There are times when a perceived mismatch leads to a magical upset or at least a riveting moment when a favorite has to turn back a determined challenger. The 1984 ALCS between the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals was not one of them. The Tigers came in a heavy favorite, and while the Royals […]
The Tigers had been in a holding pattern since their AL East title of 1972—save for a 102-loss year in 1975, they were never awful, but nor did they ever break 90 wins and seriously contend. Anderson contended in 1981, won 92 games in 1983, and the 1984 Detroit Tigers were the big breakthrough that dominated wire-to-wire and won the city’s first World Series title since 1968.
The Detroit Tigers made mincemeat of the league in the 1984 baseball season. The Tigers had a young middle infield of Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammel, a rising star in right with Kirk Gibson, a 19-game winner atop the rotation in Jack Morris and a great year by closer Willie Hernandez, who won both the Cy Young and MVP.
This article offers a snapshot of 1984 sports, a year highlighted by two great basketball battles for the college & NBA championships, greatness in major league baseball & the NFL, an electric Heisman campaign and a long-awaited title for an emerging hockey legend.