Detroit Tigers: Top 10 Teams In Franchise History

#8 2011 Detroit Tigers

2011 saw the Tigers winning 95 games en route to an American League Division Title, although it wasn’t enough as the Detroit Tigers would eventually lose to the Rangers in the ALCS.

The start of the 2011 season saw the team adding catcher/DH Victor Martinez, relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit, as well as starting pitcher Brad Penny.  The team had an eleven game winning streak-the first since ’68 and a nine-game winning streak, the first since ’84.

Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Alex Avila, Jhonny Peralta, and Jose Valverde all represented the Old English D in the All-Star Game.  Justin Verlander was named both the American League CY Young Award Winner as well as the American League MVP for his 24 wins, 250 strikeouts, and 2.40 ERA.

Winning the American League Title was the team’s first division title since joining the division in 1998. It was also the first division title of any sort sine 1987.

The playoffs saw the Detroit Tigers first facing the Yankees in the ALDS. Game 1 was a highly touted matchup as Justin Verlander faced CC Sabathia in front of a record-setting crowd of 50,940. The Tigers struck first blood, scoring in the first on a Delmon Young solo home run.

The Yankees responded when Derek Jeter was brought in by an Alex Rodriguez RBI. The Yankees would take game one but the Tigers would win the ALDS 3-2, before falling to the Texas Rangers in the ALCS.

The next team our list is the 1909 Detroit Tigers who racked up 98 wins.