Detroit Tigers: Who is the Archrival? (POLL)
By Matt Pelc
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are notable in Detroit Tigers’ history for a couple of reasons. First, they were easily cast aside during the franchise’s last championship season, sweeping them in the 1984 ALCS. Second, they were the team to end the Tigers’ best run in franchise history after easily winning the 2015 AL Central, ending Detroit’s four-year grasp on the title.
It’s hard to think of the Royals as being bitter rivals. For a long time the bottom of the AL Central was interchangeable with the Royals and Tigers taking turns finishing four and five. It’s hard to hate losers and it doesn’t seem very long since KC’s fortunes have turned.
One thing that Tigers’ fans can look sourly on the Royals for is the fact that they did something their team couldn’t: win it all. With the Tigers’ run of success the last decade, they have won zero titles and had a pair of poor showings in the World Series. Meanwhile the Royals came within 90 feet of possibly being back-to-back champions in 2014 & 2015.
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