Editing Detroit Tigers (section)

===A new approach (1988–1995)===
Despite their 1987 division title victory, the [[1988 Detroit Tigers season|Tigers]] proved unable to build on their success. The team lost Kirk Gibson to free agency in the offseason, but still spent much of 1988 in first place in the AL East. A late season slump left the team in second place at 88–74, one game behind the [[1988 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Joseph|last=Durso|title=Gibson Agrees to Sign With the Dodgers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/30/sports/gibson-agrees-to-sign-with-the-dodgers.html|website=The New York Times|date=January 30, 1988|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006040620/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/30/sports/gibson-agrees-to-sign-with-the-dodgers.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Story Of The 1988 Detroit Tigers|url=http://thesportsnotebook.com/2014/11/1988-detroit-tigers-sports-history-articles/|website=TheSportsNotebook.com|date=November 18, 2014|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=May 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529203633/http://www.thesportsnotebook.com/2014/11/1988-detroit-tigers-sports-history-articles/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Cecil Fielder 1996.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Cecil Fielder]] in 1996]]
In 1989, the [[1989 Detroit Tigers season|team]] collapsed to a 59–103 record, worst in the majors.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ross|last=Newhan|title=He Lost Spark, but Found Himself: Baseball: When his Detroit Tigers suddenly went downhill in 1989, it took a while for Anderson to pick himself up.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-07-sp-149-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=May 7, 1990|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=September 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920155123/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-05-07/sports/sp-149_1_detroit-tigers|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1989 Major League Baseball Standings & Expanded Standings|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/1989-standings.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006035230/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/1989-standings.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> The franchise then attempted to rebuild using a power-hitting approach, with sluggers [[Cecil Fielder]], [[Rob Deer]] and [[Mickey Tettleton]] joining Trammell and Whitaker in the lineup (fitting for the team with the most 200+ home run seasons in baseball history).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_hr7.shtml |title=Home Run Records by a Team During a Single Season |publisher=Baseball-almanac.com |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-date=November 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101091115/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_hr7.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1990, Fielder led the American League with 51 home runs (becoming the first player to hit 50 since [[George Foster (baseball)|George Foster]] in 1977, and the first AL player since [[Roger Maris]] and [[Mickey Mantle]] in 1961), and finished second in the voting for AL MVP.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dan|last=Holmes|title=Fielder was the best bargain the Tigers ever had|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2013/02/20/fielder-was-the-best-bargain-the-tigers-ever-had/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=February 20, 2013|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-date=January 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115221746/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2013/02/20/fielder-was-the-best-bargain-the-tigers-ever-had/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=GregEno|title=Hot stove throwback: Cecil Fielder, the prodigal son slugger who became a Tigers legend|url=https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/12/7/7343573/hot-stove-throwback-cecil-fielder-free-agent-1990|website=Bless You Boys|date=December 7, 2014|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223603/https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/12/7/7343573/hot-stove-throwback-cecil-fielder-free-agent-1990|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Craig|last=Muder|title=Henderson named 1990 AL MVP|url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/henderson-wins-1990-al-mvp|website=Baseball Hall of Fame|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223221/https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/henderson-wins-1990-al-mvp|url-status=live}}</ref> He hit 44 home runs and collected 132 RBI in 1991, again finishing second in the AL MVP balloting.<ref>{{cite web|first=Murray|last=Chass|title=BASEBALL; Ripken Outpolls Fielder in Winning M.V.P. Award|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/20/sports/baseball-ripken-outpolls-fielder-in-winning-mvp-award.html|website=The New York Times|date=November 20, 1991|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223357/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/20/sports/baseball-ripken-outpolls-fielder-in-winning-mvp-award.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Behind the hitting of Fielder and others, the Tigers improved by 20 wins in 1990 (79–83), and posted a winning record in 1991 (84–78).<ref>{{cite web|title=1990 American League Season Summary|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1990.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005175659/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1990.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1991 American League Season Summary|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1991.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006020536/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1991.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the team lacked quality pitching, despite [[Bill Gullickson]]'s 20 wins in 1991, and its core of key players began to age, setting the franchise up for decline.<ref>{{cite web|title=1991 Detroit Tigers Statistics|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1991.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223130/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1991.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Their minor league system was largely barren of talent as well, producing only a few everyday players during the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dan|last=Holmes|title=For Travis Fryman, the timing was wrong in Detroit|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2012/06/30/for-travis-fryman-the-timing-was-wrong-in-detroit/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=May 30, 2012|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-date=January 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115222728/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2012/06/30/for-travis-fryman-the-timing-was-wrong-in-detroit/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Dan|last=Holmes|title=Unfortunate timing: The Career of Bobby Higginson|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2012/02/09/unfortunate-timing-the-career-of-bobby-higginson/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=February 9, 2012|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-date=January 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115222317/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2012/02/09/unfortunate-timing-the-career-of-bobby-higginson/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tony Clark debuts on Hall of Fame ballot|url=https://baseballhall.org/hof/2015-bbwaa-ballot/clark-tony|website=Baseball Hall of Fame|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008022825/https://baseballhall.org/hof/2015-bbwaa-ballot/clark-tony|url-status=live}}</ref> Adding insult to injury, the Tigers and radio station [[WJR]] announced in December 1990 that they were not renewing the contract of long-time Hall of Fame play-by play announcer [[Ernie Harwell]], and that the 1991 season would be Harwell's last with the team.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tigers Fire Ernie Harwell, Broadcast Veteran of 31 Seasons|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-19-sp-6462-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|date=December 19, 1990|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=December 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228234313/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-19-sp-6462-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The announcement was met with resounding protests from fans, both in Michigan and around the baseball world.<ref>{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Bohn|title=Ernie Harwell|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/3aee1452|website=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008061250/https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/3aee1452|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[1992 Detroit Tigers season|1992]] saw the Tigers win only 75 games, with Fielder being one of the few bright spots as he won the AL RBI title for a third straight season (124).<ref>{{cite web|title=1992 American League Season Summary|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1992.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005211210/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1992.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cecil Fielder Stats|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fieldce01.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008061245/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fieldce01.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 1992, the franchise was sold to [[Mike Ilitch]], the President and CEO of [[Little Caesars|Little Caesars Pizza]] who also owned the [[Detroit Red Wings]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tigers sold to rival pizza baron|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/08/13/Tigers-sold-to-rival-pizza-baron/9618713678400/|website=UPI.com|date=August 13, 1992|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223513/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/08/13/Tigers-sold-to-rival-pizza-baron/9618713678400/|url-status=live}}</ref> One of Ilitch's first moves as the new owner was to rehire Ernie Harwell.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tigers rehire Harwell|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/09/18/Tigers-rehire-Harwell/2465716788800/|website=UPI.com|date=September 18, 1992|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223348/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/09/18/Tigers-rehire-Harwell/2465716788800/|url-status=live}}</ref> Late in the season, Sparky Anderson won his 1,132nd game as a Tiger manager, passing Hughie Jennings for the most all-time wins in franchise history.<ref name="Sparky's record"/> The team also responded with an 85–77 season in [[1993 Detroit Tigers season|1993]], but it would be their last winning season for a number of years.<ref name=Fangraphs>{{cite web|first=Geoff|last=Young|title=Losing streaks, winning teams|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/tht/losing-streaks-winning-teams/|website=FanGraphs|date=September 8, 2010|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008022707/https://www.fangraphs.com/tht/losing-streaks-winning-teams/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Leyland>{{cite web|first=Vito|last=Chirco|title=Leyland changed the way Detroiters viewed their baseball team|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2016/04/26/jim-leyland-turned-detroit-tigers-baseball-around/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=April 26, 2016|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-date=January 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115222348/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2016/04/26/jim-leyland-turned-detroit-tigers-baseball-around/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 2, 1995, manager Sparky Anderson chose to not only end his career with the Tigers, but retire from baseball altogether.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://baseballbiography.com/sparky-anderson-1934 |title=Sparky Anderson |publisher=BaseballBiography.com |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201191411/https://baseballbiography.com/sparky-anderson-1934/ |url-status=live }}</ref>