1987 Detroit Tigers season
Encyclopedia
The 1987
Detroit Tigers
season saw the Tigers make a startling late-season comeback to win the American League Eastern Division
. The Tigers finished with a record of 98 wins and 64 losses, two games ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays
. Detroit lost the American League Championship Series
to the Minnesota Twins
in 5 games.
from the Atlanta Braves
in exchange for minor league pitcher John Smoltz
. Alexander started 11 games for the Tigers, posting 9 wins without a loss and a 1.53 ERA. The deal came at a price. Smoltz, a Lansing, Michigan native, went on to have a long, productive career with the Braves and would later win a Cy Young Award
.
Despite their improvement, they entered September neck-and-neck with the Toronto Blue Jays
. The two teams would square off in seven hard-fought games during the final two weeks of the season. All seven games were decided by one run, and in the first six of the seven games, the winning run was scored in the final inning of play. At Exhibition Stadium
, the Tigers dropped three in a row to the Blue Jays before winning a dramatic extra-inning showdown.
The Tigers entered the final week of the 1987 season 3.5 games behind. After a series against the Baltimore Orioles
, the Tigers returned home trailing by a game and swept the Blue Jays. Detroit clinched the division in a 1-0 victory over Toronto in front of 51,005 fans at Tiger Stadium on Sunday afternoon, October 4. Frank Tanana
went all nine innings for the complete game shutout, and outfielder Larry Herndon
gave the Tigers their lone run on a second-inning home run. Detroit finished the season a Major League-best 98-64, two games ahead of Toronto.
In what would prove to be their last postseason appearance until 2006, the Tigers lost the 1987 American League Championship Series
to the underdog Minnesota Twins
(who would go on to win the World Series) in five games.
The 1987 Tigers' winning percentage ranks as the 10th best in team history, as follows:
Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In
1987 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Minnesota Twins over St. Louis Cardinals ; Frank Viola, MVP**American League Championship Series: Gary Gaetti, MVP**National League Championship Series: Jeff Leonard, MVP...
Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
season saw the Tigers make a startling late-season comeback to win the American League Eastern Division
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
. The Tigers finished with a record of 98 wins and 64 losses, two games ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays
1987 Toronto Blue Jays season
The Toronto Blue Jays season witnessed the Blue Jays finishing second in the American League East with a record of 96 wins and 66 losses. They had been in first place by 3½ games over the Detroit Tigers with a week left to play...
. Detroit lost the American League Championship Series
1987 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 7, 1987 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, MinnesotaThe 1987 AL playoffs opened at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, with the Tigers throwing Doyle Alexander against the Twins' Frank Viola. In the bottom of the second, the Twins opened the scoring when third...
to the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in 5 games.
Regular season
After a pair of disappointing third-place finishes in 1985 and 1986, the 1987 Tigers faced lowered expectations - which seemed to be confirmed by an 11-19 start to the season. The team hit its stride thereafter and gradually gained ground on its AL East rivals. This charge was fueled in part by the acquisition of pitcher Doyle AlexanderDoyle Alexander
Doyle Lafayette Alexander is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers...
from the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in exchange for minor league pitcher John Smoltz
John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
. Alexander started 11 games for the Tigers, posting 9 wins without a loss and a 1.53 ERA. The deal came at a price. Smoltz, a Lansing, Michigan native, went on to have a long, productive career with the Braves and would later win a Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
.
Despite their improvement, they entered September neck-and-neck with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. The two teams would square off in seven hard-fought games during the final two weeks of the season. All seven games were decided by one run, and in the first six of the seven games, the winning run was scored in the final inning of play. At Exhibition Stadium
Exhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
, the Tigers dropped three in a row to the Blue Jays before winning a dramatic extra-inning showdown.
The Tigers entered the final week of the 1987 season 3.5 games behind. After a series against the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, the Tigers returned home trailing by a game and swept the Blue Jays. Detroit clinched the division in a 1-0 victory over Toronto in front of 51,005 fans at Tiger Stadium on Sunday afternoon, October 4. Frank Tanana
Frank Tanana
Frank Daryl Tanana is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He was the California Angels' 1st round draft pick in 1971....
went all nine innings for the complete game shutout, and outfielder Larry Herndon
Larry Herndon
Larry Darnell Herndon is a former Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals , San Francisco Giants , and Detroit Tigers...
gave the Tigers their lone run on a second-inning home run. Detroit finished the season a Major League-best 98-64, two games ahead of Toronto.
In what would prove to be their last postseason appearance until 2006, the Tigers lost the 1987 American League Championship Series
1987 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 7, 1987 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, MinnesotaThe 1987 AL playoffs opened at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, with the Tigers throwing Doyle Alexander against the Twins' Frank Viola. In the bottom of the second, the Twins opened the scoring when third...
to the underdog Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(who would go on to win the World Series) in five games.
The 1987 Tigers' winning percentage ranks as the 10th best in team history, as follows:
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Transactions
- June 2, 1987: 1987 Major League Baseball Draft1987 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1987 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
- Travis FrymanTravis FrymanDavid Travis Fryman is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and shortstop, and currently a hitting instructor for the Cleveland Indians farm system...
was drafted by the Tigers in the 1st round (30th pick). Player signed June 6, 1987. - Torey LovulloTorey LovulloSalvatore Anthony "Torey" Lovullo is a former Major League Baseball infielder and current first base coach of The Toronto Blue Jays. He was the manager of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. He is an alumnus of the University of California, Los Angeles...
was drafted by the Tigers in the 5th round. Player signed June 7, 1987.
- Travis Fryman
- June 4, 1987: Bill MadlockBill MadlockBill "Mad Dog" Madlock, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. From 1973 to 1987, Madlock was a right-handed hitter who won several National League batting titles. His record of four batting titles as a third baseman would be eclipsed in 1988 by Wade Boggs. Since 1970, only Tony Gwynn has...
was signed as a free agent by the Tigers. - August 7, 1987: Darnell ColesDarnell ColesDarnell Coles is a former Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball player who played primarily as a third baseman and outfielder from to...
and a player to be named later were traded by the Tigers to the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
for Jim MorrisonJim Morrison (baseball)James Forrest Morrison , is a former professional baseball player who played second and third base in the Major Leagues from 1977 to 1988. During his baseball career, Morrison played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, and Atlanta Braves...
. The Tigers completed the deal by sending Morris MaddenMorris MaddenMorris DeWayne Madden is a former pitcher who played for either the Detroit Tigers or Pittsburgh Pirates between 1987 and 1989.-References:...
to the Pirates on August 12. - August 12, 1987: John SmoltzJohn SmoltzJohn Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
was traded by the Tigers to the Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Doyle AlexanderDoyle AlexanderDoyle Lafayette Alexander is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers...
. - September 22, 1987: Dickie NolesDickie NolesDickie Ray Noles was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies , Chicago Cubs , Texas Rangers , Cleveland Indians , Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles ....
was loaned to the Tigers by the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
Roster
| 1987 Detroit Tigers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
| = Indicates team leader |
Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In
| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Matt Nokes Matt Nokes Matthew Dodge Nokes is a retired American professional baseball catcher and designated hitter. He played eleven seasons in Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants , the Detroit Tigers , New York Yankees , the Baltimore Orioles, and the Colorado Rockies... |
135 | 461 | 133 | .289 | 32 | 87 |
| 1B | Darrell Evans Darrell Evans Darrell Wayne Evans is a former third baseman and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1969 to 1989 with the Atlanta Braves , San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers . He is also the former manager and director of player personnel for the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball... |
150 | 499 | 128 | .257 | 34 | 99 |
| 2B | Lou Whitaker | 149 | 604 | 160 | .265 | 16 | 59 |
| 3B | Tom Brookens Tom Brookens Thomas Dale Brookens is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers , New York Yankees , and Cleveland Indians... |
143 | 444 | 107 | .241 | 14 | 59 |
| SS | Alan Trammell Alan Trammell Alan Stuart Trammell is a retired American baseball shortstop of the Detroit Tigers from to . Trammell, nicknamed "Tram", played his entire career with the Tigers, highlighted by a World Series championship in and an American League East division championship in . Although his arm was not... |
151 | 597 | 205 | .343 | 28 | 105 |
| LF | Kirk Gibson Kirk Gibson Kirk Harold Gibson is a former Major League Baseball player and currently the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. As a player, Gibson was an outfielder who batted and threw left-handed... |
128 | 487 | 135 | .277 | 24 | 79 |
| CF | Chet Lemon Chet Lemon Chester Earl Lemon is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. A three time All-Star, he was a member of the World Series champion 1984 Detroit Tigers.-Early years:... |
146 | 470 | 130 | .277 | 20 | 75 |
| RF | Pat Sheridan Pat Sheridan Patrick Arthur Sheridan is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1981, 1983–1989, and 1991.... |
141 | 421 | 109 | .259 | 6 | 49 |
| DH | Bill Madlock Bill Madlock Bill "Mad Dog" Madlock, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. From 1973 to 1987, Madlock was a right-handed hitter who won several National League batting titles. His record of four batting titles as a third baseman would be eclipsed in 1988 by Wade Boggs. Since 1970, only Tony Gwynn has... |
87 | 326 | 91 | .279 | 14 | 50 |
Other batters
| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Herndon Larry Herndon Larry Darnell Herndon is a former Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals , San Francisco Giants , and Detroit Tigers... |
89 | 225 | 73 | .324 | 9 | 47 |
| Scott Lusader Scott Lusader Scott Edward Lusader is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Detroit Tigers from – and briefly for the New York Yankees in . Lusader attended the University of Florida before playing in the major leagues... |
23 | 47 | 15 | .319 | 1 | 8 |
| Mike Heath Mike Heath Michael Thomas Heath is a former catcher in Major League Baseball. Heath played fourteen seasons in the major leagues with the New York Yankees , Oakland Athletics , St... |
93 | 270 | 76 | .281 | 8 | 33 |
| Dave Bergman Dave Bergman David Bruce Bergman was a Major League Baseball first baseman, designated hitter, and outfielder.Born in Evanston, Illinois, Bergman is an alumnus of Maine South High School and Illinois State University... |
91 | 172 | 47 | .273 | 6 | 22 |
| Billy Bean Billy Bean William Daro "Billy" Bean is a former Major League Baseball player who made news in 1999 when he made his homosexuality public.-Career:... |
26 | 66 | 17 | .258 | 0 | 4 |
| Jim Walewander Jim Walewander James Walewander was a Major League Baseball infielder. He is an alumnus of Iowa State University. Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 9th round of the 1983 MLB amateur draft, Walewander was notoriously a fan of the satirical Philadelphia punk band The Dead Milkmen, endearing himself to Tiger... |
53 | 54 | 13 | .241 | 1 | 4 |
| Jim Morrison Jim Morrison (baseball) James Forrest Morrison , is a former professional baseball player who played second and third base in the Major Leagues from 1977 to 1988. During his baseball career, Morrison played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, and Atlanta Braves... |
34 | 117 | 24 | .205 | 4 | 19 |
| Terry Harper Terry Harper (baseball) Terry Joe Harper , is a retired professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from -. He played for the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Detroit Tigers, as well as one season for the Yakult Swallows in Japan.-External links:... |
31 | 64 | 13 | .203 | 3 | 10 |
| Johnny Grubb Johnny Grubb John Maywood Grubb, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter, who also occasionally played at first base... |
59 | 114 | 23 | .202 | 2 | 13 |
| Dwight Lowry Dwight Lowry Dwight Lowry, born Dwight Lowery was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Detroit Tigers in 1984, 1986, and 1987, and for the Minnesota Twins in 1988.-Biography:... |
13 | 25 | 5 | .200 | 0 | 1 |
| Darnell Coles Darnell Coles Darnell Coles is a former Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball player who played primarily as a third baseman and outfielder from to... |
53 | 149 | 27 | .181 | 4 | 15 |
| Orlando Mercado Orlando Mercado Orlando Mercado Rodríguez is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player. He played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, and Montreal Expos... |
10 | 22 | 3 | .136 | 0 | 1 |
| Tim Tolman Tim Tolman Timothy Lee Tolman is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.Tolman played his college baseball at the University of Southern California and was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 12th round of the 1978 amateur draft... |
9 | 12 | 1 | .083 | 0 | 1 |
| Doug Baker Doug Baker Douglas Lee Baker is a former infielder in Major League Baseball player who played with the Detroit Tigers from - and the Minnesota Twins from -. Baker played in 136 Major League games and had a .207 batting average with 51 hits, 38 runs, 22 RBIs, and 11 doubles.-External links:... |
8 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doyle Alexander Doyle Alexander Doyle Lafayette Alexander is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers... |
11 | 88⅓ | 9 | 0 | 1.53 | 44 |
| Jack Morris Jack Morris John Scott "Jack" Morris is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played in 18 big league seasons between 1977 and 1994, mainly for the Detroit Tigers, and won 254 games throughout his career... |
34 | 266 | 18 | 11 | 3.38 | 208 |
| Frank Tanana Frank Tanana Frank Daryl Tanana is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He was the California Angels' 1st round draft pick in 1971.... |
34 | 218⅔ | 15 | 10 | 3.91 | 146 |
| Walt Terrell Walt Terrell Charles Walter Terrell is a former starting pitcher with an eleven year career from 1982 to 1992. He played for the New York Mets , Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates , and once again the Detroit Tigers... |
35 | 244⅔ | 17 | 10 | 4.05 | 143 |
| Jeff Robinson | 29 | 127⅓ | 9 | 6 | 5.37 | 98 |
| Dan Petry Dan Petry Daniel Joseph Petry is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers , California Angels , Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox .... |
30 | 134⅔ | 9 | 7 | 5.61 | 93 |
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Henneman Mike Henneman Michael Alan Henneman was a pitcher with a 10-year career from 1987 to 1996. He played for the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers, both of the American League, and the Houston Astros of the National League.... |
55 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 2.98 | 75 |
| Willie Hernández Willie Hernández Guillermo "Willie" Hernández Villanueva is a former relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , and the Detroit Tigers . He threw and batted left-handed.-Career:... |
45 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 3.67 | 30 |
| Nate Snell Nate Snell Nathaniel Snell is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during four seasons at the major league level for the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers. He was signed by the Orioles as an amateur free agent in 1977... |
22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3.96 | 19 |
| Mark Thurmond Mark Thurmond Mark Anthony Thurmond , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1983-1990... |
48 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4.23 | 21 |
| Dickie Noles Dickie Noles Dickie Ray Noles was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies , Chicago Cubs , Texas Rangers , Cleveland Indians , Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles .... |
4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4.50 | 0 |
| Eric King Eric King (baseball) Eric Steven King was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He may be best known for giving up Ken Griffey, Jr's first career Major League home run.... |
55 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 4.89 | 89 |
| Bryan Kelly Bryan Kelly (baseball) Bryan Keith Kelly is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during two seasons at the major league level for the Detroit Tigers. He was drafted by the Tigers in the 6th round of the 1981 amateur draft... |
5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5.06 | 10 |
| Morris Madden Morris Madden Morris DeWayne Madden is a former pitcher who played for either the Detroit Tigers or Pittsburgh Pirates between 1987 and 1989.-References:... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16.20 | 0 |