Watch CBS News

Tigers' Leyland Joins Elite Club

OAKLAND, Calif. (WWJ/AP) - It's a milestone for Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland. He got his 1,500th career win Friday night after the Tigers rallied to beat the Oakland Athletics 8-4.

It was a game that looked liked it was destined to go in the books as a loss. Tigers trailed the Oakland A's throughout most of the game, in a ballpark where big hits are few and far between.

Brennan Boesch had the key blow of the game, a two-run bases loaded double in the 10th. Leyland became the 19th major league manager to reach 1,500 wins.

Jim Leyland received a pile of five new cigars on his clubhouse desk and a celebratory bottle of champagne each from his general manager and coaching staff.

The calls of congratulations began flooding in, too.

Leyland stuck to his usual post game choice of cigarettes, then the no-nonsense skipper praised his players for his latest milestone.

``I wouldn't have gotten this win tonight if I didn't have the players. It's all about the players and it always will be,'' Leyland said.

``I'm just getting old, that's probably what that means,'' Leyland said.
(Copyright 2011 WWJ Newsradio 950. All Rights Reserved.)   (Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Right Reserved.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.