square off in seven hard-fought games during the final two weeks of the season. All seven games were decided by one run, and in the first six of the seven games, the winning run was scored in the final inning of play. At [[Exhibition Stadium]], the Tigers [[List of baseball jargon (D)#drop|dropped]] three in a row to the Blue Jays before winning a dramatic extra-inning showdown.<ref name=Duke/>

The Tigers entered the final week of the 1987 season 2.5 games behind.<ref name=Duke/> After a series against the [[1987 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]], the Tigers returned home trailing by a game and swept the Blue Jays.<ref name=Duke/> Detroit clinched the division in a 1–0 victory over Toronto in front of 51,000 fans at Tiger Stadium on October 4. [[Frank Tanana]] went all nine innings for the complete-game shutout, and outfielder Larry Herndon gave the Tigers their lone run on a second-inning home run. Detroit finished the season two games ahead of Toronto, securing the best record in the majors (98–64).<ref name=Duke/><ref name="1987 standings">{{cite web|title=1987 Major League Baseball Standings & Expanded Standings|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/1987-standings.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006000803/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/1987-standings.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

In what would prove to be their last postseason appearance until 2006, the Tigers were upset in the [[1987 American League Championship Series]] by the 85–77 [[1987 Minnesota Twins season|Minnesota Twins]] (who in turn won the World Series that year) 4–1.<ref name=Duke/><ref name="1987 standings"/><ref>{{cite web|title=1987 World Series|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/postseason/mlb_ws_recaps.jsp?feature=1987|website=MLB.com|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=August 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803122717/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/postseason/mlb_ws_recaps.jsp?feature=1987|url-status=live}}</ref> The Twins clinched the series in Game 5 at Tiger Stadium, 9–5.<ref>{{cite web|title=1987 American League Championship Series (ALCS) Game 5, Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers, October 12, 1987|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET198710120.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=July 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709185946/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET198710120.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>