The Detroit Tigers clinched the AL Central pennant for the fourth consecutive time on Sunday with an 1-0 win over the Minnesota Twins. They will now head to Baltimore to face the Orioles in the ALDS.
Here are 11 awesome things about the Detroit Tigers:
1. Miguel Cabrera…
Miggy’s not going to win the Triple Crown this year, and he’s almost certainly not going to take his third straight AL MVP award. But he’s still one of the game’s great hitters, and he’ll enter the postseason after his red-hot September helped the Tigers hold off the Royals in the Central. He’s also just a fun guy to watch do pretty much everything, as demonstrated by the above GIF.
2. …and the rest of their offense
Victor Martinez (USA TODAY Sports Images)
The Tigers sport the Majors’ second best team OPS, trailing only the mile-high Colorado Rockies. Cabrera’s the most recognizable star, but switch-hitting DH Victor Martinez will draw some MVP attention after a career year at age 35 in 2014. And outfielder J.D. Martinez, a scrap-heap acquisition in the offseason, emerged as an offense force in a breakout campaign.
3. The game’s most appreciated owner
Mike Ilitch (center) with Jim Leyland and Dan Dombrowski in 2012 (USA TODAY Sports Images)
A recent ESPN survey showed that Tigers fans appreciate their club’s owner most among fans of all Major League teams. At 85, Ilitch is hardly the game’s most visible owner, but he’s shown a willingness to share some of his Little Caesar’s fortune with stars like Cabrera and Justin Verlander on long-term contract extensions. Speaking of which:
4. Their pizza history
A pizza. (PHOTO: AP Photo)
The pizza magnate that currently owns the Tigers bought them from a different pizza magnate. Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan owned the club from 1983 to 1992 before selling it to Ilitch. Say what you will about the quality of fast-food pizzas, but remember that all pizza is pretty good, and way better than no pizza at all.
5. Their regular history
Ty Cobb (right) was pretty good at baseball. (PHOTO: AP Photo)
The Tigers have been in Detroit since they began as a Western League franchise in 1894, before they became a charter club in the American League in 1901. They’ll vie for their fifth world championship and first since 1984.
6. Max Scherzer’s changeup
(GIF via Grantland.com)
The Tigers’ ace has one of the game’s best changeups and uses it comfortably against lefties and righties. Just look what it did to poor Pedro Alvarez in the above GIF.
7. They’re excellent at trades
(PHOTO: Mark Humphrey/AP Photo, Walt Seng/Family Communications Inc.)
GM Dave Dombrowksi may look like Mr. Rogers, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he’d be OK trading a sport coat for a mere cardigan. Many of the Tigers’ biggest contributors, including Cabrera, Scherzer, David Price and Anibal Sanchez, came to the franchise in trades that now look lopsided in Detroit’s favor.
8. David Price’s dog, Astro
David Price (left) and his dog, Astro. (PHOTO: Chris O’Meara/AP Photo)
David Price came to the Tigers with devastating stuff, a postseason resume, and one of the sport’s coolest dogs. Astro has over 5,000 Twitter followers.
9. The support of Jack White
One of the most underdiscussed storylines of the 2014 baseball season was the emergence of Jack White as a frequent ballpark famous-guy presence. Don’t be fooled by the brooding face; that’s how he smiles.
10. Also, Kate Upton
Kate Upton and Justin Verlander (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Long rumored and finally confirmed to be dating Verlander, Upton certainly won’t have to deal with the Yankees telling her not to wear Tigers gear this postseason.
11. This hot dog
(PHOTO: Sportservice)
Look at this hot dog the Tigers sell.
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