Detroit Tigers (original) (raw)
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are in the Central Division of the American League.
Founded: 1893, in the minor Western League. In 1900 that league became the American League.
Home ballpark: Comerica Park
Uniform colors: Navy blue, White, and Orange
Logo design: An Old English font "D"
Wild Card titles won (0): none
Division titles won (3): 1972, 1984, 1987
American League pennants won (9): 1907, 1908, 1909, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1968, 1984
World Series championships won (4): 1935, 1945, 1968, 1984
Franchise history
1901-09
The Detroit Tigers baseball franchise played their first game for the newly established American League on April 25, 1901 at Bennett Park in front of 10,000 fans. After trailing 13-4 entering the ninth inning, the team staged a dramatic comeback to win the game 14-13. The team eventually finished third in the eight team league.
In 1905, the team acquired Ty Cobb, a player who would be considered one of the greatest of all-time. The addition of Cobb to an already talented team that included Sam Crawford, Hughie Jennings, Bill Donovan, and George Mullin yielded results quickly, as the Tigers won three consecutive American League Championships from 1907-09. Despite their success, the team would not win it's first World Series until 1935. In 2003, the Tigers would be one loss short of the 1962 New York Mets' modern record for losses in one season.
Players of note
Baseball Hall of Famers
- Sparky Anderson
- Earl Averill
- Jim Bunning
- Ty Cobb
- Mickey Cochrane
- Sam Crawford
- Larry Doby
- Charlie Gehringer
- Goose Goslin
- Hank Greenberg
- Bucky Harris
- Harry Heilmann
- Waite Hoyt
- Hughie Jennings
- Al Kaline
- George Kell
- Heinie Manush
- Eddie Mathews
- Hal Newhouser
- Al Simmons
- Sam Thompson
Current stars
- Bobby Higginson
- Dimitri Young
- Brandon Inge
Not to be forgotten
- Norm Cash
- Mark Fidrych "The Bird"
- Cecil Fielder
- Bill Freehan
- Kirk Gibson
- Mickey Lolich
- "Paw-Paw" Charlie Maxwell
- Denny McLain (AL MVP and Cy Young Award in 1968; Cy Young Award in 1969)
- Jack Morris
- George Mullin
- Jim Northrup
- Lance Parrish
- Schoolboy Rowe
- Mickey Stanley
- Alan Trammell
- Lou Whitaker
- Rudy York
Retired numbers
- Ty Cobb
- Ernie Harwell
- 2 Charlie Gehringer
- 5 Hank Greenberg
- 6 Al Kaline
- 16 Hal Newhouser
- 23 Willie Horton
- 42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball)