Detroit Tigers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Detroit Tigers
2025 Detroit Tigers season
Established in 1894
Team logo Cap insignia
Major league affiliations
American League (1901–present) AL Central Division (1998–present) AL East Division (1969–1997) Western League (1894–1900)
Current uniform
Retired numbers	COBB 1 2 3 5 6 10 11 16 23 42 47
Colors
Navy blue, orange, white
Name
Detroit Tigers (1901–present)
Other nicknames
The Bengals The Motor City Kitties The Gritty Tigs
Ballpark
Comerica Park (2000–present) Tiger Stadium (1912–1999) Burns Park (1901–1902) Bennett Park (1896–1911) Boulevard Park (1894–1895)
Major league titles
World Series titles (4)	1935 1945 1968 1984
AL Pennants (11)	1907 1908 1909 1934 1935 1940 1945 1968 1984 2006 2012
AL Central Division titles (4)	2011 2012 2013 2014
AL East Division titles (3)	1972 1984 1987
Wild card berths (2)	2006 2024
Front office
Principal owner(s)	Ilitch Holdings
President of baseball operations	Scott Harris
General manager	Jeff Greenberg
Manager	A. J. Hinch

The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team from Detroit, Michigan. They play in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the American League (AL) Central Division. The Tigers are one of the original eight teams in the AL. They started in Detroit in 1894 as a minor league team in the Western League. They are the only team from that league still in its original city. They are also the oldest team in the AL to keep the same name and city.

Since joining the major league in 1901, the Tigers have won four World Series championships. These wins happened in 1935, 1945, 1968, and 1984. They have also won 11 AL pennants, which means they were the best team in the American League. The Tigers have won four AL Central division championships since 2011. Before that, they won three division titles in the AL East. Since 2000, the Tigers have played their home games at Comerica Park in Downtown Detroit.

The Tigers have played in several ballparks over the years. They started at Bennett Park in 1896. In 1912, they moved to Navin Field, which was later expanded and renamed Briggs Stadium. It became Tiger Stadium in 1961. The team played there until 1999.

From 1901 to 2024, the Tigers have a winning record overall. Their best season was in 1934, and their toughest was in 2003.

History of the Detroit Tigers

Early Years (1894–1900)

The Detroit Tigers baseball team began in 1894 as part of the Western League. They first played at Boulevard Park. In 1895, the team's owner, George Vanderbeck, built Bennett Park. This stadium became the team's home for the next 104 seasons. The first game at Bennett Park was an exhibition on April 13, 1896. The Tigers beat a local team 30–3.

In 1900, the Western League changed its name to the American League. At first, it was still a minor league. But in 1901, it became a major league, competing with the National League.

First Major League Season (1901)

The Tigers officially became a major league team in the American League in 1901. Their first major league game was on April 25, 1901, at Bennett Park. About 10,000 fans watched them make an amazing comeback to win 14–13 against the Milwaukee Brewers. The team finished third in the league that year.

The Tigers were the first major league team to have a mascot on their cap in 1901. It was a red tiger. In 1903, it changed to a "D," and then to the famous Olde English "D" in 1904.

The Ty Cobb Era (1905–1926)

A New Star Arrives (1905)

In 1905, the Tigers got an 18-year-old player named Ty Cobb. He was a very brave player and became one of the best baseball players ever. With Cobb, and other great players like Sam Crawford and Hughie Jennings, the team quickly became much better.

American League Champions (1907–1909)

The Tigers won the American League pennant three years in a row from 1907 to 1909.

• In 1907, they won 92 games. Ty Cobb hit .350 and Sam Crawford hit .323. Pitchers Bill Donovan and Ed Killian each won 25 games. They played in their first World Series against the Chicago Cubs. The Tigers lost the series 4–0.
• In 1908, the Tigers won the AL pennant again. Cobb hit .324. They faced the Chicago Cubs in the 1908 World Series again and lost in five games.
• In 1909, Detroit had a great season with 98 wins. Ty Cobb won the batting Triple Crown, leading the league in batting average (.377), home runs (9), and RBIs (107). He also led in stolen bases. Pitcher George Mullin won 29 games. This time, they played the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1909 World Series. The Tigers played better, taking the series to seven games, but lost the final game.

Challenges and Records (1910–1915)

After their three pennants, the Tigers didn't win as much for a few years. In 1912, George Mullin pitched the team's first no-hitter. Ty Cobb continued to be an amazing hitter, winning the batting title every year during this time.

In 1915, the Tigers won a club record 100 games. However, they just missed winning the AL pennant by one game to the Boston Red Sox. Ty Cobb set a stolen base record with 96 steals that year.

Cobb as Manager (1921)

Ty Cobb became the team's manager in 1921 while still playing. That year, the Tigers had a team batting average of .316, which is the highest in AL history. Harry Heilmann and Ty Cobb were the top two hitters in the league. However, the team's pitching wasn't strong, so they finished in sixth place. On August 19, 1921, Cobb got his 3,000th career hit. He was the youngest player to reach this milestone.

Cobb retired from the Tigers in 1926 after 22 seasons.

Breaking Through (1927–1940)

The Tigers built a strong team in the years after Cobb left. They added powerful first baseman Hank Greenberg and talented pitchers Tommy Bridges and Schoolboy Rowe. In 1933, they got catcher Mickey Cochrane from the Philadelphia Athletics to be their player-manager.

American League Champions (1934)

In 1934, the Tigers won the AL pennant with 101 wins, which was a team record at the time. This is still the best winning percentage in team history. The team's infield, including Hank Greenberg and Charlie Gehringer, was very strong. Schoolboy Rowe led the pitchers with 24 wins.

The Tigers played the "Gashouse Gang" St. Louis Cardinals in the 1934 World Series. The series went to seven games. The Tigers lost the final game 11–0. The game had a moment where Cardinals player Joe Medwick was removed from the game for his own safety after fans threw things at him.

First World Series Champions (1935)

The 1935 Tigers team had four future Hall of Famers: Hank Greenberg, Mickey Cochrane, Goose Goslin, and Charlie Gehringer. They won the AL pennant again with 93 wins. Greenberg was named AL MVP, leading the league in home runs (36) and RBIs (168).

The Tigers finally won their first World Series in 1935, beating the Chicago Cubs 4–2. The final game ended with Goose Goslin hitting a single that scored Mickey Cochrane for a dramatic 4–3 victory.

American League Champions (1940)

In 1940, the Tigers won the AL pennant in a close race. Hank Greenberg moved from first base to left field to make room for Rudy York. Greenberg hit 41 home runs and had 150 RBIs, winning his second AL MVP award. Pitcher Bobo Newsom was the team's ace, winning 21 games.

The Tigers lost the 1940 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in seven games. This was the third time the Tigers lost a World Series in a deciding seventh game.

The War Years (1941–1945)

During World War II, many players, including Hank Greenberg, served in the military. The Tigers struggled for a few years. In 1944, they finished second, thanks to pitchers Hal Newhouser and Dizzy Trout, who won 29 and 27 games. Newhouser won the first of his two AL MVP awards that season.

World Series Champions (1945)

With players like Hank Greenberg returning from the war, the Tigers won the AL pennant in 1945. Hal Newhouser had an amazing season, leading the AL in wins (25), ERA (1.81), and strikeouts (212). He became the first pitcher to win the MVP award in two years in a row.

The Tigers won their second World Series in 1945, beating the Chicago Cubs 4–3. This was the first time the Tigers won a Game 7 in the World Series.

A Long Drought (1946–1967)

After their 1945 World Series win, the Tigers had some good seasons but didn't win another pennant for a long time. In 1949, George Kell won the batting title in a very close race. The 1950 team won 95 games but finished behind the New York Yankees.

The team then went through a tough period, with many losing seasons. In 1952, the team had its worst season until 2003. However, pitcher Virgil Trucks threw two no-hitters that year. In 1953, Al Kaline joined the team. He was one of the few players to never play in the minor leagues. In 1955, at 20 years old, Kaline became the youngest batting champion in major league history.

In 1958, the Tigers became one of the last teams to have a non-white player on their roster when Ozzie Virgil Sr. joined.

The 1961 Season

In 1961, the Tigers had a great season, winning 101 games. They led the league in runs scored. However, they still finished eight games behind the New York Yankees. Norm Cash won the batting title with a .361 average.

Building a Strong Team (1962–1967)

Throughout the 1960s, the Tigers built a strong team with players like pitchers Mickey Lolich and Denny McLain, and outfielders Willie Horton and Jim Northrup.

In 1967, the Tigers were in a very close pennant race. They needed to win both games of a doubleheader on the last day of the season to force a playoff. They won the first game but lost the second, missing the pennant by just one game.

Glory in '68: World Series Champions

The Amazing 1968 Season

The Tigers finally returned to the World Series in 1968. They took first place in May and never gave it up, finishing with an amazing 103 wins. Pitcher Denny McLain had an incredible season, winning 31 games. He was the first pitcher to win 30 or more games since 1934, and no pitcher has done it since. McLain won the AL MVP and Cy Young Award.

1968 World Series Victory

In the 1968 World Series, the Tigers played the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals had a great pitcher named Bob Gibson. Tigers manager Mayo Smith made a bold move by playing center fielder Mickey Stanley at shortstop, even though he had never played there before. This allowed the team to have a very strong outfield.

The Cardinals won Game 1 easily. But the Tigers fought back, thanks to pitcher Mickey Lolich, who won Games 2 and 5. A key moment was in Game 5 when Willie Horton made a perfect throw to home plate to stop Lou Brock from scoring. The Tigers won that game and stayed in the series. In Game 6, McLain won his only game of the series.

In Game 7, Lolich and Gibson both pitched wonderfully. In the seventh inning, the Tigers finally scored two runs on a triple by Jim Northrup. Detroit added another run and won the game 4–1, winning the World Series 4–3. The Tigers became only the third team to win the World Series after being down 3–1. Mickey Lolich was named the World Series Most Valuable Player for his three wins.

After the Championship (1969–1971)

In 1969, the Tigers finished second in their division. Denny McLain won his second Cy Young Award. In 1970, the team had a losing record. Manager Mayo Smith was replaced by Billy Martin. The Tigers also made a great trade, getting pitcher Joe Coleman, shortstop Eddie Brinkman, and third baseman Aurelio Rodríguez. In 1971, the Tigers won 91 games, but still finished second to the Baltimore Orioles. Mickey Lolich set a team record with 308 strikeouts.

AL East Champions (1972)

In 1972, the Tigers won their first AL East division title. Joe Coleman, Eddie Brinkman, and Aurelio Rodríguez were all very important players. Brinkman was named Tiger of the Year for his great defense. Mickey Lolich won 22 games, and Joe Coleman won 19. Pitcher Woodie Fryman was a key addition late in the season.

1972 ALCS

In the 1972 American League Championship Series, the Tigers played the Oakland Athletics. The series was very close. In Game 1, the Tigers lost in extra innings. In Game 2, the A's won 5–0. The series moved to Detroit, and the Tigers won Game 3, with Joe Coleman striking out 14 batters. Game 4 was another close game that went to extra innings. Jim Northrup hit a single to win the game for the Tigers, tying the series 2–2.

In the final Game 5, the A's took a 2–1 lead. The A's won the game and the AL pennant.

A Slow Decline (1973–1978)

The Tigers finished third in 1973. Joe Coleman won 23 games, but other pitchers struggled. Manager Billy Martin was fired that September. A bright spot was relief pitcher John Hiller, who had 38 saves after recovering from a heart attack.

The Tigers had several losing seasons from 1974 to 1977. Al Kaline retired in 1974 after getting his 3,000th career hit. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1980.

The Year of The Bird (1976)

In 1976, a young rookie pitcher named Mark Fidrych gave fans hope. Known as "The Bird" for his unique actions on the mound, Fidrych became very popular. He finished the season with 19 wins and the best ERA in the American League. He was named the AL Rookie of the Year.

New Talent Arrives (1977–1978)

Injuries limited Fidrych's career after 1976. However, new talented players started joining the team. Jack Morris, Lance Parrish, Alan Trammell, and Lou Whitaker all made their debuts in 1977. These players would become key parts of the team's future success. In 1978, the Tigers had a winning season with 88 wins.

The "Bless You Boys" Era (1979–1987)

In 1979, George "Sparky" Anderson became the Tigers' manager. He was a very successful manager who had won two World Series with the Cincinnati Reds. Anderson famously predicted that the Tigers would win a pennant within five years.

The Roar of '84: World Series Champions

The 1984 Tigers had an amazing season. They started 9–0, and pitcher Jack Morris threw a no-hitter early in the year. They won 35 of their first 40 games and ended up with a team-record 104 victories. The Tigers led their division from the very first day of the season. Closer Willie Hernández won both the Cy Young Award and AL MVP, which is very rare for a relief pitcher.

1984 ALCS and World Series

The Tigers swept the Kansas City Royals 3–0 in the ALCS. This sent them to the 1984 World Series.

In the 1984 World Series, the Tigers faced the San Diego Padres. The Tigers won Game 1 with a home run by Larry Herndon and a complete game by Jack Morris. The Padres tied the series in Game 2.

When the series moved to Detroit, the Tigers took control. They won Game 3 and Game 4. In Game 4, Alan Trammell hit two home runs and Jack Morris pitched another complete game.

In Game 5, Kirk Gibson hit a two-run home run early in the game. Later, with the Tigers holding a small lead, Gibson hit a huge three-run home run into the upper deck. This sealed the game and the series for Detroit.

The Tigers won the World Series 4–1. Sparky Anderson became the first manager to win the World Series in both the American and National Leagues. Alan Trammell was named the World Series MVP.

AL East Champions (1987)

After a few average seasons, the 1987 Tigers surprised everyone. They started slowly but then played very well. A key player was pitcher Doyle Alexander, who was traded to the Tigers and won 9 games without a loss. The Tigers had a close race with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Detroit won the division title on the last day of the season with a 1–0 victory over Toronto. Frank Tanana pitched a complete game shutout. The Tigers finished with the best record in the majors (98 wins). However, they lost to the Minnesota Twins 4–1 in the ALCS.

A New Approach (1988–1995)

The Tigers couldn't keep up their success after 1987. In 1989, the team had a very tough season, losing 103 games. The team then tried to rebuild by focusing on power hitters like Cecil Fielder, Rob Deer, and Mickey Tettleton. In 1990, Cecil Fielder hit 51 home runs, becoming the first player to hit 50 since 1977.

The Tigers improved in 1990 and had a winning record in 1991. However, they lacked strong pitching. In 1992, Mike Ilitch bought the team. Sparky Anderson became the winningest manager in Tigers history that year. Anderson retired from baseball after the 1995 season.

Tough Times (1996–2002)

From 1994 to 2005, the Tigers had many losing seasons. In 1996, they lost a team-record 109 games. In 1998, the Tigers moved from the AL East to the AL Central division.

In 2000, the team moved from Tiger Stadium to Comerica Park. At first, Comerica Park was criticized for being too big, making it hard to hit home runs. The team adjusted the fences in 2003 to make it more fair for hitters.

In 2001, Dave Dombrowski became the team president. In 2002, the Tigers started the season very poorly, leading Dombrowski to fire the general manager and manager. The team finished with 106 losses.

Most Losses in Franchise History (2003)

In 2003, former shortstop Alan Trammell became the team's manager. The team had a very difficult season, finishing with 43 wins and 119 losses. This was the worst record in franchise history. Three Tigers pitchers, Mike Maroth, Jeremy Bonderman, and Nate Cornejo, were the top three in losses in the major leagues that year.

Rebuilding the Franchise (2004–2006)

After the tough 2003 season, the Tigers worked to improve. They signed or traded for several talented players like Iván Rodríguez and Carlos Guillén. The team improved by 29 wins in 2004, finishing 72–90.

In 2005, Detroit hosted the MLB All-Star Game. The team signed more free agents but still had a losing record. Alan Trammell was fired at the end of the season. In October 2005, Jim Leyland became the new manager.

The Return of the Tigers: American League Champions (2006)

The 2006 season brought new hope. Young players like Justin Verlander, Curtis Granderson, and Joel Zumaya had impressive rookie seasons. The team quickly rose to the top of the AL Central. On September 24, the Tigers clinched their first playoff spot since 1987. They finished with 95 wins, earning the AL wild card spot.

In the playoffs, the Tigers beat the New York Yankees and swept the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS. Magglio Ordóñez hit a walk-off home run to win the ALCS. They advanced to the 2006 World Series, but lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in five games.

Falling Short (2007–2010)

2007

In 2007, the Tigers traded for outfielder Gary Sheffield. Justin Verlander threw the Tigers' first no-hitter at Comerica Park on June 12. The team had the best record in baseball in July but struggled later due to injuries. They finished second in the AL Central with 88 wins. Magglio Ordóñez won the AL batting title with a .363 average.

2008

The Tigers traded for big names like Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis before the 2008 season. Despite having one of the highest payrolls, the team started poorly and finished with a losing record of 74–88.

2009

In 2009, the Tigers acquired pitcher Edwin Jackson and called up rookie pitcher Rick Porcello. Justin Verlander bounced back with 19 wins. The Tigers had a 7-game lead in their division in September but lost it. They ended up tied with the Minnesota Twins on the last day of the season. The Tigers lost the tie-breaker game, finishing with 86 wins and missing the playoffs.

2010

In 2010, the Tigers traded Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson. They gained young players like Austin Jackson and pitchers Max Scherzer and Phil Coke. Miguel Cabrera had a great season, hitting .328 with 38 home runs and leading the AL with 126 RBIs.

The Near-Perfect Game

On June 2, 2010, pitcher Armando Galarraga was pitching a perfect game against the Cleveland Indians. With two outs in the ninth inning, the first-base umpire made a controversial call, ruling a runner safe when replays showed he was out. Galarraga missed his perfect game, but the umpire apologized to him, and they shook hands the next day.

Division Winners (2011–2014)

First AL Central Championship (2011)

The Tigers brought back most of their players in 2011 and added Victor Martinez. On May 7, Justin Verlander pitched his second career no-hitter. He became the first Tiger since 1991 to win 20 games in a season.

The Tigers were behind in May but started playing much better. They sent five players to the All-Star Game. After a 12-game winning streak in September, the Tigers clinched their first AL Central Division title since joining the division in 1998.

Justin Verlander had an incredible season, winning the pitching Triple Crown (leading the AL in wins, ERA, and strikeouts). He won the AL Cy Young Award and the AL MVP award. José Valverde led the AL with 49 saves. Miguel Cabrera won the AL batting title.

The Tigers beat the New York Yankees in the ALDS but lost to the Texas Rangers in the ALCS.

American League Champions (2012)

In 2012, the Tigers signed All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder. Miguel Cabrera moved to third base. The team started slowly but played much better in the second half. They clinched their second straight AL Central division title on October 1. This was the first time in team history they won back-to-back division titles.

On the last day of the season, Miguel Cabrera achieved the Triple Crown in batting. He led the AL in batting average (.330), home runs (44), and RBIs (139). No player had done this since 1967. Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer were top strikeout leaders.

The Tigers defeated the Oakland Athletics in the ALDS. They then swept the New York Yankees in the ALCS to win their 11th AL pennant. However, they were swept by the San Francisco Giants in the 2012 World Series. Miguel Cabrera was named AL MVP.

American League Title Defense (2013)

The Tigers aimed to defend their AL pennant in 2013. They signed outfielder Torii Hunter and pitcher Aníbal Sánchez. Justin Verlander signed a large contract extension. Six Tigers players were chosen for the All-Star team.

On September 25, the Tigers won their third straight AL Central Division title. Tigers pitchers set a new record for strikeouts in a season. Miguel Cabrera won his second straight AL MVP award. Max Scherzer won the AL Cy Young Award.

The Tigers beat the Oakland Athletics again in the ALDS. They advanced to the ALCS but lost to the Boston Red Sox in six games.

Changes at the Top (2014)

Jim Leyland stepped down as manager, and Brad Ausmus was hired. The Tigers traded Prince Fielder for Ian Kinsler. They also made moves to improve their bullpen, signing Joe Nathan and Joba Chamberlain. Later, they acquired former All-Star closer Joakim Soria.

On July 31, the Tigers made a big trade, acquiring pitcher David Price from the Tampa Bay Rays. With Price, the Tigers became the first team in MLB history to have three consecutive Cy Young Award winners in their starting rotation.

On the last day of the regular season, the Tigers clinched their fourth straight AL Central Division title. They finished one game ahead of the Kansas City Royals. The Tigers faced the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS but were swept 3–0.

Mid-Season Reboot (2015)

Brad Ausmus continued as manager in 2015. The team lost some key players but gained others like Yoenis Céspedes and Alex Wilson. The season started well but went downhill due to injuries and inconsistent pitching.

In July, the team decided to "reboot" and traded David Price, Joakim Soria, and Cespedes for six promising young players. On August 4, longtime general manager Dave Dombrowski was replaced by Al Avila.

Despite the difficulties, four Tigers players were selected for the All-Star Game. The Tigers finished last in the AL Central. However, Miguel Cabrera won his fourth batting title in five years with a .338 average.

2016 Season

The Tigers made more changes in 2016, adding pitchers Jordan Zimmermann and Francisco Rodriguez, and outfielder Justin Upton. The team finished with 86 wins, eight games behind the Cleveland Indians. They were the last team to be eliminated from wild card contention. Pitcher Michael Fulmer won the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year Award.

Rebuilding (2017–2023)

2017

Mike Ilitch, the Tigers owner, passed away in 2017. The team began a rebuilding process, trading several key players like J. D. Martinez, Alex Avila, Justin Upton, and Justin Verlander. On September 22, the team announced that manager Brad Ausmus's contract would not be extended. The Tigers finished the season tied for the worst record in MLB.

2018

Ron Gardenhire became the new manager in 2017. The team continued to rebuild with young players. Injuries to Miguel Cabrera and Michael Fulmer affected the team. They finished with the same 64–98 record as the previous year.

2019

The Tigers finished the 2019 season with a 47–114 record, which was the worst in all of Major League Baseball. It was their second-worst season in franchise history.

2020

On April 6, Al Kaline passed away. The Tigers wore a special patch to honor him. In the shortened 60-game season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tigers were in playoff contention for a while. Manager Ron Gardenhire retired in September, and Lloyd McClendon became interim manager. The Tigers finished with a 23–35 record.

2021

In October 2020, the Tigers hired A. J. Hinch as manager. On May 18, 2021, Spencer Turnbull pitched the eighth no-hitter in Tigers history. The Tigers finished the season with a 77–85 record, doing better than many expected.

2022

On August 10, 2022, general manager Al Avila was fired. Scott Harris was hired as president of baseball operations in September. The Tigers finished the season with a 66–96 record.

2023

Jeff Greenberg was hired as general manager in September 2023. The Tigers finished the season with a 78–84 record. This was the final season for longtime Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera, who retired and joined the team's front office.

Return to the Playoffs (2024)

2024

The 2024 season started quietly for the Tigers. However, they played very well late in the season, winning 31 of their last 42 games. This allowed them to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2014 on September 27. They finished the season with an 86–76 record.

In the AL Wild Card Series, the Tigers swept the Houston Astros 2–0. This was their first postseason series win since 2013. In the AL Division Series, the Tigers lost to the Cleveland Guardians in five games.

Best Seasons in Detroit Tigers History

Top Seasons for the Detroit Tigers Rank Year Wins Losses Win %   Finish 1 1934 101 53 .656 Lost 1934 World Series to Cardinals 2 1915 100 54 .649 2nd in AL behind Red Sox 3 1909 98 54 .645 Lost 1909 World Series to Pirates 4 1984 104 58 .642 Won 1984 World Series over Padres 5 1968 103 59 .636 Won 1968 World Series over Cardinals 6 1961 101 61 .623 2nd in AL behind Yankees 7 1950 95 59 .617 2nd in AL behind Yankees 8 1935 93 58 .616 Won 1935 World Series over Cubs 9 1907 92 58 .613 Lost 1907 World Series to Cubs 10 1987 98 64 .605 Lost 1987 ALCS to Twins

Worst Seasons in Detroit Tigers History

Toughest Seasons for the Detroit Tigers Rank Year Wins Losses Win % 1 2003 43 119 .265 2 2019 47 114 .292 3 1952 50 104 .325 4 1996 53 109 .327 5 2002 55 106 .342 6 1975 57 102 .358 7 1989 59 103 .364 8 1902 52 83 .385 9 1953 60 94 .390 10 2017 and 2018 64 98 .395

Team Nickname

The team was first called the Wolverines and Creams in 1894 before becoming the Tigers. There are different stories about how they got their nickname. One idea is that it came from their striped socks. Another story says that the name came from a military group called the "Detroit Light Guard," who were known as "The Tigers." This group played important roles in wars. When the baseball team joined the major leagues, they asked and received permission from the Light Guard to use their name.

Team Rivalries

Chicago White Sox

The Tigers and Chicago White Sox have one of the oldest rivalries in baseball. Both teams joined the American League in 1901. They have played each other every year for over 120 seasons. This rivalry is similar to other sports rivalries between teams from Chicago and Detroit. Even though they have played over 2,200 games, the two teams have never met in the playoffs.

Divisional Rivals

The Tigers also have rivalries with other teams in their division: the Cleveland Guardians, the Kansas City Royals, and the Minnesota Twins. A notable moment in the rivalry with Cleveland happened in 2013. During a game, fans from Cleveland chanted about Detroit's financial problems. The Tigers ended up winning that game.

Other Teams

The Tigers also have a rivalry with the Toronto Blue Jays from when they were in the same division. They also have rivalries with National League teams they've played many times in the World Series, like the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. In games against teams from the other league, the Pittsburgh Pirates are considered the Tigers' "natural rival."

Fanbase

The Tigers have many fans in the Lake Erie region, including throughout Michigan, northwestern Ohio, and southwestern Ontario. There's also a small fan base around Erie, Pennsylvania, partly because the Tigers' minor league team, the Erie SeaWolves, is located there. The Tigers' Triple-A team, the Toledo Mud Hens, is in Toledo, Ohio. Cities like Windsor and Sarnia, Ontario, also have many loyal Tigers fans.

Home Attendance

Comerica Park Attendance

Home Attendance at Comerica Park
Year	Total Attendance	Game Average	League Rank
2000	2,438,617	30,106	7th
2001	1,921,305	23,720	9th
2002	1,503,623	18,795	12th
2003	1,368,245	16,892	13th
2004	1,917,004	23,667	9th
2005	2,024,431	24,993	10th
2006	2,595,937	32,049	5th
2007	3,047,133	32,719	3rd
2008	3,202,645	39,539	3rd
2009	2,567,165	31,693	4th
2010	2,461,237	30,386	6th
2011	2,642,045	32,618	6th
2012	3,028,033	37,383	5th
2013	3,083,397	38,067	3rd
2014	2,917,209	36,015	4th
2015	2,726,048	33,655	5th
2016	2,493,859	31,173	7th
2017	2,321,599	28,662	7th
2018	1,856,970	22,926	10th
2019	1,501,430	18,536	12th
2020	N/A (COVID-19 pandemic)	N/A	N/A
2021	1,102,623	13,612	11th
2022	1,575,544	19,214	10th
2023	1,612,876	19,912	12th
2024	1,858,295	22,942	11th

Rally Cries

Over the years, the Tigers have had many popular rally cries:

• In 1968, "Go Get 'Em, Tigers" and "Sock it to 'em, Tigers!" were popular.
• During the 1984 World Series win, the phrase "Bless You Boys" became famous.
• In 2005 and 2011, the slogan was "Who's Your Tiger?".
• In 2006, "Gum Time" became a popular phrase after a player started chewing gum during a rally.
• A local fan's chant, "Eat 'Em Up Tigers! Eat 'Em Up!", was also very popular.
• In 2009, the team used "Always a Tiger" as its slogan.
• In 2018, the "Rally Goose" became a fun symbol after a goose appeared on the field during a game and the Tigers started scoring runs.

Uniforms and Logos

The Tigers have worn mostly the same home uniform since 1934. It's a white jersey with navy blue stripes down the front and an Old English "D" on the left chest. Their hats are navy blue with a white Old English "D". On their road uniforms, the "D" on the hat is orange, and the jersey says "Detroit" in script. The Old English "D" first appeared on Tigers uniforms in 1904.

In 2018, the Tigers changed the "D" on their home jerseys to match the sharp-cornered "D" on their hats. In 2019, they went back to a smaller "D" on the cap but kept the sharp-cornered "D" on the home jerseys.

In 2023, the Tigers added a sponsor patch for Meijer, a store chain, on their uniform sleeves.

Special Features of Tigers Uniforms:

• The Tigers are the only MLB team to use a color (orange) on their road uniforms that isn't on their home uniforms.
• Their uniform pants have more belt loops than most other teams.

Alternate Jerseys:

• The Tigers sometimes wear throwback jerseys of the Detroit Stars to honor players from the Negro leagues.
• They also wear white and navy blue "Tigres" jerseys for their "¡Fiesta Tigres!" game to celebrate Hispanic and Latino players.
• For "Players Weekend," the Tigers have worn colorful jerseys with nicknames on the back.
• In 2024, the Tigers introduced a "City Connect" jersey that celebrates Detroit's car industry. It's navy blue with tire tread patterns and says "Motor City" on the front. The cap has a special number that refers to the team's first AL season and World Series wins.

Baseball Hall of Famers

Detroit Tigers Hall of Famers
Affiliation according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Detroit Tigers Sparky Anderson1 Earl Averill Ed Barrow Jim Bunning2 Ty Cobb Mickey Cochrane3 Sam Crawford Larry Doby Billy Evans Rick Ferrell Charlie Gehringer Joe Gordon Goose Goslin Hank Greenberg Bucky Harris Harry Heilmann Whitey Herzog Waite Hoyt Hughie Jennings4 Al Kaline George Kell Jim Leyland Heinie Manush5 Eddie Mathews Jack Morris Hal Newhouser Iván Rodríguez Al Simmons Sam Thompson Alan Trammell Players and managers listed in bold are depicted on their Hall of Fame plaques wearing a Tigers cap insignia. 1Although Sparky Anderson is depicted on his Hall of Fame plaque wearing a Cincinnati Reds cap insignia, the Hall recognizes the Tigers as his primary team. 2Although Jim Bunning is depicted on his Hall of Fame plaque wearing a Philadelphia Phillies cap insignia, the Hall recognizes the Tigers as his primary team. 3Although Mickey Cochrane is depicted on his Hall of Fame plaque wearing a Tigers cap insignia, the Hall recognizes the Philadelphia Athletics as his primary team. 4Although Hughie Jennings is depicted on his Hall of Fame plaque wearing a Tigers cap insignia, the Hall recognizes the Baltimore Orioles as his primary team. 5Although Heinie Manush is depicted on his Hall of Fame plaque wearing a Tigers cap insignia, the Hall recognizes the Washington Senators as his primary team.

Ford C. Frick Award Recipients

Detroit Tigers Ford C. Frick Award recipients
Affiliation according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Ernie Harwell Names in bold received the award based primarily on their work as broadcasters for the Tigers.

Michigan Sports Hall of Fame

Detroit Tigers in the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
No.	Name	Position	Years with Team	Notes
—	Frank Navin	Owner	1908–1935	Born in Adrian.
—	Walter Briggs Sr.	Owner	1919–1935	Born in Ypsilanti.
—	John Fetzer	Owner	1961–1983
—	Mike Ilitch	Owner	1992–2017	Born and raised in Detroit.
—	Marian Ilitch	Owner	1992	Born and raised in Dearborn.
—	Jim Campbell	Executive	1962–1983 1978–1990 1990–1992
—	Ty Tyson	Broadcaster	1927-1942
—	Paul Carey	Broadcaster	1973–1991	Born and raised in Mount Pleasant.
—	Ernie Harwell	Broadcaster	1960–1991 1993–2002
—	Van Patrick	Broadcaster	1949, 1952–1959
—	Ray Lane	Broadcaster	1967–1972, 1999-2003
—	Frank Beckmann	Broadcaster	1995-2003
—	Ty Cobb	CF Manager	1905–1926 1921–1926
—	Sam Crawford	OF	1903–1917
—	Wish Egan	P	1902	Born and raised in Evart.
—	Harry Heilmann	RF/1B Broadcaster	1914 1916–1929
—	Hughie Jennings	IF Manager	1907, 1909–1910, 1912, 1918 1907–1920
—	Heinie Manush	LF	1923–1927
—	George Mullin	P	1902–1913
1	Lou Whitaker	2B	1977–1995
2	Charlie Gehringer	2B GM	1924–1942 1951–1953	Grew up near Fowlerville. Attended the University of Michigan.
3	Mickey Cochrane	C Manager	1934–1937 1934–1938
3	Dick McAuliffe	2B/SS	1960–1973
3	Alan Trammell	SS Coach Manager	1977–1996 1999 2003–2005
4	Goose Goslin	LF	1934–1937
4	Rudy York	1B	1934, 1937–1945
4	Charlie Maxwell	LF	1955–1962	Born in Lawton. Attended Western Michigan University.
5	Hank Greenberg	1B	1930, 1933–1941 1945–1946
5, 20	Vic Wertz	RF/1B	1947–1952 1961–1963
5	Jim Northrup	OF	1964–1974	Born in Breckenridge. Attended Alma College.
6	Al Kaline	RF Broadcaster	1953–1974
7	Billy Rogell	SS	1930–1939
7, 26	Harvey Kuenn	OF/SS	1952–1959
7	Rick Leach	OF/1B	1981–1983	Born in Ann Arbor. Attended the University of Michigan.
10	Tommy Bridges	P	1930–1943 1945–1946
10	Jim Leyland	Manager	2006–2013
11	Sparky Anderson	Manager	1979–1995
11	Bill Freehan	C	1961, 1963–1976	Born and raised in Detroit. Attended the University of Michigan.
13	Lance Parrish	C	1977–1986
14	Schoolboy Rowe	P	1933–1942
14, 15	Jim Bunning	P	1955–1963	Elected mainly for his performance with Philadelphia Phillies.
15, 21	George Kell	3B Broadcaster	1946–1952 1959–1963 1965–1996
16	Hal Newhouser	P	1939–1953	Born and raised in Detroit.
17	Denny McLain	P	1963–1970
18	John Hiller	P	1965–1970 1972–1980
20	Billy Pierce	P	1945, 1948	Elected mainly for his performance with Chicago White Sox. Born in Detroit and grew up in Highland Park.
21	Barney McCosky	OF	1939–1942, 1946	Grew up in Detroit.
21, 30	Don Lund	OF	1949, 1952–1954	Born and raised in Detroit. Attended the University of Michigan.
21	Willie Hernández	P	1984–1989
22	Virgil Trucks	P	1941–1952, 1956
23	Willie Horton	LF/DH	1963–1977	Born and raised in Detroit. Attended Detroit Northwestern High School.
23	Kirk Gibson	OF Coach Broadcaster	1979–1987 1993–1995 2003–2005	Born in Pontiac. Grew up in Waterford and attended Michigan State University.
24	Mickey Stanley	CF	1964–1978	Grew up in Grand Rapids.
25	Norm Cash	1B Broadcaster	1960–1974
26	Gates Brown	LF Coach	1963–1975 1978–1984
26	Frank Tanana	P	1985–1992	Grew up in Detroit.
29	Mickey Lolich	P	1963–1975
47	Jack Morris	P Broadcaster	1977–1990

Retired Numbers and Honorees

The Tigers honor important players and managers by displaying their names and numbers on the outfield walls at Comerica Park.

In left field:

Willie Horton LF, DH Retired July 15, 2000 Ty Cobb CF Manager Honored 2000 Hank Greenberg 1B Retired June 12, 1983 Charlie Gehringer 2B Coach, GM Retired June 12, 1983 Hal Newhouser P Retired July 27, 1997 Al Kaline RF Broadcaster Executive Retired August 17, 1980 Jack Morris P Retired August 12, 2018 Alan Trammell SS Coach, Mgr Retired August 26, 2018 Lou Whitaker 2B Retired August 6, 2022

In right field:

Harry Heilmann RF, 1B Honored 2000 Heinie Manush LF Honored 2000 Hughie Jennings Manager Honored 2000 Sam Crawford OF Honored 2000 Mickey Cochrane C Manager Honored 2000 George Kell 3B Broadcaster Honored 2000 Ernie Harwell Broadcaster Honored 2000 Sparky Anderson Manager Retired June 26, 2011 Jackie Robinson – All MLB Honored April 15, 1997

• Players like Ty Cobb and Harry Heilmann are honored by their names because numbers weren't worn on jerseys when they played.
• Mickey Cochrane and George Kell are also honored for their contributions, even though their numbers aren't officially retired.
• Al Kaline and George Kell were also TV commentators for the Tigers.
• Ernie Harwell was a beloved radio and TV announcer for the Tigers for many years.
• Jackie Robinson's No. 42 was retired by all of Major League Baseball in 1997.
• Most players with retired numbers also have statues at Comerica Park.
• Streets near the old Tiger Stadium were named after Mickey Cochrane and Al Kaline.
• The Tigers retired Jim Leyland's No. 10 on August 3, 2024.

Team Captains

• Bill Coughlin 1907–1908
• Germany Schaefer 1907–1909
• George Moriarty 1911–1916
• Brad Ausmus 1999
• Doug Brocail 1999
• Dean Palmer 1999

Minor League Teams

The Detroit Tigers have several minor league teams where young players develop their skills.

Level	Team	League	Location	Ballpark	Affiliated Since
Triple-A	Toledo Mud Hens	International League	Toledo, Ohio	Fifth Third Field	1987
Double-A	Erie SeaWolves	Eastern League	Erie, Pennsylvania	UPMC Park	2001
High-A	West Michigan Whitecaps	Midwest League	Comstock Park, Michigan	LMCU Ballpark	1997
Single-A	Lakeland Flying Tigers	Florida State League	Lakeland, Florida	Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium	1963
Rookie	FCL Tigers	Florida Complex League	Lakeland, Florida	Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium	1995
	DSL Tigers 1	Dominican Summer League	San Pedro de Macorís, San Pedro de Macorís	Detroit Tigers Academy	1992
	DSL Tigers 2				2022

Broadcasters

Radio

The Tigers' main radio station is WXYT-FM (97.1 FM). Dan Dickerson does the play-by-play. Former players like Andy Dirks, Craig Monroe, and Bobby Scales provide commentary. Games are also broadcast on other radio stations across Michigan and parts of Ohio.

Television

The Tigers' local TV games are shown on Bally Sports Detroit. The TV team includes Jason Benetti for play-by-play. Former Tigers players like Kirk Gibson, Todd Jones, Craig Monroe, Carlos Peña, and Dan Petry offer commentary.

Images for kids

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  Detroit Tigers primary logo

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  Detroit Tigers cap logo

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  Detroit Tigers uniform

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  Ty Cobb in 1913

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  1908 World Series program

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  Hall of Fame member Al Kaline, nicknamed "Mr. Tiger"

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  Justin Verlander, June 2008

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  Alex Avila, March 2010

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  Miguel Cabrera in 2011

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  Delmon Young (left) and Prince Fielder (right) in 2012

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  Detroit Tigers primary logo (2016–present)

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  Logo used on the home jersey until 2018

See also

In Spanish: Detroit Tigers para niños

• List of Detroit Tigers seasons
• Detroit Tigers all-time roster
• List of Detroit Tigers owners and executives