Tigers 2006
In 2006, Jhonny Peralta was the starting shortstop for the Cleveland Indians, who finished the year 4th in the A.L. Central, with a record of 78-84. He hit .257 in 149 games, with 13 home runs and 68 RBI. Victor Martinez, the starting catcher that year for the Tribe, had a .316 batting average in 153 games, with 16 home runs and 93 RBI.
The Indians ended the season 18 games back of the A.L. Central champs – the Minnesota Twins – who had edged out the Detroit Tigers by just one win, in a tie-breaker game.
But Detroit, with the 4th best record in the A.L. that season – at 95-67 – went bounding into the post-season as the wild card. The Tigers summarily dismissed their first two opponents, taking just eight games to defeat both New York (3 games to 1) and Oakland (4 straight).
They were the indisputable champions of the American League, capturing their first pennant since 1984, the same year the team had last won the World Series.
Champagne was uncorked, tears were shed, an...
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