Tigers win first division title since 1987

OAKLAND, Calif. -- For all his years on the top dugout step in four managerial stops, Jim Leyland has never been a believer in chemistry carrying a club. He figures that simply winning is what brings a team together.

Yet these resilient 2011 Detroit Tigers have their old-school skipper changing his tune ever so slightly.

One glimpse of this group celebrating its first division title since might have done the trick: puffs of cigar smoke and swigs of champagne between the hugs, handshakes and cheers.

Detroit captured the AL Central division title Friday night, its first division crown since 1987 when it won the AL East, continuing a sensational September by securing a spot to play in October.

No question there's chemistry here, a commitment to play together despite the doubters -- and plenty of on-field swagger to back it up.

Ace Justin Verlander and the Tigers are returning to the playoffs for the first time since their 2006 World Series run fell short against St. Louis. Now, the 66-year-old Leyland is gearing up for another postseason with his rebuilt roster.

He has received key contributions from the reliable regulars such as slugger Miguel Cabrera and closer Jose Valverde, the role players such as Don Kelly, and new additions Delmon Young and Doug Fister.

Everybody has been important along the way, making it all the more memorable for Leyland this time around.

"That's why you coach a team," he said, emotional as ever. "This is something Donnie Kelly will never forget. That's what makes it special to me. There's a guy a lot of people don't know about, don't talk about very much."

They might now. Kelly hit a solo home run in the seventh after an earlier RBI single in the Tigers' 3-1 win at Oakland on Friday night to wrap up the division title.