dean bertoncelj // Shutterstock
Biggest plays in Detroit Tigers history
Major League Baseball history is built on moments — swings, pitches, and split-second plays that reshaped seasons and, in some cases, entire franchises. From walk-off home runs in winner-take-all games to clutch hits under October pressure, the biggest plays often came when the stakes were highest. Stacker identified the most impactful plays in Detroit Tigers history using data from Stathead. Plays were ranked by their Championship Win Probability Added (cWPA), a metric that measures how much a single play changed a team’s odds of winning the World Series.
#10. October 16, 1909 (WS Gm 7)
– Score: ahead 2-0 (3rd inning, 0 outs)
– Opponent: PIT
– Event: FC
– Play Description: Double Play: Fielder’s Choice SS; D. Miller out at Hm/SS-C; B. Abstein out at 3B/C-2B
– cWPA: 12.04%
#9. October 08, 1940 (WS Gm 7)
– Score: tied 0-0 (3rd inning, 2 outs)
– Opponent: CIN
– Event: 1B
– Play Description: Single to 3B (Ground Ball); B. Sullivan Scores (Unearned run) (Advanced on throw) on E5 (throw to 1B); B. McCosky to 3B
– cWPA: 12.25%
#8. October 05, 1935 (WS Gm 4)
– Score: down 2-1 (9th inning, 1 out)
– Opponent: CHC
– Event: Out
– Play Description: *ENDED GAME*:Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
– cWPA: 12.52%
#7. October 04, 1935 (WS Gm 3)
– Score: tied 5-5 (11th inning, 2 outs)
– Opponent: CHC
– Event: 1B
– Play Description: Single to CF; M. Owen Scores (Unearned run); F. Clifton to 3B; J. White to 2B (Advanced on throw) on throw to Hm
– cWPA: 13.61%
#6. October 14, 1909 (WS Gm 6)
– Score: down 5-4 (9th inning, 1 out)
– Opponent: PIT
– Event: SO
– Play Description: *ENDED GAME*:Double Play: Strikeout O. Wilson Caught Stealing 3B (C-3B)
– cWPA: 14.17%
#5. October 08, 1945 (WS Gm 6)
– Score: down 7-6 (8th inning, 2 outs)
– Opponent: CHC
– Event: HR
– Play Description: Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF); H. Greenberg Scores (Unearned run)
– cWPA: 14.34%
#4. October 14, 1909 (WS Gm 6)
– Score: down 5-4 (9th inning, 0 outs)
– Opponent: PIT
– Event: FC
– Play Description: Fielder’s Choice 1B; B. Abstein out at Hm/1B-C; O. Wilson to 2B; G. Gibson to 1B
– cWPA: 15.30%
#3. October 10, 1945 (WS Gm 7)
– Score: ahead 2-0 (1st inning, 2 outs)
– Opponent: CHC
– Event: 2B
– Play Description: Double to LF (Fly Ball to Deep LF Line); D. Cramer Scores; R. Cullenbine Scores; J. Outlaw Scores
– cWPA: 17.12%
#2. October 07, 1935 (WS Gm 6)
– Score: tied 3-3 (9th inning, 2 outs)
– Opponent: CHC
– Event: 1B
– Play Description: *WALK-OFF*:Single to RF; M. Cochrane Scores
– cWPA: 17.42%
#1. October 10, 1968 (WS Gm 7)
– Score: tied 0-0 (7th inning, 2 outs)
– Opponent: STL
– Event: 3B
– Play Description: Triple to CF (Deep CF); N. Cash Scores; W. Horton Scores
– cWPA: 35.92%