The Detroit Tigers were home to one of the greatest players in baseball history. Who else would join Cobb on the franchise Mount Rushmore?
The Detroit Tigers have had spurts of success, surrounded by ongoing struggles. After coming into the American League in 1901, their fortunes changed when they managed to land sign the young Ty Cobb. Paired with Sam Crawford and a strong pitching staff, the Tigers made the World Series in three consecutive seasons from 1907 through 1909. However, they failed to win the championship in any appearance.
Despite having Cobb for most of the next two decades, and a relatively strong pitching staff, the Tigers were unable to return to the postseason until 1934. Again, they lost the World Series that year, but they returned in 1935. This time, led by Tommy Bridges and Charlie Gehringer, the Tigers finally broke through, winning their first World Series. The Tigers would win the championship again in 1940 and 1945, capping one of the more successful stretches in team history.
However, after a pair of second place finishes, the Tigers again fell down the standings in the American League. Finally, in the mid 1960s, they began to show signs of improvement. Then, in 1968, led by Denny McLain, the last 30 game winner in baseball history, the Tigers won the World Series again.
Detroit remained in contention afterwards, making the playoffs again in 1972, but fell off the pace once again. Then, in 1984, the Tigers roared out of the gates, winning 35 of their first 40 games. They coasted from there, handily winning the American League East. They dominated the postseason, taking home their last World Series title.
Since then, the Tigers have made the playoffs six times, including five times in the past dozen years. Although they have made the World Series twice in that time frame, that 1984 pennant remains the last one. With the Tigers currently in the midst of a rebuild, those playoff years seem like ancient history.
For now, let us look back through the history of the Detroit Tigers, and see which players belong on their Mount Rushmore.