Jays-Tigers rivalry isn't what it used to be

Steve Buffery

Published Jun 03, 2014 • Last updated Jun 04, 2014 • 3 minute read

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Juan Francisco (47) second baseman Brett Lawrie (center) and right fielder Jose Bautista (19) celebrate a three-run home run by Brett Lawrie in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers on June 3. — Photo by USA Today Sports

Toronto Blue Jays centre fielder Anthony Gose (8) receives congratulations from designated hitter Adam Lind (26) after scoring in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers on June 3.Photo by USA Today Sports

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez (19) pitches in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 3.Photo by USA Today Sports

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes (7) receives congratulations from second baseman Brett Lawrie (13) after scoring in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers on June 3.Photo by USA Today Sports

Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Brett Lawrie (13) hits a three-run home run in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers on June 3.Photo by USA Today Sports

Detroit Tigers left fielder J.D. Martinez (28) hits a three-run home run in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 3.Photo by USA Today Sports

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Drew Hutchison (36) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers on June 3.Photo by USA Today Sports

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DETROIT

Former Blue Jays pitcher Duane Ward shook his head as he looked out towards the infield at Comerica Park on Tuesday afternoon.

The sun was shining, Blue Jays jerseys were sprinkled throughout the downtown Detroit ballpark and the two teams, the Jays and Tigers, sat in first place in their respective American League divisions.

“You know, it’s such a shame they took the Tigers out of the American League East,” said Ward, who pitched for the Jays between 1986 and 1995. “When these two teams were in the same division, this was one of the biggest rivalries in baseball.

“The rivalry was special, it really was,” Ward added. “I remember the ’84 Tigers — I was in the minor leagues at the time — jumping out to such a huge league, and who was right on their butts? The Toronto Blue Jays.”

The Tigers sprinted out of the blocks to a stunning 35-5 start in 1984 and cruised to a 104-58 record and a World Series title. And the Jays did finish second in the AL East that season, though a good 15 games back. But the Tigers didn’t always dominate the AL or the Jays back when the Great Lakes clubs both toiled in the AL East. In fact, the teams were remarkably even during the 1980s and 1990s and games between the Tigers and Jays were always special. The Tigers went 839-727 in the 1980s and the Jays 817-746 and both won two division championships.

“You knew when you came in to Detroit, you were in for a battle,” Ward said. “Those were special days. You’d come in here and face Frank Tanana and Jack Morris and Bill Gullickson. It was special. Those were great days and I wish we could go back to that.”

He’s not alone in that assessment. Only 373 kilometres apart, it was a natural rivalry, similar to the Maple Leafs and Red Wings in the day. But MLB’s decision in 1998 to switch the Tigers to the AL Central Division really sucked the life out of something good. Now, they don’t face each other nearly as often and when they have in recent years, the Tigers always seemed to have more on the line.

Still, there was something different in the air on Tuesday night in Detroit. A sense of nostalgia. With the Tigers and Jays leading their respective divisions, fans and former players were talking about when games between the clubs were something special and there was talk about how great it would be if they some day they were moved back into the same division. The front sports page in Tuesday’s Detroit News even featured a story on the once-great rivalry though, sadly, that’s something lost on today’s players. Former Jays outfielder Rajai Davis shrugged his shoulder when asked if he thought there was something special when the Tigers and Jays played each other. Davis acknowledged that there was, but mostly because he once played for the Jays.

Toronto closer Casey Janssen was asked the same question.

“It’s great because we know a lot of fans here support us,” he said. “And we obviously know how good these guys can play. But I don’t think we’re making it anymore than it is. It’s a three-game series in Detroit.”

Back in the day, it was never just a three-game series in Detroit.

Sitting inside the visiting manager’s office, John Gibbons was asked if he considered games against the Tigers something special.

“No, not really. But it used to be back in Wardo’s day,” said Gibbons, pointing towards Ward, who is in Detroit doing radio for the Jays.

“How long ago was that Wardo?” Gibbons added.

“Eons,” Ward answered.

Still, as the Detroit News pointed out, if the standings in the American League finished at the end of the season as they stood on Tuesday, the Tigers and Jays would face each other in the post-season. Wouldn’t that be something special?

Tanana called the last seven games between the Jays and Tigers in the 1987 season — all games decided by a single run — something that might never be matched. The Jays had been in first place by 3½ games over the Tigers with a week to play, but dropped their next seven games in a row, capped off by a sweep at the hands of Detroit at Tiger Stadium on the last weekend of the season.

“Honestly,” Tanana told the News. “If they had been World Series games, it would have been considered, no doubt, the greatest ever.”