Detroit Tigers: Ranking the World Series wins

The Detroit Tigers won the fall classic in 1968, in what turned out to be a rallying point for the City of Detroit amidst riots.

In 1967 the city of Detroit broke out in riots. Tigers Slugger Willie Horton infamously went to the corner where he grew up (at 12^th and Clairmont) and stood on the hood of his car in full uniform to try and quell rioters. He was unsuccessful. The city of Detroit needed something to help them heal, 1968 saw the Tigers win 103 games en route to a World Series win against the Cardinals. ’68 was known as the year of the pitcher, as the Tigers had AL CY Young and MVP winner Denny McLain.

McLain finished the regular season with a 31-6 record. He is the last pitcher to win 30 games in MLB. He posted 41 starts, 28 complete games, with a 1.96 ERA, and 280 Ks. McLain seemed destined to be the dominant pitcher in the World Series.

However, Mickey Lolich would be what many thought McLain would be during the World Series. Lolich won three straight games in the fall classic, including a decisive game seven. Behind three brilliant games from Lolich, the Tigers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win it all.

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Lolich recalled his efforts years later according to the Detroit Athletic Co.

"“Pitching three complete games in a World Series is, you know, is sort of a great feat,” Lolich said in recalling his 1968 effort in an interview with George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press.”"

The Tigers became a rallying point in 1968 and as MLive.com pointed out, they helped the city heal after the riots of 1967. Something that the other four wins didn’t do and thus why we think it’s the greatest World Series in Tigers history.