With Billy Martin leading the way as manager the Tigers finish the season with a record of 86-70, a half game ahead of the 2nd place Boston Red Sox. The Tigers would benefit from a strike at the start of the season, which gave the Tigers 1 more game, then the Sox that the Tigers won and were able to claim the division with. In subsequent years division champs would have to at least win by 1 game because of the controversy caused by this finish. In the ALCS the Tigers would face the Oakland Athletics. The A's would take the first 2 games to place the Tigers on the brink with series heading to Detroit. After the Tigers won Game 3 they faced the end of their season trailing 3-1 in the 10th inning of Game 4. However a walk, wild pitch, and an error set Jim Northrup up with runners on 2nd and 3rd with a run in. Northrup would deliver with a single to score the tying and winning runs to force a 5th and deciding game. However Blue Moon Odom would hold the Tigers to just 1 run in Game 5 as the A's went on to the World Series with a 2-1 win.