Relive the greatest moments and celebrate the iconic figures that have shaped Detroit Tigers baseball. The Big 50: Detroit Tigers is a captivating journey through the rich history of one of baseball's most storied franchises. Award-winning sportswriter Tom Gage expertly chronicles the 50 essential men and moments that have defined the Detroit Tigers, from the early days of Ty Cobb to the modern era of Miguel Cabrera. This full-color volume brilliantly captures the Tigers' remarkable story, exploring: The legendary careers of Al Kaline, Sparky Anderson, and Ernie Harwell - The unforgettable "Bless You Boys" era - Justin Verlander's dominant pitching performances - And much more! Perfect for passionate fans of all ages, The Big 50: Detroit Tigers is a must-have for anyone seeking to understand and appreciate the legacy of Detroit baseball. It's a celebration of the team's triumphs, challenges, and the enduring spirit that has captivated generations of fans. Tom Gage covered the Detroit Tigers beat for the Detroit News from 1979 to 2014. In 2015, Gage was elected the 2015 winner of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The longtime chairman of the Detroit Chapter of the BBWAA, Gage also serves on the screening committee that formulates the annual Hall of Fame ballot. The 1984 World Series MVP, Alan Trammell was a six-time All-Star while playing for the Detroit Tigers from 1977-1996. He resides in Detroit, Michigan. The Big 50 Detroit Tigers The Men and Moments That Made the Detroit Tigers By Tom Gage Triumph Books LLC Copyright © 2017 Tom Gage All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-62937-321-8 Contents Foreword by Alan Trammell, 1. Kirk Gibson's Game 5 Home Run, 2. Ty Cobb, 3. Mickey Lolich's Heroics in the 1968 World Series, 4. Al Kaline, 5. Magglio's Homer to Win the 2006 ALCS, 6. Hank Greenberg, 7. The Mark Fidrych Phenomenon, 8. Charlie Gehringer, 9. Goose Goslin's World Series-Winning Single, 10. Alan Trammell, 11. Denny McLain Wins 31, 12. Lou Whitaker, 13. Tiger Stadium Closes, 14. Miguel Cabrera, 15. Ozzie Virgil Breaks Color Barrier, 16. Harry Heilmann, 17. Horton's Throw Home, 18. Sparky Anderson, 19. Pudge Ushers in a Winning Era, 20. Hal Newhouser, 21. The 35-5 Start, 22. Willie Horton, 23. Player/Manager Mickey Cochrane, 24. Sam Crawford, 25. Northrup's World Series Triple, 26. Justin Verlander, 27. Tanana's Gem to Win Division, 28. Jack Morris, 29. Bobo Newsom's Emotional World Series, 30. Ernie Harwell, 31. 101 Wins in 1961, 32. Jim Leyland, 33. What a Debut!, 34. Hiller's Health, 35. The Kuenn/Colavito Trade, 36. Willie Hernandez, 37. Bergman's 13-Pitch Home Run, 38. Armando Galarraga and Other Near-Perfect Games, 39. The Alexander/Smoltz Trade, 40. George Kell, 41. Floyd Giebell, 42. Norm Cash, 43. Trucks' Two No-Hitters Despite 5-19 Record, 44. George Mullin, 45. Baseball Man Jim Campbell, 46. Cecil Fielder, 47. Les Mueller's 19-2/3 Inning Effort, 48. Ron LeFlore, 49. Coming Close in 1909, 50. Mayo's Gamble, Acknowledgments, Bibliography, About the Author, CHAPTER 1 Kirk Gibson's Game 5 Home Run In the colorfully long history of the Detroit Tigers — with its great players and defining moments — there have never been words more memorable than: "He don't want to walk you." That, of course, is what Sparky Anderson repeatedly shouted to Kirk Gibson as Gibson waited to see if Goose Gossage would pitch to him with first base open during the 1984 World Series. The footage of the video seems grainy now because it no longer happened yesterday. But almost as if it did, there's Sparky — as he was that October day — watching from the Tigers' dugout while his San Diego counterpart, Dick Williams, saunters to the mound to speak with Gossage. It's Game 5 at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers are looking like the better team — as they would prove to be. But they've not yet put away the pesky Padres. Gibson is at the plate in the eighth inning; two runners are on. It is center-stage time. But he embraces it. With the Tigers up by two games and leading by a run, the city is poised to celebrate. In the first inning, Gibson had hit his first home run of the series off left-hander Mark Thurmond. Through the first four games, it hadn't been an impactful World Series for him — just a few contributions here and there. He singled in a run in the first inning of Game 2, which the Tigers lost. In Game 3 he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, giving the Tigers a four-run lead in the third inning en route to a 5–2 victory. But he had not done anything in the way of late thunder. Then again, no one had. Through the first four games, there'd been only two runs scored after the fifth inning — both by the Padres. Neither had come close to deciding an outcome. But the buildup would merely be an appetizer to the entrée of one showdown, one decision, and to the immortality of Sparky's words to Gibson: