The 2010 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 110th season. This year saw the passing of legendary Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell, and nearly saw the first perfect game thrown by a Tigers pitcher. The Tigers spent most of the season in 2nd or 3rd place. The third-place Tigers finished 13 games behind the AL Central Champion Minnesota Twins, with an 81–81 record and failed to make the playoffs. Austin Jackson made the Tigers' opening day roster, and was American League Rookie of the Month for April. 2010 also saw the debuts of several rookies from the Tiger farm system, including Brennan Boesch, Scott Sizemore, Danny Worth, Casper Wells and Will Rhymes. Boesch was called up on April 23, 2010, and was named the AL Rookie of the Month for May and June. The Tigers sent three players to the 2010 All-Star game. Miguel Cabrera and José Valverde were selected as reserves, and starter Justin Verlander was added to the team when another AL starter who was selected was unable to pitch due to scheduling. At the All-Star break, the Tigers were a half-game out of first place in the AL Central, behind the Chicago White Sox. But a slow start and injuries to key players Magglio Ordóñez, Carlos Guillén and Brandon Inge shortly after the break sent the Tigers into a tailspin. Closer Valverde would also suffer a series of nagging injuries down the stretch. The Tigers finished the season with an 81-81 record, good for third place, 13 games back of the division-winning Minnesota Twins. While playing outstanding baseball at home, the Tigers were just 29-52 on the road. Only the Seattle Mariners had fewer road wins than the Tigers among American League teams. Among the season highlights were Miguel Cabrera hitting.328 with 38 home runs and an AL-best 126 RBI, earning the American League Silver Slugger Award at first base and finishing second in the AL MVP race. Austin Jackson finished second in the AL Rookie-of-the-Year voting. Justin Verlander enjoyed another strong season. After a slow start and a brief trip to the minors, Max Scherzer showed promise with a 12-11 record, 3.50 ERA and 181 strikeouts. On July 26, the Tigers were on the losing end of Matt Garza's no-hitter in Tampa.
On June 6, the Tigers designated Adam Everett for assignment.
On July 28, the Tigers acquired Jhonny Peralta from the Indians in exchange for minor league pitcher Giovanni Soto and cash considerations.
Tributes to Ernie Harwell
On May 4, Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell died at age 92. Two days later, Harwell's body lie in repose at Comerica Park, with over 10,000 fans filing past the casket. In his honor, the Tigers wore patches and flew a flag in the center field of Comerica Park both bearing his initials for the remainder of the season.
The near-perfect game
In the June 2 game against Cleveland, Armando Galarraga had a perfect game going with two outs in the top of the ninth when first base umpireJim Joyce made a controversial call, ruling a batter safe at first when video replay showed he was out. Joyce later said "I took a perfect game away from that kid, I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay." After the game, Galarraga told reporters Joyce apologized to him directly and gave him a hug. Despite large fan support for overturning the call, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig let the call stand, but said he would look into expanding replay beyond home run calls for the future. It would have been the first perfect game thrown by a Tigers pitcher. Two previous Tigers, Tommy Bridges and Milt Wilcox, had also come within one out of throwing perfect games before having them broken up by the 27th batter.
