The 1968 World Series was won by the Detroit Tigers, who defeated the St. Louis Cardinals four games to three. It was the first World Series championship for the Tigers, and they did it with a different look from their 1967 season - more speed, less power. The Cardinals were favored due to their greater experience but the young Tigers outplayed them throughout the series.
The Tigers took advantage of five Cardinal errors in Game 1 and held on for a 5-4 victory. The Cardinals evened the series in Game 2 but the Tigers dominated again, winning 6-1. Down 0-2 in the series, the Cards came back to win 3 straight to force a Game 5. However, the Tigers won that game too, taking away any hope the Cardinals had of winning the series. Game 6 was also close (3-2 Tiger win) before a crowd of 93,622 at Detroit’s new Comerica Park. This game is best remembered for its dramatic ending when Mickey Stanley scored the winning run after stumbling while trying to advance home plate with two runners on base.
The Tigers went on to defeat the San Francisco Giants 4 games to 2 to win their first world title. The Cardinals lost all three games to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
In 1968, the Detroit Tigers won the World Series. They beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3.
The Tigers were managed by Ralph Houk, and coached by Jim Leyland. The pitching coach was Rudy Jaramillo.
The regular first baseman was George Kell, who hit.273 with 2 home runs and 9 RBIs in the series. The Tiger’s second baseman was Don Wert (.286 with 1 homer and 10 RBIs), and their third baseman was Mark Belanger (1 homer, 7 RBIs).
Infielders: First - Ron LeFlore (.292 with 1 homer and 8 RBIs); Second - Don Wert; Third - Mark Belanger.
Outfielders: Left - Alan Trammell (.290 with 1 homer and 10 RBIs); Right - Kirk Gibson (1 homer, 7 RBIs)
Pitchers: Starter - Denny McLain (16 strikeouts in 21 innings); Reliever - Jack Morris (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 save)
1968 The 1968 World Series was Major League Baseball’s (MLB) championship series for the 1968 season. The World Series 65 was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League champion Detroit Tigers and the National League champion (and defending World Series champion) St. Louis Cardinals. The Tigers won the series 4 games to 1. It was the first World Series played outside of California and Arizona, and it was also the first time that a team from Michigan had won the championship.
The Cardinals were champions for the second year in a row and third time in four years. The Tigers were trying to be the first team since the New York Yankees in 1927 to win back-to-back World Championships.
Although they were division rivals during most of their seasons together, the Cardinals and Tigers had never met in the World Series before 1968. This would be the first of three meetings between these two teams in the next four years. The Tigers won the first two games at home stadium Tiger Stadium in Detroit, but lost the last five games on the road to the Cardinals.
Kent State University president Daniel R. Murphy called the game 2 decision in favor of the Cardinals “a miscarriage of justice”. Murphy said that he believed that winner of Game 2 should have gone into Game 3 with a lead. He added that he thought that game was “fixed” to allow the Cardinals to come back and win it.
Season Results for the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball
Postseason Results
SEASON
ROUND
OPPONENT
1968
World Series
St. Louis Cardinals
1945
World Series
Chicago Cubs
1940
World Series
Cincinnati Reds
The American League champion Detroit Tigers faced the National League champion Chicago Cubs in the 1945 World Series. The Tigers won the series in seven games, their second title and first since 1935.
This was the first World Series not played on American soil since 1903. It was also the first time that two non-American teams met for the championship. Games were played in Detroit because Comiskey Park had been destroyed by fire earlier in the year.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead into Game One of the Series against Cub starter Johnny Sain. But the Cubs tied the game in the bottom of the third and went on to win, 3-1. They took a 2-1 lead into Game Two of the Series at Wrigley Field. However, the Tigers won this game too, 7-5. This put the Cubs behind three games to one. They came back home for Game Three but lost again, this time, 4-3. The Tigers then traveled to Chicago for Game Four with their chances looking bleak. But they took charge of the Series with five straight wins: 5-4, 11-10 (after 9 innings), 7-6, 10-9, and 8-7. They finished off the Cubs in Game Seven with a 6-5 victory. This is the shortest World Series ever completed in terms of games played.
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