Product Description

The impossibility, incredibility, indisputably true story of how the Detroit Tigers jumped to the top of the American League almost overnight.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1178548 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 127 pages

Customer Reviews

A MAGICAL SEASON TO RELIVE!
Was there ever a season in baseball more unlikely than the Detroit Tigers run to the world series in 2006? Words cannot describe just how far this once great baseball franchise had fallen. They won more games during the 1980's than any other team in baseball. Then came a 15 year span in which they were the worst in baseball...by far! From 1992 to 2005, the Tigers finished above .500 only once. They finished in last place six times, and three times lost over 100 games, culminating in the 119 loss season of 2003, just one loss short of tying the all-time record.

Prior to the 2006 season the Tigers hired Jim Leyland, who had managed in their farm system for many years, as their new manager. Leyland brought a history of being a winner, having already won a World Series with the Florida Marlins. Fans in Detroit would have been happy with just getting over .500 but what they got was much more. They got a team that led the American League's Central division until the final day of the season. They got a team that made the playoffs as a wild card and defeated the heavily favored New York Yankees and went to their first World Series in 22 years after sweeping the Oakland A's in the ALCS. While the Tigers fell short of delivering a championship, they restored fan interest in baseball for the first time in 15 years.

The Tigers improbable story is related in Roar Restored, a great book from The Detroit Free Press and Triumph Books, the leader in sports books. You'll recount how this improbable team was built and finally molded together by Leyland. Their roster consisted of veterans cast off from other teams like Kenny Rogers, Maglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen, mixed with breakout rookies Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya, and Curtis Granderson.

The season is expertly recapped by the outstanding staff of sports writers from the Detroit Free Press including Mitch Albom, Michael Rosenberg, Jon Paul Morosi, and John Lowe. Relive some of those great moments such as Craig Monroe's three-run homer against the Yankees in August in a must win game, and Pudge Rodriguez' walkoff homerun again the Indians, and of course, the big moment, Magilo Ordonez' walkoff homerun against the A's in the playoffs to send the Tigers to the World Series.

The book covers each game of the ALDS against the Bronx Bombers and each game of the ALCS against the A's. Leyland's managerial magic continued as he used little known Alexis Gomez as DH in game two and he responded by going 2-for-4 with a homerun and four RBI's. Finally the World Series versus the Cardinals is covered and while it was disappointing, baseball is finally back in Motown.

The book is filled with great color photography including the joyous celebrations of fans and players after defeating the Yankees and A's. A must have for any Tigers fan!

REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

Wonderful chronicle of a wonderful season
I have both this and George Cantor's book about the Detroit Tigers and their wonderful 2006 season. This book is by far the better of the two. The articles are far more informative, as the book follows the chronology from the point that each player was obtained by the team through the conclusion of the season in the World Series. For the casual fan it is a good read about the team and the season, and for those addicted to statistics, it is much more informative. I do agree with the reviewer that mentioned the Cantor book's visually arresting photography, but it is less cohesive, less accurate and ends before the final acts of the season. While the two books complement each other well (nicely filling in the gaps of the other), if I was to purchase only one book, this would be the one to buy.

From Rock Bottom to the Mountaintop
By 1990, the Tigers posted more victories than any other AL franchise . . . except the Yankees. In 2003 the Detroit Tigers almost broke the record for most losses in MLB history set by the 1962 New York Mets. Then came the collapse of the 1990's. Between 1992 and 2005 the Tigers finished last place six times and had a winning percentage over .500 only once. They were the laughingstock of baseball with falling attendance and performance to match. After a series of managerial disappointments, on October 4, 2005 Mike Illitch hired Jim Leyland
to coach the Tigers. Leyland grew up in the Tigers organization and had a history of winning including a World Series ring with the Florida Marlins.
Michael Rosenberg, Mitch Albom and other Free Press writer use their journalistic skills to create colorful insights into the personalities that made up the 2006 Tigers. The page layouts combine text with informative graphics, more candid photos than action photos (which I liked), timelines, stats, historical snapshots. I especially enjoyed personal insights for each player, where they came from and how each player was added to the team. Coverage also highlighted Bonderman's parents, Leyland's family, Kenny Rogers long road to the MLB, the Polanco trade, Todd Jones return, "no takers" for Magglio and don't forget signing Pudge.
The book covers all games of the ALDS vs. Yankees and the ALCS vs. the A's. This book is a well written and visually engaging presentation describing the swift and unlikely turnaround of 2006. But isn't that what we appreciate about the game of baseball, the anticipation and the unexpected . . . . like the Tigers choke of 2009?, that's baseball.