FLYING HIGH
Separated by 250 miles of canadian farmland and two games in the American League East standings, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Detroit Tigers joined battle at
vault.si.comthat year the Tigers seized the AL East on the strength of a strong finish, securing the division in the final series versus the Blue Jays, while the Blue Jays squandered a late lead, as Detroit swept them, locking in their collapse enabling Detroit to reach the postseason. The Tigers benefited from clutch performances, late-inning rallies, and bullpen contributions, with Toronto fading down the stretch. This era marked one of the notable pennant-race collapses in the division, and Detroit ultimately prevailed.