Jim Leyland - Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers

In 2005, Leyland returned to the franchise with which he spent the first 18 years of his professional baseball career, managing in the AL for the first time. Following the release of Alan Trammell as the manager of the Tigers on October 3, 2005, Leyland was immediately named a top contender to replace him for the 2006 season. "It's well known that I interviewed with Philadelphia last winter, and I'd like to manage again," Leyland said in September 2005. He was announced as the new Tigers manager just one day later.

In the 2006 regular season, Leyland guided the Tigers to a 95–67 record, the Tigers' best season since 1987. The Tigers entered the playoffs as a wild card, and went on to defeat the New York Yankees and sweep the Oakland Athletics on their way to winning the American League pennant. Many people chose the Tigers to win the 2006 World Series, although they ultimately lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. In leading the team to the AL pennant, he became the seventh manager to win pennants in both major leagues, joining Joe McCarthy, Yogi Berra, Alvin Dark, Sparky Anderson, Dick Williams, and Tony La Russa. After the 2006 season ended, Leyland was recognized with the Manager of the Year award for the third time in his career. He became the third person to win the award in both leagues, joining Tony La Russa and Bobby Cox. Leyland also won The Sporting News Manager of the Year Award for the American League in 2006.

On October 2, 2007, the Tigers extended Leyland's contract through the 2009 season. Despite a disappointing 2008 season, Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski announced on September 24, 2008, that Leyland would be back for the 2009 season.

On June 19, 2009, the Tigers extended Leyland's contract through the 2011 season. On August 8, 2011, the Tigers extended Leyland's contract through the 2012 season.

In 2011, Leyland led the Tigers to another 95-67 regular season record, winning the American League Central Division. They went on to defeat the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series before losing to the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series.

On May 1, 2012, Leyland gained his 1,600th victory as a major league manager, passing Tommy Lasorda on the all-time wins list. In 2012, Leyland led the Tigers to an 88-74 regular season record, winning the American League Central Division. On that team, Tiger third baseman Miguel Cabrera was the American League Triple Crown winner that season. This was the first Triple Crown winner in Major League Baseball since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. When the Tigers won the AL Central for the second consecutive season, Leyland became the only Tigers manager besides Hughie Jennings to lead Detroit to the postseason three times.

In the 2012 postseason, Detroit defeated the Oakland Athletics in a five-game ALDS. On October 18, 2012, Leyland led the Detroit Tigers to the World Series in a sweep of the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. Detroit was swept in the 2012 World Series against the San Francisco Giants. They were shut out twice, the same number as in the entire 162-game regular season, and had a team batting average of .165.

On October 30, 2012, Leyland signed another one-year contract with the Tigers to manage for the 2013 season.