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The 1968 Detroit Tigers won the 1968 World Series, defeating the
St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
four games to three. The 1968 baseball season, known as the "Year of the Pitcher," was the Detroit Tigers' 68th since they entered the
American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
in 1901, their eighth pennant, and third World Series championship. Detroit pitcher Denny McLain won the Cy Young Award and was named the American League's Most Valuable Player after winning 31 games. Mickey Lolich pitched three complete games in the World Series – and won all three – to win World Series MVP honors.


Players


Pitching: McLain, Lolich, Wilson and Sparma

Denny McLain had a remarkable season in 1968, as he went 31–6 with a 1.96
earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA), was an All-Star, won the Cy Young Award, won the AL Most Valuable Player Award, and won Game 6 of the World Series. He is the only pitcher since 1934 to win 30 games in a season. Beleaguered by legal and financial troubles in later years, McLain was at his best in 1968. Perhaps worn down by pitching 336 innings during the regular season, McLain's 1968 World Series performance was not as stellar. He lost Games 1 and 4 to NL Cy Young Award winner, Bob Gibson. McLain did, however, win the crucial Game 6 on just two days rest, holding the Cardinals to one run in a 13–1 victory. The Tigers No. 2 starter, Mickey Lolich, allowed just five World Series runs in three complete games, winning all three including the final and decisive game. Lolich also helped himself at the plate in Game 2 when he hit the only home run of his 16-year career. Lolich was given the
World Series MVP Award The Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is given to the Major League Baseball (MLB) player deemed to have the most impact on his team's performance in the World Series, which is the final round of the MLB postseason. The aw ...
for his performance. During the regular season, Lolich went 17–9 with 197 strikeouts and a 3.19 ERA. He was actually moved to bullpen briefly in August after a few poor starts, but returned to pitch well down the stretch. Earl Wilson was the team's No. 3 pitcher, going 13–12 for the season with a 2.85 ERA. Known as one of the best power hitters of all time among major league pitchers, Wilson hit seven home runs in 88 at-bats in 1968. Wilson's at bat-to-home run ratio of 12.57 was higher than any player in the major leagues in 1968 — higher even than home run leaders Frank Howard and
Willie Horton William R. Horton (born August 12, 1951), commonly referred to as "Willie Horton", is an American convicted felon who became notorious for committing violent crimes while on furlough from prison, where he was serving a life sentence without the ...
. Wilson was the losing pitcher in Game 3 of the World Series, allowing 10 baserunners and three earned runs in 4 innings pitched. The Tigers No. 4 starter, Joe Sparma, was the starting quarterback of the undefeated 1961 Ohio State football team. In 1968, Sparma lost his spot in the rotation after a run-in with manager Mayo Smith. Sparma was pulled from a game and made critical comments about Smith to sportswriter Joe Falls. When Falls asked Smith for a response, Smith said he "didn't want to get into a spitting contest with a skunk." Smith refused to start Sparma for several weeks afterward. When Sparma finally got another start on September 17, 1968, he pitched a one-run complete game against the Yankees to clinch the pennant. The Sparma–Smith feud continued, and Sparma pitched only of an inning in the 1968 World Series, giving up two earned runs for a 54.00 ERA in postseason play. The Tigers bullpen in 1968 included Daryl Patterson,
Fred Lasher Frederick Walter Lasher (August 19, 1941 – February 27, 2022) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who played six seasons with the Minnesota Twins (1963), Detroit Tigers (1967–1970), Cleveland Indians (1970), and California Angels ( ...
,
John Hiller John Frederick Hiller (born April 8, 1943) is a Canadian former baseball relief pitcher who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers between 1965 and 1980. A native of Toronto, he joined the Tigers in 1965 and w ...
(who also made 12 starts during the season) and
Pat Dobson Patrick Edward Dobson, Jr. (February 12, 1942 – November 22, 2006) was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers (1967–69), San Diego Padres (1970), Baltimore Orioles (1971–72), Atla ...
(who made 10 starts during the season).


Catcher: Bill Freehan

Catcher Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the ( home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the ca ...
Bill Freehan William Ashley Freehan (November 29, 1941 – August 19, 2021) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire 15-year career with the Detroit Tigers. The premier catcher in the American League for several years from the 19 ...
posted career highs with 25 home runs (fifth in the AL) and 84
runs batted in A run batted in (RBI; plural RBIs ) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if the ba ...
(RBIs) (sixth in the AL) and broke his own records with 971 putouts and 1,050 total chances, marks which remained AL records until Dan Wilson topped them with the 1997
Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion team ...
. Freehan was hit by a pitch 24 times in 1968 – at that time an AL record. Freehan was the starting catcher for the AL All Star team in 1968 (and every other year from 1966 to 1972) and finished second in the 1968 American League MVP voting, behind McLain.


Infield: Cash, McAuliffe, Oyler and Wert

First baseman A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...
Norm Cash, known as "Stormin' Norman", was one of the most popular players on the team. In 1968, he hit .268 with 25 home runs despite being limited to 127 games. In the 1968 World Series, Cash hit .385 (10-for-26). Cash singled to start a three-run rally in the seventh inning of Game 7. The rally broke a scoreless tie in a pitching duel between Lolich and Gibson. Second baseman Dick McAuliffe had a .344 on-base percentage, led the AL with 95 runs scored, and showed power with 50 extra base hits, including 16 home runs. He also tied a Major League record by going the entire 1968 season without grounding into a double play. A converted shortstop, McAuliffe also improved defensively, reducing his error total from 28 in 1967 to nine in 1968. He finished No. 7 in the 1968 AL MVP voting. On August 22, 1968, McAuliffe was involved in a brawl in which he drove his knee into pitcher
Tommy John Thomas Edward John Jr. (born May 22, 1943), nicknamed "The Bionic Man," is an American retired professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 26 seasons between 1963 and 1989. He played for the Cleveland Indians, ...
's shoulder after almost being hit in the head by a pitch. McAuliffe played well in the 1968 World Series, with five runs, six hits, four walks, three RBIs, and a home run in Game 3, a colossal solo shot into the top of the upper deck in right at Tiger Stadium.
Shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists wh ...
Ray Oyler managed only 29 hits (21 of them singles) in 1968 for a career-low batting average of .135. However, his glove remained valuable as he had a .977 fielding percentage – 15 points above the league average for shortstops. Late in the season, and in the World Series, Oyler was replaced at shortstop by outfielder Mickey Stanley in a historic gamble by manager Mayo Smith. In the offseason, Oyler was drafted by the expansion Seattle Pilots.
Third baseman A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball or softball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. In the scoring system us ...
Don Wert was hit in the head by a pitch that shattered his batting helmet on June 26, 1968. He was carried off on a stretcher, spent two nights in the hospital, missed several games, and was never the same hitter again. He had never hit lower than .257 in five prior seasons, but his 1968 batting average dropped to a career-low .200. Wert was selected for the AL All Star team in 1968 and is remembered for his ninth inning, game-winning hit on September 17 to clinch the American League pennant.
Ernie Harwell William Earnest Harwell (January 25, 1918 – May 4, 2010) was an American sportscaster, known for his long career calling play-by-play of Major League Baseball games. For 55 seasons, 42 of them with the Detroit Tigers, Harwell called the actio ...
described the scene as follows in his radio broadcast of the game: *


Outfield: Kaline, Northrup, Horton and Stanley

Left fielder In baseball, a left fielder, abbreviated LF, is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound. In the numbering system ...
Willie Horton William R. Horton (born August 12, 1951), commonly referred to as "Willie Horton", is an American convicted felon who became notorious for committing violent crimes while on furlough from prison, where he was serving a life sentence without the ...
led the way among the outfielders in 1968. His 36 home runs, 278 total bases and .543 slugging percentage all ranked second in the American League behind Frank Howard. In a year in which the league batting average was .230, Horton's .285 average was good for fourth in the AL, and he also finished fourth in the AL MVP voting. In the World Series, Horton batted .304 and had a solo home run to give the Tigers an early lead in Game 2. He also made a pivotal defensive play in the fifth inning of Game 5. When Lou Brock tried to score from second base on a single to left field, Brock was tagged out on a throw from Horton that hit Freehan's glove on the fly. Horton was the only African American position player to start for the team. Mickey Stanley covered center field for the 1968 Tigers, won a Gold Glove Award at the position and led all American League outfielders with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Prior to 1968, Stanley had been used mostly as a backup outfielder, but an injury to
Al Kaline Albert William Kaline ( ; December 19, 1934 – April 6, 2020), nicknamed "Mr. Tiger", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers. For most of his career, Kali ...
expanded his playing time, as Jim Northrup moved to right field to sub for Kaline. When shortstop Ray Oyler went "0 for August", and his batting average fell to .135, manager Mayo Smith made one of the most talked-about managerial moves in baseball history, moving Stanley to shortstop for the last 9 games of the regular season and for all 7 games of the 1968 World Series. The move also allowed Smith to play both Kaline and Northrup in the outfield. Stanley had not played the shortstop position before the 1968 season, but was a talented athlete with a good glove. Though Stanley made 2 errors in the World Series, neither error led to a run being scored. In its "The End of the Century" series,
ESPN ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). Th ...
rated Mayo Smith's decision to move Stanley to shortstop for the World Series as one of the 10 greatest coaching decisions of the 20th Century in any sport. Jim Northrup was the Tigers' right fielder for most of the 1968 season, and was among the American League leaders with 90 RBIs (3rd in the AL), 57 extra base hits (4th in the AL), 259 total bases (5th in the AL), and 29 doubles (5th in the AL). Northrup also hit four grand slams during the 1968 regular season, plus one more in the World Series. He hit two in consecutive at bats on June 24, 1968, and then hit another five days later, becoming the first major league player to hit three grand slams in a single week. Northrup's fifth grand slam came in Game 6 of the World Series. With Stanley moving to shortstop, Northrup started in center field during the World Series. Northrup also had the Series-clinching hit in Game 7 off Cardinals ace Bob Gibson. After Gibson held the Tigers scoreless through the first six innings, Northrup hit a
triple Triple is used in several contexts to mean "threefold" or a " treble": Sports * Triple (baseball), a three-base hit * A basketball three-point field goal * A figure skating jump with three rotations * In bowling terms, three strikes in a row * ...
over center fielder
Curt Flood Curtis Charles Flood (January 18, 1938 – January 20, 1997) was an American professional baseball player and activist. He was a center fielder who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Redlegs, St. Louis Cardinals, ...
's head, driving in Norm Cash and Willie Horton. In the 7-game series, Northrup had a .536 slugging percentage, with 8 RBIs, 7 hits, 4 runs scored, and 2
home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
s. Northrup placed 13th in the 1968 AL MVP voting. The only future Hall of Fame member who played regularly for the 1968 Tigers was
Al Kaline Albert William Kaline ( ; December 19, 1934 – April 6, 2020), nicknamed "Mr. Tiger", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers. For most of his career, Kali ...
. (Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews played in 31 games for the 1968 Tigers.) However, Kaline broke his arm after being hit by a pitch in May and missed part of the season. He played 70 games at his usual spot in right field and another 22 games at first base. His .287 batting average would have placed him 4th in the league, but he did not have enough at bats to qualify. Kaline excelled in his only World Series appearance by batting .379 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs.


The Pinch-hitter: Gates Brown

Pinch-hitter Gates Brown also had a huge year for the Tigers in 1968. Signed by the Tigers while serving time in an Ohio prison, Brown led the team with a .370 batting average (34-for-92) and .685 slugging percentage in the "year of the pitcher" when the league batting average was only .230. He also led the American League in pinch hits and came off the bench with clutch hits to spark a number of dramatic ninth inning come-back victories. In a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox on August 11, 1968, Brown had a clutch game-winning home run off
Lee Stange Albert Lee Stange (October 27, 1936 – September 21, 2018) was an American professional baseball player and coach. During his playing career, the right-handed pitcher appeared in 359 games pitched in Major League Baseball over all or parts of ten ...
in the 14th inning of the first game, then had a game-winning single off
Sparky Lyle Albert Walter "Sparky" Lyle (born July 22, 1944) is an American former left-handed relief pitcher who spent sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1967 through 1982. He was a relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, ...
in the ninth inning of the second game.


Offseason

* October 20, 1967: Jerry Lumpe was released by the Tigers. * November 28, 1967: Dave Wickersham was traded by the Tigers to the Pittsburgh Pirates for
Dennis Ribant Dennis Joseph Ribant (born September 20, 1941) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds ...
. * January 27, 1968:
1968 Major League Baseball Draft The 1968 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft took place prior to the 1968 MLB season. The draft saw the New York Mets take shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, whi ...
secondary phase ** Ken Szotkiewicz was drafted by the Tigers in the 1st round (3rd pick). **
Chuck Scrivener Wayne Allison Scrivener, commonly known as "Chuck Scrivener" (born October 3, 1947), is a former American baseball infielder. Scrivener was called up to the Detroit Tigers in September 1975 and remained with the club through the end of the 1977 ...
was drafted by the Tigers in the 2nd round.


Regular season


Season standings


Record vs. opponents


Roster


Summary

After losing the 1967 American League pennant by one game to the
Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
, the Tigers got off to a 9–1 start in 1968. By April 29, they were 12–4. On May 10, the Tigers moved into first place and remained there for the rest of the season. In baseball's final season before the leagues each split into two divisions, the Tigers finished with a record of 103–59 and outscored their opponents 671 to 492. The Orioles stayed close through much of the season, but the Tigers wound up winning the pennant with a 12-game lead over Baltimore. The 1968 Tigers also won the season series against all nine league opponents‚ the first team to accomplish that since the 1955 Dodgers. The 1968 Tigers developed a reputation for dramatic comebacks, often with winning late-inning home runs. The Tigers led the major leagues with 185 home runs in 1968, which was 52 more than the next closest team (Baltimore with 133). They won 40 games from the 7th inning forward, and won 30 games in their last at bat. In each game, there seemed to be a new hero, with even the light-hitting Don Wert, Ray Oyler and Tom Matchick providing clutch hits to win ballgames. The 1968 Tigers were also known for their ''esprit de corps''. The starting lineup had been intact since 1965, and several of those starters had grown up in Michigan as Detroit Tigers fans:
Willie Horton William R. Horton (born August 12, 1951), commonly referred to as "Willie Horton", is an American convicted felon who became notorious for committing violent crimes while on furlough from prison, where he was serving a life sentence without the ...
in Detroit's inner city, Bill Freehan in suburban Royal Oak, Jim Northrup in a small town west of
Saginaw Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greater ...
, and Mickey Stanley from the west of the state in Grand Rapids. The 1968 Tigers' winning percentage ranks as the fifth-best in team history, as follows:


Chronology

* April 9: Opening Day in Major League Baseball was postponed for the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr. * April 10: The Tigers lost to the Red Sox on Opening Day in Detroit. Detroit pitcher Earl Wilson hit a home run but allowed 5 earned runs in 5 innings. * April 11: The Tigers got their first win, 4–3, over the Red Sox, as Dick McAuliffe,
Bill Freehan William Ashley Freehan (November 29, 1941 – August 19, 2021) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire 15-year career with the Detroit Tigers. The premier catcher in the American League for several years from the 19 ...
and Gates Brown hit home runs. * April 21: Denny McLain won his first game, 2–1, in the second game of a double-header. After losing on Opening Day, the Tigers had won 9 straight games. * April 27: The Tigers shut out the Yankees, 7–0, behind a 5-hitter by Denny McLain. Dick McAuliffe and Jim Northrup hit home runs off Jim Bouton. * April 29: Mickey Lolich got his first win of the season, 2–1, over the A's. Don Wert went 3-for-4, and the Tigers were 12–4 in their first 16 games. * May 6: The Tigers lost to the Orioles, 4–0. Baltimore's Dave Leonhard threw a one-hitter, and the Tigers had only 23 at-bats in the game, as the Orioles turned 3 double plays, and Mickey Stanley, Jim Northrup, and
Al Kaline Albert William Kaline ( ; December 19, 1934 – April 6, 2020), nicknamed "Mr. Tiger", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers. For most of his career, Kali ...
were all caught stealing. * May 10: The Tigers won their 3rd straight game, 12–1, over the Senators, to move past the Orioles into first place. Detroit would remain in first place for the rest of the season. Denny McLain got the win, and Al Kaline, Don Wert and Bill Freehan hit home runs. * May 17: Detroit led 2–1 going into the 9th inning. Frank Howard hit a 2-run home run in the top of the 9th to put the Senators in the lead, but Jim Northrup hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 9th. The Tigers won, 7–3. * May 19: Detroit rookie
Les Cain Leslie Cain (born January 13, 1948) is an American former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers. He batted and threw left-handed. In a four-season career, Cain posted a 23–19 record with 303 strikeouts and ...
threw scoreless innings for his first major league win. The Tigers beat the Senators, 7–0, as Eddie Mathews, Al Kaline, and Dick McAuliffe hit home runs. Kaline's home run was his 307th as a Tiger, making him the all-time leader in home runs by a Detroit Tiger. * May 25: The Tigers beat the A's 2–1 behind Denny McLain, but Al Kaline's arm was broken when he was hit by a pitch. Kaline was out of action until June 30. * May 26: A's pitcher Jack Aker beaned Jim Northrup on the batting helmet, and a 15-minute fight erupted. The A's won‚ 7–6. * May 31: Mickey Lolich shut out the Yankees on a 1-hitter in front of 31,115 fans on a Friday night in Detroit.
Willie Horton William R. Horton (born August 12, 1951), commonly referred to as "Willie Horton", is an American convicted felon who became notorious for committing violent crimes while on furlough from prison, where he was serving a life sentence without the ...
hit a home run in the 7th inning for the game's only run. * June 5: Denny McLain won his 9th game in Boston. * June 14: The Tigers beat the White Sox, 6–5, in 14 innings. Pitcher Earl Wilson hit a home run in the 2nd inning, and shortstop Don Wert won it with a home run in the 14th inning. * June 15: Chicago's
Tommy John Thomas Edward John Jr. (born May 22, 1943), nicknamed "The Bionic Man," is an American retired professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 26 seasons between 1963 and 1989. He played for the Cleveland Indians, ...
hit 4 Detroit batters: Willie Horton (twice), Don Wert and Ray Oyler. The Tigers lost, 7–4. (''See also August 22'') * June 24: Jim Northrup hit grand slams in consecutive at bats in the 5th and 6th innings. Shortstop Don Wert was hit in the head by a pitch that shattered his batting helmet. Wert was carried off the field on a stretcher and spent two nights in the hospital. The Tigers beat the Indians, 14–3. * June 29: Jim Northrup hit his third grand slam of the week in a 5–2 victory over Chicago. Denny McLain notched his 14th win. The Tigers were 22 games over .500 at 48–26. * July 4: There were fireworks on the July 4, as the Tigers and Angels combined for 8 home runs. The Tigers won, 13–10. * July 5: Detroit beat Oakland, 8–5. Bill Freehan hit 2 home runs and tallied 6 RBIs. * July 7: Denny McLain beat the A's, 7–6. Al Kaline hit a 3-run home run to help the Tigers sweep the A's in the second game of a double-header. At the All Star break, McLain was 16–2, and the Tigers led the AL by games. * July 19: With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and Bill Freehan on first base, reserve infielder Tom Matchick hit a walk-off home run to right field to give the Tigers a 5–4 win over Baltimore. It was one of only four home runs that Matchick hit in his entire career. * July 26: Detroit beat Baltimore, 4–1, but Earl Wilson left the game after 5 innings with a strained knee. Daryl Patterson came into the game with the bases loaded and nobody out, and struck out the side. * July 26, 1968:
Dennis Ribant Dennis Joseph Ribant (born September 20, 1941) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds ...
was traded by the Tigers to the
Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...
for Don McMahon. * July 27: Denny McLain pitched a 3-hit shutout over the Orioles for his 20th win. Norm Cash had 4 hits, and Willie Horton hit 2 home runs. The Tigers won, 9–0. * August 8: Detroit scored 13 runs to beat the Indians, 14–1. Bill Freehan hit 2 home runs, walked twice, and drove in 4 runs. McLain won his 23rd. * August 11: Gates Brown got clutch hits to win both games of a double-header against the Red Sox. Gates had a pinch-hit home run in the 14th inning of the opener for a 5–4 win. In the second game, he had a single to drive home the winning run, as the Tigers scored 4 runs in the 9th inning. * August 12: The Tigers beat the Indians, 6–3, and the team was now 75–42. * August 16: Denny McLain beat the Red Sox at
Fenway Park Fenway Park is a baseball stadium located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, near Kenmore Square. Since 1912, it has been the home of the Boston Red Sox, the city's American League baseball team, and since 1953, its only Major League Bas ...
for his 25th win. He was now 16–0 on the road. Bill Freehan was hit by pitches in 3 consecutive at bats. * August 22: After hitting 4 Tigers in a game earlier in the year, Chicago pitcher
Tommy John Thomas Edward John Jr. (born May 22, 1943), nicknamed "The Bionic Man," is an American retired professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 26 seasons between 1963 and 1989. He played for the Cleveland Indians, ...
narrowly missed Dick McAuliffe's head. After another brushback pitch, words are exchanged, and McAuliffe charged the mound. McAuliffe kneed John in the shoulder, resulting in a season-ending injury to John. McAuliffe was suspended for five games. * August 23: The Tigers lost to the Yankees, 2–1, in the first game of a double-header. In the second game, the score was tied 3–3 after 19 innings.
Lindy McDaniel Lyndall Dale McDaniel (December 13, 1935 – November 14, 2020), known as Lindy McDaniel, was an American professional baseball pitcher who had a 21-year career in Major League Baseball from 1955 to 1975. During his career, he witnessed approxim ...
retired 21 straight Tiger batters‚ six on strikeouts. * August 25: After taking a 5–0 lead, the Tigers lost to the Yankees‚ 6–5. The surprise winning pitcher for the Yankees was outfielder Rocky Colavito. The former Tiger slugger pitched innings in relief and retired Al Kaline and Willie Horton. Adding to the insult, Colavito scored the winning run in the 8th inning. * August 26: The Tigers beat the White Sox 3–0. Earl Wilson was hit by a pitch in the 2nd inning with the bases loaded to drive in the first run. One of nine White Sox home games played at
Milwaukee County Stadium Milwaukee County Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Opened in 1953, it was primarily a baseball park for Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Braves and later the Milwaukee Brewers. It was also used for Green Bay Packers f ...
that season, it coincided with the first night of the Democratic National Convention. * August 27: The Tiger lost to the White Sox, 2–1, as the series moved back to Comiskey Park. * August 28: Back in Detroit, Denny McLain won his 26th game. * August 30: In the first game of a 3-game series with second place Baltimore, the Tigers won 9–1 in front of 53,575 fans at Tiger Stadium. In one of the best performances of the year by any Tiger player, Earl Wilson pitched a 4-hitter, went 2-for-4 at the plate, hit his 5th home run of the year, and collected 4 RBIs. * September 1: Almost 42,000 fans were on hand at Tiger Stadium as Denny McLain won his 27th game, beating the Orioles 7–3. The Tigers had a triple play in the 3rd inning, McLain to Tom Matchick to Norm Cash. Jim Northrup was 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs. * September 6: The Tigers beat the Twins, 8–3, and Denny McLain got win number 28. Rookie
Graig Nettles Graig Nettles (born August 20, 1944), nicknamed "Puff", is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman. During a 22-year baseball career, he played for the Minnesota Twins (1967–1969), Cleveland Indians (1970–1972), New York Yankee ...
hit his first major league home run off McLain. Willie Horton hit his 32nd home run and had 5 RBIs. * September 14: In front of 33,688 fans on a Saturday in Detroit, with Denny McLain seeking his 30th win, Reggie Jackson hit a home run in the 4th inning to put the A's on top. Norm Cash responded with a 3-run home run in the 4th. Reggie Jackson hit his second home run of the day in the 6th inning to put the A's back in the lead. In the bottom of the 9th inning, Al Kaline pinch hit for McLain. Kaline drew a walk and later scored on an error. Willie Horton then drove in Mickey Stanley for the winning run. McLain struck out 10 batters and beat the A's, 5–4, to become the first 30-game winner since
Dizzy Dean Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean (January 16, 1910 – July 17, 1974), also known as Jerome Herman Dean (both the 1910 and 1920 Censuses show his name as "Jay"), was an American professional baseball pitcher. During his Major League Baseball (MLB) career ...
in 1934. * September 15: The Tigers destroyed the A's, 13–0. Mickey Lolich went the distance, allowing only 3 hits. Jim Northrup and Bill Freehan hit two home runs each. * September 17: The Tigers beat the Yankees, 2–1, to clinch the American League pennant. Joe Sparma threw a complete game and gave up 5 hits. Don Wert had the pennant-clinching hit in the bottom of the 9th inning, driving in Al Kaline. Many of the 46,512 fans on hand stormed the field in celebration of the Tigers' first pennant in 23 years. * September 19: Denny McLain won his 31st game against the Yankees. In the 8th inning, with the Tigers safely in the lead, McLain called catcher Jim Price to the mound and told him to inform Mickey Mantle that he's throwing nothing but fastballs. McLain tossed up a fat one, and Mantle hit a home run to move into 3rd place on the all-time home run list. Mantle, who was planning to retire at the end of the season, tipped his cap to McLain as he rounded third base.
Joe Pepitone Joseph Anthony Pepitone (born October 9, 1940) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who played the bulk of his career for the New York Yankees. He also played several seasons with the Chicago Cubs and had short stints wi ...
‚ the next batter‚ signaled where he would like the ball‚ and McLain "dusted" him. Outfielder Mickey Stanley made his major-league debut at shortstop in this game, as Mayo Smith was preparing to use him at that position in the World Series. * September 21: The Tigers won their 11th straight game, a 4–3 victory over the Senators. The team was now 47 games over .500 with a record of 101–54. * September 23: Going for his 32nd win, Denny McLain surrendered just 2 runs, but lost a 2–1 decision to Baltimore. * September 28: In his second attempt at win number 32‚ McLain pitched 7 scoreless innings against Washington and left with a 1–0 lead, but the Senators scored 2 in the 9th to win‚ 2–1. * September 29: The Tigers lost the final game of the regular season, 3–2. The Tigers finished the season with a record of 103–59.


Game log


Regular season

, - bgcolor="#ffbbbb" , 1 , , Apr 10 , ,
Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
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Player stats


Batting


Starters by position

''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''


Other batters

''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in'' ''Note: Pitchers' batting statistics not included''


Pitching


Starting pitchers

''Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts''


Other pitchers

''Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts''


Relief pitchers

''Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; GF = Games finished; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts''


1968 World Series


Summary

The 1968 World Series featured the Detroit Tigers and the
St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their third championship in seven World Series appearances. In Game 1, the Cardinals' ace Bob Gibson threw a shutout, striking out 17 batters, as St. Louis won 4–0. As of 2011, Gibson's 17 strikeouts is still the record in a World Series game. The only positive the Tigers could take away from Game 1 was the fact that Mickey Stanley, having moved from center field to shortstop at the end of the season, handled five chances without an error. In Game 2, Mickey Lolich hit a home run and pitched the first of his three complete game victories, as Detroit won, 8–1. Norm Cash and
Willie Horton William R. Horton (born August 12, 1951), commonly referred to as "Willie Horton", is an American convicted felon who became notorious for committing violent crimes while on furlough from prison, where he was serving a life sentence without the ...
both homered, and perennial Gold Glove winner,
Al Kaline Albert William Kaline ( ; December 19, 1934 – April 6, 2020), nicknamed "Mr. Tiger", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers. For most of his career, Kali ...
, made two sensational catches in right field. The Cardinals followed with wins in Games 3 and 4, including another victory by Bob Gibson over Denny McLain in Game 4. Lou Brock stole three bases in Game 3 and had six steals in the first three games. In Game 4, McLain pitched poorly, giving up six runs in three innings. Game 4 also saw one of the most bizarre strategic battles in World Series history. The Cardinals led 4–0 in the third inning, when the game was delayed by rain for over an hour. When play resumed, the Tigers began to stall, hoping to have the game called before it became official. The Cardinals responded by intentionally trying to make outs to move the game forward. As a result of the tactics, Game 4 of the 1968 series was criticized as one of the worst games in World Series history. After Game 4, with the Cardinals up 3 games to 1, a Detroit team that had made dramatic comebacks all year was forced to make its biggest comeback yet. Game 5 began with the unconventional, soulful singing of the national anthem by
José Feliciano José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) () is a Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer. He recorded many international hits, including his rendition of the Doors' "Light My Fire" and his self-penned Christmas song " F ...
, drawing boos from some Detroit fans. When the game got underway, the Cardinals immediately scored three runs in the first inning off Mickey Lolich. In the fifth inning, Lou Brock doubled, and the Cardinals had a chance to break the game open, but Brock tried to score from second base on a single to left field. Brock was out in a collision with
Bill Freehan William Ashley Freehan (November 29, 1941 – August 19, 2021) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire 15-year career with the Detroit Tigers. The premier catcher in the American League for several years from the 19 ...
at home plate, as
Willie Horton William R. Horton (born August 12, 1951), commonly referred to as "Willie Horton", is an American convicted felon who became notorious for committing violent crimes while on furlough from prison, where he was serving a life sentence without the ...
's throw hit Bill Freehan's glove on the fly, and Brock elected not to slide. Brock later remarked that he never slid because no one had ever tried to throw him out at home. In the 7th inning, the Cardinals led, 3–2. Mickey Lolich led off for the Tigers in the 7th inning with a bloop single, and the Tigers loaded the bases for
Al Kaline Albert William Kaline ( ; December 19, 1934 – April 6, 2020), nicknamed "Mr. Tiger", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers. For most of his career, Kali ...
to slap a single into right field, driving in two runs. Cash drove in another run, and the Tigers led, 5–3, which proved to be the final score. Mickey Lolich pitched his second complete game victory. In Game 6, Mayo Smith passed over Earl Wilson and elected to start Denny McLain on two days' rest. McLain held the Cardinals to one run, and the Tigers scored 13 times. The Tigers scored ten runs in the 3rd inning, capped by Jim Northrup's grand slam. Game 7 was a pitching duel between Bob Gibson and Mickey Lolich, pitching on only two days' rest. In a pre-game pep talk, Mayo Smith told his team that Gibson was not Superman, prompting Norm Cash to ask: "What was he doing in a telephone booth changing his clothes?" The game was scoreless after six innings, as the two pitchers dominated. In the 7th inning, the Tigers broke through on a
triple Triple is used in several contexts to mean "threefold" or a " treble": Sports * Triple (baseball), a three-base hit * A basketball three-point field goal * A figure skating jump with three rotations * In bowling terms, three strikes in a row * ...
by Jim Northrup that went over center fielder
Curt Flood Curtis Charles Flood (January 18, 1938 – January 20, 1997) was an American professional baseball player and activist. He was a center fielder who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Redlegs, St. Louis Cardinals, ...
's head, driving in Norm Cash and
Willie Horton William R. Horton (born August 12, 1951), commonly referred to as "Willie Horton", is an American convicted felon who became notorious for committing violent crimes while on furlough from prison, where he was serving a life sentence without the ...
. Curt Flood initially misread Northrup's hit, taking a step in, and then slipping as he chased the ball over his head. Flood was tagged a "goat" for having misplayed the ball. The Tigers won Game 7 by a score of 4–1. Mickey Lolich, who pitched three complete game victories, was named the MVP of the World Series. On the plane ride back to Detroit after Game 7 of the World Series, Lolich turned to newspaper columnist, Pete Waldmeir, and said: "I guess I'm an unlikely hero. Pot belly. Big ears. Just a guy who shows up every day and gets the job done as best as he knows how." But it was precisely those "average man" qualities that made Lolich one of the most popular sports figures in a working man's city. As the
Detroit News ''The Detroit News'' is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival ''Detroit Free Press'' building. ''The News'' absorbed the ''Detroit Tribune'' on Februar ...
put it, "He didn't act like a big shot superstar, he was one of us."


The Tigers' role in healing a city

The 1968 baseball season occurred in a year of upheaval. The Tet Offensive earlier in the year increased opposition to the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...
. The City of Detroit had suffered through one of the worst riots in American history during the summer of 1967. Less than a week before Opening Day, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. took place in Memphis, triggering civil unrest in over 100 American cities, including in Detroit. The assassination of
Robert F. Kennedy Robert Francis Kennedy (November 20, 1925June 6, 1968), also known by his initials RFK and by the nickname Bobby, was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 64th United States Attorney General from January 1961 to September 1964, ...
followed in June. And in late August, the Tigers played a series in Chicago, as Chicago police had violent confrontations with thousands of anti-war protesters during the Democratic National Convention. Yet, through the summer of 1968, the people of Detroit were united by their passion for the Tigers and the calming radio voice of Tigers broadcaster,
Ernie Harwell William Earnest Harwell (January 25, 1918 – May 4, 2010) was an American sportscaster, known for his long career calling play-by-play of Major League Baseball games. For 55 seasons, 42 of them with the Detroit Tigers, Harwell called the actio ...
. When the Tigers won the World Series, the headline in the
Detroit Free Press The ''Detroit Free Press'' is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, US. The Sunday edition is titled the ''Sunday Free Press''. It is sometimes referred to as the Freep (reflected in the paper's web address, www.freep.com). It primari ...
read: "WE WIN!" The headline told the story. Amidst all the turmoil, the people of Detroit came together behind their baseball team. In a column published on October 11, 1968, Detroit's senior baseball writer, Joe Falls, described the impact of the Tigers championship on the city. * Even the Governor of Michigan, George Romney, credited the Tigers with helping calm the city. In a letter to owner
John Fetzer John Earl Fetzer (March 25, 1901 – February 20, 1991) was a radio and television executive who was best known as the owner of the Detroit Tigers from 1961 through 1983. Under his ownership, the 1968 Tigers won the World Series. Biography Bo ...
, Romney wrote: "The deepest meaning of this victory extends beyond the sports pages, radio broadcasts, and the telecasts that have consumed our attention for several months. This championship occurred when all of us in Detroit and Michigan needed a great lift. At a time of unusual tensions, when many good men lost their perspective toward others, the Tigers set an example of what human relations should really be." , - bgcolor="#ffbbbb" , 1 , , October 2 , , @
Cardinals Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
, , L 0–4 , , Gibson (1–0) , , McLain (0–1) , , , , 54,692 , , 0–1 , - bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 2 , , October 3 , , @
Cardinals Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
, , W 8–1 , , Lolich (1–0) , , Briles (0–1) , , , , 54,692 , , 1–1 , - bgcolor="#ffbbbb" , 3 , , October 5 , ,
Cardinals Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
, , L 3–7 , , Washburn (1–0) , , Wilson (0–1) , , Hoerner (1) , , 54,692 , , 1–2 , - bgcolor="#ffbbbb" , 4 , , October 6 , ,
Cardinals Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
, , L 1–10 , , Gibson (2–0) , , McLain (0–2) , , , , 53,694 , , 1–3 , - bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 5 , , October 7 , ,
Cardinals Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
, , W 5–3 , , Lolich (2–0) , , Hoerner (0–1) , , , , 53,694 , , 2–3 , - bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 6 , , October 9 , , @
Cardinals Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
, , W 13–1 , , McLain (1–2) , , Washburn (1–1) , , , , 54,692 , , 3–3 , - bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 7 , , October 10 , , @
Cardinals Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
, , W 4–1 , , Lolich (3–0) , , Gibson (2–1) , , , , 54,692 , , 4–3 , -


Awards and honors

* Gold Glove Awards **
Bill Freehan William Ashley Freehan (November 29, 1941 – August 19, 2021) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire 15-year career with the Detroit Tigers. The premier catcher in the American League for several years from the 19 ...
, catcher ** Mickey Stanley, outfield *
Al Kaline Albert William Kaline ( ; December 19, 1934 – April 6, 2020), nicknamed "Mr. Tiger", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers. For most of his career, Kali ...
,
Lou Gehrig Memorial Award The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award is given annually to a Major League Baseball (MLB) player who best exhibits the character and integrity of Lou Gehrig, both on the field and off it. The award was created by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in honor o ...
* Mickey Lolich,
Babe Ruth Award The Babe Ruth Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) player with the best performance in the postseason. The award, created in honor of Babe Ruth, was first awarded in 1949 to New York Yankee pitcher, Joe Page, the MVP of the W ...
*Mickey Lolich, World Series Most Valuable Player * Denny McLain,
American League Most Valuable Player The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual Major League Baseball (MLB) award given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers' ...
*Denny McLain, American League Cy Young Award *Denny McLain,
Associated Press Athlete of the Year The first Athlete of the Year award in the United States was initiated by the Associated Press (AP) in 1931. At a time when women in sports were not given the same recognition as men, the AP offered a male and a female athlete of the year award t ...
Associated Press Athlete of the Year (male)
/ref> * Mayo Smith, Associated Press AL Manager of the Year


League leaders

Bill Freehan William Ashley Freehan (November 29, 1941 – August 19, 2021) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire 15-year career with the Detroit Tigers. The premier catcher in the American League for several years from the 19 ...
* AL hit by pitch leader (24) * AL innings at catcher leader (1180.1) * AL leader in assists at catcher (971) * AL leader in double plays at catcher (15) * AL leader in runners caught stealing (38) Dick McAuliffe * AL runs scored leader (95) * AL leader in innings at second base (1277.2) Denny McLain * AL wins leader (31) * AL win percentage leader (.838) * AL innings pitched leader (336) * AL games started leader (41) * AL complete games leader (28) * AL home runs allowed leader (31) * AL leader in strikeout to walk ratio (4.44) * AL batters faced leader (1288) * AL sacrifice hits leader (16) Mickey Stanley * AL leader in fielding percentage by outfielder (1.000) * AL grounded into double plays leader (22)


All-Stars

1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game *
Bill Freehan William Ashley Freehan (November 29, 1941 – August 19, 2021) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire 15-year career with the Detroit Tigers. The premier catcher in the American League for several years from the 19 ...
, C, starter *
Willie Horton William R. Horton (born August 12, 1951), commonly referred to as "Willie Horton", is an American convicted felon who became notorious for committing violent crimes while on furlough from prison, where he was serving a life sentence without the ...
, OF, starter * Denny McLain, P * Don Wert, 3B


Players ranking among top 100 of all time at position

The following members of the 1968 Tigers have been ranked among the Top 100 of all time at their position in
The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract ''The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract'' is a reference book written by Bill James featuring an overview of professional baseball decade by decade, along with rankings of the top 100 players at each position. The original edition was publi ...
in 2001: *
Bill Freehan William Ashley Freehan (November 29, 1941 – August 19, 2021) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire 15-year career with the Detroit Tigers. The premier catcher in the American League for several years from the 19 ...
: 12th best catcher of all time * Norm Cash: 20th best first baseman of all time * Dick McAuliffe: 22nd best second baseman of all time * Eddie Mathews: 3rd best third baseman of all time (Mathews appeared in only six games at third base for the 1968 Tigers) *
Willie Horton William R. Horton (born August 12, 1951), commonly referred to as "Willie Horton", is an American convicted felon who became notorious for committing violent crimes while on furlough from prison, where he was serving a life sentence without the ...
: 55th best left fielder of all time *
Al Kaline Albert William Kaline ( ; December 19, 1934 – April 6, 2020), nicknamed "Mr. Tiger", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers. For most of his career, Kali ...
: 11th best right fielder of all time * Mickey Lolich: 72nd best pitcher of all time


Farm system


Notes


References


1968 Detroit Tigers Regular Season Statistics at Baseball Reference

1968 World Series Statistics, Box Scores and Play by Play

Baseball Almanac on 1968 World Series
{{DEFAULTSORT:1968 Detroit Tigers Season Detroit Tigers seasons Detroit Tigers season American League champion seasons World Series champion seasons Detroit Tigers 1968 in Detroit