5 Questions Detroit Tigers' Fans Should Be Able to Answer

The Detroit Tigers are expected to have a big say in who represents the American League in the World Series this year. Their fans have seen good times and bad, but with the additions of slugger Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis, the Tigers are going to be contenders for some time. But do their fans, which pride themselves on their knowledge of their team, really have that good of a grasp on Detroit Tigers' history? If they do, then the following questions should be easily answered- or not.

1. How many times have the Detroit Tigers drawn 3 million fans in one season?

Amazingly, the Tigers have had just one campaign that saw over 3 million fans go through the turnstiles and that was last year. This is almost certain to change in 2008, as Detroit should easily break last season's mark of 3, 047,133. Prior to 2007, the Tigers had drawn as many as 2 million paying customers only 9 times, while leading the circuit in attendance just once since 1973. They did that in 1984, the last time that they won a world title.

2. Is Ty Cobb the Detroit Tigers' leader in games played?

You automatically think Cobb when it comes to any type of longevity record for the club, but in this case the answer is Al Kaline. Cobb played in 3,035 total games but spent the last 2 seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the Athletics, meaning he played 2,806 games for Detroit. Kaline caught Cobb in his final season, 1974, on his own way to Cooperstown, ending up with 2,834 games played. However Cobb had almost 900 more hits than Kaline and also wound up with more plate appearances, at-bats, stolen bases, total bases, singles, doubles, triples, and runs batted in. Kaline though is easily the Tigers all-time home run king with 399; he belted 26 more than Norm Cash.

3. Who is the Detroit Tigers' all-time pitching wins leader?

If you know this one you are good. The Tigers have sent some fine ones out to the mound over the years; pitchers such as George Mullin, Hal Newhouser, Mickey Lolich, Denny McLain, Jack Morris, and Tommy Bridges. But the answer is none of these. George "Hooks" Dauss won a total of 222 games in his 15 years with Detroit, which ended in 1926. He had 13 more triumphs than Mullin, with Lolich at 207 and Newhouser at an even 200. Dauss won double-digit games every full season he toiled in a Tiger uniform, including 20 plus games 3 times and more than 16 on 6 occasions. Dauss also lost 182 to be the Motown leader in that category as well. The right-hander died in 1963 at the age of 73.

4. How many Tigers have fanned more than 300 batters in a season?

McLain, in his 31-6 season of 1968 couldn't do it, falling 20 short. Newhouser was 25 shy of the coveted 300 strikeout mark in his fabulous 1946 campaign. Only the portly lefty, Mickey Lolich, could accomplish this as a Tiger, whiffing 308 batters in 1971 on his way to 25 wins. Lolich is the team's strikeout leader by a mile over Jack Morris, with over 2,600. Mickey won 20 games twice and saved the Detroit bacon in the 1968 Series versus the Cardinals, winning 3 games as McLain faltered badly, including Game Seven against Bob Gibson.

5. Who has the most saves in Detroit Tigers' history?

Todd Jones, their current closer, will be adding to his franchise leading total of 217 saves this year. The 39 year old Jones is in his second stint with Detroit, with the first one ending in 2001. After that, Jones bounced around to no fewer than 6 squads before ending up back with the Bengals in 2006. He proceeded to nail down 75 more victories during the last couple of seasons to propel himself way past the former club leader in saves, Mike Henneman, who compiled 154 between 1987 and 1995.

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