Detroit Tiger Manager Mickey Cochrane, photo courtesy Boston Public Library

There were few things as exciting as watching somebody trying to get in there on a close play with Cochrane. Home plate was his, you see. You had to take it away from him. Tough? Just the same as a piece of flint.
~Doc Cramer regarding Mickey Cochrane

Yesterday the Detroit Tigers came from behind to beat the White Sox 6-5 in extra innings. It was their 12th in a row and a feat that only 3 Tiger squads have matched. Tiger Tales has the list with 13 in a row in 1927 and 14 from 1909 and 1934.

Speaking of 12 and 1934, the Bleacher Report (which I’m finding to be a really cool sports site) ranks the ’34 Tigers as the 12th best offense in baseball history. While the team ultimately fell to the Gas House Gang in the World Series, they won 101 games and dominated the AL for several years with a lineup was ridiculous, as Motown Sports explains:

The addition of outfielder (Goose) Goslin to a lineup that already featured stars Hank Greenberg and Charlie Gehringer, earned the Tigers’ offense the nickname “G-Men” after the legendary FBI officers of the day. While G-Men were known to get into shootouts with gangsters, the Tigers’ G-Men formed the nucleus of an offense that helped the club roar through the American League in 1934 posting a 101-53 record.

Four Tigers, Greenberg (139), Gehringer (127), shortstop Billy Rogell (100) and Goslin (100), each had 100 RBI campaigns. Gerhinger paced the league in hits, as well, with 214. However, the Tigers of ’34 not only could hit, but they could run, too. JoJo White (28), Pete Fox (25) and Gee Walker (20) finished amongst the top five in the American League steals leaders. The G-Men led the AL in runs, batting average (an incredible .300), doubles and stolen bases in 1934.

Click through for the ’34 Series program and much more about one of the greatest Tiger teams.

The manager of this team was Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Cochrane. He appeared on a 1935 cover of TIME Magazine, won the AL MVP for the Tigers in ’34 and led the Tigers to 2 pennants and the 1935 World Championship. Wikipedia notes that the fiercely competitive “Black Mike” was one of the greatest catchers in baseball history with a .320 batting average over a 13 year playing career, the highest until Joe Mauer surpassed it in 2009!

The photo of Mickey Cochrane on the dugout steps at Fenway Park is from 1934-38. You can view it background big and see more in the Boston Public Library’s Mickey Cochrane slideshow.

More Detroit Tigers photos on Michigan in Pictures including a post about another member of this legendary squad, 2nd baseman Charlie Gheringer.