Who's Your Tiger? Pick Your Favorite Detroit Baseball Player Of The 2012 Season (PHOTOS)

LOOK: Who's Your Tiger?
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They win ballgames (sometimes), they hit homers and pitch strikeouts and steal bases. And they hug it out (a lot).

Say hello to your Detroit Tigers.

The Tigs are just one game away from clinching a spot in this year's playoffs, thanks in part to a phenomenal offensive season by Miguel Cabrera, who could become the first MLB Triple Crown winner in 45 years.

But Cabrera's offensive prowess alone can't account for the Tigers still being in playoff contention after a tumultuous, often maddening season of play. Signing Prince Fielder to a nine-year contract in January has added some serious muscle (and HRs) to the batting order. And that massive $214 million contract hasn't made FIelder's head any bigger -- he's the team's on-field cheerleader and merry-maker. Despite attracting international attention for his supposed interest in bombshell Kate Upton, Justin Verlander has thrown 239 strikeouts as of today, coming close to his terrific tallies from last season.

And even our guys who aren't bona fide superstars (yet) have dug in to produce huge hits and amazing defensive plays -- maybe just enough to beat the Chicago White Sox in the race to win the AL Central Division. We fell in love with Quintin Berry this season. Doug Fister set an American League record. Austin Jackson began making us forget that Curtis Granderson ever stood in Comerica Park's centerfield. Despite a troubled return after thumb surgery, Brennan Boesch has shown his hometown flashes of the player he was before going under the knife. And Jose Valverde still has the funniest closer moves in baseball.

We've collected some of our favorite photos from this season of the boys in blue and orange. Click through to pick your favorite player, and let us know who stole your heart this year in the comments.

And, hey -- GO TIGERS!

Who's Your Tiger?
Who's Your Tiger?(01 of30)
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They win ballgames (sometimes), they hit homers, they steal bases and they hug a lot. Say hello to your Detroit Tigers. We've collected some of our favorite photos from this season of the boys in blue and orange. Click through to pick your favorite player.Caption: Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera, center, and Delmon Young, right, celebrate the Tigers' 5-1 win over the Minnesota Twins in a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Minneapolis. Both Young and Cabrera homered in the game. At left is Prince Fielder. (credit:(AP Photo/Jim Mone))
Miguel Cabrera(02 of30)
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Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers talks to members of the Boston Red Sox during the game on July 31, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (credit:(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images))
Easy Does It(03 of30)
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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander tosses the ball to get Boston Red Sox's David Ortiz out at first after a grounder back to the mound during the third inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (credit: (AP Photo/Elise Amendola))
Brennan Boesch(04 of30)
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Brennan Boesch #26 of the Detroit Tigers runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the 7th inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 13, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. (credit:(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images))
Ryan Raburn(05 of30)
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Detroit Tigers' Ryan Raburn walks off the field after striking out in the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore, Saturday, July 14, 2012. (credit:(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky))
Austin Jackson(06 of30)
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Detroit Tigers' Austin Jackson, right, high-fives manager Jim Leyland after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore, Sunday, July 15, 2012. (credit: (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky))
Men Of Fashion(07 of30)
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Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, left, first baseman Prince Fielder, center, and third baseman Miguel Cabrera, right, react after being presented with their All-Star jerseys before a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Detroit, Friday, July 6, 2012. (credit: (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio))
Doug Fister(08 of30)
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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Doug Fister warms up against the Washington Nationals before the first inning of a spring training baseball game in Viera, Fla., Sunday, March 18, 2012. (credit:(AP Photo/Paul Sancya))
Jim Leyland(09 of30)
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Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland blows a bubble before the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Detroit, Tuesday, June 19, 2012. (credit:(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio))
Justin Verlander(10 of30)
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Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander acknowledges the crowd after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-0 in an interleague baseball game, Friday, May 18, 2012, in Detroit. Verlander threw a one-hitter. (credit:(AP Photo/Paul Sancya))
Max Scherzer(11 of30)
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Detroit Tigers starter Max Scherzer delivers a pitch in the first inning during a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Tuesday, May, 15, 2012. (credit:(AP Photo/Paul Beaty))
Anibal Sanchez(12 of30)
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Anibal Sanchez #19 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning on August 13, 2012 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (credit:(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images))
Omar Infante(13 of30)
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Toronto Blue Jays' Colby Rasmus is forced out on second by Detroit Tigers' Omar Infante, who misses the double play during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in Toronto. (credit:(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Aaron Vincent Elkaim))
Caught In The Moment(14 of30)
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Detroit Tigers' Quintin Berry celebrates hitting an RBI single against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 10th inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Thursday, June 21, 2012. Detroit won 2-1. (credit:(AP Photo/Paul Sancya))
Jhonny Peralta(15 of30)
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Detroit Tigers' Jhonny Peralta celebrates a three run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during second inning of a baseball game in Toronto Sunday, July 29, 2012. (credit:(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Aaron Vincent Elkaim))
Joaquin Benoit(16 of30)
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Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit leaves the dugout en route to the bullpen after finishing his pitching duties in the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Monday, March 5, 2012, in Lakeland, Fla. (credit:(AP Photo/Julio Cortez))
Jump, Jump(17 of30)
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Detroit Tigers right fielder Quintin Berry (52) celebrates a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates with second baseman Ryan Raburn (25) after an interleague baseball game in Pittsburgh Sunday, June 24, 2012. (credit: (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar))
Rick Porcello(18 of30)
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Detroit Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello throws against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Thursday, April 26, 2012. (credit:(AP Photo/Paul Sancya))
Delmon Young(19 of30)
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Delmon Young #21 of the Detroit Tigers races around third base to score against the Kansas City Royals during a MLB game at Comerica Park on September 26, 2012 in Detroit. (credit:Dave Reginek/Getty Images))
Prince Fielder(20 of30)
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Prince Fielder #28 of the Detroit Tigers waits to bat against the Baltimore Orioles during the sixth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 14, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland. (credit:(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images))
Ramon Santiago(21 of30)
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Detroit Tigers second baseman Ramon Santiago, top, and Colorado Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez watch after Santiago completed the double play on a Michael Cuddyer ground ball in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Saturday, June 16, 2012. (credit:(AP Photo/Paul Sancya))
Gerald Laird(22 of30)
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Detroit Tigers catcher Gerald Laird, right, is examined by trainer Kevin Rand after getting hit in the face mask with a ball in the second inning of an interleague baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, June 17, 2012, in Detroit. (credit:(AP Photo/Duane Burleson))
Let The Right One In(23 of30)
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Infielder Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers takes a strike against the Tampa Bay Rays July 1, 2012 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Tigers won 5 - 3. (credit: (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images))
Jose Valverde(24 of30)
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Jose Valverde #46 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 at Comerica Park on April 10, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (credit:(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images))
Don Kelly(25 of30)
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Don Kelly #32 of the Detroit Tigers scores the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning during an MLB game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on September 27, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers won 5-4. (credit:(Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images))
Quintin Berry(26 of30)
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Quintin Berry #52 of the Detroit Tigers doubles to deep left center field in the third inning during the game against the New York Yakees at Comerica Park on June 1, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (credit:(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images))
Alex Avila(27 of30)
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Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila (13) tags Los Angeles Angels' Erick Aybar out at home plate in the third inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Monday, July 16, 2012. (credit:(AP Photo/Paul Sancya))
Danny Worth(28 of30)
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Detroit Tigers second baseman Danny Worth (29) nearly collides with right fielder Matt Young (38) as Worth catches a fly ball hit by Cincinnati Reds' Todd Frazier in the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 8, 2012, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 6-5 in 10 innings. (credit:(AP Photo/Al Behrman))
Al Alburquerque(29 of30)
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Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Al Alburquerque reacts after a balk call which allowed New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez to score from third during the eighth inning of Game 4 of baseball's American League division series on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, in Detroit. The Yankees won 10-1. (credit: (AP Photo/Duane Burleson))
Andy Dirks(30 of30)
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Detroit Tigers' Andy Dirks dives into third base with a triple against the Minnesota Twins in the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, in Detroit. (credit:(AP Photo/Duane Burleson))

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