1901: Tigers score 9 in the 9th to win first AL Game: Tigers trailed 13-4 in the 9th and won the game 14-13.
1935: Goslin’s single: The Tigers lost four World Series since joining the American League in 1901. In 1935, they broke through for their first title. Goose Goslin walk-off single in the winning run in the 9th inning of Game 6.
1945:Greenberg’s slam: Greenberg returned from World War II and hit a Grand Slam in the 9th inning of the final game of the season to propel Detroit to the World Series. Tigers beat the Cubs in 7.
1968: McLain wins 30: Denny McLain became the first pitcher since Dizzy Dean in 1934 to win 30 games. In ‘68 Tigers fashion, the team scored in the 9th to win the game. No one has won 30 since. Steve Carlton won 27 in 1972 and Bob Welch won 27 in 1990.
1968: Horton to Freehan: The Tigers trailed the Cardinals 3 games to 1 in the 1968 World Series. In Game 5, Willie Horton threw out Lou Brock at home to stymie a Cardinal rally. The Tigers rallied and won the game keeping the series alive.
1968: Lolich wins 3: Mickey Lolich won Game 2 of the 1968 World Series and even hit a home run. He benefited from timely hitting and Horton’s throw to win Game 5. In Game 7, he shut down the Cardinals giving up only a meaningless solo home run. Lolich won the World Series MVP award with three complete game wins in the Tigers World Series victory.
1984: 35-5: This is unfathomable. The Tigers started the 1984 season with 35 wins in their first 40 games. 25 wins would have been good. As a result of their start, they lead the AL East from wire-to-wire and made their first postseason appearance since 1972.
1984: Goosebusters: The Tigers led the 1984 World Series 3 games to 1. In Game 5, San Diego kept the game close and hoped to survive to force Game 6. They brought in Rich “Goose” Gossage to keep the game close. Lance Parrish launched a home run off him. In the 8th inning, Kirk Gibson launched a three-run shot off Goose clinching the championship. Prior to the upper deck shot, Gossage refused to walk Gibson.
1987: The Comeback: The Tigers trailed the Toronto Blue Jays by 3 ½ games with 8 games to play. Kirk Gibson hit a dramatic game tying home run the following game and the Tigers rallied for a 13th inning win cutting the lead to 2 ½ games. Detroit went 5-2 in their final seven games. Toronto went 0-7. Detroit swept Toronto in the final three games of the regular season. In Game 162, Frank Tanana shutout Toronto 1-0. Larry Herndon hit a home run for the game’s only run.
2006: Maggs!: Detroit stunk for a decade. In 2003, they lost 119 games. In 2006, they returned to the postseason for the first time in 19 years. After beating the Yanks in the ALDS, they lead Oakland 3-0 in the ALCS. Detroit trailed early in Game Four. Magglio Ordonez hit a homer earlier in the game. In the 9th, he launched a three-run walk off home run to send Detroit to their first World Series since 1984.
