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Detroit Tigers Baseball Club, Inc. Business Information, Profile, and History

Comerica Park
2100 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48201
U.S.A.

History of Detroit Tigers Baseball Club, Inc.

The Detroit Tigers Baseball Club, Inc. operates a Major League Baseball team that is a charter member of the American League, making it one of the longest-lived in the game. The team's many historical highlights include the tenures of legendary players Ty Cobb, active from 1905-26, as well as Hank Greenberg and Charlie Gehringer in the 1930s and 1940s, Al Kaline and Willie Horton in the 1960s and 1970s, and Lou Whitaker, Allen Trammell, and Cecil Fielder in the 1980s and 1990s, along with World Series wins in 1934, 1945, 1968, and 1984. In 2000. the team began play at a new stadium in downtown Detroit named Comerica Park. The Tigers have been owned since 1992 by Mike Ilitch, founder and owner of Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. and owner of the National Hockey League Detroit Red Wings.

Beginnings

The birth of the Detroit Tigers dates to 1901, when baseball entrepreneur Ban Johnson sought teams around the United States to participate in his newly-created American League. Using as their basis nine players from Detroit's existing Western League team, County Sheriff James Burns and manager George "Tweedy" Stallings formed the Tigers, who took their moniker from a nickname Stallings' previous team had been given by a local sportswriter. In addition to the nine carry-overs, additional players were obtained from disbanded National League teams (the N.L. having recently shrunk from 12 to eight clubs).

April 25, 1901 was the day of the new team's first contest, and Detroit's Bennett Park saw an overflow crowd of more than 10,000 witness the Tigers' 14-13 victory over Milwaukee. At first the Tigers had no permanent home, playing weekday and Saturday games at Bennett Park and Sunday contests at Burns Park, as city laws prevented games on Sunday and Burns Park was located just outside the city limits. The team's first season ended with a respectable fourth-place finish, but manager Stallings was subsequently ousted, reportedly due to clashes with co-owner Burns. Burns himself soon joined his manager when he was forced by Ban Johnson to sell the team to insurance man Samuel F. Angus. Like Burns, Angus was required to cede a controlling 51 percent share of Tiger stock to Johnson, as were all American League owners during these early years.

With new manager Frank Dwyer in place, the 1902 season was less successful, seeing the team reach a seventh place finish. Dwyer soon gave way to another new manager, and over the next several years the Tigers were led by new men each season. In 1905, the struggling team acquired a player who would later make baseball history--one Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb. Playing on a minor league team in Augusta, Georgia, where the Tigers prepared for the season at their spring training camp, Cobb's skill and highly aggressive style caught the attention of manager Bill Armour, who arranged for his acquisition in exchange for a pitcher and $750 in cash.

Early 1900s: Navin and Jennings Lead the Tigers to Success

Like that of his predecessors, owner Samuel Angus' tenure was a brief one, and by 1907 the team's presidency and ownership were in the hands of Frank Navin, who had joined the organization in 1902 as bookkeeper and had moved up the ladder by steadily acquiring ownership shares. The manager seat's game of musical chairs was ended in 1907 when ex-Baltimore Oriole Hugh Jennings took the job. The team began to click under Jennings, and with the legendary Cobb now in full flower the Tigers won the American League pennant in 1907, 1908, and 1909, though they fell short of a World Series victory against the opposing National League teams. Cobb led the league in batting, runs batted in, and total hits each of these years, and the entire Tiger roster had the highest combined batting average in the league.

The excellence of the Cobb-era Tigers sparked growing fan interest, and the team's home games were often sold out. An expansion of Bennett Park in 1911 proved to be only a temporary measure, and in 1912 it was torn down and a new 23,000-seat facility, Navin Field, built on the same site. That same year the baseball season was marred by an incident in which the volatile Cobb ran into the stands and beat up a spectator who had been taunting him. After the umpire ordered Cobb off the field, the rest of the team also left the diamond, and then decided to go on strike. Unable to convince them to return, the Tigers were forced to play a game against Philadelphia with a pick-up team, getting trounced 24-2. The next game was cancelled, and then management convinced the players to return, though they were each fined and Cobb was suspended for ten games.

Ty Cobb consistently led the league in batting during these years, topping the mythical .400 batting average mark in both 1911 and 1912. He went on strike in 1913 after his request for a raise was turned down, eventually settling for $12,000, $3,000 less than he had asked for. Despite Cobb's stellar play, by the end of the 1910's the team was in a prolonged slump, and manager Jennings was dismissed after the 1920 season. His replacement was one of the few people who could get along with the aggressive, hot-tempered Ty Cobb--Cobb himself. Though the star was able to hold his personality in check well enough to manage his players, there was still plenty of tension on the field, and Cobb's long record of violent behavior continued unabated with incidents such as a post-game fight with an umpire that led to another suspension.

Nevertheless, Cobb was able to motivate his team to success, and the Tigers played well under his tenure, nearly winning the pennant again in 1924, a year that saw attendance top 1 million for the first time. He finally left the team in November of 1926 and played his final two seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics. During the 1920s the Tigers had been helped by strong batters such as Harry Heilmann, but were hindered by a dearth of good pitchers and several bad trade deals in which future stars were bartered away for less stellar performers.

The 1930s: First World Series Win

After Cobb's departure the team saw several more changes of managers as its success in the standings remained erratic. Things got better in 1934 when the Tigers purchased Mickey Cochrane from Philadelphia for $100,000 to manage and play catcher, after attempts to hire Yankee legend Babe Ruth had failed. An intense competitor like Cobb, Cochrane was also a better "people person" and proved an instant success, leading the Tigers to a pennant win in 1934 and a pennant and a World Series win in 1935. Among the legendary players who contributed to the team's success in this era were pitcher "Schoolboy" Rowe and sluggers "Goose" Goslin, Charlie Gehringer, and Hank Greenberg, the latter one of the rare Jewish major leaguers, a full decade before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier for blacks.

The success of the 1934-35 seasons brought record revenues for the team, with attendance again topping a million during the latter year. Owner Frank Navin was only briefly able to appreciate his team's championship status, however, dying at the age of 64 in November 1935. Upon his death his partner, William Briggs, took over sole ownership of the Tigers. Briggs soon set about expanding the stadium, and by 1938 it had a capacity of 53,000, more than double the original figure.

The team's 1935 championship season was followed by several less successful ones, and in 1938 Cochrane was relieved of his job in mid-season and replaced with Del Baker. The team's energy seemed to be revived, and the 1940s started off on a high note with another pennant win. The war years were difficult ones for the Tigers, however, with many players inducted into the armed forces, including sluggers Gehringer and two-time American League Most Valuable Player Greenberg, who served overseas from 1941 through 1945. Greenberg's return in July of 1945 brought the team back up to nearly full strength, and it was the war veteran who put another pennant win on ice by blasting a grand slam home run with two outs in the ninth inning of the next-to-last game of the season. That year the team brought home its second World Series trophy, though it would be the last one for more than two decades.

The postwar years were ones of great fan interest, with an average of 1.6 million tickets sold each year between 1945 and 1950. The Tigers gave up their status as one of the two remaining major league teams to play home games exclusively in daylight when Briggs Stadium (as it was now known) hosted its first night game on June 15, 1948 under electric lights.

The team went through a difficult period during the 1950s. 1952 saw the Tigers' worst season ever, with only 50 wins and 104 losses, and also the death of Walter Briggs, Sr. His son, Walter Jr. ("Spike"), took over the team's presidency, but four years later the Briggs family sold the team for $5.5 million to a group of 11 radio and television executives led by John Fetzer and Fred Knorr. The Tigers continued to struggle, however, and after a number of personnel and management changes John Fetzer bought out his partners to claim sole ownership, and also renamed the team's home Tiger Stadium.

A Return to Form in the 1960s

The 1960s proved to be a considerably better decade for baseball in Detroit than the previous one had been. With the team rallying under new manager Mayo Smith, 1968 proved to be "The Year of the Tiger" in Detroit, as the team won the pennant and then the World Series. Among the many highlights of the year were league Most Valuable Player Denny McLain's 31 pitching wins (the first time since 1934 any pitcher had topped 30). The Tigers won 103 games, a team record, and saw attendance hit two million for the first time ever. Stars of the team, in addition to McClain, included sluggers Al Kaline and Willie Horton, as well as key Series pitcher Mickey Lolich.

In 1969, Major League Baseball expanded, adding four new ball clubs and creating two divisions in each league, necessitating a post-season playoff series to determine the pennant winner. Detroit was placed in the Eastern division, which was a tough one that featured top competitors New York and Boston, as well as Cleveland, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Expectations were high in the wake of the World Series victory, but Detroit could not get on track and finished 19 games out of first place. 1970 was even worse, with the team failing to make even a .500 won-lost percentage. The Tigers subsequently traded self-destructing pitching star Denny McLain and several others. McLain was seemingly his own worst enemy, having endured suspensions during the season for gambling, pouring ice water on two reporters, and carrying a handgun.

The downward spiraling Tigers again sought a new manager, hiring Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin after the 1970 season to replace Mayo Smith. The scrappy Martin put some spark back in the team, and it won the division in 1972, though losing the playoffs to Oakland. However, a year later Martin, too, was dismissed after one too many disagreements with Tiger higher-ups. Once again the manager's chair became a musical one, as the Tigers sought a leader who could bring consistent victories, but the team found itself enduring several last-place seasons. The year 1976 saw a new pitcher with an unorthodox style ignite fan interest, though the team's final standings were second to last. Mark "The Bird" Fidrych won 19 games for the team while talking to the ball, shaping the pitcher's mound with his hands, and performing other antics. At the end of the decade the team finally found a manager who would stick around when George "Sparky" Anderson was installed in the dugout.

The 1980s saw dramatic changes take place in the world of baseball. The influence of big television broadcasting contracts, among other things, gave professional players a sense that they were being underpaid, and the "free agent" market for top players changed the dynamic of the game forever, as star athletes no longer stayed with a team at the behest of management, but moved wherever the most money could be had. In June 1981, the players went on strike and the season was suspended for 50 days, with 53 Tiger games ultimately cancelled.

Ownership Changes in the 1980s

At the end of the 1983 season, John Fetzer sold the Tigers to Dominoes Pizza magnate and rabid Tiger fan Tom Monaghan for an estimated $43 million. The well-heeled Ann Arbor, Michigan, pizza maker soon outbid several other suitors for the services of free agent infielder Darrell Evans, the first time the financially conservative Tigers had taken such a step. Monaghan's tenure began with a season that saw the Tigers lead their division from opening day onward, racking up a record 104 wins. The team's momentum continued with a playoffs sweep and then a 4-to-1 win in the World Series over San Diego. The 1984 season also brought the Tigers record attendance of 2,704,794.

The team could not quite keep the momentum going, however, and despite a division win in 1987, by 1989 they were in last place, with just 59 wins versus 103 losses. After the season was over, Monaghan again brought out his checkbook and won the services of several free agents, including slugger Cecil Fielder. The post-season break also saw changes in the front office, when long-time Tiger president Jim Campbell left his post to assume the board chairmanship, and recently retired University of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler was appointed to the top job. He was immediately faced with problems when the players, making threatening noises, were locked out by the owners during spring training. The issues were resolved a few weeks later, forcing a late start to the pre-season exhibition game schedule. The season was an improvement, though the Tigers still posted a losing record.

New acquisition Fielder earned his keep, belting 51 home runs and accounting for 132 runs batted in, the best in both categories in the major leagues that year. The 1990s saw the Tigers continuing to struggle on the field. In August 1992, another Michigan pizza franchiser, Mike Ilitch of Little Caesar's, stepped in to buy the team from Monaghan for an estimated $85 million. Monaghan's decision to sell was caused in part by his clashes with Detroit officials over his intentions to move the Tigers out of the downtown area. Ilitch, who had played baseball for a Tiger farm team in the 1950s, already owned the Detroit Red Wings hockey team, which he had built into one of the National Hockey League's most profitable franchises. Tigers president Bo Schembechler, who had never meshed well with the team's organization, also departed at this time. A major P.R. gaffe of the new regime was the decision to ask long-time Tiger radio broadcaster Ernie Harwell to retire, allegedly to bring a more updated sound to the team's broadcasts. The fans howled with disgust, and the genial, southern-accented Harwell was soon brought back to the microphone.

In 1994, the continually expanding major leagues were subdivided into three divisions per league, with the Tigers shifted to the five-team Central. Another player strike cut off the team's season at 115 games, and baseball's annual World Series was cancelled for the first time since it had begun in 1905. The Tigers were still stumbling, finishing last in their division during the shortened year, before a diminishing fan base that yielded the worst attendance figures in the major leagues. The once optimistic Ilitch now seemed disheartened, stating, "I think if I had known the shape baseball was in specifically ... I don't think I would have bought the club."

The strike continued throughout the off-season and into the start of the 1995 baseball schedule. Manager Sparky Anderson took a leave of absence as the team scrambled to find players from their farm teams to fill in, only returning after the players and owners agreed to "no settlement," but to play ball. It would be his last season with the team--his 17 years comprising the longest tenure of any manager in Tiger history. He was replaced by the young and relatively inexperienced Buddy Bell.

Seeking a New Stadium in the 1990s

In 1995, the team appointed a new president and chief executive officer, John McHale Jr., who soon began working hard to line up funding for construction of a new ballpark to replace the outdated Tiger Stadium. The team's longtime home, which had been sold to the city for $1 in 1978, was one of the oldest stadiums still in use, and had none of the fancy skyboxes and luxury amenities favored by corporations for entertaining. Many previous replacement efforts had failed, including Monaghan's, but this time Ilitch offered more of his own money for the project, and the deal was approved. After securing assistance from both the city and the state of Michigan, construction on the new stadium was started in downtown Detroit, on Woodward Avenue near the lavishly restored Fox theater, also owned by Ilitch.

While the stadium deal was being negotiated, the Tigers were still mired in the league cellar. During the mid-1990s, players shuffled in and out of the lineup with great regularity, another factor that contributed to a downturn in fan interest. The Tigers, like all major league teams, had a "farm system" of associated minor-league teams which served to develop young players and provide backups in case of injuries. In 1996, the team signed an affiliation agreement with the Grand Rapids-based West Michigan Whitecaps, who were enjoying great popularity. The Whitecaps would be the Tigers' first Michigan-based farm team in more than 40 years. Other Tiger-affiliated teams at this time included the "Triple-A" league Toledo Mud Hens (just across the border in Ohio, and closer to Detroit than Grand Rapids), the Jamestown, New York-based Jammers, the Jacksonville, Florida, Suns, and two Lakeland, Florida-based teams called the Tigers who played in different leagues (Lakeland having served as the Tigers' spring training location since 1934).

In 1999, the Tigers became a part of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., as Mike Ilitch restructured his financial empire. At season's end he hired another new manager, luring seasoned leader Phil Garner from Milwaukee with an estimated $1 million offer. He replaced former Tiger star Lance Parrish, a first-time manager who had taken Buddy Bell's place in September of 1998.

In 2000, the team made the transition to Comerica Park, whose name reflected a sponsorship agreement with a Detroit-based banking corporation. The first season in the $361 million stadium was another disappointing one, with the Tigers finishing below .500 yet again, 16 games out of first place. Ticket sales were given a boost by the move, however, jumping from just over 2 million the year before to more than 2.5 million.

Shortly after the next season began, team president and CEO John McHale, Jr. left to join the Tampa Devil Rays, and Ilitch took over his roles. A replacement was named in November, when Florida Marlins general manager Dave Dombrowski was appointed to head the organization. Shortly after he assumed control, the Tigers announced an across-the-board decrease in ticket prices, with the cheapest seats (only 319 of which were available) going for $5, and most priced between $20 and $30. Some prices now included free drinks and hot dogs or pizza slices, or coupons good for rides on the stadium's carousel and Ferris wheel. The team also appointed 1960s legends Al Kaline and Willie Horton to jobs helping with spring training and with the Tigers' minor league teams. The Tigers' centennial year of 2001 was another frustrating one, ending with a .391 won-lost percentage, next-to-last in the American League central division.

After 100 years in operation, The Detroit Tigers were looking to the future with a new stadium and general manager, and hopes for rebuilding the team into a pennant contender once again. With sports fan and downtown Detroit booster Mike Ilitch behind it, the ball club's recent lack of success would hopefully soon give way to a return to fighting trim.

Principal Competitors: Chicago White Sox Ltd.; The Cleveland Indians Baseball Company, Inc.; Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club; Kansas City Royals Baseball Corporation.

Related information about Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. Since 1992 they have been owned by Mike Ilitch, founder of Little Caesars Pizza and owner of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings.

Franchise history

The Detroit club is a charter member of the major league American League, one of four clubs (with the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, and Cleveland Indians) who remain in their 1901 cities.

The early years

Detroit's first major league entry was the Detroit Wolverines, members of the National League from 1881 through 1888. The nickname, now associated with the University of Michigan, came from Michigan's nickname, "The Wolverine State". The Wolverines' best year was 1887 when they won the National League pennant and won the World Series with the American Association champion St. Louis Browns. The leading players were Hardy Richardson, Jack Rowe, Deacon White, pitcher Charlie Getzein, and Hall of Famers "Big Sam" Thompson and Dan Brouthers. Hall of Fame manager Ned Hanlon played all eight seasons in center field but there was high turnover otherwise. For a few years there were rumors of abandoning Detroit to compete for Cincinnati or Pittsburgh but the two leagues made peace in 1903 after similar moves into St Louis and New York.

The Detroit Tigers played their first game as a major league team at home against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 25, 1901, with 10,000 fans at Bennett Park.

Eleven years later, an elegant stadium was constructed on the site of Bennett Park and named Navin Field for owner Frank Navin. Another concerns a sportswriter equating the 1901 team's opening day victory with the ferocity of his alma mater, the Princeton Tigers.

The truth is revealed in Richard Bak's 1998 book, A Place for Summer: A Narrative History of Tiger Stadium. In the 19th century, the city of Detroit had a military unit called the Detroit Light Guard, who were known as "The Tigers". They had played significant roles in certain Civil War battles and in the 1899 Spanish-American War. upon entry into the majors the ballclub sought and received formal permission from the Light Guard to use its trademark and from that day forth it is officially the Tigers.

In short, the Tigers wore stripes because they were already Tigers, rather than the other way around which is the conventional story.

The Cobb era

In 1905, the team acquired Ty Cobb, a fearless player with a mean streak, 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 quickly yielded results, as the Tigers won their first American League pennant in 1907.

Cobb and the Tigers disappointed in the 1907 Fall Classic against the Chicago Cubs. It was hoped that a new opponent in the 1909 Series, Pittsburgh, would yield different results, but the Tigers were blown out 8-0 in the decisive seventh game at Bennett Park. retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B10160DET1909.htm

In the teens and twenties, Cobb remained the marquee player on many Tigers teams that would remain mired in the middle of the American League. Cobb himself took over managerial duties in 1921, but during six years at the helm, his Tigers never had a record better than 86-68.

The Tigers break through

The Tiger teams of the 1930s were consistently among the league's best with "Black Mike" Mickey Cochrane behind the plate, Hank Greenberg, one of the greatest Jewish baseball players of all time, at first, and Charlie Gehringer, "The Mechanical Man" at second. They would be denied again in the 1934 World Series in seven games by the Gashouse Gang St. Louis Cardinals. Again, when the chips were down in the deciding game, Detroit folded, giving up seven third-inning runs and losing Game Seven 11-0 at Navin Field (Tiger Stadium).

The Tigers finally reached the Promised Land the following year, defeating the Cubs 4 games to 2 to win the 1935 World Series, which concluded with Goose Goslin's dramatic walk-off single, scoring Cochrane to seal the victory.

The Tigers returned to the middle of the American League in the late 30s and World War II era before the timely return of Hank Greenberg from the military helped the Tigers to the 1945 American League pennant. After falling just short in 1967 (being eliminated on the last day of the season), the stage was set for their historic 1968 campaign, the last under a one-division format.

The 1968 title, which occurred one year after the riots ravaged Detroit, is thought to have helped to heal citywide tensions. In the "Year of the Pitcher", the controversial Denny McLain became the first pitcher since Dizzy Dean in 1934 to win 30 games, finishing with a 31-6 record. After a second-place finish in 1971, the Tigers captured the American League East title in 1972. Al Kaline hit a solo homer to break a 1-1 tie in the 11th inning, only to be charged with an error on Gonzalo Marquez's game-tying single that allowed Gene Tenace to score the winning run. His single off Dave Hamilton scored Gates Brown and evened the series at 2 games apiece. A first-inning run on a Gene Tenace passed ball gave Detroit an early lead in the deciding Game 5 in Oakland, but Reggie Jackson's steal of home in the 2nd tied it up. A Gene Tenace single to left field gave Oakland a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning, and thanks to four innings of scoreless relief from Vida Blue they took it all the way to the World Series.

Martin did not survive the 1973 season and the Tigers spent much of the next decade in the middle or lower ranks of the AL East. In 1974, Ralph Houk, who managed the dominant Yankee teams of the early 1960's, was named manager of the Tigers. Fidrych was the starting pitcher for the American League in the All Star Game played that year in Philadelphia to celebrate the American Bicentennial.

1984

The first major news of the 1984 season actually came in late 1983, when long-time owner, broadcasting magnate John Fetzer, who had owned the club since 1957, sold the team to Domino's Pizza founder and CEO Tom Monaghan. The team led its division wire-to-wire, from opening day and every day thereafter, culminating in an ALCS sweep of the Kansas City Royals and a World Series victory over the San Diego Padres.

The 1984 team started out at a record 35-5 pace (including Jack Morris throwing a no-hitter early in the season against the Chicago White Sox), and cruised to a franchise-record 104 victories. That team featured the great double play combination of shortstop Alan Trammell and second baseman Lou Whitaker; The team also included Darrell Evans, Dave Bergman, Kirk Gibson, Chet Lemon, Larry Herndon, Morris, Dan Petry, Dave Rozema, Johnny Grubb, the late Aurelio Lopez ("Se単or Smoke"), and relief ace Willie Hernandez, who won the 1984 American League Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player just one year after pitching on the Philadelphia Phillies' National League championship club.

The Tigers faced the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series, which would prove to be no contest, not surprising given the fact the Royals won 20 fewer games during the season and had won the AL West by a mere three games over both the California Angels and Minnesota Twins. In Game 1, Alan Trammell, Lance Parrish and Larry Herndon went deep to crush the Royals 8-1 at Royals Stadium (now Kauffman Stadium). In Game 2, the Tigers scored twice in the 11th inning when Johnny Grubb doubled off the late Royals closer Dan Quisenberry en route to a 5-3 victory. Milt Wilcox outdueled Charlie Leibrandt and after Hernandez got Darryl Motley to pop up to third, the Tigers were returning to the Fall Classic. (Note: At that time, the team with home field advantage in the ALCS and NLCS, played the first two games on the road. This changed in 1985 when the format was changed from best-of-five to best-of-seven.)

In the NLCS, a San Diego rally from 2-0 down prevented a fifth Cubs-Tigers series and meant the Tigers would open the 1984 World Series against the San Diego Padres in Trammell's home town (had the Cubs won the NLCS, Detroit would have received home-field advantage in the World Series, as NBC insisted on all midweek games starting at night, something that would have been impossible at the time at Wrigley Field). In Game 1, Larry Herndon hit a two-run dinger that gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead. Tiger starter Dan Petry didn't last long either, exiting the game after four and one-third innings when light-hitting veteran Kurt Bevacqua's three-run homer gave San Diego a 5-3 lead they would hold onto. Trammell's homers held up with the help of another Morris complete game, and the Tigers held a commanding lead.

In Game 5, Gibson's two-run shot in the first inning would be the beginning of another early end for the Padres' starter Mark Thurmond. Though the Padres would pull back even, chasing Dan Petry in the fourth inning in the process, the Tigers retook the lead on a Rusty Kuntz sacrifice fly, doubled it on a solo homer by Parrish and then sealed the victory by Gibson's three-run homer off Goose Gossage in the eighth.

A "Sounds of the Game" video was made during the Series by MLB Productions and played on TV a number of times since then. He "swung from the heels", and launched it into Tiger Stadium's right field upper deck.

Tony Gwynn flied out to Larry Herndon to end the game and send Detroit into a wild victory celebration.

1987

After a pair of disappointing third-place finishes in 1985 and 1986, the 1987 Tigers faced lowered expectations - which seemed to be confirmed by an 11-19 start to the season. This charge was fueled in part by the acquisition of pitcher Doyle Alexander from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league pitcher John Smoltz. (The deal came at a price, however: Detroit native Smoltz went on to have a long, productive career with the Braves and would later win a Cy Young Award.)

Despite their improvement, with one week remaining in the season the Tigers found themselves three and a half games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays. After a series against the Baltimore Orioles, the Tigers returned home trailing by a game and swept the Blue Jays. Frank Tanana went all nine innings for the complete game shutout, and outfielder Larry Herndon gave the Tigers their lone run on a second-inning home run. Detroit finished the season a Major League-best 98-64, two games ahead of Toronto.

In what would prove to be their last postseason appearance until 2006, the Tigers lost the 1987 American League Championship Series to the underdog Minnesota Twins (who would go on to win the World Series) in five games. In 1988, the team spent much of the season in first place in the AL East, only to slump late in the season and finish 88-74, one game behind division-winning Boston. The franchise then attempted to rebuild around a power-hitting lineup, with Cecil Fielder, Rob Deer and Mickey Tettleton joining Trammell and Whitaker in the lineup. In 1990, Fielder led the American League with 51 home runs (becoming the first player to hit 50 since George Foster in 1977), and finished second in the voting for AL Most Valuable Player. Behind the hitting of Fielder and others, the Tigers improved, posting winning records in 1991 (84-78) and 1993 (85-77).

Recent Futility

From 1994 to 2005, the Tigers did not post a winning record. The team's best record over that time was 79-83, recorded in 1997 and 2000. In 1996, the Tigers lost a then-team record 109 games. In 2003, the Tigers shattered that mark, losing an American League-record 119 games, eclipsing the previous record of 116 losses set by the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics. On August 30, 2003, the Tigers' defeat to the Chicago White Sox cause them to join the 1962 New York Mets as the only modern MLB teams to lose 100 games before September. In addition, Smith traded away numerous quality players, such as Luis Gonzalez and Phil Nevin, without receiving comparable talent in return. in an effort to acquire a star player that would draw fans to new Comerica Park in 2000, he sent six players - including Frank Catalanotto, Justin Thompson, Gabe Kapler and Francisco Cordero - to the Texas Rangers for outfielder Juan Gonzalez, plus two unheralded players. Gonzalez played only 115 games in a Tigers uniform before suffering a season-ending injury, and he left the team as a free agent in the offseason. Examples of such long-term signings include Dean Palmer, Damion Easley, and Bobby Higginson.

In July 2005, ESPN.com listed Randy Smith as "the most hated man" among Tigers fans.

Rebuilding the Franchise

In 2000, the team left legendary Tiger Stadium, then tied with Fenway Park as the oldest active baseball stadium, in favor of the new Comerica Park. Many longtime fans complained that the new stadium lacked the charm of its predecessor, while others saw it as a necessary replacement of an aging facility.

Soon after it opened, Comerica Park drew criticism for its deep dimensions, which made it difficult to hit home runs; In 2005, the team moved the bullpens to the no-man's land beyond that fence and filled the previous location with seats.

In late 2001, Dave Dombrowski, former general manager of the 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins, was hired as team president. In 2002, the Tigers started the season 0-6, prompting Dombrowski to fire Smith, as well as manager Phil Garner. In 2004, the team signed or traded for several talented but high-risk veterans, such as Iv叩n Rodr鱈guez, Ugueth Urbina, Rondell White, and Carlos Guill辿n, and the gamble paid off. The 2004 Tigers finished 72-90, a 29-game improvement over the previous season - the largest improvement in the American League since Baltimore's 33-game improvement from 1988 to 1989.

Prior to the 2005 season, the Tigers spent a large sum for two prized free agents, Magglio Ord坦単ez and Troy Percival. On June 8, 2005, the Tigers traded pitcher Ugueth Urbina and Ramon Martinez to the Philadelphia Phillies for Pl叩cido Polanco (and later signed him for 4 years). Trammell, though popular with the fans, took part of the blame for the poor clubhouse atmosphere and lack of continued improvement, and he was fired at the end of the season.

A highlight of the 2005 campaign was Detroit's hosting of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, its first since 1971. In the Home Run Derby, Rodriguez finished second, losing to the Phillies' Bobby Abreu.

In October 2005, Jim Leyland replaced Trammell as manager; two months later, closer Todd Jones, who had spent five seasons in Detroit (1997-2001), signed a two-year deal with the Tigers. Veteran left-hander Kenny Rogers also joined the Tigers in late 2005, bringing 190 career wins and a 4.21 lifetime ERA to the club's 2006 rotation.

In September 2006, the Tiger clinched a postseason appearence for the first time ina almost 20 years. The play of veterans like Rogers and Jones, the emergence of young talents Curtis Granderson, Craig Monroe and Marcus Thames, and significant production from erstwhile All-Stars Iv叩n Rodr鱈guez, Magglio Ord坦単ez and Carlos Guill辿n have all contributed to the team's success.

A great deal of credit has also been given to Leyland. Rookie Justin Verlander is a candidate for the Rookie of the Year award, and fellow starters Rogers, Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson and rookie reliever Joel Zumaya all have had noteworthy seasons. There was concern when starter Mike Maroth had to undergo surgery early in the season, but his replacement Zach Miner proved to be adequate.

The team held the best record in baseball for most of the season. Tigers fans have traveled to road games in large numbers, most notably at the interleague series with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field from June 16-18. The crowd also took up a chant of "Rod-ney, Rod-ney" during pitcher Fernando Rodney's first career at bat on June 17detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20060617&content_id=1510260&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=det.

One doubt many fans and pundits had is whether the Tigers could compete against other top-tier American League teams. The Detroit Jewish News, August 3, 2006., and a standing-room-only crowd that included actor Tom Hanks and director Ron Howardsports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2525322, the Tigers beat White Sox pitching ace Jos辿 Contreras to take the series, two games to one, from the Sox?the first series victory against an upper-echelon AL team this season. In their next two series, against the AL West division-leading Oakland A's, and the red-hot Minnesota Twins?34-8 over their previous 42 games?the Tigers also won two out of three.

Despite this success, and despite the return of switch-hitting Dmitri Young from personal challenges, the popular opinion seemed to be that the Tigers needed additional left-handed hittingdetroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060706&content_id=1542628&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det. On July 31, Tigers management traded a minor-league pitcher to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for left-handed hitting?and three-time All Star?first baseman Sean Caseysports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2535130.

There have been many memorable moments during the season:

? On July 15, in a tie game, with two out and two on in the top of the ninth, Todd Jones faced dangerous slugger Mark Teahen, who had already hit two home runs in the game. On August 1, Carlos Guill辿n hit for the cycle, becoming the first Tiger since 2001, and the third since 1950, to do so sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20060801_DET@TB.

? The Tigers traded for Cubs utility infielder Neifi P辿rez on August 20sportsline.com/mlb/story/9610895.

? The battery combination of Rogers and Rodr鱈guez was the first time a Tigers pitcher threw to a Tigers catcher to start the Mid-Summer Classic since Denny McLain threw to Bill Freehan in 1966www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2006/07/10/rogers_penny_chosen_as_all_star_starters/.

Rivalries

A major rival of the Tigers is the Cleveland Indians, due more to geography than to competitiveness, as while both teams have been pennant contenders at various times, rarely have they both been in the pennant chase at the same time. The local newspaper, the Toledo Blade covers both teams extensively, and the Tigers AAA affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens, has also been previously the AAA affiliate for the Indians as well.

The 2006 season has seen new rivalries develop with the White Sox and Twins. Games involving these teams have had a playoff atmosphere in the stadium.

The Tigers' inter-league rivals include the teams that play in the National League Central Division, particularly the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. The Tigers have faced the Cubs in the World Series four times, the Cardinals twice, and the Cincinnati Reds once. Additionaly, in some areas of Western Michigan baseball fans are split between Detroit and the Chicago teams (The city of Kalamazoo, Michigan is located almost directly between Detroit and Chicago on I-94). During a June 2006 series at Wrigley Field, Cubs fans could be seen openly rooting for the Tigers. The reasoning was that Cubs fans would rather see the Tigers do better than their hated inter-city rival, the Chicago White Sox. Inter-league games in Detroit featuring the Cubs and Cardinals have traditionally had a high rate of attendance no matter the Tigers' record.

The Tigers also have an "international" rivalry with the Toronto Blue Jays, much like the Red Wings of the NHL have a rivalry with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Some baseball fans in Windsor choose to root for their nation's team rather than the nearby Tigers but the majority of Windsor baseball fans root for the Tigers.

Old rivalries with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Baltimore Orioles when the Tigers were in competition with those teams in the pre-division era (before 1969) and when the Tigers were in the American League East seem to have abated in recent years, and not only because of the weak performance of Tiger teams, although such an old rivalry will revive should the Tigers face any of those teams in the post-season.

Rally cry

During the 1968 season, the team was cheered on by the phrase, "Go Get 'Em Tigers."

During the 1984 World Championship Run, the team was cheered on to the well known cry, "Bless You Boys."

For the 2006 season, with the team going into July with the best record in baseball, the phrase "Restore the Roar" (a phrase first introduced in 1990 by then-Detroit Lions Head Coach Wayne Fontes) began to catch on, referring to the fact that the Tigers have not had a winning season since 1993 and seemed to be returning to their former glory. the New York Yankees, Tigers pitcher Nate Robertson was featured on FSN Detroit's "Sounds of the Game", in which the TV station will mic a player on the bench or a coach. The trend has caught on, with Jeremy Bonderman, Zach Miner, and Justin Verlander all chewing from time to time.

Season records

Year	Record	Place	ALDS(after 1995)	ALCS(after 1969)		World Series
1901	74-61 .548	3rd in AL
1902	52-83 .385	7th
1903	65-71 .478	5th
1904	62-90 .408	7th
1905	79-74 .516	3rd
1906	71-78 .477	6th
1907	92-58 .613	1st				Chicago Cubs	L 4-0
1908	90-63 .588	1st				Chicago Cubs	L 4-1
1909	98-54 .645	1st				Pittsburgh Pirates	L 4-3
1910	86-68 .558	3rd
1911	89-65 .578	2nd
1912	69-84 .451	6th
1913	66-87 .431	6th
1914	80-73 .523	4th
1915	100-54 .649	2nd
1916	87-67 .565	3rd
1917	78-75 .510	4th
1918	55-71 .437	7th
1919	80-60 .571	4th
1920	71-82 .464	6th
1921	71-82 .464	6th
1922	79-75 .513	3rd
1923	83-71 .539	2nd
1924	86-68 .558	3rd
1925	81-73 .526	4th
1926	79-75 .513	6th
1927	82-71 .536	4th
1928	66-86 .442	6th
1929	70-84 .455	6th
1930	75-79 .487	5th
1931	61-93 .396	7th
1932	76-75 .503	5th
1933	75-79 .487	5th
1934	101-53 .656	1st				St. Louis Cardinals	L 4-3
1935	93-58 .616	1st				Chicago Cubs	W 4-2
1936	83-71 .539	2nd
1937	89-65 .578	2nd
1938	84-70 .545	4th
1939	81-73 .526	5th
1940	90-64 .584	1st				Cincinnati Reds	L 4-3
1941	75-79 .487	4th
1942	73-81 .474	5th
1943	78-76 .506	5th
1944	88-66 .571	2nd
1945	88-65 .575	1st				Chicago Cubs	W 4-3
1946	92-62 .597	2nd
1947	85-69 .552	2nd
1948	78-76 .506	5th
1949	87-67 .565	4th
1950	95-59 .617	2nd
1951	73-81 .474	5th
1952	50-104 .325	8th
1953	60-94 .390	6th
1954	68-86 .442	5th
1955	79-75 .513	5th
1956	82-72 .532	5th
1957	78-76 .506	4th
1958	77-77 .500	5th
1959	76-78 .494	4th
1960	71-83 .461	6th
1961	101-61 .623	2nd
1962	85-76 .528	4th
1963	79-83 .488	5th
1964	85-77 .525	4th
1965	89-73 .549	4th
1966	88-74 .543	3rd
1967	91-71 .562	3rd
1968	103-59 .636	1st				St. Louis Cardinals	W 4-3
1969	90-72 .556	2nd in AL East
1970	79-83 .488	4th
1971	91-71 .562	2nd
1972	86-70 .551	1st		Oakland Athletics	L 3-2
1973	85-77 .525	3rd
1974	72-90 .444	6th
1975	57-102 .358	6th
1976	74-87 .460	5th
1977	74-88 .457	4th
1978	86-76 .531	5th
1979	85-76 .528	5th
1980	84-78 .519	5th
1981	60-49 .550	4th/2nd
1982	83-79 .512	4th
1983	92-70 .568	2nd
1984	104-58 .642	1st		Kansas City Royals	W 3-0	San Diego Padres	W 4-1
1985	84-77 .522	3rd
1986	87-75 .537	3rd
1987	98-64 .605	1st		Minnesota Twins	L 4-1
1988	88-74 .543	2nd
1989	59-103 .364	7th
1990	79-83 .488	3rd
1991	84-78 .519	2nd
1992	75-87 .463	6th
1993	85-77 .525	4th
1994	53-62 .461	5th	No Postseason due to player strike
1995	60-84 .417	4th
1996	53-109 .327	5th
1997	79-83 .488	3rd
1998	65-97 .401	5th in AL Central
1999	69-92 .429	3rd
2000	79-83 .488	3rd
2001	66-96 .407	4th
2002	55-106 .342	5th
2003	43-119 .265	5th
2004	72-90 .444	4th
2005	71-91 .438	4th

Totals: 8229-8063 .505 (through 2005)
Playoffs: 29-36 .446 (5-7, .417 in Postseason Series')
3 American League East Division Titles
9 American League Pennants
4 World Series Championships

Quick facts

Founded: 1894, in the minor Western League. In 1900 that league was renamed the American League and it became a major league in 1901. A charter member of the Western League, Detroit is the only WL member that remains in its 1899 city.

Home ballpark: Comerica Park

Former ballparks: Tiger Stadium, Bennett Park

Mascot: Paws

Unofficial fight song: Tiger Rag. The Tigers are, along with the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, one of only a handful of teams that do not wear a colored alternate jersey; The 1960 change to a blue script "Tigers" was particularly poorly received by Tigers fans and the "Olde English D," as the club refers to it, has never been seriously considered for replacement since.

Logo design: An Old English font "D" with a roaring tiger walking through it, but that logo has been seen less in recent years. The Old English "D" without the Tiger appears on the home jersey while a slightly different version of the Old English "D" is present on the home cap (white "D" on navy blue) and road cap (orange "D" on navy blue).

Team motto: Who's Your Tiger?

Playoff appearances (12): 1907, 1908, 1909, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1968, 1972, 1984, 1987, 2006

Local Television: FSN Detroit, WMYD (Commentators: Mario Impemba and Rod Allen)

Local Radio: WXYT 1270 AM (Commentators: Dan Dickerson and Jim Price)

Famous Fans: Tom Selleck, Tim Allen, Jeff Daniels, Jerome Bettis, Steve Yzerman, Kid Rock

Spring Training Facility: Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland, FL

Baseball Hall of Famers

Elected at least in part on basis of performance with Tigers

Sparky Anderson, MGR, 1979-1995
Jim Bunning, P, 1955-1963
Ty Cobb, OF, 1905-1926
Mickey Cochrane, C, 1934-1937; MGR, 1934-1938
Sam Crawford, OF, 1903-1917
Charlie Gehringer, 2B, 1924-1942
Goose Goslin, OF, 1934-1937
Hank Greenberg, 1B, 1930-1946
Harry Heilmann, OF, 1914-1929
Hughie Jennings, MGR, 1907-1920
Al Kaline, OF, 1953-1974
George Kell, 3B, 1946-1952
Heinie Manush, OF, 1923-1927
Hal Newhouser, P, 1939-1953

Other Hall-of-Famers associated with Tigers

Earl Averill, OF, 1939-1940
Ed Barrow, MGR, 1903-1904
Larry Doby, OF, 1959
Bucky Harris, MGR, 1929-1933
Waite Hoyt, P, 1930-1931
Eddie Mathews, 3B, 1967-1968
Al Simmons, OF, 1936
Sam Thompson, OF, 1906

Retired numbers

2 Charlie Gehringer, 2B, 1924-42; General Manager, 1951-53
5 Hank Greenberg, 1B, 1930-46
6 Al Kaline, OF, 1953-74
16 Hal Newhouser, P, 1939-53
23 Willie Horton, OF, 1963-77
42 Jackie Robinson, retired by MLB from all teams in 1997
Ty Cobb, OF, 1905-26; Cobb played in an era where numbers were not worn on jerseys.
Ernie Harwell, Hall of Fame Broadcaster who spent 42 years (in two stints) calling Tigers Games.

Although National Avenue, which ran behind the third-base stands at Tiger Stadium, was renamed Cochrane Avenue for Mickey Cochrane, Cochrane's number 3 has not been retired for him. It has not been retired for Dick McAuliffe or Alan Trammell, either. Cherry Street, which ran behind the left-field stands at Tiger Stadium, was renamed Kaline Drive for Al Kaline.

Number 11, last worn by former manager Sparky Anderson in 1995, has not been retired. However, it has not been reissued since Anderson retired.

Current roster

Minor league affiliations

AAA: Toledo Mud Hens, International League
AA: Erie SeaWolves, Eastern League
Advanced A: Lakeland Tigers, Florida State League
A: West Michigan Whitecaps, Midwest League
Short A: Oneonta Tigers, New York-Penn League
Rookie: GCL Tigers, Gulf Coast League

Notes

Chronology

Key Dates:
1901: The Detroit Tigers are formed and play their first season.
1905: Future baseball legend Ty Cobb is signed, beginning his 21-year career with the Tigers.
1907: The team wins its first American League pennant for new owner Frank Navin.
1912: Navin builds a new ballpark to house team's growing legion of fans.
1935: The team wins its first World Series; Navin dies and the team is taken over by Walter Briggs.
1945: A second World Series victory is claimed when the Tigers beat the Cubs in 7 games.
1956: Briggs family sells team to investors led by Jim Fetzer and Fred Knorr.
1960: Fetzer buys out his other partners and renames team's home Tiger Stadium, formerly Briggs Stadium.
1968: Tigers win their third World Series; season attendance tops two million for the first time.
1983: The team is purchased by Dominoes Pizza owner Tom Monaghan for $43 million.
1984: The Tigers win a fourth World Series over the San Diego Padres.
1992: The team is sold for $85 million to Mike Ilitch, owner of Little Caesar's Pizza.
2000: The Tigers move into a Comerica Park, a newly-built stadium in downtown Detroit.

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