Detroit Tigers Possible Reunion with Former AL East Rivals

In the latest MLB 2020 proposal idea, the MLB realignment plan would keep the Tigers in Florida. Here’s how the temporary situation would look like.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Major League Baseball’s proposed plan would have teams return to their spring training facilities in Florida and Arizona, playing all their games there to reduce travel during the pandemic. The stadiums would be empty and the teams would be aligned to the geography of the facilities.

This is how the Grapefruit League would look like with the cities they play in Florida in bold and their Google map location linked.

North: Yankees, (Tampa), Philadelphia, (Clearwater), Toronto (Dunedin), Detroit (Lakeland) Pittsburgh (Bradenton)

South: Boston (Fort Myers, Fenway South), Minnesota,(Fort Myers, CenturyParkSports Complex) Atlanta (Venice), Tampa Bay (Port Charlotte), Baltimore (Sarasota)

East: Washington, Houston (both play in West Palm Beach) Mets (Port St. Lucie),  St. Louis, Miami (both play at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter)

Getting familiar with old foes: A history lesson.

Detroit would face Toronto and the Yankees on division level for the first time since 1997. Here’s a bit of history between the three ball clubs in how they finished in the standings since the AL East was first formed in 1969.

• It wasn’t until 1979 that Detroit and New York would finish right next to each other in the Al East standings with the Yankees finishing fourth and Detroit right behind them in fifth. Toronto in just their second year in existence, was seventh that season.
• Beginning in 1983 and until 1985,  Detroit, New York, and Toronto followed each other in the standings.
• First, behind Baltimore, who would win the World Series that season with Detroit, New York, and Toronto.
• In 1984, Detroit would take the division followed by Toronto, and New York in 3rd.
• In 1985 would see Toronto win their first division title followed by New York and Detroit.
• The “Showdown Series” against Toronto and Detroit in 1987 in which Detroit won the division on the last day of the regular season, ramped up the rivalry between the two clubs.

Going back further, in the days of one division in the American League where you either finish “first-division” (top five teams) or “second-division” (bottom five) the Tigers and Yankees had a fascinating history there.

• In 1934 and 1935, the Tigers would win the AL pennant with the Yankees finishing in second. It would flip-flop in 1936 and 1937.
• Two frustrating seasons for Detroit with the Tigers winning 95 games finishing three games back of New York and of course, 1961. Detroit would win 101 games but still fall short to the Yankees dynasty that was beginning to show its age but still won 109 games.

Recently, the Tigers and Pirates have played more against each other in Interleague play to have more of a “rivary”. What do you do think of this idea? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think.