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Detroit Tigers: The Franchise All-Time Bracket

By Bill Felber

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 08: A general view of the Comerica Park scoreboard prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on June 8, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Twins 9-3. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 08: A general view of the Comerica Park scoreboard prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on June 8, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Twins 9-3. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

The Detroit Tigers have presented such immortals as Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Al Kaline, and Miguel Cabrera. But can any of them beat that 1984 team?.

Since the franchise’s creation in 1901, the Detroit Tigers have won four World Series and played in seven others.

The Tigers have also fielded some of the game’s legendary figures. Ty Cobb was a Tiger for virtually the entirety of his career. Al Kaline never wore any other uniform. Hank Greenberg became a Tiger legend in the 1930s and 1940s.

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The franchise history is dotted with Hall of Famers of the stripe of Alan Trammell, Harry Heilmann, Charlie Gehringer, and Wahoo Sam Crawford. In recent years, dominant players such as Justin Verlander, and Miguel Cabrera have carried the Tigers to the brink of ultimate success.

An all-time Tigers bracket, then, embraces the full scope of MLB history.

Filling out that bracket begins with the four world championship teams, the Tigers of 1935, 1945, 1968 and 1984. The Cobb-led Tigers, three-time pennant winners between 1907 and 1909, deserve an entry, and since the 1909 team is by record the best of that bunch, it gets the fifth spot.

For the final three berths, we can choose from among nine post-season qualifiers from various eras. At least one spot ought to be allocated to one of the four consecutive AL Central division winners between 2011 and 2014. The 2011 club had the best record from among those four, and thus, is the logical choice. The 2006 American League champion represents an era that is not already in the field.

With 1909, 1935, 1945, 1968, 1984, 2006 and 2011 included, the final selection should go to the best remaining Tiger team. There are five candidates, the World Series losers of 1907, 1908, 1934, 1940 and  2012. Of those, the 1934 Tigers – with a .656 winning percentage – stand head and shoulders above the rest.

The format is identical to previous bracket challenges. Each matchup in the tournament is decided based on seven criteria. You can think of each as a ‘game,’ the winner of four games advancing. The seven criteria are:

  1. Game 1: Regular season winning percentage.
  2. Game 2: Post-season winning percentage
  3. Game 3: Team OPS+
  4. Game 4: Team ERA+
  5. Game 5 (if necessary): Team WAR
  6. Game 6 (if necessary: Fielding percentage above the league average for the season in question.
  7. Game 7 (if necessary): Hall of Famers or likely future Hall of Famers
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