1987 Detroit Tigers season

Major League Baseball season March 2026 November 2013 Detroit Tigers 1987 American League East champions American League East Tiger Stadium Detroit, Michigan 98 64 y 1st Tom Monaghan Bill Lajoie Sparky Anderson WDIV-TV(George Kell, Al Kaline) PASS(Larry Osterman, Jim Northrup) WJR(Ernie Harwell, Paul Carey) The 1987 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 87th season and the 76th season at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers made a late-season comeback to win the American League East on the season's final day. The Tigers finished with a Major League-best record of 98–64, two games ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays. Detroit lost the ALCS to the Minnesota Twins in 5 games. This would be the last time the Tigers made the postseason until 2006. Offseason March 23, 1987: Brian Harper was released by the Tigers.Brian Harper page at Baseball Reference Regular season After their 1984 championship season, the Tigers finished in third place in the AL East in both 1985 and 1986. The 1987 Tigers faced lowered expectations – which seemed to be confirmed by an 11–19 start to the season. The team hit its stride thereafter and gradually gained ground on its AL East rivals. This charge was fueled in part by the acquisition of pitcher Doyle Alexander from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league pitcher John Smoltz. Alexander started 11 games for the Tigers, posting 9 wins without a loss and a 1.53 ERA. The deal came at a price. Smoltz, a Lansing, Michigan native, went on to have a long, productive career with the Braves winning a Cy Young Award and eventually gaining entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015. Despite their improvement, they entered September neck-and-neck with the Toronto Blue Jays. The two teams would square off in seven hard-fought games during the final two weeks of the season. All seven games were decided by one run, and in the first six of the seven games, the winning run was scored in the final inning of play. At Exhibition Stadium, the Tigers dropped three in a row to the Blue Jays before winning a dramatic extra-inning showdown. The Tigers entered the final week of the 1987 season 3.5 games behind. After a series against the Baltimore Orioles, the Tigers returned home trailing by a game and swept the Blue Jays. Detroit clinched the division in a 1–0 victory over Toronto in front of 51,005 fans at Tiger Stadium on Sunday afternoon, October 4. Frank Tanana pitched a complete-game shutout, and outfielder Larry Herndon hit a second-inning solo home run for the game's only run. Detroit finished the season with a Major League-best 98–64, two games ahead of Toronto. The team hit 225 home runs, the most since the 1961 New York Yankees.https://stathead.com/tiny/z11gj Team Batting Season Finder: For Single Seasons, from 1960 to 1989, Standard stats, requiring Home Runs >= 200, sorted by greatest Home Runs. Stathead April 16, 2021 In what would be their last postseason appearance until 2006, the Tigers lost the 1987 American League Championship Series to the underdog Minnesota Twins (who would go on to win the World Series) in five games. The 1987 Tigers' winning percentage ranks as the 10th best in team history, as follows: Best Seasons in Detroit Tigers History Rank Year Wins Losses Win %   Finish 1 1934 101 53 .656 Lost 1934 World Series to Cardinals 2 1915 100 54 .649 2nd in AL behind Red Sox 3 1909 98 54 .645 Lost 1909 World Series to Pirates 4 1984 104 58 .642 Won 1984 World Series over Padres 5 1968 103 59 .636 Won 1968 World Series over Cardinals 6 1961 101 61 .623 2nd in AL behind Yankees 7 1950 95 59 .617 2nd in AL behind Yankees 8 1935 93 58 .616 Won 1935 World Series over Cubs 9 1907 92 58 .613 Lost 1907 World Series to Cubs 10 1987 98 64 .605 Lost 1987 ALCS to Twins Season standings Record vs. opponents DET Transactions June 2, 1987: 1987 Major League Baseball draft Travis Fryman was drafted by the Tigers in the 1st round (30th pick). Player signed June 6, 1987.Travis Fryman page at Baseball Reference Torey Lovullo was drafted by the Tigers in the 5th round. Player signed June 7, 1987.Torey Lovullo page at Baseball Reference June 4, 1987: Bill Madlock was signed as a free agent by the Tigers.Bill Madlock page at Baseball Reference August 7, 1987: Darnell Coles and a player to be named later were traded by the Tigers to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jim Morrison. The Tigers completed the deal by sending Morris Madden to the Pirates on August 12.Darnell Coles page at Baseball Reference August 12, 1987: John Smoltz was traded by the Tigers to the Atlanta Braves for Doyle Alexander.Doyle Alexander page at Baseball Reference September 22, 1987: Dickie Noles was loaned to the Tigers by the Chicago Cubs.Dickie Noles page at Baseball Reference Roster 1987 Detroit Tigers Roster Pitchers 19 Doyle Alexander 39 Mike Henneman 21 Willie Hernández 45 Bryan Kelly 25 Eric King 42 Morris Madden 47 Jack Morris 27 Dickie Noles 46 Dan Petry 44 Jeff Robinson 36 Nate Snell 26 Frank Tanana 35 Walt Terrell 30 Mark Thurmond Catchers  8 Mike Heath 12 Dwight Lowry 24 Orlando Mercado 33 Matt Nokes Infielders  9 Doug Baker 14 Dave Bergman 16 Tom Brookens 19 Darnell Coles 41 Darrell Evans  7 Bill Madlock 17 Jim Morrison  3 Alan Trammell 32 Jim Walewander  1 Lou Whitaker Outfielders  4 Billy Bean 23 Kirk Gibson 30 Johnny Grubb 17 Terry Harper 31 Larry Herndon 34 Chet Lemon 24 Scott Lusader 15 Pat Sheridan 38 Tim Tolman Manager 11 Sparky Anderson Coaches 50 Billy Consolo (Bench) 51 Alex Grammas (Third base) 56 Billy Muffett (Pitching) 28 Vada Pinson (Hitting) 53 Dick Tracewski (First base) Game log Past games legend Tigers Win (#bfb) Tigers Loss (#fbb) Game postponed (#bbb) All-Star Game (#bbcaff) Clinched Division (#039) Bold denotes a Tigers pitcher background:#003366;color:#bd5d29; 1987 game log: 98–64 (Home: 54–27; Away: 44–37) y background:#bd5d29;color:#003366; April: 9–12 (Home: 4–5; Away: 5–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Crowd Record Streak |-bgcolor=#fbb | 1 || April 6 || Yankees || 1–2 (10) || Righetti (1–0) || Morris (0–1) || || 51,315 || 0–1 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 2 || April 8 || Yankees || 5–6 || Hudson (1–0) || Hernández (0–1) || Righetti (1) || 12,271 || 0–2 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 3 || April 9 || Yankees || 9–3 || Terrell (1–0) || Tewksbury (1–0) || || 12,228 || 1–2 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 4 || April 10 || @ White Sox || 11–4 || Tanana (1–0) || Allen (0–1) || || 40,025 || 2–2 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 5 || April 11 || @ White Sox || 7–1 || Morris (1–1) || Dotson (1–1) || || 12,896 || 3–2 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 6 || April 12 || @ White Sox || 7–1 || Robinson (1–0) || Davis (0–1) || || 13,245 || 4–2 || W4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 7 || April 14 || @ Royals || 1–10 || Gubicza (1–1) || Petry (0–1) || || 16,023 || 4–3 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 8 || April 15 || @ Royals || 1–2 || Saberhagen (2–0) || Terrell (1–1) || Black (1) || 18,721 || 4–4 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 9 || April 17 || White Sox || 3–1 || Tanana (2–0) || Dotson (1–2) || Thurmond (1) || 16,953 || 5–4 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 10 || April 18 || White Sox || 3–2 || King (1–0) || Thigpen (0–1) || || 20,607 || 6–4 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 11 || April 19 || White Sox || 2–7 || Bannister (1–1) || Petry (0–2) || || 14,269 || 6–5 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 12 || April 20 || @ Yankees || 2–8 || Rhoden (2–1) || Morris (1–2) || Righetti (4) || 20,111 || 6–6 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 13 || April 21 || @ Yankees || 1–3 || Niekro (1–1) || Terrell (1–2) || Guante (1) || 25,148 || 6–7 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 14 || April 22 || @ Yankees || 1–4 || Shirley (1–0) || Tanana (2–1) || Righetti (5) || 21,091 || 6–8 || L4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 15 || April 24 || Royals || 3–7 || Leibrandt (3–1) || Petry (0–3) || || 14,449 || 6–9 || L5 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 16 || April 25 || Royals || 13–2 || Morris (2–2) || Gubicza (1–3) || || 18,052 || 7–9 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 17 || April 26 || Royals || 1–6 || Saberhagen (4–0) || Terrell (1–3) || || 16,686 || 7–10 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 18 || April 27 || @ Mariners || 2–5 || Langston (3–2) || King (1–1) || Núñez (4) || 8,492 || 7–11 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 19 || April 28 || @ Mariners || 4–6 || Morgan (1–3) || Robinson (1–1) || Núñez (5) || 7,393 || 7–12 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 20 || April 29 || @ Angels || 2–1 (10) || King (2–1) || Moore (1–1) || || 26,126 || 8–12 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 21 || April 30 || @ Angels || 12–4 || Morris (3–2) || Fraser (1–1) || || 27,656 || 9–12 || W2 y background:#bd5d29;color:#003366; May: 15–11 (Home: 11–6; Away: 4–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Crowd Record Streak |-bgcolor=#fbb | 22 || May 1 || @ Athletics || 1–2 (13) || Eckersley (2–1) || Kelly (0–1) || || 14,035 || 9–13 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 23 || May 2 || @ Athletics || 2–3 (13) || Leiper (1–0) || Snell (0–1) || || 17,753 || 9–14 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 24 || May 3 || @ Athletics || 0–2 || Plunk (1–1) || King (2–2) || Howell (4) || 21,810 || 9–15 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 25 || May 5 || Mariners || 5–7 || Clarke (1–0) || Robinson (1–2) || Núñez (6) || 10,918 || 9–16 || L4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 26 || May 6 || Mariners || 7–5 || Terrell (2–3) || Bankhead (4–2) || Thurmond (2) || 13,718 || 10–16 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 27 || May 8 || Athletics || 2–7 || Young (4–1) || Tanana (2–2) || || 13,949 || 10–17 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 28 || May 9 || Athletics || 7–8 || G. Nelson (1–1) || Thurmond (0–1) || Howell (5) || 15,685 || 10–18 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 29 || May 10 || Athletics || 7–6 || Snell (1–1) || Ontiveros (0–1) || || 14,114 || 11–18 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 30 || May 11 || Angels || 1–5 || Witt (5–2) || Terrell (2–4) || Buice (2) || 11,079 || 11–19 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 31 || May 12 || Angels || 15–2 || Petry (1–3) || Lugo (0–2) || || 11,579 || 12–19 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 32 || May 13 || Angels || 10–7 || Tanana (3–2) || Candelaria (4–1) || || 11,659 || 13–19 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 33 || May 15 || Indians || 4–3 || Henneman (1–0) || Huismann (0–1) || || 17,525 || 14–19 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 34 || May 16 || Indians || 5–3 || Morris (4–2) || Niekro (2–3) || || 20,583 || 15–19 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 35 || May 17 || Indians || 8–4 || Terrell (3–4) || Carlton (2–4) || || 20,824 || 16–19 || W5 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 36 || May 18 || @ Rangers || 6–3 || Robinson (2–2) || Guzmán (2–3) || Thurmond (3) || 26,503 || 17–19 || W6 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 37 || May 19 || @ Rangers || 8–10 || Mohorcic (3–1) || King (2–3) || || 17,484 || 17–20 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 38 || May 20 || @ Rangers || 6–4 || Petry (2–3) || Witt (1–3) || King (1) || 16,820 || 18–20 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 39 || May 22 || @ Twins || 3–2 || Morris (5–2) || Viola (2–5) || King (2) || 15,423 || 19–20 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 40 || May 23 || @ Twins || 5–7 || Anderson (1–0) || Terrell (3–5) || Reardon (9) || 18,601 || 19–21 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 41 || May 24 || @ Twins || 7–2 || Robinson (3–2) || Atherton (2–1) || || 16,351 || 20–21 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 42 || May 25 || Rangers || 8–5 || Tanana (4–2) || Correa (1–5) || Henneman (1) || 13,824 || 21–21 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 43 || May 26 || Rangers || 8–7 (11) || Henneman (2–0) || Mohorcic (3–2) || || 11,234 || 22–21 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 44 || May 27 || Rangers || 4–3 || Morris (6–2) || Loynd (1–2) || Thurmond (4) || 12,696 || 23–21 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 45 || May 29 || Twins || 15–7 || Terrell (4–5) || Straker (2–2) || || 19,031 || 24–21 || W5 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || May 30 || Twins || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: May 31 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 46 || May 31 || Twins || 5–9 || Reardon (2–3) || King (2–4) || || – || 24–22 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 47 || May 31 || Twins || 3–11 || Frazier (5–2) || Tanana (4–3) || || 20,993 || 24–23 || L2 y background:#bd5d29;color:#003366; June: 17–9 (Home: 7–5; Away: 10–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Crowd Record Streak |-bgcolor=#fbb | 48 || June 1 || @ Indians || 6–9 || Niekro (3–5) || Petry (2–4) || Bailes (3) || 6,509 || 24–24 || L3 |-bgcolor="#bbb | — || June 2 || @ Indians || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: August 21 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 49 || June 3 || @ Indians || 15–3 || Morris (7–2) || Schrom (4–5) || || 8,226 || 25–24 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 50 || June 4 || @ Red Sox || 5–8 || Hurst (6–4) || Terrell (4–6) || || 24,660 || 25–25 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 51 || June 5 || @ Red Sox || 4–2 || Robinson (4–2) || Nipper (4–5) || King (3) || 33,827 || 26–25 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 52 || June 6 || @ Red Sox || 5–3 (14) || King (3–4) || Gardner (0–3) || || 33,902 || 27–25 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 53 || June 7 || @ Red Sox || 18–8 || Henneman (3–0) || Leister (0–1) || || 33,254 || 28–25 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 54 || June 9 || Brewers || 8–5 || Morris (8–2) || Higuera (5–6) || || 16,645 || 29–25 || W4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 55 || June 10 || Brewers || 5–8 (10) || Plesac (2–0) || King (3–5) || || 16,998 || 29–26 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 56 || June 11 || Brewers || 5–8 || Wegman (5–5) || King (3–6) || Bosio (2) || 20,780 || 29–27 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 57 || June 12 || Red Sox || 11–4 || Tanana (5–3) || Clemens (4–6) || || 32,341 || 30–27 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 58 || June 13 || Red Sox || 6–4 || Petry (3–4) || Crawford (2–2) || Hernández (1) || 40,427 || 31–27 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 59 || June 14 || Red Sox || 2–1 || Morris (6–2) || Hurst (7–5) || || 28,203 || 32–27 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 60 || June 15 || @ Blue Jays || 2–1 || Terrell (5–6) || Key (8–4) || King (4) || 36,225 || 33–27 || W4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 61 || June 16 || @ Blue Jays || 4–10 || Lavelle (1–0) || Robinson (4–3) || || 36,398 || 33–28 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 62 || June 17 || @ Blue Jays || 3–2 || Tanana (6–3) || Clancy (7–4) || Hernández (2) || 46,227 || 34–28 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 63 || June 19 || @ Orioles || 5–3 || Morris (10–2) || Williamson (2–5) || Hernández (3) || 31,672 || 35–28 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 64 || June 20 || @ Orioles || 5–9 || Bell (6–5) || Terrell (5–7) || Niedenfuer (2) || 27,240 || 35–29 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 65 || June 21 || @ Orioles || 9–3 || Petry (4–4) || Dixon (3–7) || King (5) || 28,845 || 36–29 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 66 || June 22 || Blue Jays || 2–0 || Tanana (7–3) || Clancy (7–5) || || 28,978 || 37–29 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 67 || June 23 || Blue Jays || 7–8 || Stieb (6–4) || Robinson (4–4) || Henke (13) || 29,275 || 37–30 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 68 || June 24 || Blue Jays || 3–5 || Cerutti (5–2) || Morris (10–3) || Musselman (3) || 34,866 || 37–31 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 69 || June 26 || Orioles || 9–0 || Terrell (6–7) || Griffin (0–1) || || 29,396 || 38–31 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 70 || June 27 || Orioles || 2–4 || Niedenfuer (1–0) || Tanana (7–4) || || 32,395 || 38–32 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 71 || June 28 || Orioles || 8–7 (11) || Hernández (1–1) || Corbett (0–2) || || 31,606 || 39–32 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 72 || June 29 || @ Brewers || 11–1 || Morris (11–3) || Bosio (3–2) || || 21,487 || 40–32 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 73 || June 30 || @ Brewers || 8–5 || Petry (5–4) || Clear (5–3) || Hernández (4) || 21,609 || 41–32 || W3 y background:#bd5d29;color:#003366; July: 17–9 (Home: 10–3; Away: 7–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Crowd Record Streak |-bgcolor=#fbb | 74 || July 1 || @ Brewers || 2–13 || Wegman (7–7) || Terrell (6–8) || || 24,528 || 41–33 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 75 || July 2 || @ Mariners || 2–5 || Guetterman (6–1) || Tanana (7–5) || || 10,646 || 41–34 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 76 || July 3 || @ Mariners || 5–2 || Robinson (5–4) || Moore (3–10) || King (6) || 13,568 || 42–34 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 77 || July 4 || @ Mariners || 7–3 || Morris (12–3) || Campbell (0–1) || || 16,884 || 43–34 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 78 || July 5 || @ Mariners || 7–5 || Petry (6–4) || Langston (10–7) || Henneman (2) || 13,232 || 44–34 || W3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 79 || July 6 || @ Athletics || 3–5 || G. Nelson (4–1) || King (3–7) || Howell (15) || 14,656 || 44–35 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 80 || July 7 || @ Athletics || 6–4 || Tanana (8–5) || Andújar (3–2) || Hernández (5) || 17,174 || 45–35 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 81 || July 8 || @ Athletics || 9–5 || Robinson (6–4) || Ontiveros (5–3) || Thurmond (5) || 20,031 || 46–35 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 82 || July 9 || @ Angels || 2–5 || Sutton (6–9) || Morris (12–4) || Minton (5) || 30,966 || 46–36 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 83 || July 10 || @ Angels || 9–4 || King (4–7) || Lazorko (2–5) || || 31,073 || 47–36 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 84 || July 11 || @ Angels || 12–5 || Henneman (4–0) || Reuss (3–1) || || 44,219 || 48–36 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 85 || July 12 || @ Angels || 4–5 || Witt (11–5) || Tanana (8–6) || Minton (6) || 42,682 || 48–37 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bbcaff | ASG || July 14 || NL @ AL || 2–0 || Smith (1–0) || Howell (0–1) || Fernandez (1) || 49,671 || — || N/A |-bgcolor=#bfb | 86 || July 16 || Mariners || 3–2 || Terrell (7–8) || Moore (3–11) || || 20,488 || 49–37 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 87 || July 17 || Mariners || 7–0 || Tanana (9–6) || Langston (10–9) || || 24,669 || 50–37 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 88 || July 18 || Mariners || 10–6 || Henneman (5–0) || Reed (0–1) || King (7) || 31,594 || 51–37 || W3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 89 || July 19 || Mariners || 4–5 || Núñez (3–1) || Hernández (1–2) || || 23,577 || 51–38 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 90 || July 20 || Athletics || 5–4 || Henneman (6–0) || G. Nelson (4–2) || || 22,692 || 52–38 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 91 || July 21 || Athletics || 6–5 (10) || King (5–7) || Howell (3–4) || || 23,118 || 53–38 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 92 || July 22 || Athletics || 1–10 || Lamp (1–0) || Tanana (9–7) || || 24,855 || 53–39 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 93 || July 24 || Angels || 6–3 || Henneman (7–0) || Finley (2–4) || || 33,275 || 54–39 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 94 || July 25 || Angels || 5–4 (10) || Henneman (8–0) || Minton (3–1) || || 34,973 || 55–39 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 95 || July 26 || Angels || 6–2 || Terrell (8–8) || Fraser (6–7) || || 31,339 || 56–39 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 96 || July 27 || White Sox || 4–1 || Tanana (10–7) || Nielsen (3–4) || || 23,704 || 57–39 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 97 || July 28 || White Sox || 3–1 || Robinson (7–4) || Long (5–6) || || 26,156 || 58–39 || W5 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 98 || July 29 || White Sox || 0–4 || Bannister (6–8) || Morris (12–5) || || 28,918 || 58–40 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 99 || July 31 || @ Yankees || 5–6 || Righetti (6–3) || Henneman (8–1) || || 50,214 || 58–41 || L2 y background:#bd5d29;color:#003366; August: 19–11 (Home: 9–5; Away: 10–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Crowd Record Streak |-bgcolor=#bfb | 100 || August 1 || @ Yankees || 10–5 || Tanana (11–7) || Rasmussen (8–5) || || 55,103 || 59–41 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 101 || August 2 || @ Yankees || 5–8 || Rhoden (14–6) || Robinson (7–5) || Righetti (20) || 46,212 || 59–42 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 102 || August 3 || Royals || 2–4 (10) || Gleaton (2–3) || Morris (12–6) || || 25,781 || 59–43 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 103 || August 4 || Royals || 4–8 || D. Jackson (5–13) || Petry (6–5) || || 23,330 || 59–44 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 104 || August 5 || Royals || 4–2 || Terrell (9–8) || Saberhagen (15–7) || || 21,584 || 60–44 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 105 || August 6 || Yankees || 12–5 || Tanana (12–7) || Guidry (3–5) || || 41,875 || 61–44 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 106 || August 7 || Yankees || 8–0 || Robinson (8–5) || Rhoden (14–7) || || 48,262 || 62–44 || W3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 107 || August 8 || Yankees || 0–7 || John (11–4) || King (5–8) || || 45,812 || 62–45 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 108 || August 9 || Yankees || 15–4 || Petry (7–5) || Rasmussen (8–6) || || 44,673 || 63–45 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 109 || August 10 || @ White Sox || 4–8 || Dotson (9–8) || Terrell (9–9) || || 16,068 || 63–46 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 110 || August 11 || @ White Sox || 9–6 || Tanana (13–7) || Nielsen (3–5) || Hernández (6) || 14,567 || 64–46 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 111 || August 12 || @ White Sox || 8–7 || Hernández (2–2) || Thigpen (3–4) || || 16,438 || 65–46 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 112 || August 13 || @ Royals || 4–1 || Morris (13–6) || Gubicza (9–12) || || 38,221 || 66–46 || W3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 113 || August 14 || @ Royals || 5–7 || Black (5–6) || Terrell (9–10) || Quisenberry (8) || 38,749 || 66–47 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 114 || August 15 || @ Royals || 8–4 || King (6–8) || D. Jackson (6–14) || Henneman (3) || 40,425 || 67–47 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 115 || August 16 || @ Royals || 10–6 || Robinson (9–5) || Gleaton (2–4) || || 33,006 || 68–47 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 116 || August 18 || Twins || 11–2 || Morris (14–6) || Carlton (6–12) || || 32,053 || 69–47 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 117 || August 19 || Twins || 7–1 || Terrell (10–10) || Blyleven (12–10) || || 38,163 || 70–47 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 118 || August 20 || Twins || 8–0 || Alexander (1–0) || Niekro (6–9) || || 45,804 || 71–47 || W5 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 119 || August 21 || @ Indians || 4–12 || Easterly (1–0) || Petry (7–6) || Gordon (1) || – || 71–48 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 120 || August 21 || @ Indians || 3–8 || Farrell (2–0) || Tanana (13–8) || || 20,965 || 71–49 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 121 || August 22 || @ Indians || 8–6 || Henneman (9–1) || Bailes (6–6) || King (8) || 20,148 || 72–49 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 122 || August 23 || @ Indians || 4–3 || Morris (15–6) || Candiotti (6–13) || || 21,097 || 73–49 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 123 || August 24 || @ Twins || 4–5 || Reardon (6–6) || King (6–9) || || 27,338 || 73–50 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 124 || August 25 || @ Twins || 5–4 || Alexander (2–0) || Niekro (6–10) || Henneman (4) || 30,639 || 74–50 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 125 || August 26 || @ Twins || 10–8 || Petry (8–6) || Reardon (6–7) || Hernández (7) || 29,265 || 75–50 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 126 || August 28 || Rangers || 3–5 || Williams (7–3) || Morris (15–7) || Mohorcic (16) || 32,362 || 75–51 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 127 || August 29 || Rangers || 4–1 || Terrell (11–10) || Witt (7–7) || || 41,604 || 76–51 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 128 || August 30 || Rangers || 7–0 || Alexander (3–0) || Hough (14–10) || || 38,641 || 77–51 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 129 || August 31 || Indians || 2–7 || Farrell (3–0) || Tanana (13–9) || || 22,530 || 77–52 || L1 y background:#bd5d29;color:#003366; September: 17–12 (Home: 9–3; Away: 8–9) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Crowd Record Streak |-bgcolor=#bfb | 130 || September 1 || Indians || 6–5 (12) || Hernández (3–2) || Gordon (0–2) || || 19,810 || 78–52 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 131 || September 2 || Indians || 2–1 || Morris (16–7) || Candiotti (7–14) || || 20,516 || 79–52 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 132 || September 3 || Indians || 3–1 || Terrell (12–10) || Yett (3–6) || || 21,964 || 80–52 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 133 || September 4 || @ Rangers || 11–2 || Alexander (4–0) || Hough (14–11) || || 16,095 || 81–52 || W4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 134 || September 5 || @ Rangers || 7–8 || Howe (2–2) || Hernández (3–3) || || 26,058 || 81–53 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 135 || September 6 || @ Rangers || 3–9 || Guzmán (12–11) || Robinson (9–6) || || 22,374 || 81–54 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 136 || September 7 || @ Orioles || 12–4 || Morris (17–7) || Ballard (2–5) || || 13,651 || 82–54 || W1 |-bgcolor="#bbb | — || September 8 || @ Orioles || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: September 9 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 137 || September 9 || @ Orioles || 7–4 || Terrell (13–10) || Dixon (7–9) || Hernández (8) || – || 83–54 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 138 || September 9 || @ Orioles || 6–0 || Alexander (5–0) || Boddicker (10–8) || || 21,579 || 84–54 || W3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 139 || September 10 || @ Brewers || 3–4 || Nieves (12–6) || Tanana (13–10) || Mirabella (1) || 9,715 || 84–55 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 140 || September 11 || @ Brewers || 2–5 || Higuera (16–9) || Henneman (9–2) || || 21,161 || 84–56 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 141 || September 12 || @ Brewers || 2–11 || Wegman (10–10) || Morris (17–8) || || 50,288 || 84–57 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 142 || September 13 || @ Brewers || 5–1 || Terrell (14–10) || Bosio (10–6) || || 21,880 || 85–57 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 143 || September 14 || Red Sox || 3–0 || Alexander (6–0) || Clemens (16–9) || Henneman (5) || 23,287 || 86–57 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 144 || September 15 || Red Sox || 9–8 || Petry (9–6) || Crawford (5–4) || Henneman (6) || 20,398 || 87–57 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 145 || September 16 || Red Sox || 4–1 || Morris (18–8) || Sellers (7–8) || || 22,341 || 88–57 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 146 || September 18 || Brewers || 5–2 || Terrell (15–10) || Wegman (10–11) || King (9) || 30,104 || 89–57 || W5 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 147 || September 19 || Brewers || 7–6 || Alexander (7–0) || Bosio (10–7) || || 34,006 || 90–57 || W6 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 148 || September 20 || Brewers || 4–11 || Nieves (13–7) || Morris (18–9) || Crim (10) || 32,143 || 90–58 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 149 || September 21 || @ Red Sox || 4–9 || Nipper (10–11) || Snell (1–2) || || 20,376 || 90–59 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 150 || September 22 || @ Red Sox || 8–5 || Terrell (16–10) || Woodward (1–1) || Noles (1) || 20,189 || 91–59 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 151 || September 23 || @ Red Sox || 4–0 || Alexander (8–0) || Hurst (15–12) || || 23,798 || 92–59 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 152 || September 24 || @ Blue Jays || 3–4 || Flanagan (6–7) || Morris (18–10) || Henke (34) || 42,436 || 92–60 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 153 || September 25 || @ Blue Jays || 2–3 || Musselman (12–4) || Hernández (3–4) || || 46,233 || 92–61 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 154 || September 26 || @ Blue Jays || 9–10 || Núñez (5–1) || Henneman (9–3) || || 46,429 || 92–62 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 155 || September 27 || @ Blue Jays || 3–2 (13) || Henneman (10–3) || Núñez (5–2) || Noles (4) || 46,346 || 93–62 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 156 || September 28 || Orioles || 0–3 || Habyan (6–6) || Morris (18–11) || Niedenfuer (12) || 20,015 || 93–63 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 157 || September 29 || Orioles || 10–1 || Tanana (14–10) || Bell (9–13) || || 16,882 || 94–63 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 158 || September 30 || Orioles || 3–7 || Mesa (1–3) || Petry (9–7) || || 19,434 || 94–64 || L1 y background:#bd5d29;color:#003366; October: 4–0 (Home: 4–0; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Crowd Record Streak |-bgcolor=#bfb | 159 || October 1 || Orioles || 9–5 || Terrell (17–10) || Boddicker (10–12) || || 19,749 || 95–64 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 160 || October 2 || Blue Jays || 4–3 || Alexander (9–0) || Clancy (15–11) || Henneman (7) || 45,167 || 96–64 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 161 || October 3 || Blue Jays || 3–2 (12) || Henneman (11–3) || Musselman (12–5) || || 45,026 || 97–64 || W3 |-bgcolor=#039 | 162 || October 4 || Blue Jays || 1–0 || Tanana (15–10) || Key (17–8) || || 51,005 || 98–64 || W4 Player stats = Indicates team leader 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 Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI C Matt Nokes 135 461 133 .289 32 87 1B Darrell Evans 150 499 128 .257 34 99 2B Lou Whitaker 149 604 160 .265 16 59 3B Tom Brookens 143 444 107 .241 14 59 SS Alan Trammell 151 597 205 .343 28 105 LF Kirk Gibson 128 487 135 .277 24 79 CF Chet Lemon 146 470 130 .277 20 75 RF Pat Sheridan 141 421 109 .259 6 49 DH Bill Madlock 87 326 91 .279 14 50 Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI Mike Heath 93 270 76 .281 8 33 Larry Herndon 89 225 73 .324 9 47 Dave Bergman 91 172 47 .273 6 22 Darnell Coles 53 149 27 .181 4 15 Jim Morrison 34 117 24 .205 4 19 Johnny Grubb 59 114 23 .202 2 13 Billy Bean 26 66 17 .258 0 4 Terry Harper 31 64 13 .203 3 10 Jim Walewander 53 54 13 .241 1 4 Scott Lusader 23 47 15 .319 1 8 Dwight Lowry 13 25 5 .200 0 1 Orlando Mercado 10 22 3 .136 0 1 Tim Tolman 9 12 1 .083 0 1 Doug Baker 8 1 0 .000 0 0 Pitching Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Jack Morris 34 266.0 18 11 3.38 208 Walt Terrell 35 244.2 17 10 4.05 143 Frank Tanana 34 218.2 15 10 3.91 146 Dan Petry 30 134.2 9 7 5.61 93 Jeff Robinson 29 127.1 9 6 5.37 98 Doyle Alexander 11 88.1 9 0 1.53 44 Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G W L SV ERA SO Eric King 55 6 9 9 4.89 89 Mike Henneman 55 11 3 7 2.98 75 Willie Hernández 45 3 4 8 3.67 30 Mark Thurmond 48 0 1 5 4.23 21 Nate Snell 22 1 2 0 3.96 19 Dickie Noles 4 0 0 2 4.50 0 Bryan Kelly 5 0 1 0 5.06 10 Morris Madden 2 0 0 0 16.20 0 Farm system Minor League Baseball AAA Toledo Mud Hens International League Leon Roberts AA Glens Falls Tigers Eastern League Tom Burgess, Tom Gamboa and Paul Felix A Lakeland Tigers Florida State League John Wockenfuss A Fayetteville Generals South Atlantic League Johnny Lipon Rookie Bristol Tigers Appalachian League Rick MagnanteJohnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 References External links Baseball 1987 Detroit Tigers team page at Baseball Reference Category:Detroit Tigers seasons Category:American League East champion seasons Detroit Tigers Detroit Tigers Category:1987 in Detroit