1987 Detroit Tigers season

The 1987 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 87th season and the 76th season at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers made a late-season comeback to win the American League East on the season's final day. The Tigers finished with a Major League-best record of 98–64, two games ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays. Detroit lost the ALCS to the Minnesota Twins in 5 games.

This would be the last time the Tigers made the postseason until 2006.

Offseason March 23, 1987: Brian Harper was released by the Tigers.Brian Harper page at Baseball Reference

Regular season

After their 1984 championship season, the Tigers finished in third place in the AL East in both 1985 and 1986. The 1987 Tigers faced lowered expectations – which seemed to be confirmed by an 11–19 start to the season. The team hit its stride thereafter and gradually gained ground on its AL East rivals. This charge was fueled in part by the acquisition of pitcher Doyle Alexander from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league pitcher John Smoltz. Alexander started 11 games for the Tigers, posting 9 wins without a loss and a 1.53 ERA. The deal came at a price. Smoltz, a Lansing, Michigan native, went on to have a long, productive career with the Braves winning a Cy Young Award and eventually gaining entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.

Despite their improvement, they entered September neck-and-neck with the Toronto Blue Jays. The two teams would square off in seven hard-fought games during the final two weeks of the season. All seven games were decided by one run, and in the first six of the seven games, the winning run was scored in the final inning of play. At Exhibition Stadium, the Tigers dropped three in a row to the Blue Jays before winning a dramatic extra-inning showdown.

The Tigers entered the final week of the 1987 season 3.5 games behind. After a series against the Baltimore Orioles, the Tigers returned home trailing by a game and swept the Blue Jays. Detroit clinched the division in a 1–0 victory over Toronto in front of 51,005 fans at Tiger Stadium on Sunday afternoon, October 4. Frank Tanana pitched a complete-game shutout, and outfielder Larry Herndon hit a second-inning solo home run for the game's only run. Detroit finished the season with a Major League-best 98–64, two games ahead of Toronto. The team hit 225 home runs, the most since the 1961 New York Yankees.

In what would be their last postseason appearance until 2006, the Tigers lost the 1987 American League Championship Series to the underdog Minnesota Twins (who would go on to win the World Series) in five games.

The 1987 Tigers' winning percentage ranks as the 10th best in team history, as follows:

Best Seasons in Detroit Tigers History Rank Year Wins Losses Win %   Finish 1 1934 101 53 .656 Lost 1934 World Series to Cardinals 2 1915 100 54 .649 2nd in AL behind Red Sox 3 1909 98 54 .645 Lost 1909 World Series to Pirates 4 1984 104 58 .642 Won 1984 World Series over Padres 5 1968 103 59 .636 Won 1968 World Series over Cardinals 6 1961 101 61 .623 2nd in AL behind Yankees 7 1950 95 59 .617 2nd in AL behind Yankees 8 1935 93 58 .616 Won 1935 World Series over Cubs 9 1907 92 58 .613 Lost 1907 World Series to Cubs 10 1987 98 64 .605 Lost 1987 ALCS to Twins

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Transactions June 2, 1987: 1987 Major League Baseball draft Travis Fryman was drafted by the Tigers in the 1st round (30th pick). Player signed June 6, 1987.Travis Fryman page at Baseball Reference Torey Lovullo was drafted by the Tigers in the 5th round. Player signed June 7, 1987.Torey Lovullo page at Baseball Reference June 4, 1987: Bill Madlock was signed as a free agent by the Tigers.Bill Madlock page at Baseball Reference August 7, 1987: Darnell Coles and a player to be named later were traded by the Tigers to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jim Morrison. The Tigers completed the deal by sending Morris Madden to the Pirates on August 12.Darnell Coles page at Baseball Reference August 12, 1987: John Smoltz was traded by the Tigers to the Atlanta Braves for Doyle Alexander.Doyle Alexander page at Baseball Reference September 22, 1987: Dickie Noles was loaned to the Tigers by the Chicago Cubs.Dickie Noles page at Baseball Reference

Roster 1987 Detroit Tigers Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders Manager

Coaches (Bench) (Third base) (Pitching) (Hitting) (First base)

Game log

Past games legend Tigers Win (#bfb) Tigers Loss (#fbb) Game postponed (#bbb) All-Star Game (#bbcaff) Clinched Division (#039) Bold denotes a Tigers pitcher

|-bgcolor=#fbb | 1 || April 6 || Yankees || 1–2 (10) || Righetti (1–0) || Morris (0–1) || || 51,315 || 0–1 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 2 || April 8 || Yankees || 5–6 || Hudson (1–0) || Hernández (0–1) || Righetti (1) || 12,271 || 0–2 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 3 || April 9 || Yankees || 9–3 || Terrell (1–0) || Tewksbury (1–0) || || 12,228 || 1–2 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 4 || April 10 || @ White Sox || 11–4 || Tanana (1–0) || Allen (0–1) || || 40,025 || 2–2 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 5 || April 11 || @ White Sox || 7–1 || Morris (1–1) || Dotson (1–1) || || 12,896 || 3–2 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 6 || April 12 || @ White Sox || 7–1 || Robinson (1–0) || Davis (0–1) || || 13,245 || 4–2 || W4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 7 || April 14 || @ Royals || 1–10 || Gubicza (1–1) || Petry (0–1) || || 16,023 || 4–3 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 8 || April 15 || @ Royals || 1–2 || Saberhagen (2–0) || Terrell (1–1) || Black (1) || 18,721 || 4–4 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 9 || April 17 || White Sox || 3–1 || Tanana (2–0) || Dotson (1–2) || Thurmond (1) || 16,953 || 5–4 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 10 || April 18 || White Sox || 3–2 || King (1–0) || Thigpen (0–1) || || 20,607 || 6–4 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 11 || April 19 || White Sox || 2–7 || Bannister (1–1) || Petry (0–2) || || 14,269 || 6–5 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 12 || April 20 || @ Yankees || 2–8 || Rhoden (2–1) || Morris (1–2) || Righetti (4) || 20,111 || 6–6 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 13 || April 21 || @ Yankees || 1–3 || Niekro (1–1) || Terrell (1–2) || Guante (1) || 25,148 || 6–7 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 14 || April 22 || @ Yankees || 1–4 || Shirley (1–0) || Tanana (2–1) || Righetti (5) || 21,091 || 6–8 || L4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 15 || April 24 || Royals || 3–7 || Leibrandt (3–1) || Petry (0–3) || || 14,449 || 6–9 || L5 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 16 || April 25 || Royals || 13–2 || Morris (2–2) || Gubicza (1–3) || || 18,052 || 7–9 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 17 || April 26 || Royals || 1–6 || Saberhagen (4–0) || Terrell (1–3) || || 16,686 || 7–10 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 18 || April 27 || @ Mariners || 2–5 || Langston (3–2) || King (1–1) || Núñez (4) || 8,492 || 7–11 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 19 || April 28 || @ Mariners || 4–6 || Morgan (1–3) || Robinson (1–1) || Núñez (5) || 7,393 || 7–12 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 20 || April 29 || @ Angels || 2–1 (10) || King (2–1) || Moore (1–1) || || 26,126 || 8–12 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 21 || April 30 || @ Angels || 12–4 || Morris (3–2) || Fraser (1–1) || || 27,656 || 9–12 || W2

|-bgcolor=#fbb | 22 || May 1 || @ Athletics || 1–2 (13) || Eckersley (2–1) || Kelly (0–1) || || 14,035 || 9–13 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 23 || May 2 || @ Athletics || 2–3 (13) || Leiper (1–0) || Snell (0–1) || || 17,753 || 9–14 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 24 || May 3 || @ Athletics || 0–2 || Plunk (1–1) || King (2–2) || Howell (4) || 21,810 || 9–15 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 25 || May 5 || Mariners || 5–7 || Clarke (1–0) || Robinson (1–2) || Núñez (6) || 10,918 || 9–16 || L4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 26 || May 6 || Mariners || 7–5 || Terrell (2–3) || Bankhead (4–2) || Thurmond (2) || 13,718 || 10–16 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 27 || May 8 || Athletics || 2–7 || Young (4–1) || Tanana (2–2) || || 13,949 || 10–17 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 28 || May 9 || Athletics || 7–8 || G. Nelson (1–1) || Thurmond (0–1) || Howell (5) || 15,685 || 10–18 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 29 || May 10 || Athletics || 7–6 || Snell (1–1) || Ontiveros (0–1) || || 14,114 || 11–18 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 30 || May 11 || Angels || 1–5 || Witt (5–2) || Terrell (2–4) || Buice (2) || 11,079 || 11–19 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 31 || May 12 || Angels || 15–2 || Petry (1–3) || Lugo (0–2) || || 11,579 || 12–19 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 32 || May 13 || Angels || 10–7 || Tanana (3–2) || Candelaria (4–1) || || 11,659 || 13–19 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 33 || May 15 || Indians || 4–3 || Henneman (1–0) || Huismann (0–1) || || 17,525 || 14–19 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 34 || May 16 || Indians || 5–3 || Morris (4–2) || Niekro (2–3) || || 20,583 || 15–19 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 35 || May 17 || Indians || 8–4 || Terrell (3–4) || Carlton (2–4) || || 20,824 || 16–19 || W5 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 36 || May 18 || @ Rangers || 6–3 || Robinson (2–2) || Guzmán (2–3) || Thurmond (3) || 26,503 || 17–19 || W6 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 37 || May 19 || @ Rangers || 8–10 || Mohorcic (3–1) || King (2–3) || || 17,484 || 17–20 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 38 || May 20 || @ Rangers || 6–4 || Petry (2–3) || Witt (1–3) || King (1) || 16,820 || 18–20 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 39 || May 22 || @ Twins || 3–2 || Morris (5–2) || Viola (2–5) || King (2) || 15,423 || 19–20 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 40 || May 23 || @ Twins || 5–7 || Anderson (1–0) || Terrell (3–5) || Reardon (9) || 18,601 || 19–21 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 41 || May 24 || @ Twins || 7–2 || Robinson (3–2) || Atherton (2–1) || || 16,351 || 20–21 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 42 || May 25 || Rangers || 8–5 || Tanana (4–2) || Correa (1–5) || Henneman (1) || 13,824 || 21–21 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 43 || May 26 || Rangers || 8–7 (11) || Henneman (2–0) || Mohorcic (3–2) || || 11,234 || 22–21 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 44 || May 27 || Rangers || 4–3 || Morris (6–2) || Loynd (1–2) || Thurmond (4) || 12,696 || 23–21 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 45 || May 29 || Twins || 15–7 || Terrell (4–5) || Straker (2–2) || || 19,031 || 24–21 || W5 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || May 30 || Twins || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: May 31 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 46 || May 31 || Twins || 5–9 || Reardon (2–3) || King (2–4) || || – || 24–22 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 47 || May 31 || Twins || 3–11 || Frazier (5–2) || Tanana (4–3) || || 20,993 || 24–23 || L2

|-bgcolor=#fbb | 48 || June 1 || @ Indians || 6–9 || Niekro (3–5) || Petry (2–4) || Bailes (3) || 6,509 || 24–24 || L3 |-bgcolor="#bbb | — || June 2 || @ Indians || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: August 21 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 49 || June 3 || @ Indians || 15–3 || Morris (7–2) || Schrom (4–5) || || 8,226 || 25–24 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 50 || June 4 || @ Red Sox || 5–8 || Hurst (6–4) || Terrell (4–6) || || 24,660 || 25–25 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 51 || June 5 || @ Red Sox || 4–2 || Robinson (4–2) || Nipper (4–5) || King (3) || 33,827 || 26–25 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 52 || June 6 || @ Red Sox || 5–3 (14) || King (3–4) || Gardner (0–3) || || 33,902 || 27–25 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 53 || June 7 || @ Red Sox || 18–8 || Henneman (3–0) || Leister (0–1) || || 33,254 || 28–25 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 54 || June 9 || Brewers || 8–5 || Morris (8–2) || Higuera (5–6) || || 16,645 || 29–25 || W4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 55 || June 10 || Brewers || 5–8 (10) || Plesac (2–0) || King (3–5) || || 16,998 || 29–26 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 56 || June 11 || Brewers || 5–8 || Wegman (5–5) || King (3–6) || Bosio (2) || 20,780 || 29–27 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 57 || June 12 || Red Sox || 11–4 || Tanana (5–3) || Clemens (4–6) || || 32,341 || 30–27 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 58 || June 13 || Red Sox || 6–4 || Petry (3–4) || Crawford (2–2) || Hernández (1) || 40,427 || 31–27 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 59 || June 14 || Red Sox || 2–1 || Morris (6–2) || Hurst (7–5) || || 28,203 || 32–27 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 60 || June 15 || @ Blue Jays || 2–1 || Terrell (5–6) || Key (8–4) || King (4) || 36,225 || 33–27 || W4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 61 || June 16 || @ Blue Jays || 4–10 || Lavelle (1–0) || Robinson (4–3) || || 36,398 || 33–28 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 62 || June 17 || @ Blue Jays || 3–2 || Tanana (6–3) || Clancy (7–4) || Hernández (2) || 46,227 || 34–28 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb