Numbers Don't Lie: The Biggest Numbers in Detroit Tigers History - Brossura

Knobler, Danny

Brossura

ISBN 10: 1629370908 ISBN 13: 9781629370903

Casa editrice: Triumph Books, 2015

Riassunto

Tigers fans have witnessed improbable feats, extraordinary achievements, and unmatched performances during the team's 100-plus seasons. Numbers Don't Lie: Behind the Biggest Numbers in Tigers History details the numbers every Tigers fan&;from the rookie attending his first game at Comerica Park to the veteran who recalls Denny McLain's days on the mound&;should know. Author Danny Knobler tells the stories behind the most memorable moments and achievements in Tigers history, including 2: the number of no-hitters Justin Verlander has in his career; .366: Ty Cobb's career batting average, the highest in MLB history; and 1,918: the number of games played together by Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker as a record-setting, double-play combination. Featuring over 50 entries that span more than a century of Tigers magic, this fan book is an engaging, unique look back at the history of one of baseball's most entertaining franchises.

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Informazioni sull'autore

Danny Knobler is a veteran baseball writer who covered the Detroit Tigers for 18 seasons for Booth Newspapers. He has covered baseball for more than 30 years for Baseball America, Bleacher Report, CBSSports.com, ESPN.com, Sport Magazine, and other publications and websites. He lives in New York City.

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Numbers Don't Lie

The Biggest Numbers in Detroit Tigers History

By Danny Knobler

Triumph Books

Copyright © 2015 Danny Knobler
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-62937-090-3

Contents

Foreword by Jim Price, 
Introduction, 
Detroit's 4 World Championships, 
Al Kaline's 62 Years As a Tiger, 
Hughie Jennings Wins 3 Straight AL Pennants, 
Ty Cobb's Lifetime .367* Batting Average, 
Tram and Lou Play 1,918 Games Together, 
Tigers Start 35–5 in 1984, 
Jim Leyland's 5 Playoffs in Eight Years, 
Justin Verlander's 2 No-Hitters, 
Miguel Cabrera Ends MLB's 45 Year Triple Crown Drought, 
Hal Newhouser's 2 MVP Awards, 
Sparky Anderson's 5 Year Guarantee, 
Mickey Cochrane's .582 Winning Percentage as Manager, 
Bill Lajoie Drafts 5 All-Stars in 1976, 
Jack Morris' 11 Consecutive Opening Day Starts, 
Kirk Gibson's 4 20–20 Seasons, 
Alan Trammell's 9 Hits in the 1984 World Series, 
Mickey Lolich's 3 World Series Wins in 1968, 
Dave Dombrowski's 21 July Trades, 
David Price Strikes Out 10 (and Walks None) in Tiger Debut, 
Anibal Sanchez Strikes Out 17, 
Max Scherzer Goes 21–3 in 2013, 
Tiger Pitchers Strike Out 1,428 in 2013, 
Doyle Alexander goes 9–0 in 1987, 
Frank Tanana's Division-Clinching 1–0 Win, 
Willie Hernandez Saves 32 Straight Games in 1984, 
Jose Valverde Saves 49 Games in 2011, 
John Hiller Saves 38 Games in 1973, 
Joel Zumaya Throws a 105 MPH Fastball, 
Comerica Park's 36 Degree Opening Day, 
Tiger Stadium's 440* Foot Center Field, 
Cecil Fielder Hits 51 Home Runs in 1990, 
Mark Fidrych's 2.34 ERA in 1976, 
Schoolboy Rowe's 16 Straight Wins, 
Denny McLain's 31 Win Season, 
Bill Freehan's 11 All-Star Games, 
Norm Cash hits .361 in 1961, 
Willie Horton's 36 Home Runs in 1968, 
Al Kaline Wins a Batting Title at Age 20, 
Gates Brown's 106 Pinch Hits, 
Earl Wilson's 7 Home Runs in 1968, 
Frank Lary's 28 Wins Over the Yankees, 
Magglio Ordonez Hits .363 in 2007, 
Carlos Guillen's 3:30 AM Walk-Off Home Run, 
Carlos Pena's 6 Hit Game, 
Craig Monroe Hits 5 October HRs (and So Does Delmon Young), 
Ivan Rodriguez Signs $40 Million Contract, 
Armando Galarraga's 28 Out Perfect Game, 
Virgil Trucks Throws 2 No-Hitters in One Season, 
Les Mueller's 19-2/3 Inning No-Decision, 
George Kell Hits .343 to Beat Ted Williams, 
Rudy York's 18 Homer Month, 
Hank Greenberg's 183 RBIs in 1937, 
Charlie Gehringer's 60 Doubles in 1936, 
Harry Heilmann's 4 Batting Titles, 
Ty Cobb's 5 Homer Spree, 
Aloysius Travers Allows 24 Runs in One Game, 
Mike Maroth Loses 21 Games in 2003, 
Tigers Lose 119 (But Not 120) in 2003, 
The 12 Tigers Who Survived 2003 and Made It to 2006, 
Curtis Granderson's 23 Triples in 2007, 
Sam Crawford's 309 Triples, 
Tigers' 4 Consecutive Division Titles, 
Ernie Harwell's 6,000 (or So) Games Calling the Tigers, 
Acknowledgments, 
Sources, 

CHAPTER 1

Detroit's 4 World Championships

Being a Tigers fan has always required patience. But being a Tigers fan has also meant that patience will be rewarded.

Each generation gets a championship moment — but just one. Each generation gets a set of heroes, but they move on before the next group can arrive.

Cobb gave way to Gehringer and Greenberg, who gave way to Newhouser, who gave way to Kaline, who gave way to Tram and Lou, who gave way to Verlander and Cabrera.

There were some gaps, but never long enough for anyone to start talking about a curse. Wait a few years, and the next group comes along. The next moment arrives.

Each generation ends up with a championship season to call its own.

In his fascinating book, Baseball: The Fans' Game, Mickey Cochrane wrote that 1935 was and would always be the high point of Tigers history.

"There will be other World Series, of course, and other hysterical celebrations," Cochrane wrote. "But for sheer high glee and generosity I do not believe the '35 triumph of the Detroit Tigers will ever be duplicated."

Care to disagree?

If you grew up with the 1984 Tigers, you probably do. Or with the 1968 Tigers. Or maybe even with the 1945 Tigers.

The seasons to remember are spaced just right, so one doesn't blend in with another. The wait from one magical season to the next can feel like eternity (ask Al Kaline, whose only World Series came in his 16 season), but with few exceptions there's a championship ring in there somewhere.

In all, 28 men have played 12 or more years for the Tigers. Of those, all but three made it to a World Series wearing a Tiger uniform.

The earliest group — the Cobb-era Tigers — never won the World Series, but they remain the only teams in franchise history to win three consecutive American League titles (1907–09).

The 24-year gap between 1909 and 1934 remains the longest in franchise history without a trip to the Series, and perhaps that's one reason why the championship the following season set off such a wild celebration. It didn't hurt that the city and country were just coming out of the Depression, which hit the city's automobile industry especially hard.

There was also the memory of that '34 Series, when the Tigers came home from St. Louis with a three games to two lead but watched the Cardinals win two straight to take the title.

The themes would return with the championships to come, which helped the city celebrate after difficult times, and/or followed a near-miss season.

The '45 championship arrived just a month after the end of World War II. The '68 title helped Detroit recover from the devastation of the 1967 riots. The '84 title came at a time when the Detroit auto industry was really beginning to suffer.

The 1967 team lost the AL title on the final day of the season, and went home feeling it should have won. The 1983 Tigers finished second to the Orioles in the AL East, close enough to understand what it meant not to win.

"There wasn't a doubt in anyone's mind that we were the best team in the league when that season ended," Lance Parrish would say later. "We just ran out of games before we could get there."

Even the 2006 team, which didn't win the World Series, gave the franchise and its fans a sense of recovery. Nine of the 25 players on the World Series roster had also been part of the 2003 team that had to win five of its last six games simply to avoid a 120-loss season. Three other 2003 Tigers played a part in the 2006 season and earned World Series rings.

That group of Tigers is still trying to win a World Series title of its own, and trying to win one for owner Mike Ilitch the way the '84 team was able to hand a trophy to Tom Monaghan, and the '68 team was able to deliver for John Fetzer, the '45 team for Walter Briggs, and the '35 team for Frank Navin.

Even Tiger owners, it seems, all get to enjoy a year of glory if they wait long enough.

But rarely does anyone, be it owner, manager, player or fan, have more than one Tiger championship to call his own.

The 1935 team finished second to the Yankees the next two seasons. One player from that team, pitcher Elden Auker, wrote years later that "we would have won more than just the one World Series if Mr. Briggs had left Cochrane alone to run the team."

The 1968 Tigers followed their title with 90 wins, but the Orioles won 109 that year. The '84 Tigers would win 98 games three years later, but then lost in the playoffs to an 85-win Twins team.

Cochrane was player/manager in 1935, but Briggs fired him late in the 1938 season. The relatively unheralded Steve O'Neill managed the 1945 champions, and the even less heralded Mayo Smith was the manager in 1968. Sparky Anderson won his Tiger title in '84, and now Brad Ausmus is trying to win his.

Tiger history tells you there will be another one, probably not too far into the future. Tiger history tells you that every generation eventually gets its reward.

This generation is still waiting.

CHAPTER 2

Al Kaline's 62 Years As a Tiger

The Tigers have been blessed with stars for every era. If one generation had Ty Cobb, the next had Gehringer and Greenberg. If one generation had Tram and Lou, the next had JV and Miggy.

But there's only one Al Kaline.

There's only one man so heavily associated with this franchise — and so fully committed to it — that he could have the title of Mr. Tiger.

Cobb played his final two seasons in Philadelphia with the Athletics. Gehringer went into business when his playing days were done. Greenberg became the general manager of the Cleveland Indians and later the Chicago White Sox. Trammell went off to coach with the San Diego Padres, and then on Kirk Gibson's staff with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Miguel Cabrera began his career as a Florida Marlin.

Kaline was a Tiger from the day he graduated high school in 1953. He's still a Tiger today.

He never played for another team. He never worked for another team. He even stayed on, well after the time he had planned to retire.

He had gone from player to broadcaster to trusted advisor, and he thought 50 years with one team sounded about right. But then when he got to 50, Kaline decided he wasn't done yet.

More than a decade later, he's still there, as trusted as ever, as respected as ever, as loyal as ever.

Maybe there's another man with another team in another sport who can match Kaline's 62 years (and counting) with the Tigers, but good luck finding him.

Good luck finding anyone who has had a life like Al Kaline's life.

"I hate to think about those people who have to go to work every day who really regret going to work," Kaline told biographer Jim Hawkins in his 2010 book. "There I was, at 18 years old, doing exactly what I wanted to do with my life. And I'm still doing exactly what I've wanted to do, ever since I was 13 years of age.

"How lucky can you be?"

It's more than luck, of course.

Kaline got the chance to sign with the Tigers at 18 because he was that good. He got the chance to play for the Tigers for 22 years because he was that good. He got the chance to become a Tiger broadcaster when he retired, because he was that loved. He got the chance to be a Tiger executive when he was done broadcasting, because he was that respected.

He still is.

The Tigers keep a locker for Kaline in their Comerica Park clubhouse, and players who were born 20 years after he last played a game understand who he is and why he's there. For years, Kaline has put on a uniform in spring training, working with Tiger outfielders.

For years after he retired, he looked like he could still play.

He never thought he would stay so long. Sometime around 2002, just after he left the broadcast booth and was approaching 50 years with the Tigers, Kaline told me that he had always thought 50 would be a good place to stop, a nice round number. But he said then that he wasn't ready to stop, that he was enjoying his new role as front office advisor too much, that as long as his health kept up and his wife Louise didn't mind, he was going to keep working.

A few months later, I ran into Kaline at Detroit Metro Airport. We were both headed to the baseball winter meetings. He said it would be the first time he had ever been.

He boarded the plane with the other Tiger executives, and he took his seat — in coach. Al Kaline is a proud man, and rightfully so, but he's not someone who puts himself above everyone else.

Anyone who has spent time around the Tigers for the last half century has known him. Everyone who has spent time around the Tigers has liked him, and respected him.

His name remains in the Tiger record book, everywhere you look.

Only Cobb had more hits, drove in more runs, and had more total bases. Only Cobb and Charlie Gehringer scored more runs.

For years, Kaline also drew the Tigers' highest salary, and famously turned down a raise to $100,000 in 1971. Kaline had signed for $96,000, the same salary he made in 1970, and when general manager Jim Campbell called him in and said he wanted to make it $100,000, Kaline said no.

"No, we have a contract," Kaline told Campbell. "I'll live up to that. I'll have a better year next year. If you want to give me $100,000 then, that'll be fine."

Kaline did live up to it, making the All-Star team for the first time since 1967. And the next year he did get $100,000.

"I never would have asked for it," Kaline told Hawkins years later. "But Jim Campbell said Mr. Fetzer wanted me to have it."

Kaline never could have guessed that he'd one day be in discussions about whether to acquire players making $20 million a year. Then again, when he signed his original contract with the Tigers for a $15,000 bonus (plus two years' salary at $6,000 a year), he could never have imagined that he'd someday have a $100,000 contract.

He could never have imagined that 62 years later, he'd still be going to work for the only team he has ever known, really the only employer he had ever known.

How lucky can you be?

CHAPTER 3

Hughie Jennings Wins 3 Straight AL Pennants

Hughie Jennings would have been fun to watch.

You don't usually say that about a manager, but there haven't been many managers in baseball history like Hughie Jennings. The Tigers have had high-profile managers through their history — from Mickey Cochrane to Billy Martin to Sparky Anderson to Alan Trammell to Jim Leyland and now Brad Ausmus — but it's safe to say they've never had another manager like Jennings.

They've never had another manager take them to three straight World Series, either. For that matter, they've never had another manager take them to three World Series, consecutive or otherwise.

All while yelling "Eee-yahhhh!" or "Wee-ah!" or "Eee-ya!" or whatever it was that Jennings famously yelled while coaching third base. And while kicking his left leg in the air.

Imagine Sparky or Leyland trying to do that.

Jennings was a coal miner as a kid, and a lawyer later in life. He was known as the best shortstop of his day ("No one compared with Hughie," Honus Wagner once said), and also known for leading the league five straight years in getting hit by pitches (although he seemed to rarely miss a game because of it).

Jennings would later say that his father liked it better when he worked as a mule driver in the coal mines.

"Mules did not drink, and my father had heard that ballplayers did," Jennings told the New York Evening World.

He still chose baseball, and he took over as the Tigers manager when he was just 38 years old. Owner Frank Navin paid $1,000 to draft him from the minor-league Baltimore Orioles as a player in September 1906, even though by that time Jennings was no longer playing regularly and even though he would never play regularly in Detroit (he appeared in six games over five seasons, most on days after the Tigers had clinched the pennant).

The Tigers had gone through five managers in their first six seasons in the American League, and had never finished higher than third place. They already had a pair of Hall of Famers in the lineup: young Ty Cobb, who had yet to develop into being baseball's best player, and Wahoo Sam Crawford, already in his prime.

Jennings predicted a pennant before his Tigers ever played a game, but his first Tiger team didn't start fast. The Tigers spent most of the season in third place, and didn't take over first place for good until the final two weeks.

When they clinched their first-ever pennant, with an October 5 win in St. Louis, the Detroit City Council declared a holiday, and stores put photos of Jennings in their windows.

"Jennings is now the reigning star of the baseball world," the Detroit News wrote.

Tiger fans had quickly taken to the new manager. They took to imitating his "Eee-yahhhh!" yell. Jennings never fully explained what he was saying or why, although he did claim to have coined the phrase "Atta-boy!"

It wasn't just the yells. Jennings would dance, he would whistle, he would pick the grass and throw it in the air. He was a show in himself, and the Tigers became the best road draw in the league, and in 1909 became the first AL team to play before 1 million fans (home and road combined).

Not everyone enjoyed the show. AL president Ban Johnson suspended Jennings for using a tin whistle. A writer called Jennings "silly, destructive, and an insult to American League fans." But Jennings kept right on with the show, even picking up a rubber snake and a jack-in-the-box to distract Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Rube Waddell.

Jennings was more than just a clown, though. He had been a great player, and he knew the game. Soon after taking over the Tigers, he took one look at Cobb and said: "Hear me? This boy [Cobb] has it. He has the makings to become the greatest player who ever lived."

Jennings did get frustrated with Cobb's racism and his tendency to get in trouble, and briefly tried to trade him away. But Jennings and Cobb would remain together and would work together, and the two of them would lead the first great era of Tiger baseball.

"He helped me become a pretty good ballplayer simply by letting me play my own way," Cobb wrote years later.

Cobb didn't need to follow Jennings' signs. He didn't need to show up at morning practices. He rarely got to the ballpark before 2:00 pm, in an era when all games were played in the afternoon. There were days he didn't even make first pitch, and the Tigers would start another player in center field and allow Cobb to enter the game whenever he showed up.

Jennings put up with it, and Cobb did become the greatest player of his era, quite possibly the greatest who ever lived. Cobb was a .375 hitter in Jennings' 14 seasons, with a .962 OPS and a 185 OPS-plus, which suggests he was 85 percent above league average for those years.

The one thing Cobb and Jennings never did together was win a World Series. The Tigers lost to the Chicago Cubs in 1907 and 1908, and to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1909. And despite keeping their best players together, they never got back.

They came close a couple of times, most notably in 1915, when the Tigers won 100 games (more than in any of the pennant seasons) but the Boston Red Sox won 101. Jennings would call that season "my biggest disappointment in Detroit," but the Tigers did well enough that Navin gave his manager a new contract.

He got five more years, but the Tigers didn't get another pennant, and wouldn't until 1934. By 1920, Jennings had lost much of what made him so popular, and when that season ended, he announced he was retiring to go back to Scranton, Pennsylvania, and practice law.

Cobb would take over the Tigers as player/manager. Jennings would go to New York to work with his old teammate John McGraw (where he helped the Giants win two World Series). But the standards they set in Detroit wouldn't soon be forgotten.

Jennings won 1,131 games in his 14 seasons with the Tigers, a number that would be topped by Sparky Anderson more than 70 years later. He won three American League pennants, a record that still hasn't been matched in Detroit, a full century later.

Sparky was a character, without doubt, sometimes as much fun to watch as his many fine teams. But has there ever been a more fun manager, with the Tigers or any other team, than Hughie Jennings?

CHAPTER 4

Ty Cobb's Lifetime .367* Batting Average

Rooting for the Ty Cobb Tigers had to be a little like cheering for the Barry Bonds Giants.

You were watching the best player you'd ever seen. You'd argue he was the best player anyone had ever seen.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Numbers Don't Lie by Danny Knobler. Copyright © 2015 Danny Knobler. Excerpted by permission of Triumph Books.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Triumph Books
• Data di pubblicazione: 2015
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 1629370908
• ISBN 13: 9781629370903
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 278
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: Buchpark GmbH; gpsr@buchpark.de; ; Krügerweg 1; Trebbin; Brandenburg; 14959; Germania