Editing Detroit Tigers (section)

====2012: American League Champions====
{{Main|2012 Detroit Tigers season}}
[[File:Miguel Cabrera (2011).jpg|thumb|In 2012, [[Miguel Cabrera]] became the first Major League player to win the [[Major League Baseball Triple Crown|Triple Crown]] in 45 years.]]
[[File:Delmon Young and Prince Fielder on July 13, 2012.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|[[Delmon Young]] (left) and [[Prince Fielder]] (right) in 2012]]
In 2012, the Tigers looked to defend their 2011 AL Central Division title, with the hopes of earning a second consecutive playoff appearance. On January 24, the Tigers signed free agent All-Star first baseman [[Prince Fielder]] to a 9-year, $214 million contract.<ref>{{cite web|title=Source – Detroit Tigers land Prince Fielder with nine-year, $214 million deal|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7498284/detroit-tigers-reportedly-land-prince-fielder-214m-offer|website=ESPN.com|agency=ESPN.com news services|date=January 25, 2012|access-date=January 27, 2013|archive-date=June 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626151707/http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7498284/detroit-tigers-reportedly-land-prince-fielder-214m-offer|url-status=live}}</ref> The move came shortly after the Tigers learned that Víctor Martínez had torn his [[anterior cruciate ligament]] during offseason training in [[Lakeland, Florida]], and would likely miss the entire 2012 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Victor Martinez of Detroit Tigers tears ACL, likely needs season-ending surgery|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7472150/victor-martinez-detroit-tigers-tears-acl-likely-needs-season-ending-surgery|website=ESPN.com|agency=ESPN.com news services|date=January 18, 2012|access-date=October 23, 2018|archive-date=December 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229075806/http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7472150/victor-martinez-detroit-tigers-tears-acl-likely-needs-season-ending-surgery|url-status=live}}</ref> Miguel Cabrera moved back to his original position of third base, leading to the eventual release of veteran [[Brandon Inge]] on April 26.<ref>{{cite web|first=James|last=Schmehl|title=Detroit Tigers sever ties with Brandon Inge, but 'heart will always be in Detroit'|url=https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2012/04/detroit_tigers_brandon_inge_on.html|website=MLive|date=April 26, 2012|access-date=October 23, 2018|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127121958/https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2012/04/detroit_tigers_brandon_inge_on.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 23, the Tigers acquired veteran second baseman [[Omar Infante]], who played for Detroit in 2003–07, and starting pitcher [[Aníbal Sánchez]] from the [[Miami Marlins]] in exchange for starting pitcher [[Jacob Turner]] and two other minor leaguers.<ref>{{cite web|first=C. Trent|last=Rosecrans|title=Tigers land Anibal Sanchez, Omar Infante from Marlins|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/eye-on-baseball/19641381/reports:-tigers-land-anibal-sanchez,-omar-infante-from-marlins|website=CBS Sports|date=July 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205102014/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/19641381/reports:-tigers-land-anibal-sanchez,-omar-infante-from-marlins|archive-date=February 5, 2016|access-date=January 15, 2020}}</ref>

At the midway point of the 2012 season, the Tigers were three games under .500 (39–42).<ref>{{cite web|title=MLB Recap – Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers – Jul 03, 2012|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20120703_MIN@DET|website=CBS Sports|date=July 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004224038/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20120703_MIN@DET|archive-date=October 4, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> The team played much better in the second half and, after a fierce battle down the stretch with the [[2012 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]], the Tigers clinched the AL Central division title on October 1 with a 6–3 win against the [[2012 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tigers repeat as AL Central champs; Cabrera improves Triple Crown chances|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20121001_DET@KC|website=CBS Sports|date=October 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113171943/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20121001_DET@KC|archive-date=November 13, 2012|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> Coupled with the Tigers' division title in 2011, it marked the first back-to-back divisional titles in team history, and first back-to-back postseason appearances since 1934–35.<ref>{{cite web|first=Drew|last=Sharp|title=Drew Sharp: Patience pays as Tigers celebrate AL Central title in Kansas City|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20121002/COL08/121002005/drew-sharp-detroit-tigers-patience-pays-off-al-central|website=Detroit Free Press|date=October 2, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123144326/http://www.freep.com/article/20121002/COL08/121002005/drew-sharp-detroit-tigers-patience-pays-off-al-central|archive-date=January 23, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The Tigers concluded the season with an 88–74 record.<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 American League Season Summary|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2012.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 23, 2018|archive-date=October 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024035231/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2012.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

On the final day of the season, Cabrera earned the Triple Crown in batting, leading the AL in batting average (.330), home runs (44), and runs batted in (139). No player had accomplished this feat since [[Carl Yastrzemski]] in 1967.<ref>{{cite web|title=Venezuela's Miguel Cabrera wins baseball's Triple Crown|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-19826327|website=BBC News|date=October 4, 2012|access-date=January 27, 2013|archive-date=October 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007022200/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-19826327|url-status=live}}</ref> On the mound, starters Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer finished first and second among the American League strikeout leaders, with 239 and 231, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|title=Player Pitching Stats|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/stats/playersort/MLB/KS/ALL/ALL/regularseason/2012?&_1:col_1=17|website=CBS Sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020120628/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/stats/playersort/MLB/KS/ALL/ALL/regularseason/2012?&_1:col_1=17|archive-date=October 20, 2012|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> Verlander (17–8, 2.64 ERA) finished second in the Cy Young Award balloting to [[David Price (baseball)|David Price]] of the Tampa Bay Rays.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jorge L.|last=Ortiz|title=David Price wins AL Cy Young in tight race|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2012/11/14/david-price-american-league-cy-young-winner/1705497/|website=USA Today|date=November 14, 2012|access-date=October 23, 2018|archive-date=July 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702175719/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2012/11/14/david-price-american-league-cy-young-winner/1705497/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[2012 American League Division Series|American League Division Series]], the Tigers defeated the [[2012 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]], 3–2, earning their second straight trip to the [[2012 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Verlander's four-hit shutout sends Tigers back to AL Championship Series|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20121011_DET@OAK|website=CBS Sports|agency=CBSSports.com wire reports|date=October 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005011417/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20121011_DET@OAK|archive-date=October 5, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> The Tigers completed a four-game sweep of the [[2012 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] in the ALCS to win their 11th AL pennant and earn a trip to the [[2012 World Series|World Series]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tigers sweep Yankees in ALCS to reach World Series|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/id/321018106|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=October 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024035253/http://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/id/321018106|archive-date=October 24, 2018|access-date=January 24, 2020}}</ref> In the World Series, the Tigers were swept by the [[2012 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Giants top Tigers in 10th for World Series sweep|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/id/321028106|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=October 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116014547/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/id/321028106|archive-date=January 16, 2020|access-date=January 24, 2020}}</ref>

On November 15, 2012, Cabrera was named AL MVP.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dayn|last=Perry|title=Miguel Cabrera wins 2012 American League MVP Award|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/eye-on-baseball/20996825/miguel-cabrera-wins-2012-american-league-mvp-award|website=CBS Sports|date=November 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205102015/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/20996825/miguel-cabrera-wins-2012-american-league-mvp-award|archive-date=February 5, 2016|access-date=January 15, 2020}}</ref>