For his part in helping lead the Tigers to the World Series, Jim Leyland was named 2006 American League Manager of the Year. Leyland received 19 of 28 first place votes and his 118 total points put him 25 points ahead of second place Ron Gardenhire.
When Leyland was hired last year, he made it clear that there would be a major attitude change. I don't think anyone expected the entire team to so fully embrace it and have such quick and positive results.
When discussing the letter he sent to the Tigers' players before spring training Leyland said, "It wasn't my way at all. It was the right way. There's just a right way to do things, and I was just going to make sure that my team was going to do things right."
Job well done.