<P> It was hoped that a new opponent in the 1909 Series, the Pittsburgh Pirates, would yield different results . The Tigers performed better in the Fall Classic, taking Pittsburgh to seven games, but they were blown out 8--0 in the decisive game at Bennett Park . </P> <P> The Tigers dropped to third place in the American League in 1910 with an 86--68 record . They posted 89 wins in 1911 to finish second, but were still well behind a powerhouse Philadelphia Athletics team that won 101 games . The team sunk to a dismal sixth place in both the 1912 and 1913 seasons . A bright spot in 1912 was George Mullin pitching the franchise's first no - hitter in a 7--0 win over the St. Louis Browns on July 4, his 32nd birthday . </P> <P> Cobb went into the stands in a May 15, 1912, game to attack a fan that was abusing him, and was suspended . The Tigers protested the suspension by fielding a team of replacement players and some coaches, and lost 24--2, to the Philadelphia Athletics . During this five - season stretch, Cobb posted batting averages of . 383, . 420, . 409, . 390 and . 368, winning the AL batting title every year . </P> <P> In 1915, the Tigers won a then - club record 100 games, but narrowly lost the American League pennant to the Boston Red Sox, who won 101 games . The 1915 Tigers were led by an outfield consisting of Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, and Bobby Veach that finished #1, #2, and #3 in RBIs and total bases . Cobb also set a stolen base record with 96 steals in 1915 that stood until 1962, when it was broken by Maury Wills . Baseball historian Bill James has ranked the 1915 Tigers outfield as the greatest in the history of baseball . The only team in Tigers' history with a better winning percentage than the 1915 squad was the 1934 team that lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals . </P>

When was the last time the tigers were in the world series