(Photo: Robin Buckson, Detroit News)
July 30, 2015 was judgment day for the Detroit Tigers and their near-decade run as World Series contenders.
They sat third place in the American League Central, 11.5 games back of a Kansas City team that was fresh off a World Series bid itself and would eventually return to capture a prize the Tigers failed to claim during trips to the Fall Classic in 2006 and 2012.
Detroit was reigning champions of four consecutive division titles. The year prior, the Tigers’ starting rotation heralded five pitchers that, today, boast a combined six Cy Young awards.