1935 Detroit Tigers

 There are two types of teams in the old school pre-expansion days of the American League. You had the teams who made winning titles a somewhat reliable event like the Red Sox of the 1910's or Athletics of the 10's-20's...and of course the Yankees of the 1920's+...and you have the teams that were best known for their inability to win with any regularity. The Indians are still known for their title drought, the Browns couldn't win and moved to Baltimore, the Senators couldn't win and moved to Minnesota, the White Sox were rocked by scandal and were toxic for years. You have teams that are both types, like the Red Sox who turned into losers for the better part of 90 years...so maybe it's more than 2 types of teams...because there are also teams that are neither. Teams that win every once in a long while, but never with sustained success, then slink back into being losers for long stretches before they peek out every other decade to try to win again. So, then, let's talk about the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers existed from the very beginning of the American League and collected some pennants...only to fall every time in the World Series. By the time we reached the 1930's, only the Tigers and St. Louis Browns remained without a title in the junior league. The Browns were a laughingstock, the Tigers had no such excuse. But they were in luck. Not being perpetual laughingstocks, the Tigers were out of their slump and emerging in the 1930's. They reached the 1934 World Series, but got smacked down in Game 7 by the Gas House Gang.

They came back in 1935 hungry to avenge their embarrassment. Player-manager Mickey Cochrane led his crew to a 93-58 record to take the AL flag by 3 games over the 2nd place Yankees. In the World Series this time were the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs were in the midst of a pretty long championship drought that you may have heard of. The last time the Cubs had won a World Series was against Detroit, but this time the Tigers ensured a different ending. By a 4-2 margin, the Tigers finally were able to conquer the mountain and bring a title to the motor city.

Superstar Hank Greenberg tied for the lead in homers with 36 and led all of baseball with 168 RBI. Coupled with leading his team to the pennant, he was the top choice for MVP.

1935 was the final full season of elite use for the future Hall of Famer. He had found great success in Philadelphia and was now able to add a ring in Detroit.

The other two Hall of Fame members of the '35 Tigers.

The remaining regulars. A solid collection of role players, but not exactly all time greats.

With a lineup that contained a bunch of cheap options, you can't expect a wealth of talent riding the bench.

Bridges and Rowe led the AL in Strikeouts with 163 and 140 respectively, and led the team with 21 and 19 Wins. The pitching staff paced the AL with 87 CG and 16 Shutouts.

With a pitching staff that finished more games in '35 than any other team, there wasn't much need for a deep or good bullpen. Hogsett was no Closer, but he still managed 5 Saves.