Paper Tigers?by Paul Wysard If you are a baseball fan not old enough to recall the origins of this title, you will also probably view the Detroit Tigers as a doormat, a weaker franchise which remains far outside the circle of post-season participation and national attention. But if you do recall Peoples' Republic of China dictator Mao using the term to deride and dismiss potential enemies (including the United States), you will almost certainly recognize the Bengals from the Motor City as rich in history and success, as one of about a dozen Distinguished Franchises. What is a "Distinguished Franchise?" Following are some admittedly subjective criteria which nevertheless should elicit at least some agreement and mutual acceptance: (1) Have there been multiple pennants and World Series triumphs? (2) Has a World Series been won within the past 25 years? (3) Has the team been in any other post-season competition within the past 15 years? (4) Is there a significant number of Hall-of-Famers who played for the club? (5) Did a significant number of MVPs and Cy Young winners wear the uniform? and, last, (6) Are there highly memorable locales or incidents associated with the franchise? That is to say, has it contributed to, and does it exude, "Tradition?" Let's look at the situation since 1920. Love 'em or hate 'em, one has to admit that the Yankees stand at the pinnacle, apart from the rest of such franchises. With over 20 Series titles and its many stars and legends, the record speaks loudly and clearly for itself. In a second, but ultra-classy tier, we see the Cardinals and the Dodgers, the former with 15 pennants and 11 Series wins and the latter at 17 and 6. Then we have the Athletics, 9 / 7, and the Reds, 8 / 4. The itinerant Braves (8 / 2) and the Giants (11 / 4) are just a tad below that third level because the Braves would need another Series win and the Giants have not won the big event in 50 years. Closing out this special group are the Orioles (7 / 4), the Pirates (5 / 4), the Twins/Senators (6 / 3), the Red Sox and Cubs (not for their Series records, but for everything else), and... the Detroit Tigers. A century ago, there were pennants highlighted by the feats and fisticuffs of Ty Cobb, but even after that Dead Ball era, the Tigers won pennants in 1934, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1968 and 1984, and the Series in 1935 and in the last three flag seasons. In the 7th game in 1934, an altercation between Cardinal star Joe Medwick and Tiger third baseman Marv Owen resulted in the infamous debris-laden later innings as Detroit fans pelted Medwick and Commissioner Landis ordered him removed from the game for his own safety. In 1945, the great Hank Greenberg returned from four years of wartime service to hit a pennant-clinching grand slam homerun in the last inning of the last game, and then jerked two more long balls in the Series. In 1968, Denny McClain became the last 30-game winner in the Majors and portly southpaw Mickey Lolich was 3-0 in the Series over Bob Gibson and the Cardinals. In 1984, in late May, the club was an incredible 35-5 under Manager Sparky Anderson. And, in 1941, a young, cocky and jubilant Ted Williams bounded around the bases after hitting a gigantic 3-run homer to win the All-Star Game for the AL in Briggs Stadium. Maybe you have seen that film clip. Tradition. Before proceeding, a disclaimer is probably appropriate. I am a Braves fan, but the Big Leagues came into my life to stay during the 1945 World Series, heard over Armed Forces Radio. Since that time, the Tigers and the Cubs have always been viewed in a "favorable" way. In contrast, "unfavorable" stances have existed for decades with respect to the Dodgers (Enemy # 1), the Mets (all that Big Apple blather), and the Yankees (although I have great respect for current players such as Jeter and old-timers such as Mize and Reynolds). "Somewhat favorable" views of the Red Sox and the Giants and the newer Mariners close out the bias; all other clubs are seen in a neutral context, but with some cheering if an individual player builds a superior season in whatever way.
How many Hall-of-Famers has Detroit given us? Here is a batting order: There have been 8 MVPs, some multiple, and including Greenberg, Gehringer, and Newhouser. Cy Young awardees were McClain(twice) and reliever Hernandez in the remarkable 1984 season. Other memorable stars on the mound were talented Schoolboy Rowe and durable Tommy Bridges in the 1930s, Dizzy Trout in the World War II years, and Virgil ("Fire") Trucks, who threw two 1-0 no-hitters in 1952. Other dangerous hitters were Norm Cash, Willie Horton, and Darryl Evans. Finally, let's not forget the superior keystone combination (at bat and in the field) of current Manager Alan Trammell at short and under-rated Lou Whitaker at second. They presided at their posts for 14 consecutive seasons, 1978-1991. Tradition. The Tigers have surprised everybody with a winning record over the first five weeks of this young season. The arrival of catching great Ivan Rodriguez has boosted the offense and tutored a young pitching staff. Maroth, Bonderman, and Cornejo were a combined 21-57, with a composite ERA in the 5s, in the dismal 2003 campaign, but we need to go back only 15 years to see growing pains of others -- John Smoltz and Tom Glavine were 9-24 in 1988. You know the rest of that story.
To recapture the old glory, to embellish their "Distinguished" status, the Tigers
need to hit and score, and their leadership in AL runs scored at the end of April
is a very promising sign. In addition to I-Rod, veteran Rondell White has been
a God-send with punch and average, and Brandon Inge has risen from a fringe
catcher to a versatile player who has been hitting. Carlos Guillen has brought
experience and startling offense at shortstop. Eric Munson has both pedigree
and power at third, and he could be a good one. But young Carlos Pena must
end streaky hitting and veteran Bobby Higginson must reach the potential he has
shown for years. Can all of this happen? Remember the 1991 Twins and Braves,
but, no matter where it goes, never, ever, see the Detroit franchise as a permanent
Paper Tiger.
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