Charlie Gehringer Detroit Tigers Autograph Framed Photo Signed Hall Of Fame

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Seller: memorabilia111 ✉️ (808) 100%, Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, US, Ships to: US & many other countries, Item: 176299957830 CHARLIE GEHRINGER DETROIT TIGERS AUTOGRAPH FRAMED PHOTO SIGNED HALL OF FAME. CHARLIE GEHRINGER DETROIT TIGERS AUTOGRAPH FRAMED PHOTO SIGNED. FRAME MEASURES APPROXIMATELY9 X 11 1/8 INCHES Charles Leonard Gehringer, nicknamed "the Mechanical Man", was an American professional baseball second baseman. He played for the Detroit Tigers for 19 seasons from 1924 to 1942. He compiled a .320 career batting average with 2,839 hits and 1,427 runs batted in. 



Charles Leonard Gehringer (May 11, 1903 – January 21, 1993), nicknamed "the Mechanical Man", was an American professional baseball second baseman. He played for the Detroit Tigers for 19 seasons from 1924 to 1942. He compiled a .320 career batting average with 2,839 hits and 1,427 runs batted in (RBIs). He had seven seasons with more than 200 hits and was the starting second baseman and played every inning of the first six All Star Games. He won the American League batting title in 1939 with a .371 average and won the American League Most Valuable Player Award. He helped lead the Tigers to three American League pennants (1934, 1935, and 1940) and the 1935 World Series championship. Gehringer was also one of the best fielding second basemen in history. At the time of his retirement, he ranked first in Major League Baseball (MLB) history with 1,444 double plays turned at second base (now seventh in MLB history).[1] He remains among MLB's all-time leaders with 7,068 assists at second base (second in MLB history) and 5,369 putouts (sixth in MLB history).[2][3] Gehringer later served as the Tigers general manager during the 1952 and 1953 seasons. After his playing career ended, he operated a company serving as an agent for manufacturers of automobile interior furnishings. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1949 and had his jersey (No. 2) retired by the Tigers in 1983. Early years Gehringer was born on May 11, 1903, on a farm in Iosco Township, south west of Fowlerville, Michigan.[4] He was the second son of Leonard Gehringer and Theresa (Hahn) (Eisele) Gehringer, both German Catholic immigrants. Both of his parents had been married previously, and Charlie had eight half-siblings from Leonard's first marriage, and a half-sister from his mother's first marriage. As a young boy the family moved to a different rented farm just south of Fowlerville in Handy Township, Michigan.[4] In 1922 after graduating from Fowlerville High School, Gehringer enrolled at the University of Michigan. He took physical education classes and played basketball and baseball. Gehringer later recalled that he lettered in basketball but not baseball.[5] Professional baseball Discovery and minor leagues (1923 to 1925) In the fall of 1923, after his first year at the University of Michigan, Gehringer was discovered by Detroit Tigers left fielder Bobby Veach.[6] Veach was hunting in Folwerville when a friend, Floyd Smith, recommended that Veach have a look at Gehringer.[7] Veach brought him to Navin Field to work out and show the Tigers what he could do.[6] Player-manager Ty Cobb was reportedly so impressed that he asked club owner Frank Navin to sign Gehringer to a contract on the spot. "I knew Charlie would hit and I was so anxious to sign him that I didn't even take the time to change out of my uniform before rushing him into the front office to sign a contract." Ty Cobb[8] In 1924, Gehringer played with London Tecumsehs in the Class B Michigan Ontario League. He was called up briefly at the end of September and played five games for the Tigers, batting .462 in 13 at-bats. He returned to the minor leagues where he played in 1925 for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League, compiling a .325 batting average with 206 hits and 25 home runs.[9] In a brief call-up at the end of the 1925 season, he appeared in eight games for the Tigers, compiling a .167 battng average in 18 at bats.[10] Relationship with Cobb (1926) Gehringer's made the Tigers' regular-season roster in the spring of 1926. When second baseman Frank O'Rourke contracted measles, Gehringer played his first game as a starter on April 28, 1926. Gehringer committed two costly errors and was hitless in four at bats, leading the Associated Press to write: Yesterday there was written at Navin field the sad story of the ambitious small town boy from a quiet Michigan village and his big league debut. It was sad because the ambitious boy, who has been called by Ty Cobb one of the best natural ball players he ever saw, made two glaring errors and otherewise deported himself unseemingly.[11] Gehringer took over as the Tigers' second baseman, appearing in 112 games at the position in 1926. He hit .277 and tallied 17 triples, second best in the American League. Playing for the "small ball" oriented Cobb, Gehringer also had a career-high 27 sacrifice hits in 1926.[10] After Cobb's departure, Gehringer never again came close to 27 sacrifice hits. At first, Gehringer recalled that Cobb "was like a father to me." Gehringer's father had died in 1924. Cobb even made Gehringer use his own bat. According to Gehringer, Cobb's bat was "a thin little thing", and though Gehringer would have preferred a bigger bat, "I didn't dare use another one."[12] Cobb and Gehringer subsequently had a falling out. Cobb told Gehringer he needed more "pepper" and should "chatter like the rest of the infield." Cobb became peeved when Gehringer replied that "there were enough people talking and saying nothing."[7] Gehringer later described Cobb as "a real hateful guy." (Al Stump, Cobb: The Life and Times of the Meanest Man Who Ever Played Baseball (1994), p. 419) Gehringer becomes a star: 1927–1933 1933 Goudey baseball card After the 1926 season, Cobb left the Tigers and was replaced as manager by George Moriarty. During the off-season, Moriarty acquired Marty McManus from the St. Louis Browns. Moriarty chose McManus as his starting second baseman inat the start of the 1927 season, but McManus was benched for disciplinary reasons, giving Gehringer the opportunity to return to the starting lineup at second base.[13] Gehringer seized the opportunity and had his breakout season in 1927. He led the American League's second basemen with 438 assists, 84 double plays turned, and a range factor of 6.19.[10] He also blossomed as a batter, batting .317 and scoring 110 runs – fourth best in the American League.[10] In 1928, he played in all 154 games for the Tigers, beginning a streak of 511 consecutive games. He hit .320, collected 193 hits (fifth best in the league), scored 108 runs (fifth best in the league), and had 507 assists (best in the league for a second baseman). At the end of the 1928 season, Gehringer placed 19th in the voting for the American League's Most Valuable Player.[10] Gehringer's steady improvement continued in 1929, as he hit .339 with an on-base percentage of .405, a slugging percentage of .532, and 106 RBIs. He also led the American League with 215 hits, 45 doubles, 19 triples (including three in one game), 131 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases. He also led the league in putouts (404) and fielding percentage (.975) by a second baseman and ranked second with 501 assists.[10] In 1930, Gehringer hit .330 with a .404 on-base percentage and a .534 slugging percentage. He also scored 144 runs (third in the league) and collected 201 hits, 78 extra base hits, 47 doubles (third in the league), 15 triples (5th in the league), and 19 stolen bases (second in the league).[10] In relative terms, 1931 was an "off" year for Gehringer. His consecutive game streak ended in May, and he appeared in only 101 games. He also fell below the .300 mark (batting .298) for the only time between 1926 and 1941. Gehringer still had a fine year by most standards, and ended up No. 17 in the 1931 American League Most Valuable Player voting.[10] In 1932, Gehringer was back at full strength, playing in 152 games and hitting .325 with 112 runs, 107 RBI, and 44 doubles (second best in the league). Not generally known as a power hitter, Gehringer also hit 19 home runs in 1932, seventh best in the American League. At the end of the year, Gehringer was ninth in the league's MVP voting.[10] In 1933, played in all 155 games for the Tigers, batting .330 (fifth best in the American League), and collecting 204 hits (second in the league), 42 doubles (fourth in the league), 105 RBIs, and a career-high 542 assists (best in the league for second basemen). Gehringer was once again among the top vote recipients in the 1933 MVP voting, this time placing sixth.[10] A quiet man Gehringer had a reputation as quiet and unassuming. Player-manager Mickey Cochrane joked that "Charlie says `hello' on Opening Day, `goodbye' on closing day, and in between hits .350."[14] Gehringer acknowledged his quiet demeanor: "I wasn't a rabble rouser. I wasn't a big noisemaker in the infield, which a lot of managers think you've got to be or you're not showing. But I don't think it contributes much." Gehringer also had a sense of humor about his reputation. At a civic banquet in his honor, Gehringer's entire speech consisted of the following: "I'm known around baseball as saying very little, and I'm not going to spoil my reputation." When asked why he signed his name "Chas. Gehringer", he responded: "Why use seven letters when four will do?" On another occasion, when asked about his closed-lip reputation, he responded: "Not true; if somebody asked me a question, I would answer them. If they said, 'Pass the salt,' I would pass the salt." His unassuming nature is also reflected in his reaction to a "Charlie Gehringer Day" held by the Tigers in 1929. Fans from Gehringer's hometown and throughout Detroit filled the stands for a 17–13 win over the Yankees. Gehringer handled 10 chances at second base, had four hits including a home run, and stole home. In a ceremony, the people of Fowlerville presented Gehringer with a set of golf clubs. Though the clubs were right-handed, and Gehringer was left-handed, Gehringer learned to golf right-handed rather than trade for a left-handed set of clubs.[15] Back-to-back pennants (1934 and 1935) In 1934, Gehringer had his best year to date, playing all 154 games and leading the Tigers to their first American League pennant in 25 years. His .356 batting average and .450 on-base percentage were both second best in the league. He led the league with 134 runs scored and 214 hits and tallied 42 doubles (second best in the league) and a career-high 127 RBIs (fifth best in the league).[10] Gehringer finished second in the 1934 American League MVP voting, just two points behind Detroit's player-manager, Mickey Cochrane. The Detroit infield in the mid-1930s was one of the best-hitting combinations in major league history. With Hank Greenberg at first, Gehringer at second, Billy Rogell at shortstop, and Marv Owen at third, the 1934 Tigers infield collected 769 hits (214 by Gehringer, 201 by Greenberg, 179 by Owen and 175 by Rogell), 462 RBI (139 by Greenberg, 127 by Gehringer, 100 by Rogell, and 96 by Owen), and 179 doubles (63 by Greenberg, 50 by Gehringer, 34 by Owen and 32 by Rogell). Three members of the 1934 Tigers infield (Gehringer, Owen and Rogell) played in all 154 games, and the fourth (Greenberg) played in 153. Gehringer's 127 RBIs in 1934 is all the more remarkable given the fact that he played in the same lineup with one of the greatest RBI men of all time, Hank Greenberg. Gehringer later recalled that Greenberg would tell him: "Just get the runner over to third", so Hank could drive them in. Gehringer noted that "Hank loved those RBIs", to the point that Gehringer once kidded Greenberg: "You'd trip a runner coming around third base just so you could knock him in yourself."[16] The 1934 World Series was a match-up between St. Louis's "Gashouse Gang" and Detroit's' "G-Men" (so named because of stars Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, and Goose Goslin). Even 50 years later, Gehringer (interviewed in 1982) felt the Tigers were robbed of the 1934 championship by umpire Brick Owens. Detroit was ahead three games to two, and in Gehringer's view "we should've won the sixth game." Late in the game, Brick Owens called Mickey Cochrane out on a play at third base "even though all of the photographs show that he was safe by a mile." Gehringer insisted that, if Cochrane had been called safe, "we would've had the bases loaded with nobody out and we could've had a big inning."[17] The Tigers wound up losing Game 6 by one run. They then lost Game 7 in an 11–0 shutout thrown by Dizzy Dean, despite a two-for-four game from Gehringer. Gehringer played all seven games of the 1934 World Series, batting .379 with an on-base percentage of .438 and a .517 slugging percentage. In 1935, Gehringer and the Tigers won the World Series, beating the Chicago Cubs, four games to two. It was the Tigers' first World Series win, after failing in the fall classic in four previous appearances. For the year, Gehringer hit .330 with a .409 on-base percentage and a .502 slugging percentage, collecting 201 hits, 123 runs, 108 RBIs, and 19 home runs.[10] Gehringer also continued his consistent hitting into the 1935 World Series, where he played all six games, and hit .375 with a .423 on-base percentage, a .500 slugging percentage and four RBIs.[10] Life in the off-season During the off-season, Gehringer worked as a sales clerk in the downtown Detroit Hudson's. He also spent many years barnstorming with other Major League players. One year, he traveled with a touring group from the Negro leagues, including Satchel Paige, Buck Leonard, Judy Johnson, and Mule Suttles. Gehringer recalled that trying to hit Paige's fastball and hesitation pitch was "no fun." Paige said that Gehringer was the best white hitter he ever pitched against.[18] Peak years (1936 and 1937) Although the 1936 Tigers finished in second place, 19½ games behind the Yankees, the 33-year-old Gehringer had one of his best seasons. He led the majors with 60 doubles, one of only six times in major-league history that a batter has reached the 60-double mark.[19] He led the American League in assists, double plays, and fielding percentage by a second baseman. And he had career highs in hits (227) slugging percentage (.555), runs (144), extra-base hits (87), total bases (356) and runs created (152). He also had a career-low 13 strikeouts in 641 at-bats during the 1936 season. He finished fourth in the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) voting, as Lou Gehrig became the only non-Tiger to win the MVP award from 1934 to 1937. In 1937, Gehringer won the American League batting crown with a career-high .371 batting average, 20 points ahead of second-place Lou Gehrig.[20] He placed second to Gehrig with a .458 on-base percentage, collected 209 hits (his seventh 200-hit season), and scored 133 runs (one of twelve 100-plus run seasons). At the end of the season, he received the American League Most Valuable Player award, receiving six of the eight first-place votes and edging Joe DiMaggio by a total of 78 points to 74 points.[21][22] At a banquet honoring Gehringer in November 1937, Detroit manager Mickey Cochrane said: Gehringer is the ideal player from the managerial standpoint. He comes to training camp in the spring and says 'Hello, Mike, how are you.' Then Charley goes along through the season, bats .350 or better and, after the season, comes around and says -- 'So long Mike, have a good winter.'[23] The "Mechanical Man" Known for his consistency as a hitter and fielder, Gehringer was known as "The Mechanical Man".[19] The earliest known contemporary account referring to Gehringer by the nickname is a May 1936 story crediting Lynwoodd Lary with creating the nickname and saying, "The guy just ain't human; he's a machine."[24] The Brooklyn Daily Eagle at that time noted, "As steady as a turbine, Gehringer comes nearer to mechanical perfection than any infielder since the days of Napoleon Lajoie."[24] Other sources credit New York Yankees pitcher Lefty Gomez with giving him the nickname.[5] According to one source, Gomez said: "You wind him upon in the spring, turn him loose, he hits .330 or .340, and you shut him off at the end of the season."[25] Gehringer was also durable, having compiled two of the longest consecutive game streaks in major-league history — a 511-game streak from September 3, 1927 to May 7, 1931, and a 504-game streak from June 25, 1932, to August 11, 1935.[26] Rogell and Gehringer Gehringer played over 1,000 games with shortstop Billy Rogell, making them one of the longest-tenured double-play combinations in the history of the game. The two twice led the league in double plays. (Another Tiger duo, Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell, holds the major league record with 1,918 games played as a double-play combination.) Rogell's fiery demeanor was a stark contrast to the calm, quiet demeanor of Gehringer. On one occasion, after both failed to cover second on a steal attempt, player-manager Mickey Cochrane charged out from behind the plate shouting at Rogell and Gehringer. As reported in The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract (2001): "Rogell, astonished, looked at Gehringer to see if he was going to say anything. Gehringer, of course, had nothing to say. 'Goddamn you,' yelled Rogell. 'Don't you come charging out here telling me how to play shortstop. You go back there and do the catching, and I'll play shortstop. If I'm not good enough, you can find someone else.' Cochrane went back to his own position." 1938 to 1939 In 1938, Gehringer was selected as the starting second baseman for the American League All-Star team for the sixth consecutive year. He was the only person to play every inning of the first six All-Star games. He batted .500 and did not strike out or commit an error in his six All-Star games. Gehringer hit a career-high 20 home runs in 1938 and again ranked among the American League's leaders with 133 runs scored (third), a .425 on-base percentage (sixth), and 113 bases on balls (fourth).[10] Gehringer finished tenth in the AL MVP voting in 1938.[10] Gehringer had another strong season in 1939. For the sixth time in his career, he led the American League second baseman in fielding percentage (.977), and he ranked among the league leaders in batting with a .325 batting average (ninth in AL), .423 on-base percentage (8th in AL), and .544 slugging percentage (seventh in AL).[10] Back problems (1940 and 1941) Gehringer suffered from chronic back trouble.[27] According to one account, he injured his back while shoveling snow.[28] The trouble was such that there were doubts as to whether he would be able to play at all in 1940. Gehringer later recalled his struggles during the 1940 season: "Anytime I tried to field a ball off to either side I felt I'd collapse. Often I couldn't stoop over to puck up a ball after blocking it. I've had so many heat treatments I feel like a boiled oyster. At times i didnt' think I could move two steps or get the bat off my shoulder."[27] Despite that back pain, Gehringer started 138 games at second base in 1940 and compiled a .313 batting average.[10] The Tigers won the American League pennant in 1940, but lost to the Cincinnati Reds in the 1940 World Series.[29] Gehringer's back problems were such that, by the time of the World Series, he "covered little ground and seldom got the break on the ball."[27] After Game 7, Gehringer announced that he had likely played his final season noting, "Playing ball was torture for me. I was in agony nearly the entire time."[27] During the off-season, Gehringer attempted new treatments, felt better, and returned for the 1941 season.[27][30] He started 115 games at second base and registered a .982 fielding percentage, best in the American League. However, his batting average dropped almost 100 points from .313 in 1940 to .220 in 1941.[10] His defensive prowess also suffered, Detroit sports writer Watson Spoelstra noting in July that "ground balls that once were easy for him are filtering through for base hits."[31] Coach in 1942 Gehringer decided to retire after the 1941 season. In January 1942, he signed a contract to return to the club as a nonplaying coach assigned to coaching infielders and batters.[32][33] In late May 1942, Gehringer was restored to the active list, allowing him to be available for pinch-hitting duty.[34] He appeared in 45 games in 1942, compiling a .267 batting average in 45 at bats. He also played 16 innings at second base without an error.[10] Military service and retirement from baseball Following the United States' entry into World War II, baseball players began to be inducted into the military service. In August 1942, the 39-year-old Gehringer reported for a physical examination at the Navy's procurement headquarters in Detroit.[35] At a ceremony in Detroit on December 1, 1942, he was inducted into the Navy as a lieutenant. At the time, Gehringer told reporters, "I think it may be the end of baseball for me."[36][37] Gehringer was assigned to the Navy's Pre-Flight School at Saint Mary's College of California.[38] He played second base for the St. Mary's Pre-Flight baseball team.[39] He was also the head baseball and soccer coach at the St. Mary's Pre-Flight School.[40] Gehringer was later transferred to the Navy's Pre-Flight School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and in February 1945 to Jacksonville, Florida.[40] In 1945, he led the Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers baseball team to a 24-5 record and compiled a .438 batting average.[41] Gehringer was discharged from the Navy on November 7, 1945, with the rank of lieutenant commander. Upon his release, he was 42 years old and announced his retirement from baseball and his intention to return to work at Gehringer & Forsyth, a manufacturers' agency he formed in 1938 with a friend.[42] He confirmed his retirement at Briggs Stadium in January 1946, signing his "Application for Voluntary Retirement from Organized Baseball".[43] Gehringer later recalled, "I came out of the service in such good shape that I felt I could've played a few years."[44] Family and later years Relationship with mother Gehringer's father died in July 1924. Upon his father's death, Gehringer moved his mother from the family farm outside Fowlerville, Michigan, to live with him in Detroit.[15] Gehringer noted that his mother was a "great fan" who would either come out to the ballpark to watch him play or listen to Harry Heilmann's radio broadcasts on the porch.[15] His mother died in July 1946.[45] Wedding and Hall of Fame In the regular voting in 1949 for the Baseball Hall of Fame, Gehringer finished in first place with 102 out of 153 votes, but it fell short of the required 75 percent. The baseball writers decided to conduct a run-off election in May 1949.[46] Gehringer was selected by 159 of the 187 writers (85%) in the runoff voting, qualifying him for the Hall of Fame.[47] Gehringer did not attend the induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, as it was held five days before his wedding. He was married in June 1949 to Josephine Stillen, a secretary at the Nash-Kelvinator Corp. The ceremony was held in Santa Clara, California.[48][49] The couple remained married until Gehringer's death more than four decades later.[50][51] Tigers' general manager Gehringer as Detroit Tigers vice-president (1957) In July 1951, Gehringer was hired as the Tigers' vice president and general manager, effective after the 1951 season.[52] In his first year as general manager, the 1952 Detroit Tigers finished in last place (50–104 record) for the first time in club history. Although manager Red Rolfe die not survive the disappointing season, having been fired in July, the club's board of directors in September 1952 gave Gehringer a unanimous vote of confidence.[53] The 1953 team improved only marginally, finishing with a 60–94 record, 40½ games behind the New York Yankees. After another disappointing season, Gehringer was replaced as general manager in October 1953.[54] Although the team's on-field performance was poor during Gehringer's time as general manager, Lyall Smith of the Detroit Free Press praised Gehringer for his trades that helped rebuild the club and brought 21 players to the team, including Walt Dropo, Fred Hatfield, Johnny Pesky, Ned Garver, Jim Delsing, Ray Boone, and Steve Gromek.[55] Gehringer later described his time as general manager as a "nightmare." As he put it: "We had a lousy ball club, and I'd been away from baseball at that time for ten years. I didn't know who was and who wasn't."[15] Gehringer remained a vice president with the Tigers during parts of the 1950s. He was the first Detroit official to scout Al Kaline. After watching Kaline in a high-school all-star game, Geringer returned to Detroit "raving about the kid" and assigned scout Al Katalinas to continue watching him.[56] Gehringer returned to the Tigers in 1963 as a fielding instructor to the team's young second baseman Dick McAuliffe and as a batting instructor.[57] Later years and honors After his playing career ended, Gehringer returned to Gehringer & Forsyth,[58][59] a manufacturer's agent for companies making automobile interior furnishings, including Burlington Automotive Fabrics,[60] Barform carpets,[61] and Cadillac Rubber & Plastics.[62] In 1967, the company built the three-story, contemporary Gehringer & Forsyth building on Woodward Avenue north of Long Lake Road in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.[63] Gehringer also served as a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame's Committee on Baseball Veterans from 1953 to 1990. He also served on the Hall of Fame's board of directors until 1991.[64] At a June 1983 ceremony in Tiger Stadium, the Tigers retired uniform numbers 2 and 5, worn for many years by teammates Gehringer and Hank Greenberg respectively. Both players attended the ceremony.[65] At age 82, Gehringer served as the American League honorary captain at the 1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas.[25] Gehringer suffered from a stroke in December 1992 and died the following month at age 89 at a nursing home in Bloomfield Hills.[66][67] Posthumous honors In 1999, Gehringer ranked Number 46 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players,[68] and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Also in 1999, Sports Illustrated published a list of "The 50 Greatest Sports Figures from Michigan" (in all sports), and ranked Gehringer third on the list behind Joe Louis and Magic Johnson.[69] In 2013, the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award honored Gehringer as one of 37 Baseball Hall of Fame members for his service in the United States Navy during World War II.[70] See also Biography portal icon Baseball portal List of Major League Baseball batting champions List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit as a member of the minor league Western League in 1894 and is the only Western League team still in its original city. They are also the oldest continuous one name, one city franchise in the AL.[6] Since their establishment as a major league franchise in 1901, the Tigers have won four World Series championships (1935, 1945, 1968, and 1984), 11 AL pennants (1907, 1908, 1909, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1968, 1984, 2006, 2012), and four AL Central division championships (2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014). They also won division titles in 1972, 1984, and 1987 as a member of the AL East. Since 2000, the Tigers have played their home games at Comerica Park in Downtown Detroit. The Tigers constructed Bennett Park at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Trumbull Avenue in Corktown just west of Downtown Detroit and began playing there in 1896. In 1912, the team moved into Navin Field, which was built on the same location. It was expanded in 1938 and renamed Briggs Stadium. It was renamed Tiger Stadium in 1961 and the Tigers played there until 1999. From 1901 to 2023, the Tigers' overall win–loss record is 9,590–9,491 (.503).[7] The franchise's best winning percentage was .656 in 1934, while its worst was .265 in 2003. Franchise history Main article: History of the Detroit Tigers Western League beginnings (1894–1900) 1900 Detroit Tigers team photo The franchise was founded as a member of the reorganized Western League in 1894.[8] They originally played at Boulevard Park, sometimes called League Park. It was located on East Lafayette, then called Champlain Street, between Helen and East Grand Boulevard, near Belle Isle.[9] In 1895, owner George Vanderbeck decided to build Bennett Park at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues, which would remain the team's base of operations for the next 104 seasons.[10][11] The first game at The Corner was an exhibition on April 13, 1896. The team, now occasionally called the "Tigers," beat a local semi-pro team, known as the Athletics, by a score of 30–3.[10][11] The Tigers played their first Western League game at Bennett Park on April 28, 1896, defeating the Columbus Senators 17–2.[10][11] At the end of the 1897 season, Rube Waddell was loaned to the team to gain professional experience. After being fined, Waddell left Detroit to pitch in Canada.[12] When the Western League renamed itself the American League for 1900, it was still a minor league, but the next year, it broke from the National Agreement and declared itself a major league, openly competing with the National League for players and for fans in four contested cities.[13][14][15] For a while, there were rumors of the team relocating to Pittsburgh. However, these rumors were put to rest when the two leagues made peace in 1903 when they signed a new National Agreement.[16] First Major League season (1901) Logo (1901 to 1902) The Tigers were established as a charter member of the now major league American League in 1901.[17] They played their first game as a major league team at home against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 25, 1901, with an estimated 10,000 fans at Bennett Park.[14][18] After entering the ninth inning behind 13–4, the team staged a dramatic comeback to win 14–13.[18] The team finished third in the eight-team league.[19] That initial season they were the first major league team to have a mascot—a red tiger on a dark background—on their ballcap. It was replaced by the letter "D" in 1903, and their iconic Olde English-style letterform appeared the following year.[20] The Cobb era (1905–1926) 1905 Ty Cobb in 1913 In 1905, the team acquired 18-year-old Ty Cobb, a fearless player who came to be regarded as one of the greatest players 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.[21] 1907 American League Champions Main article: 1907 Detroit Tigers season Behind the hitting of outfielders Ty Cobb (.350) and Sam Crawford (.323), and the pitching of Bill Donovan and Ed Killian (25 wins each), the Tigers went 92–58 to win the AL pennant in 1907 by 1.5 games over the Philadelphia Athletics.[22][23] They moved on to their first World Series appearance against the Chicago Cubs.[24][25] Game 1 ended in a rare 3–3 tie, called due to darkness after 12 innings.[24][25] The Tigers scored only three runs in the succeeding four games, never scoring more than one run in a game, and lost the Series, 4–0.[24] 1908 American League Champions Main article: 1908 Detroit Tigers season 1908 World Series program The Tigers won the AL by just a half-game over the 90–64 Cleveland Naps with a 90–63 record.[26] Cobb hit .324, while Sam Crawford hit .311 with 7 home runs, which was enough to lead the league in the "dead ball" era.[27] The Cubs, however, would defeat the Tigers again in the 1908 World Series, this time in five games.[28] This would be the Cubs' last World Championship until 2016.[29] 1909 American League Champions Main article: 1909 Detroit Tigers season In 1909, Detroit posted a 98–54 season, winning the AL pennant by 3.5 games over the Athletics.[30] Ty Cobb won the batting triple crown in 1909, hitting .377 with 9 home runs (all inside-the-park) and 107 RBIs.[31][32] He also led the league with 76 stolen bases.[32] George Mullin was the pitching hero, going 29–8 with a 2.22 ERA, while fellow pitcher Ed Willett went 21–10.[33] Mullin's 11–0 start in 1909 was a Tigers record for 104 years, finally being broken by Max Scherzer's 13–0 start in 2013.[34][35][36] It was hoped that a new opponent in the 1909 Series, the Pittsburgh Pirates, would yield different results. The Tigers performed better in the Fall Classic, taking Pittsburgh to seven games, but they were blown out 8–0 in the decisive game at Bennett Park.[37] 1910–1914 The Tigers dropped to third place in the American League in 1910 with an 86–68 record.[38] They posted 89 wins in 1911 to finish second, but were still well behind a powerhouse Philadelphia Athletics team that won 101 games.[39] The team sunk to a dismal sixth place in both the 1912 and 1913 seasons.[40][41] A bright spot in 1912 was George Mullin pitching the franchise's first no-hitter in a 7–0 win over the St. Louis Browns on July 4, his 32nd birthday.[42] Cobb went into the stands in a May 15, 1912, game to attack a fan that was abusing him, and was suspended. Three days later, the Tigers protested the suspension by fielding a team of replacement players against the Philadelphia Athletics. They lost 24–2.[43] During this five-season stretch, Cobb posted batting averages of .383, .420, .409, .390 and .368, winning the AL batting title every year.[44] 1915 Main article: 1915 Detroit Tigers season In 1915, the Tigers won a then-club record 100 games, but narrowly lost the AL pennant to the Boston Red Sox, who won 101 games.[45] The 1915 Tigers were led by an outfield consisting of Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, and Bobby Veach that finished #1, #2, and #3 in RBIs and total bases.[46] Cobb also set a stolen base record with 96 steals in 1915 that stood until 1962, when it was broken by Maury Wills.[47] Baseball historian Bill James has ranked the 1915 Tigers outfield as the greatest in the history of baseball.[46] The only team in Tigers' history with a better winning percentage than the 1915 squad was the 1934 team that lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals.[48] 1916–1920 The Tigers dropped to third place in 1916 with an 87–67 record, and would remain mired in the middle of the AL standings the rest of the decade, never winning more than 80 games.[49][50][51][52][53] In the late teens and into the 1920s, Cobb continued to be the marquee player, though he was pushed by budding star outfielder Harry Heilmann, who went on to hit .342 for his career.[54] Hughie Jennings left the Tigers after the 1920 season, having accumulated 1,131 wins as a manager.[55] This stood as a Tiger record until 1992, when it was broken by Sparky Anderson.[56] Cobb himself took over managerial duties in 1921, but during his six years at the helm, the Tigers topped out at 86 wins and never won a pennant.[57][58][59] 1921 Main article: 1921 Detroit Tigers season In 1921, the Tigers amassed 1,724 hits and a team batting average of .316, the highest team hit total and batting average in AL history.[60] That year, outfielders Harry Heilmann and Ty Cobb finished #1 and #2 in the American League batting race with batting averages of .394 and .389, respectively.[61] The downfall of the 1921 Tigers, however, was the absence of good pitching. The team ERA was 4.40.[62] Without pitching to support the offense, the 1921 Tigers finished in sixth place in the American League at 71–82, 27 games behind the New York Yankees.[63] On August 19, 1921, Cobb collected his 3,000th career hit off Elmer Myers of the Boston Red Sox. Aged 34 at the time, he is still the youngest player to reach that milestone, also reaching it in the fewest at-bats (8,093).[64][65] 1922–1926 The Tigers continued to field good teams during Ty Cobb's tenure as player-manager, finishing as high as second in 1923, but lack of quality pitching kept them from winning a pennant.[58][66] Harry Heilmann hit .403 in 1923, becoming the last AL player to top .400 until Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941.[67] In 1925, Heilmann collected six hits in a season-ending doubleheader to win the batting title, finishing at .393 to Tris Speaker's .389.[68][69] Cobb announced his retirement in November 1926 after 22 seasons with the Tigers, though he would return to play two more seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics.[57][58] The Tigers break through (1927–1940) Hank Greenberg 1927–1933 Though the Tigers struggled with mediocre records in the seven years following Cobb's departure, they were building a solid foundation, adding slugging first baseman Hank Greenberg and pitchers Tommy Bridges and Schoolboy Rowe to a lineup that already included second baseman Charlie Gehringer.[70] In 1927, Harry Heilmann flirted with a .400 batting average all year, eventually finishing at .398 and winning his fourth AL batting title.[71] Following the 1933 season, the Tigers added perhaps the final piece of the puzzle, acquiring catcher Mickey Cochrane from the Philadelphia Athletics to serve as player-manager.[70] 1934 American League Champions Main article: 1934 Detroit Tigers season The Tigers won the 1934 AL pennant with a 101–53 record, at the time a team record for wins, and still the best win percentage (.656) in team history.[48] The Tigers infield (Hank Greenberg and Charlie Gehringer, along with shortstop Billy Rogell and third baseman Marv Owen) accumulated 462 runs during the season, with Gehringer (214 hits, .356 average) leading the way.[72][73] Schoolboy Rowe led a strong pitching staff, winning 16 straight decisions at one point of the season and finishing with a 24–8 record.[74] The Tigers would fall in the 1934 World Series in seven games to the "Gashouse Gang" St. Louis Cardinals.[70][75] After winning a tight battle in Game 5 with a 3–1 decision over Dizzy Dean, Detroit took a 3–2 series lead, but would lose the next two games at Navin Field (Tiger Stadium).[75] For the second time in a World Series Game 7, Detroit folded. St. Louis scored seven times in the third inning off starter Elden Auker and a pair of relievers, while Dean baffled the Tiger hitters en route to an 11–0 victory.[70][75][76][77] The final game was marred by an ugly incident. After spiking Tigers third baseman Marv Owen in the sixth inning, Cardinals left fielder Joe Medwick had to be removed from the game for his own safety by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis after being pelted with debris from angry fans in the large temporary bleacher section in left field.[70][75][76] 1935 World Series Champions Main article: 1935 Detroit Tigers season The Tigers 1935 lineup featured four future Hall of Famers (Hank Greenberg, Mickey Cochrane, Goose Goslin and Charlie Gehringer).[78] Although they did not challenge the 1934 team's 101 wins, their 93–58 record was good enough to give them the AL pennant by three games over the New York Yankees.[79] Greenberg was named AL MVP after hitting .328 and leading the league in home runs (36), extra-base hits (98) and RBIs (168).[80][81] Incredibly, Greenberg's RBI total was 48 higher than the next closest player (Lou Gehrig, with 120).[81] The Tigers also got strong contributions from Gehringer (.330), Cochrane (.319) and starting pitchers Tommy Bridges (21–10) and Elden Auker (18–7).[82] The Tigers finally won their first World Series, defeating the Chicago Cubs, 4–2. Game 6 concluded with Goslin's dramatic walk-off RBI single, scoring Cochrane for a 4–3 victory.[70] After owner Frank Navin died in the offseason, Walter Briggs Sr. took over control of the team.[83][84] 1936–1939 Despite being forecast to win the American League pennant again in 1936,[85] the Tigers fell to a distant second place behind the New York Yankees both that season and in 1937.[86][87] The team fell further down the standings with an 84–70 record in 1938 and an 81–73 record in 1939.[88][89] Hank Greenberg nevertheless provided some excitement for Tigers fans in 1938 by challenging the single-season home run record held by Babe Ruth (60). He went into the season's final weekend against the Cleveland Indians with 58 home runs, tied with Jimmie Foxx for the most by a right-handed batter at the time, but he failed to homer.[90][91][92] During the final week of the 1938 season, the Tigers presciently held out doubts about a pennant in 1939, but figured that 1940 would be their year.[93] 1940 American League Champions Main article: 1940 Detroit Tigers season In a tight three-team race, the 90–64 Tigers won the 1940 AL pennant by one game over the Cleveland Indians and two games over the New York Yankees.[94] Prior to the season, first baseman Hank Greenberg was persuaded to move to left field to make room for Rudy York, whom the Tigers had deemed no longer suitable to be their catcher.[95] The move proved successful. York hit .316 with 33 home runs and 134 RBIs. Greenberg batted .340 and slammed 41 home runs while driving in 150.[96] Greenberg won his second AL MVP award, becoming the first major leaguer to win the award at two different positions.[95] Charlie Gehringer batted .313 while collecting 101 walks (for a .428 on-base percentage) and scoring 108 runs.[96] Bobo Newsom was the ace of the Tiger pitching staff in 1940, going 21–5 with a 2.83 ERA.[96] An unlikely hero on the mound this season was 30-year-old rookie Floyd Giebell. Making just his third major league start on September 27, Giebell was called upon to pitch the pennant-clinching game against Bob Feller of the Indians. Feller surrendered just three hits, one being a 2-run homer by Rudy York, while Giebell blanked the Tribe for a 2–0 victory.[97][98] The Tigers lost the 1940 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in seven games.[99][100] Despite a heroic effort by Bobo Newsom, the Tigers came up short in the deciding game, losing 2–1.[99][100] Newsom's father had died in a Cincinnati hotel room after watching his son win Game 1.[99][100] An inspired Newsom won Game 5 and pitched Game 7 on just one day's rest.[99][100] This was the third time the Tigers had lost a World Series in a deciding seventh game.[100] The war years (1941–1945) Hal Newhouser With Hank Greenberg serving in World War II for all or parts of the 1941–1944 seasons, the Tigers struggled to recapture the glory of 1940.[101] They finished no higher than fifth place in 1941–1943, but did manage a second-place finish in 1944, largely on the strength of pitchers Hal Newhouser and Dizzy Trout, who won 29 and 27 games, respectively.[102][103][104][105][106] Newhouser, who was 29–9 with a 2.22 ERA, won the first of his two consecutive AL MVP awards this season.[106][107] The Tigers were in first place as late as September 18, but would finish one game behind the St. Louis Browns for the AL pennant.[105][108] 1945 World Series Champions Main article: 1945 Detroit Tigers season With the end of World War II and the timely return of Hank Greenberg and others from the military, the Tigers won the AL pennant by just 1.5 games over the Washington Senators with an 88–65 record.[109][110] Virgil Trucks returned from the U.S. Navy in time to pitch 5+1⁄3 innings of 1-run ball in the pennant-clinching game, with starter Hal Newhouser pitching the final 3+2⁄3 innings in relief. Newhouser won the pitching triple crown, leading the AL in wins (25), ERA (1.81) and strikeouts (212).[111] He became the first pitcher in the history of the AL, and still the only pitcher as of 2022, to win the MVP Award in two consecutive seasons.[112] With Newhouser, Trucks and Dizzy Trout on the mound and Greenberg leading the offense, Detroit responded in a World Series Game 7 for the first time, staking Newhouser to a 5–0 lead before he threw a pitch en route to a 9–3 victory over the Cubs.[113][114] Because many stars had not yet returned from the military, some baseball scholars have deemed the 1945 World Series to be among the worst-played contests in World Series history. For example, prior to the World Series, Chicago sportswriter Warren Brown was asked who he liked, and he answered, "I don't think either one of them can win."[115] A long drought (1946–1967) 1946–1950 Following their World Series win in 1945, the Tigers continued to have winning records for the remainder of the decade, finishing second in the AL three times, but never winning the pennant.[116][117][118][119][120] Hal Newhouser had another outstanding season in 1946, again leading the league in wins (26) and ERA (1.94) while striking out a career-high 275 batters. He nearly won his third straight AL MVP award, finishing second to Ted Williams, who had led the Boston Red Sox to 104 wins (12 games ahead of the second-place Tigers). Also in 1946, the Tigers acquired George Kell, a third baseman who would become a 10-time all-star and Hall of Famer.[121][122] He batted over .300 in eight straight seasons (1946–53), and finished with a career .306 average.[121][122] Kell won the batting title in a very close race with Ted Williams in 1949, going 2-for-3 on the last day of the season to edge out the Red Sox slugger, .34291 to .34276.[121][122][123] The 1950 season was particularly frustrating, as the Tigers posted a 95–59 record for a .617 winning percentage, the fourth-best in team history at the time. However, they finished that season three games behind a strong New York Yankees team that went on to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.[120][124] 1951–1960 Over the next 10 years, the Tigers sank to the middle and lower ranks of the American League. The team had only three winning records over this span and never finished higher than fourth place.[125][126][127][128][129][130][131][132][133][134] The last place 1952 team went 50–104 (.325), which was the worst season in Tigers history until the 2003 team lost 119 games.[135][136] Despite the dismal season, starter Virgil Trucks threw two no-hitters in 1952, becoming only the third pitcher in major league history to accomplish this feat.[137] 1952 also saw Tiger first baseman Walt Dropo get a hit in 12 consecutive plate appearances over a three-game stretch from July 14 to July 15, tying a major league record set by Johnny Kling in 1902.[138] Team owner Walter Briggs Sr. died in 1952. His son Walter Briggs Jr. inherited the team, but he was forced to sell it in 1956 to broadcast media owners John Fetzer and Fred Knorr.[139][140][141] Notwithstanding Detroit's fall in the standings, the decade saw the debut of outfielder Al Kaline in 1953. One of the few major league players who never played a day in the minor leagues, he would hit over .300 nine times in his career. He also made 15 All-Star teams, won 10 Gold Gloves, and featured one of the league's best arms in right field. In 1955, the 20-year-old Kaline hit .340 to become the youngest-ever batting champion in major league history.[142] 1958 saw the Tigers become the second to last team to integrate their roster when Dominican player Ozzie Virgil Sr. joined the team. Only the Boston Red Sox trailed the Tigers in integrating their roster.[143][144] 1961 Main article: 1961 Detroit Tigers season As the American League expanded from 8 to 10 teams, Detroit began its slow ascent back to success with an outstanding 1961 campaign. The Tigers led the majors in runs scored and won 101 games, a whopping 30-game improvement over the 71–83 1960 team, but still finished eight games behind the Yankees.[145] This marked one of the few times in major league history that a team failed to reach the postseason despite winning 100 or more games, though it had happened once before to the Tigers in 1915.[145] First baseman Norm Cash won the batting title with a .361 average, while teammate Al Kaline finished second.[145][146] Cash never hit over .286 before or after the 1961 season, and would later say of the accomplishment: "It was a freak. Even at the time, I realized that."[147] Cash's plate heroics, which also included 41 home runs and 132 RBI, might have earned him MVP honors were it not for New York's Roger Maris bashing a then record 61 homers the same season.[145] Cash also drew 124 walks for a league-leading .487 on-base percentage.[146] Tigers outfielder Rocky Colavito actually bettered Cash's home run and RBI totals, with 45 and 140, respectively.[148] The 1961 club featured two non-white starters, Bill Bruton and Jake Wood, and later in the 1960s, black players such as Willie Horton, Earl Wilson, and Gates Brown would contribute to Detroit's rise in the standings.[149][150][151][152][153] 1962–1966 Hall of Fame member Al Kaline, nicknamed "Mr. Tiger" (1953–1974), was an 18× All-Star As a strong nucleus developed, Detroit repeatedly posted winning records throughout the 1960s. In 1963, pitchers Mickey Lolich and Denny McLain entered the rotation.[154][155] Outfielders Willie Horton (1963), Mickey Stanley (1964) and Jim Northrup (1964) would also come aboard around this time.[151][156][157] The team managed a third-place finish during a bizarre 1966 season, in which manager Chuck Dressen and acting manager Bob Swift were both forced to resign their posts because of health problems.[158][159][160] Thereafter, Frank Skaff took over the managerial reins until the end of the season.[161] Both Dressen and Swift died during the year; Dressen died of a heart attack in August, while Swift died of lung cancer in October.[159][160] Following the season, the Tigers hired Mayo Smith to be their new manager.[162] 1967 Main article: 1967 Detroit Tigers season In 1967, the Tigers were involved in one of the closest pennant races in history. Because of rainouts, the Tigers were forced to play back-to-back doubleheaders against the California Angels over the final two days of the season.[163][164] They needed to sweep the doubleheader on the last day of the season to force a one-game playoff with the Boston Red Sox.[163][164] The Tigers won the first game, but lost the second, giving the Red Sox the pennant with no playoff.[163][164] Detroit finished the season at 91–71, one game behind Boston.[165] Starter Earl Wilson, acquired the previous season from the Red Sox, led the Tigers (and the major leagues) with 22 wins and would form a strong 1–2–3 combination with Denny McLain and Mickey Lolich over the next few years.[152][166] 1968–1972 Glory in '68: 1968 World Series Champions Main article: 1968 Detroit Tigers season The Tigers finally returned to the World Series in 1968. The team grabbed first place from the Baltimore Orioles on May 10 and would not relinquish the position, clinching the pennant on September 17 and finishing with a 103–59 record.[167] In a year that was marked by dominant pitching, starter Denny McLain went 31–6 (with a 1.96 ERA), the first time a pitcher had won 30 or more games in a season since Dizzy Dean accomplished the feat in 1934; no pitcher has accomplished it since.[168] McLain won the AL MVP and Cy Young Award for his efforts.[169][170] 1968 World Series Main article: 1968 World Series 1968 World Series program and tickets for Games 4 and 5 at Tiger Stadium In the 1968 World Series, the Tigers met the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, led by starter Bob Gibson, who had posted a modern-era record 1.12 ERA during the regular season, and speedy outfielder Lou Brock.[168][171][172] This was the first time the Tigers and Cardinals had met in the World Series since 1934.[173] The series was predicated with a bold decision by manager Mayo Smith to play center fielder Mickey Stanley at shortstop, replacing the slick fielding but weak hitting of Ray Oyler.[174][175] Stanley had never played shortstop before, but was a Gold Glover in the outfield and an excellent athlete.[174] Smith played him at short for the final nine games of the regular season and all seven World Series games, with Oyler only appearing as a late-inning defensive replacement.[174][175] This allowed Smith to play an outfield of Willie Horton, Jim Northrup and Al Kaline in every game.[174][175] In Game 1, Gibson completely shut down the Detroit lineup, striking out a World Series record 17 batters en route to an easy 4–0 win.[176][177] However, due in no small part to pitcher Mickey Lolich's victories in Games 2 and 5, the Tigers climbed back into the World Series.[178] Many fans believe the turning point came in the fifth inning of Game 5, with the Tigers down three games to one, and trailing in the game, 3–2. Left fielder Willie Horton made a perfect throw to home plate to nail Lou Brock, who tried to score from second base standing up, as catcher Bill Freehan blocked the plate with his foot.[178][179] The Tigers came back with three runs in the seventh to win that game, 5–3, and stay alive.[178][179] The Cardinals would not threaten to score the rest of this game, and scored only two more meaningless runs over the remainder of the series. In Game 6, McLain ensured a Game 7 by notching his only win of the World Series, a 13–1 blowout, despite pitching on only two days' rest.[178] Mickey Lolich was the 1968 World Series MVP In Game 7 at Busch Memorial Stadium, Lolich, also pitching on two days' rest, faced Gibson.[173] Both men pitched brilliantly, putting zeros up on the scoreboard for much of the game.[173] In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cardinals looked primed to take the lead as Lou Brock singled to lead off the inning, only to be promptly picked off by Lolich.[173] One out later, Curt Flood followed with another single, and was also picked off by Lolich.[173] In the top of the seventh, an exhausted Gibson finally cracked, giving up two-out singles to Norm Cash and Willie Horton.[173] Jim Northrup then struck the decisive blow, lashing a triple to center field over the head of Flood, who appeared to misjudge how hard the ball was hit.[173] That scored both Cash and Horton; Northrup himself was then brought home by a Bill Freehan double.[173] Detroit added an insurance run in the ninth.[173] A ninth-inning solo home run by Mike Shannon was all the Cardinals could muster against Lolich as the Tigers took the game, 4–1, and the World Series, 4–3.[173][178] The Tigers became only the third team to ever win the World Series after being down 3–1.[173] For his three victories that propelled the Tigers to the championship, Lolich was named the World Series Most Valuable Player.[173][178] As of 2023, Lolich is the last pitcher to have three complete-game victories in a single World Series.[154][173] 1969–1971 1969 saw further expansion as both leagues realigned into two divisions of six teams, and the Tigers were placed in the American League East.[180][181] That year, Detroit failed to defend its title, despite Denny McLain having another outstanding season with a 24–9 campaign, earning him his second straight Cy Young Award (co-winner with Baltimore's Mike Cuellar).[182] The Tigers' 90 wins placed them a distant second in the division to a very strong Baltimore Orioles team, which had won 109 games.[181][183] The Tigers suffered a disappointing 1970 season, finishing fourth in the AL East with a 79–83 record.[184] Following the season, Mayo Smith was let go and was replaced by Billy Martin.[185][186][187] In a playing career that was primarily spent with the New York Yankees, Martin played his final games with the Minnesota Twins and stayed in that organization after his retirement.[187] He managed the Twins to an AL West Division title in 1969, but was fired after that season due to rocky relationships with his players, which included a legendary fight with pitcher Dave Boswell in an alley behind Detroit's Lindell AC sports bar.[187][188] Also during the offseason, Denny McLain, who had been suspended three times and had a 3–5 record, was part of an eight-player deal with the Washington Senators in what would turn out to be a heist for Detroit.[189][190][191][192] The Tigers acquired pitcher Joe Coleman, shortstop Eddie Brinkman and third baseman Aurelio Rodríguez.[189][191][192] Martin's Tigers posted 91 wins in 1971. However, they had to settle for a second-place finish behind the Orioles, who won 101 games to take their third straight AL East Division crown.[193] The season was highlighted by Mickey Lolich's 308 strikeouts, which led the AL and is still the single-season record in franchise history.[154] Lolich also won 25 games and posted a 2.92 ERA while throwing an incredible 376 innings and completing 29 of his 45 starts.[194][195] Coleman paid immediate dividends for Detroit, winning 20 games,[194] while McLain went 10–22 for the Senators and was out of baseball by the following season.[190][191][196] 1972 AL East Champions Main article: 1972 Detroit Tigers season Joe Coleman, Eddie Brinkman and Aurelio Rodríguez all played critical roles in 1972, when the Tigers captured their first AL East division title.[191][197] Oddities of the schedule due to an early season strike allowed the 86–70 Tigers to win the division by just 1⁄2 game.[197][198] Brinkman was named Tiger of the Year by the Detroit Baseball Writers, despite a .203 batting average, as he committed just 7 errors in 728 chances (.990 fielding percentage). He also had a streak of 72 games and 331 chances without an error during the season, both AL records for a shortstop.[199] Mickey Lolich was his steady self for the Tigers, winning 22 games with a sparkling 2.50 ERA, while Coleman won 19 and had a 2.80 ERA.[198] Starter Woodie Fryman, acquired on August 2, was the final piece of the puzzle as he went 10–3 over the last two months of the regular season and posted a minuscule 2.06 ERA.[200] Fryman was also the winning pitcher in the division-clinching game against the Boston Red Sox, a 3–1 victory on October 3.[200][201] 1972 ALCS Main article: 1972 American League Championship Series In the 1972 American League Championship Series, Detroit faced the American League West division champion Oakland Athletics, who had become steadily competitive ever since the 1969 realignment.[202] In Game 1 of the ALCS in Oakland, Mickey Lolich, the hero of '68, took the hill and allowed just one run over nine innings. The Athletics' ace, Catfish Hunter, matched Lolich, surrendering only a solo home run to Norm Cash, and the game went into extra innings.[202] Al Kaline hit a solo homer to break a 1–1 tie in the top of the 11th inning, only to be charged with a throwing error on Gonzalo Márquez's game-tying single in the bottom half of the frame that allowed Gene Tenace to score the winning run.[202] Blue Moon Odom shut down Detroit 5–0 in Game 2.[202] The end of Game 2 was marred by an ugly incident in which Tigers reliever Lerrin LaGrow hit A's shortstop and leadoff hitter Bert Campaneris on the ankle with a pitch. An angered Campaneris threw the bat at LaGrow, and LaGrow ducked just in time for the bat to sail over his head. Both benches cleared, and though no punches were thrown, both LaGrow and Campaneris were suspended for the remainder of the series. It was widely believed that Martin had ordered the pitch that hit Campaneris, who had three hits, two stolen bases and two runs scored in the game.[202][203] As the series shifted to Detroit, the Tigers caught their stride. Joe Coleman held the A's scoreless on seven hits in Game 3, striking out 14 batters in a 3–0 victory for the Tigers.[202][204] Game 4 was another pitchers' duel between Hunter and Lolich, resulting again in a 1–1 tie at the end of nine innings. Oakland scored two runs in the top of the 10th and put the Tigers down to their last three outs.[202] Detroit pushed two runs across the plate to tie the game before Jim Northrup came through in the clutch again. His single off Dave Hamilton scored Gates Brown to give the Tigers a 4–3 win and even the series at two games apiece.[202] A first-inning run on an RBI ground out from Bill Freehan, set up by a Gene Tenace passed ball that allowed Dick McAuliffe to reach third, gave Detroit an early lead in the deciding fifth and final game in Detroit.[202] Reggie Jackson's steal of home in the second inning tied it up, though Jackson was injured in a collision with Freehan and had to leave the game.[202] Tenace's two-out single to left field plated George Hendrick to give Oakland a 2–1 lead in the fourth inning. The run was controversial to many Tigers fans, as Hendrick was ruled safe at first base two batters prior to the Tenace hit. Hendrick appeared to be out by two steps on a grounder to short, but umpire John Rice ruled that Norm Cash pulled his foot off first base. Replays and photos, however, show that Cash did not pull his foot.[157][202] Thanks to that play and four innings of scoreless relief from Vida Blue, the A's took the AL pennant and a spot in the World Series.[202] A slow decline (1973–1978) Willie Horton (1963–1977) had his No. 23 retired by the club The 1973 season saw the Tigers drop to third place in the division, with an 85–77 record.[205] Joe Coleman posted another 23 wins, but the other Tiger starters had subpar seasons.[206] Willie Horton hit .316, but injuries limited him to just 111 games.[151] Jim Northrup posted the best batting average of his career (.307) but was inexplicably limited to part-time duty (119 games played), which Northrup attributed to an ongoing feud with Billy Martin that had actually started in the 1972 ALCS. Northrup even proclaimed to the press that Martin "took the fun out of the game."[157] Martin did not survive the 1973 season as manager. He was fired that September after ordering his pitchers to throw spitballs (and telling the press that he did so) in protest of opposing Cleveland Indians pitcher Gaylord Perry, whom Martin was convinced was doing the same.[187][207] Third base coach Joe Schultz served as interim manager for the remainder of the season.[207] A bright spot for the Tigers in 1973 was relief pitcher John Hiller, who marked his first full season since suffering a heart attack in 1971 by collecting a league-leading 38 saves and posting a brilliant 1.44 ERA.[208] Hiller's saves total would stand as a Tiger record until 2000, when it was broken by Todd Jones' 42 saves (Jones' record would later be broken by José Valverde's 49 saves in 2011).[208][209][210] After the season, the Tigers hired Ralph Houk to be their new manager. Houk served in that capacity for five full seasons, through the end of the 1978 season.[211] The roster of players who played under Houk were mostly aging veterans from the 1960s, whose performance had slipped from their peak years.[212] The Tigers did not have a winning season from 1974 to 1977, and their 57 wins in the 1975 season was the team's lowest since 1952.[213][214][215][216] Perhaps the biggest signal of decline for the Tigers was the retirement of Kaline following the 1974 season, after he notched his 3,000th career hit.[217][218] Kaline finished with 3,007 hits and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1980.[219][220] 1976: The Year of The Bird Mark "The Bird" Fidrych, 1976 AL Rookie of the Year Main article: 1976 Detroit Tigers season Tiger fans were provided a glimmer of hope when 21-year-old rookie Mark Fidrych made his debut in 1976.[221] Fidrych, known as "The Bird", was a colorful character known for talking to the baseball and other eccentricities.[221] During a game against the Yankees, Graig Nettles responded to Fidrych's antics by talking to his bat. After making an out, he later lamented that his Japanese-made bat did not understand him.[222] Fidrych entered the All-Star break at 9–2 with a 1.78 ERA, and was the starting pitcher for the American League in the All-Star Game played that year in Philadelphia to celebrate the American Bicentennial.[221] He finished the season with a record of 19–9 and an American League-leading ERA of 2.34.[221] Fidrych, the AL Rookie of the Year, was one of the few bright spots that year with the Tigers finishing next to last in the AL East in 1976.[215][221] Aurelio Rodríguez won the Gold Glove Award in 1976 at third base, snapping a streak in which Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson had won it for 16 consecutive seasons.[223] 1977–1978 Injuries to his knee, and later his arm, drastically limited Fidrych's appearances in 1977–78.[221] Perhaps more important, however, was the talent coming up through the Tigers farm system at the time. Jack Morris, Lance Parrish, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker all made their debuts in 1977, and would help the team to 88 wins in 1978, the only winning season under Houk.[224][225] The "Bless You Boys" era (1979–1987) Houk's immediate successor as Tigers manager in 1979 was Les Moss, but Moss would only last until June of that year.[226] From June 14, 1979, until the end of the 1995 season, the team was managed by George "Sparky" Anderson, one of baseball's winningest managers and winner of two World Series rings as manager of the Cincinnati Reds during their peak as The Big Red Machine.[227] When Anderson joined the Tigers in 1979 and assessed the team's young talent, he boldly predicted that it would be a pennant winner within five years.[228] Acerbic sports anchor Al Ackerman initiated the phrase "Bless You Boys". Originally used as a sarcastic remark, Ackerman's phrase would take on a new meaning in 1984.[229][230] The Roar of '84: 1984 World Series Champions Sparky Anderson was the manager of the Tigers from 1979 to 1995 Main article: 1984 Detroit Tigers season As in 1968, the Tigers' next World Series season would be preceded by a disappointing second-place finish, as the 1983 Tigers won 92 games to finish six games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East.[231] The first major news of the 1984 season actually came in late 1983, when broadcasting magnate John Fetzer, who had owned the Tigers since 1957, sold the team to Domino's Pizza founder and CEO Tom Monaghan for $53 million.[232][233] The 1984 team got off to a 9–0 start highlighted by Jack Morris tossing a nationally televised no-hitter against Chicago in the fourth game of the season.[234][235] They stayed hot for most of the year, posting a 35–5 record over their first forty games and cruising to a franchise-record 104 victories.[236] The Tigers led the division from opening day until the end of the regular season and finished a staggering 15 games ahead of the second-place Toronto Blue Jays.[236] Closer Willie Hernández, acquired from the 1983 NL champion Philadelphia Phillies in the offseason, won both the Cy Young Award and AL MVP, a rarity for a relief pitcher.[237] 1984 ALCS Main article: 1984 American League Championship Series The Tigers faced the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series. In Game 1, Alan Trammell, Lance Parrish and Larry Herndon went deep to crush the Royals 8–1 at Royals Stadium (now Kauffman Stadium).[238] In Game 2, the Tigers scored twice in the 11th inning when Johnny Grubb doubled off Royals closer Dan Quisenberry en route to a 5–3 victory.[239][240] The Tigers completed the sweep at Tiger Stadium in Game 3. Marty Castillo's third-inning RBI fielder's choice would be all the help Detroit would need. Milt Wilcox outdueled Charlie Leibrandt, and after Hernandez got Darryl Motley to pop out to preserve the 1–0 win, the Tigers were returning to the World Series.[239][241] 1984 World Series Main article: 1984 World Series In the NLCS, the San Diego Padres rallied from losing the first two games to overcome the Chicago Cubs and prevent a fifth Cubs-Tigers series. The Tigers would open the 1984 World Series on the road in San Diego.[242] In Game 1, Larry Herndon hit a two-run home run that gave the Tigers a 3–2 lead.[243] Jack Morris pitched a complete game with 2 runs on 8 hits, and Detroit drew first blood.[243][244] The Padres evened the series the next night despite pitcher Ed Whitson being chased after pitching 2⁄3 of an inning and giving up three runs on five Tiger hits.[243][245] Tigers starter Dan Petry exited the game after 4+1⁄3 innings when Kurt Bevacqua's three-run homer gave San Diego a 5–3 lead they would not relinquish.[243][245] When the series shifted to the Motor City, the Tigers took command. In Game 3, a two-out rally in the second inning, highlighted by Marty Castillo's 2-run homer, led to four runs and the yanking of Padres starter Tim Lollar after 1+2⁄3 innings.[243][246] The Padres never recovered, losing 5–2.[243][246] Eric Show continued the parade of bad outings in Game 4, getting bounced after 2+2⁄3 innings after giving up a pair of 2-run homers to World Series MVP Alan Trammell in his first two at-bats. Trammell's homers held up with the help of another Morris complete game, and the Tigers' 4–2 win gave them a commanding lead in the series.[243][247] Kirk Gibson, a Michigan State alumni, hit the clinching home run in Game 5 of the 1984 World Series In Game 5, Kirk Gibson's two-run shot in the first inning would be the beginning of another early end for the Padres' starter Mark Thurmond.[243][248][249] Although the Padres would pull back even at 3–3, chasing Petry in the fourth inning in the process, the Tigers retook the lead on a Rusty Kuntz sacrifice fly (actually a pop-out to retreating second baseman Alan Wiggins that the speedy Gibson was able to score on), and then went up 5–3 on a solo homer by Parrish.[243][248][249] Gibson came to bat in the eighth inning with runners on second and third and the Tigers clinging to a 5–4 lead.[243][248][249] A "Sounds of the Game" video made during the Series by MLB Productions captured this moment, and has been played on TV a number of times since then. Padres manager Dick Williams was shown in the dugout flashing four fingers, ordering an intentional walk, before San Diego reliever Goose Gossage summoned him to the mound. Sparky Anderson was seen and heard yelling to Gibson, "He don't want to walk you!", and making a swing-the-bat gesture.[250] As Anderson had suspected, Gossage threw a 1–0 fastball on the inside corner, and Gibson was ready. He launched the pitch into Tiger Stadium's right field upper deck for a three-run homer, giving the Tigers a four-run lead and effectively clinching the game and the series.[243][248][249][251] Aurelio López pitched 2+1⁄3 innings of relief and retired all seven batters he faced, earning the win. Despite allowing a rare run in the top of the 8th inning, Willie Hernández got the save as Tony Gwynn flew out to Larry Herndon to end the game, sending Detroit into a wild victory celebration.[243][248][249] 1984 World Series MVP, Alan Trammell (SS) The Tigers led their division wire-to-wire, from opening day and every day thereafter, culminating in the World Series championship. This had not been done in the major leagues since the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers.[252] With the win, Anderson became the first manager to win the World Series in both leagues.[253] 1987 AL East Champions Main article: 1987 Detroit Tigers season After a pair of third-place finishes in 1985 and 1986,[254][255] the 1987 Tigers faced lowered expectations – which seemed to be confirmed by an 11–19 start to the season.[256] However, the team hit its stride thereafter and gradually gained ground on its AL East rivals.[256] 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. Alexander started 11 games for the Tigers, posting a 9–0 record and a 1.53 ERA. Smoltz, a Michigan native, went on to have a long and productive career, mostly with the Braves, and was ultimately inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.[256][257] Despite the Tigers' great season, they entered September neck-and-neck with the Toronto Blue Jays. The two teams would square off in seven hard-fought games during the final two weeks of the season. All seven games were decided by one run, and in the first six of the seven games, the winning run was scored in the final inning of play. At Exhibition Stadium, the Tigers dropped three in a row to the Blue Jays before winning a dramatic extra-inning showdown.[256] The Tigers entered the final week of the 1987 season 2.5 games behind.[256] After a series against the Baltimore Orioles, the Tigers returned home trailing by a game and swept the Blue Jays.[256] Detroit clinched the division in a 1–0 victory over Toronto in front of 51,000 fans at Tiger Stadium on October 4. 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 two games ahead of Toronto, securing the best record in the majors (98–64).[256][258] In what would prove to be their last postseason appearance until 2006, the Tigers were upset in the 1987 American League Championship Series by the 85–77 Minnesota Twins (who in turn won the World Series that year) 4–1.[256][258][259] The Twins clinched the series in Game 5 at Tiger Stadium, 9–5.[260] A new approach (1988–1995) Despite their 1987 division title victory, the Tigers proved unable to build on their success. The team lost Kirk Gibson to free agency in the offseason, but still spent much of 1988 in first place in the AL East. A late season slump left the team in second place at 88–74, one game behind the Boston Red Sox.[261][262] Cecil Fielder in 1996 In 1989, the team collapsed to a 59–103 record, worst in the majors.[263][264] The franchise then attempted to rebuild using a power-hitting approach, with sluggers Cecil Fielder, Rob Deer and Mickey Tettleton joining Trammell and Whitaker in the lineup (fitting for the team with the most 200+ home run seasons in baseball history).[265] In 1990, Fielder led the American League with 51 home runs (becoming the first player to hit 50 since George Foster in 1977, and the first AL player since Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle in 1961), and finished second in the voting for AL MVP.[266][267][268] He hit 44 home runs and collected 132 RBI in 1991, again finishing second in the AL MVP balloting.[269] Behind the hitting of Fielder and others, the Tigers improved by 20 wins in 1990 (79–83), and posted a winning record in 1991 (84–78).[270][271] However, the team lacked quality pitching, despite Bill Gullickson's 20 wins in 1991, and its core of key players began to age, setting the franchise up for decline.[272] Their minor league system was largely barren of talent as well, producing only a few everyday players during the 1990s.[273][274][275] Adding insult to injury, the Tigers and radio station WJR announced in December 1990 that they were not renewing the contract of long-time Hall of Fame play-by play announcer Ernie Harwell, and that the 1991 season would be Harwell's last with the team.[276] The announcement was met with resounding protests from fans, both in Michigan and around the baseball world.[277] 1992 saw the Tigers win only 75 games, with Fielder being one of the few bright spots as he won the AL RBI title for a third straight season (124).[278][279] In August 1992, the franchise was sold to Mike Ilitch, the President and CEO of Little Caesars Pizza who also owned the Detroit Red Wings.[280] One of Ilitch's first moves as the new owner was to rehire Ernie Harwell.[281] Late in the season, Sparky Anderson won his 1,132nd game as a Tiger manager, passing Hughie Jennings for the most all-time wins in franchise history.[56] The team also responded with an 85–77 season in 1993, but it would be their last winning season for a number of years.[282][283] On October 2, 1995, manager Sparky Anderson chose to not only end his career with the Tigers, but retire from baseball altogether.[284] Randy Smith era (1996–2002) From 1994 to 2005, the Tigers did not post a winning record, the longest sub-.500 stretch in franchise history.[282][283][285] In 1996, the Tigers lost a then-team record 109 games, under new general manager Randy Smith.[285][286][287] The only team in the majors to have a longer stretch without a winning season during this time were the Pittsburgh Pirates, who did not have a winning record in the years spanning 1993 to 2012.[288] The Tigers' best record over this span was 79–83, recorded in 1997 and 2000.[285] In 1998, the Tigers moved from the AL East, where they had been since the divisions were created in 1969, to the AL Central as part of a realignment necessitated by the addition of the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays.[289][290][291] The entrance sign of Comerica Park In 2000, the team left Tiger Stadium in favor of Comerica Park.[292] Soon after it opened, Comerica Park drew criticism for its deep dimensions, which made it difficult to hit home runs; the distance to left-center field (395 ft), in particular, was seen as unfair to hitters. This led to the nickname "Comerica National Park."[293] The team made a successful bid to bring in slugger Juan González from the Texas Rangers for the inaugural season at Comerica Park.[294] After four consecutive seasons of no fewer than 39 home runs, González only hit 22 homers in 2000. He cited Comerica Park's dimensions as a major reason why he turned down a multiyear contract extension.[295] In 2003, the franchise largely quieted the criticism by moving in the left-center fence to 370 feet (110 m), taking the flagpole in that area out of play, a feature carried over from Tiger Stadium.[296] In 2005, the team moved the bullpens to the vacant area beyond the left field fence and filled the previous location with seats.[297] In late 2001, Dave Dombrowski, former general manager of the 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins, was hired as team president.[298] In 2002, the Tigers started the season 0–6, prompting Dombrowski to fire the unpopular Smith, as well as manager Phil Garner. Dombrowski then took over as general manager and named bench coach Luis Pujols to finish the season as interim manager.[299][300] The team finished 55–106. After the season was over, Pujols was let go.[301] Most losses in American League history (2003) Main article: 2003 Detroit Tigers season Dave Dombrowski hired popular former shortstop Alan Trammell to manage the team in 2003.[302] With fellow 1984 teammates Kirk Gibson and Lance Parrish on the coaching staff, the rebuilding process began.[136] On August 30, 2003, the Tigers' defeat at the hands of the Chicago White Sox caused them to join the 1962 New York Mets, who were a first year expansion team, as the only modern MLB teams to lose 100 games before September.[303] They avoided tying the 1962 Mets' modern MLB record of 120 losses only by winning five of their last six games of the season, including three out of four against the Minnesota Twins, who had already clinched the AL Central and were resting their stars.[136][304] Mike Maroth went 9–21, becoming the first pitcher to lose 20 games in more than 20 years.[305] Maroth, Jeremy Bonderman (6–19), and Nate Cornejo (6–17) were the top three pitchers in losses in the entire major leagues, the first time in history that this had occurred.[306][307][c] The Tigers finished 43–119, the worst record in franchise history.[136][304][307] This eclipsed the previous AL record of 117 losses set by the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics.[309] While the 2003 Tigers rank as the third worst team in major league history based on total losses, they fare slightly better based on winning percentage. Their .265 win percentage is the majors' sixth-worst since 1900.[306] Further information: List of worst Major League Baseball season records § Modern era (1900–present) Rebuilding the franchise (2004–2006) After the embarrassing 2003 season, the Tigers vowed to make changes.[304][310] Under Dave Dombrowski, the franchise demonstrated a willingness to sign marquee free agents.[311] In 2004, the team signed or traded for several talented but high-risk veterans, such as Fernando Viña, Rondell White, Iván Rodríguez, Ugueth Urbina, and Carlos Guillén, and the gamble paid off.[312][313][314][315][316] The 2004 Tigers finished 72–90, a 29-game improvement over the previous season.[136][317][318] This was the largest improvement in the AL since the Baltimore Orioles had a 33-game improvement from 1988 to 1989.[318] Prior to the 2005 season, the Tigers spent a large sum for two prized free agents, Troy Percival and Magglio Ordóñez.[319][320] On June 8, 2005, the Tigers traded pitcher Ugueth Urbina and infielder Ramón Martínez to the Philadelphia Phillies for Plácido Polanco.[321] The Tigers stayed on the fringes of contention for the AL wild card for the first four months of the season, but then faded badly, finishing 71–91.[318][322] The collapse was perceived as being due both to injuries and to a lack of player unity; Rodríguez in particular was disgruntled, taking a leave of absence during the season to deal with a difficult divorce.[318][323] 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.[318] A highlight of the 2005 campaign was Detroit's hosting of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, its first since 1971.[324] In the Home Run Derby, Rodríguez finished second, losing to the Phillies' Bobby Abreu.[325] In October 2005, Jim Leyland, who managed Dombrowski's 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins, replaced Trammell as manager; two months later, in response to Troy Percival's arm problems, closer Todd Jones, who had spent five seasons in Detroit (1997–2001), signed a two-year deal to return to the Tigers.[326][327] Veteran left-hander Kenny Rogers also joined the Tigers from the Texas Rangers in late 2005.[327] The return of the Tigers: 2006 American League Champions Magglio Ordóñez hit a walk-off home run to clinch the 2006 AL pennant Main article: 2006 Detroit Tigers season After years of futility, the 2006 season showed signs of hope. The impressive rookie campaigns of eventual AL Rookie of the Year Justin Verlander, centerfielder Curtis Granderson, and flamethrowing relief pitcher Joel Zumaya, coupled with a well-publicized early-season tirade by Leyland, helped the team explode and quickly rise to the top of the AL Central.[136][283] The team reached a high point when they were 40 games over .500, but a second half swoon started to raise questions about the team's staying power.[108][283] On August 27, a 7–1 victory over the Cleveland Indians gave the Tigers their 82nd victory and their first winning season since 1993.[283][328][329] On September 24, the Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 11–4 to clinch their first playoff berth since 1987.[330][331] A division title seemed inevitable. All that was required was one win in the final five games of the season, which included three games against the Royals, whom the Tigers had manhandled much of the season. However, the Tigers lost all five games to finish 95–67, and the division title went to the 96–66 Minnesota Twins. The Tigers instead settled for the AL wild card.[332] The playoffs saw the Tigers beat the heavily favored New York Yankees 3–1 in the ALDS and sweep the Oakland Athletics in the 2006 ALCS, thanks to a walk-off home run in Game 4 by right fielder Magglio Ordóñez.[333][334] They advanced to the World Series, where they lost to the underdog St. Louis Cardinals in five games.[335] Falling short (2007–2010) Curtis Granderson in 2007 2007 Main article: 2007 Detroit Tigers season During the offseason, the Tigers traded for outfielder Gary Sheffield, who had been a part of the 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins managed by Jim Leyland.[336] In addition to acquisitions, Dombrowski developed a productive farm system. Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya, the most notable rookie contributors to the 2006 team, were followed by Andrew Miller, who was drafted in 2006 and called up early in the 2007 campaign, and minor leaguer Cameron Maybin, an athletic five-tool outfielder ranked #6 in Baseball America's 2007 Top 100 Prospects.[337] On June 12, Verlander threw the Tigers' first no-hitter since 1984 (Jack Morris) and the first in Comerica Park history, in a 4–0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.[338] The Tigers had the best record in baseball in late July, but lost a few players to injuries and started to play poorly in the second half.[339][340][341][342] The Tigers were officially eliminated from playoff competition on September 26, 2007, when the New York Yankees clinched a wild card berth.[343][344] The Tigers, at 88–74, finished second in the AL Central.[345] Magglio Ordóñez captured the AL batting title in 2007 with a .363 average, becoming the first Tiger to win it since Norm Cash did so in 1961.[346] 2008 Main article: 2008 Detroit Tigers season Justin Verlander, June 2008 Going into the 2008 season, the franchise traded for prominent talent in Édgar Rentería (from the Atlanta Braves) and Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis (from the Florida Marlins).[347][348] However, the Tigers, who now boasted the second-highest team payroll in the majors at over $138 million,[349] began the regular season by losing seven straight games.[350] The Tigers climbed back, and at the midway point of the season, they were 42–40.[351] In the end, the team finished miserably, slumping to a 74–88 record.[352] Justin Verlander finished with his worst season as a pro, as he went 11–17 with a 4.84 ERA.[353] The Tigers also lost closer Todd Jones to retirement on September 25, 2008.[354] Despite the disappointing season, the team set an attendance record in 2008, drawing 3,202,654 customers to Comerica Park.[355] 2009 Main article: 2009 Detroit Tigers season Going into the 2009 season, the Tigers acquired starter Edwin Jackson from the 2008 AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays, and called up rookie and former #1 draft pick Rick Porcello.[356][357] Jackson was outstanding in the first half, making his first All-Star team, while Porcello was solid most of the year, posting a 14–9 record with a 3.96 ERA and displaying grit and maturity beyond his 20 years of age.[357][358] Justin Verlander bounced back from an off 2008 to win 19 games. He posted a 3.45 ERA and led the AL in strikeouts (269) to finish third in the AL Cy Young balloting.[359][360][361] Fernando Rodney assumed the closer role in spring training, replacing the retired Todd Jones.[362] Rodney responded with 37 saves in 38 tries, while Bobby Seay, Fu-Te Ni, Brandon Lyon, and Ryan Perry shored up the middle relief that plagued the team in 2007 and 2008.[359][363][364][365][366] Despite the improvements, the Tigers once again found themselves struggling to hold a lead in the AL Central. The team entered September with a 7-game lead in the division, but wound up tied with the Minnesota Twins at 86 wins by the final day of the regular season.[367][368] The season ended on October 6 with a 6–5 loss in 12 innings to the Twins in the tie-breaker game, leaving the Tigers with an 86–77 record.[368][369] The Tigers spent 146 days of the 2009 season in first place, but became the first team in Major League history to lose a three-game lead with four games left to play.[368][370] 2010 Main article: 2010 Detroit Tigers season Alex Avila, March 2010 Entering 2010, the Tigers parted ways with Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson as part of a three-way trade with the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks; in return they picked up outfield prospect Austin Jackson and pitchers Phil Coke, Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth.[371] Jackson made the Tigers opening day roster, and was American League Rookie of the Month for April.[372] 2010 also saw the debut of Brennan Boesch, who was named the AL Rookie of the Month for May and June.[373][374] At the All-Star break, the Tigers were a half-game out of first place in the AL Central, behind the Chicago White Sox.[375] However, a slow start after the break and injuries to three key players sent the Tigers into yet another second half tailspin.[376][377][378] The Tigers finished the season in third place with an 81–81 record, 13 games back of the division-winning Minnesota Twins.[378][379] While playing outstanding baseball at home, the Tigers were just 29–52 on the road.[380] Among the season highlights were Miguel Cabrera hitting .328 with 38 home runs and an AL-best 126 RBI, earning the AL Silver Slugger Award at first base and finishing second in the AL MVP race (earning 5 of 28 first-place votes).[381][382] Jackson (.293 average, 103 runs, 181 hits, 27 stolen bases) finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting.[383][384] Justin Verlander enjoyed another strong season (18–9 record, 3.37 ERA, 219 strikeouts).[383] The near-perfect game Main article: Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game On June 2, 2010, Armando Galarraga was pitching a perfect game against the Cleveland Indians with 2 outs in the top of the ninth inning when first-base umpire Jim Joyce made a controversial call, ruling Jason Donald safe at first. Video replay showed he was out.[385][386] A tearful Joyce later said, "I just cost that kid a perfect game. I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay."[386] Galarraga would later tell reporters that Joyce apologized to him directly and gave him a hug.[385] The next day, with Joyce umpiring home plate, Galarraga brought out the lineup card and the two shook hands.[387] Despite nationwide support for overturning the call, which included supportive statements from the Governor of Michigan and the White House, commissioner Bud Selig let the call stand. However, he said he would look into expanding instant replay in the future.[388] Division winners (2011–2014) 2011: First AL Central Championship Main article: 2011 Detroit Tigers season The Tigers returned much of their roster from 2010, while adding relief pitcher Joaquín Benoit, catcher/DH Victor Martinez, and starting pitcher Brad Penny.[389][390][391] On May 7, Verlander took a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays into the 8th inning. After a walk to J. P. Arencibia, Verlander coaxed a double-play grounder and went on to the 9th inning to complete his second career no-hitter by facing the minimum 27 batters. It was the seventh no-hitter in Tigers history.[392] On August 27, Verlander defeated the Minnesota Twins, 6–4, to become the first Tiger since Bill Gullickson in 1991 to win 20 games in a season. Verlander also became the first major league pitcher since Curt Schilling in 2002 to reach 20 wins before the end of August.[393] In May, the Tigers were as many as eight games back of the first place Cleveland Indians. However, they would start to play better.[394][395] The Tigers sent five players to the 2011 All-Star Game.[396] Catcher Alex Avila was voted in as a starter, while Justin Verlander, José Valverde and Miguel Cabrera were added as reserves.[396] Verlander was unavailable to play in the All-Star Game due to the rule where starting pitchers who play the Sunday beforehand are ineligible.[397] Shortstop Jhonny Peralta was later added to the All-Star team when the Yankees' Derek Jeter was unable to play due to injury.[396][398] As a three-way battle for the division title developed between the Tigers, Indians, and Chicago White Sox, the Tigers put together an 18–10 record in August to begin to pull away.[395][399] Starter Doug Fister, who was acquired at the trade deadline, provided an immediate spark, going 8–1 over the final two months of the season with a sparkling 1.79 ERA.[400][401] After a loss on September 1, the Tigers reeled off a 12-game winning streak to put any thoughts of another late-season collapse to rest. The streak consisted of four consecutive three-game sweeps over their AL Central Division rivals. It was the Tigers' longest winning streak since the 1934 team won 14 straight.[402] On September 16, the Tigers clinched the AL Central Division title with a 3–1 win over the Oakland Athletics. It was their first AL Central title since joining the division in 1998, and first division title of any kind since 1987.[394][395] Members of the 2011 Tigers won multiple statistical awards in 2011. Verlander won the pitching triple crown, leading the AL in wins (24), ERA (2.40) and strikeouts (250). On November 15, Verlander was a unanimous selection for the AL Cy Young Award.[403] In a much closer vote six days later, Verlander also won AL MVP, becoming the first pitcher to do so since Dennis Eckersley in 1992.[404] Valverde was the AL saves leader with 49 (in 49 save opportunities), winning the 2011 MLB Delivery Man of the Year Award.[210] Cabrera won the AL batting title with a .344 average, while also leading the AL in on-base percentage (.448) and doubles (48).[405][406] The Tigers beat the New York Yankees by a score of 3–2 in Game 5 of the ALDS, winning the series 3–2.[407] They advanced to the ALCS, but they lost to the defending AL Champion Texas Rangers, 4–2.[408] 2012: American League Champions Main article: 2012 Detroit Tigers season In 2012, Miguel Cabrera became the first Major League player to win the Triple Crown in 45 years. Delmon Young (left) and Prince Fielder (right) in 2012 In 2012, the Tigers looked to defend their 2011 AL Central Division title, with the hopes of earning a second consecutive playoff appearance. On January 24, the Tigers signed free agent All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder to a 9-year, $214 million contract.[409] The move came shortly after the Tigers learned that Víctor Martínez had torn his anterior cruciate ligament during offseason training in Lakeland, Florida, and would likely miss the entire 2012 season.[410] Miguel Cabrera moved back to his original position of third base, leading to the eventual release of veteran Brandon Inge on April 26.[411] On July 23, the Tigers acquired veteran second baseman Omar Infante, who played for Detroit in 2003–07, and starting pitcher Aníbal Sánchez from the Miami Marlins in exchange for starting pitcher Jacob Turner and two other minor leaguers.[412] At the midway point of the 2012 season, the Tigers were three games under .500 (39–42).[413] The team played much better in the second half and, after a fierce battle down the stretch with the Chicago White Sox, the Tigers clinched the AL Central division title on October 1 with a 6–3 win against the Kansas City Royals.[414] Coupled with the Tigers' division title in 2011, it marked the first back-to-back divisional titles in team history, and first back-to-back postseason appearances since 1934–35.[415] The Tigers concluded the season with an 88–74 record.[416] On the final day of the season, Cabrera earned the Triple Crown in batting, leading the AL in batting average (.330), home runs (44), and runs batted in (139). No player had accomplished this feat since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.[417] On the mound, starters Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer finished first and second among the American League strikeout leaders, with 239 and 231, respectively.[418] Verlander (17–8, 2.64 ERA) finished second in the Cy Young Award balloting to David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays.[419] In the American League Division Series, the Tigers defeated the Oakland Athletics, 3–2, earning their second straight trip to the American League Championship Series.[420] The Tigers completed a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees in the ALCS to win their 11th AL pennant and earn a trip to the World Series.[421] In the World Series, the Tigers were swept by the San Francisco Giants.[422] On November 15, 2012, Cabrera was named AL MVP.[423] 2013: American League title defense Main article: 2013 Detroit Tigers season The Tigers entered the 2013 season looking to defend their 2012 AL pennant. Key acquisitions in the offseason included signing free agent outfielder Torii Hunter to a two-year, $26 million contract,[424] while also signing their 2012 trade deadline acquisition, pitcher Aníbal Sánchez, to a five-year, $80 million deal.[425] The Tigers also signed free agent catcher Brayan Peña to a one-year contract.[426] Moreover, ace starter Justin Verlander signed a $180 million contract extension.[427] The Tigers placed six players on the 2013 American League All-Star team: Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Jhonny Peralta, Torii Hunter, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.[428] On September 25, the Tigers clinched their third consecutive AL Central Division title.[429] Tigers pitchers struck out 1,428 batters during the regular season, breaking the record of 1,404 held by the 2003 Chicago Cubs.[430] Cabrera (.348 average, 44 HR, 139 RBI) was voted the AL MVP for the second straight season,[431] while Scherzer (21–3, 2.90 ERA, 240 strikeouts) won the AL Cy Young Award.[432] The Tigers played the Oakland Athletics for the second straight year in the ALDS, and defeated the A's, 3–2.[433] The Tigers set a record by striking out 57 Oakland batters in the ALDS.[434] With his Game 5 gem, Verlander ran his postseason scoreless streak against Oakland to 30 innings.[435] The Tigers advanced to their third straight ALCS, where they played the Boston Red Sox for the first ever time in the postseason.[436] The Tigers would be defeated in six games.[437] 2014: Changes at the top Main article: 2014 Detroit Tigers season Jim Leyland, manager from 2006 to 2013 Jim Leyland stepped down from his managerial position after eight years with Detroit,[438] and the Tigers hired Brad Ausmus as Leyland's successor.[439] On November 20, 2013, the Tigers traded Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers for three time All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler plus cash considerations with regard to Fielder's remaining contract amount.[440] The Tigers later traded starting pitcher Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals for infielder Steve Lombardozzi Jr. and pitchers Ian Krol and Robbie Ray.[441] In an effort to improve a bullpen that often struggled in 2013, the Tigers signed veteran closer Joe Nathan to a two-year, $20 million contract, with a club option for 2016,[442] and later signed Joba Chamberlain to a one-year, $2.5 million deal.[443] On May 2, 2014, a month into the season, with the bullpen having a combined 5.37 ERA, which was 29th out of 30 in MLB, the Tigers signed free agent reliever Joel Hanrahan to a one-year contract.[444] However, he never came off the disabled list to pitch for the team.[445] The team further bolstered the bullpen near the MLB trading deadline, dealing pitchers Corey Knebel and Jake Thompson to the Texas Rangers in exchange for former All-Star closer Joakim Soria on July 23.[446] On July 31, with just hours left before the end of the non-waiver trade deadline, the Tigers traded pitcher Drew Smyly and shortstop Willy Adames to the Tampa Bay Rays, and Austin Jackson to the Seattle Mariners in a three-team deal to acquire pitcher David Price from the Rays.[447] With the acquisition of Price, the Tigers became the first team in major league history with three consecutive Cy Young Award winners in its starting rotation.[448] On September 28, the last day of the regular season, Price pitched a 3–0 gem against the Minnesota Twins, and the Tigers clinched their fourth consecutive AL Central Division title.[449] The 90–72 Tigers finished one game ahead of the Kansas City Royals.[450] The Tigers faced the Baltimore Orioles in the 2014 American League Division Series, where they were swept, 3–0.[451] J. D. Martinez became the first player in franchise history to hit home runs in his first two career postseason games. Both were part of back-to-back homers, with Víctor Martínez and Nick Castellanos in Games 1 and 2, respectively.[452] 2015: Mid-season Reboot Main article: 2015 Detroit Tigers season Brad Ausmus continued to manage the Tigers for a second season. Free agents Max Scherzer and Torii Hunter left for other teams at the end of the year, while Rick Porcello, Eugenio Suárez, Robbie Ray, and prospect Devon Travis were all lost through trades. On the receiving end, the Tigers traded for slugger Yoenis Céspedes, relief pitcher Alex Wilson, speedy outfielder Anthony Gose and starting pitchers Alfredo Simón and Shane Greene.[453][454][455][456][457] After winning the first six games of the year in record-breaking fashion, the season slowly went downhill for the Tigers.[458] Inconsistent pitching, division rivals outperforming expectations, and injuries to multiple players, including Joe Nathan, who only appeared in one game, Victor Martínez, and career first stints on the disabled list for Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera, sent the team below the .500 mark as the trade deadline came and the decision was made to "reboot" the team.[459][460] Within a two-day span in late July, the Tigers traded David Price, Joakim Soria and Cespedes, receiving six well regarded prospects in return, including Daniel Norris and Michael Fulmer.[461] On August 4, longtime general manager Dave Dombrowski was released by the team, with assistant GM Al Avila being promoted to general manager and president of baseball operations.[462] Despite difficulties, the Tigers still ended up sending four players to the 2015 MLB All-Star Game: Miguel Cabrera received his 10th career All-Star selection and the starting nod, but could not play due to injury; David Price received his 5th career selection as well as the credit for the win for the American League; and J.D. Martinez and Jose Iglesias both received their first career All-Star selections.[463][464] The Tigers ended the season in last place in the AL Central Division with a record of 74–87.[465] The pitching staff was one of the worst in MLB, ending 27th in ERA, 28th in FIP, and 27th in WHIP.[466] However, the team also ended with a team batting average of .270, the best in MLB,[467] while Miguel Cabrera finished with the highest player batting average in the AL and MLB (.338), earning his fourth batting title in five years.[468] 2016 Main article: 2016 Detroit Tigers season Brad Ausmus and the Tigers entered the 2016 season with new pitching coach Rich Dubee and 9 out of 25 members of the 2015 roster being replaced through trades and free agency. Prominent additions included two highly sought free agents, starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann and outfielder Justin Upton, as well as players acquired through trades: outfielder Cameron Maybin, and the veteran closer Francisco Rodriguez, who led a totally revamped bullpen.[469] The Tigers lost two 2016 draft picks due to free agent compensation but, because of their bottom-ten finish in 2015, they kept their first round pick.[470] Key veteran losses include catcher Alex Avila and outfielder Rajai Davis, who both signed free agent deals with other teams in the division.[471][472] The Tigers finished the season with a record of 86–75, eight games behind the first place Cleveland Indians.[473] Detroit was the final team to fall out of contention for a wild card spot, losing Saturday and Sunday games to the Atlanta Braves, while the two teams they were chasing, Baltimore and Toronto, got needed wins.[474][475] Pitcher Michael Fulmer, acquired from the New York Mets organization in 2015, won the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year Award.[476] Rebuilding (2017–present) 2017 Main article: 2017 Detroit Tigers season Mike Ilitch, the Tigers owner since 1992, died at the age of 87 on February 10, 2017.[477] The team remains in an Ilitch family trust, under the leadership of Mike's son, Christopher Ilitch.[478][479] Like the Detroit Red Wings, the Tigers honored their owner in multiple ways, the most prominent being a "Mr. I" uniform patch.[480] After a disappointing record through the All-Star break, the Tigers began committing to a rebuild, trading J. D. Martinez,[481] Alex Avila and Justin Wilson in July,[482] plus Justin Upton and Justin Verlander in August.[483][484] On September 22, the Tigers announced that the team would not extend manager Brad Ausmus' contract past the 2017 season, ending his four-year tenure as manager. Under the management of Ausmus, the Tigers had a record of 314–332 (.486 winning percentage) and won one AL Central division title in 2014.[485] The Tigers went 6–24 in September, ending the season in a tie for the worst record in MLB with the San Francisco Giants. However, due to a tiebreaker, the Tigers were awarded the number one overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.[486] 2018 Main article: 2018 Detroit Tigers season On October 20, 2017, the Tigers announced that Ron Gardenhire and the team had reached a three-year agreement for the former Minnesota Twins skipper to succeed Brad Ausmus as the team's manager.[487] While rebuilding with young players, the team also lost slugger Miguel Cabrera and expected ace pitcher Michael Fulmer to extensive stints on the disabled list.[488][489] This led the team to the same 64–98 record as the previous year, the fifth worst record in MLB, but still good for third place in a very weak AL Central division.[490][491][492] 2019 Main article: 2019 Detroit Tigers season Significant changes to the 2019 season opening roster include the departure of José Iglesias, and the one-year signings of the middle infield tandem of Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison, both formerly of the Pittsburgh Pirates.[493][494][495] On March 19, it was announced that Michael Fulmer would undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the 2019 season.[496] The Tigers finished the season with a 47–114 record, the worst in all of Major League Baseball, and their second worst season in franchise history after their 43–119 record in 2003.[497] The 2019 Tigers tied the 1939 St. Louis Browns for the most home losses (59) during a season in the modern era.[498] 2020 Main article: 2020 Detroit Tigers season On April 6, Al Kaline died at the age of 85. Kaline had been affiliated with the team for 67 years, most recently as an executive.[499] The Tigers wore a No. 6 patch to honor him.[500] In the shortened 60-game season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tigers remained in playoff contention heading into September.[501] On September 19, manager Ron Gardenhire announced his retirement from baseball effective immediately, citing health concerns. Bench coach Lloyd McClendon was named interim manager for the remainder of the season.[502] The Tigers ultimately faded down the stretch, finishing with a 23–35 record.[503] 2021 Main article: 2021 Detroit Tigers season On October 30, 2020, the Tigers hired A. J. Hinch as manager.[504][505] On May 18, 2021, Spencer Turnbull pitched the eighth no-hitter in Tigers history against the Seattle Mariners. Turnbull became the first Tigers player to throw a no-hitter since Justin Verlander on May 7, 2011.[506] The Tigers finished the season with a 77–85 record.[507] This outperformed preseason predictions for the team, most of which said the Tigers would finish last.[508][509][510] 2022 Main article: 2022 Detroit Tigers season On August 10, 2022, the Tigers fired Al Avila as general manager.[511] On September 19, 2022, the Tigers hired Scott Harris as president of baseball operations.[512] The Tigers finished the season with a 66–96 record and had one of the worst offense in the league.[513] On October 25, 2022, the Tigers hired Rob Metzler as vice president and assistant general manager.[514] 2023 Main article: 2023 Detroit Tigers season On September 21, 2023, the Tigers hired Jeff Greenberg as general manager.[515] The Tigers finished the season with a 78–84 record, and in second place in the division.[516] This was the final season for long-time Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera, who announced he would retire from playing. Following his retirement he joined the Tigers' front office as a special assistant to Scott Harris.[517] Best seasons in Detroit Tigers history Best seasons in Detroit Tigers history 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 Worst seasons in Detroit Tigers history 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 Payroll Total team payroll[518] Year Amount 2007 $93,880,369 2008 $137,685,196 2009 $115,085,145 2010 $122,864,928 2011 $105,700,231 2012 $138,800,000 2013 $151,420,000 2014 $172,571,526 2015 $172,282,250 2016 $180,855,981 2017 $180,250,600 2018 $111,286,000 2019 $104,581,900 2020 $43,164,880 (60-game season) 2021 $85,648,945 Nickname Tiger Stadium, home of the Tigers from 1912 to 1999, at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues in the Corktown district of Detroit There are various legends about how the Tigers got their nickname.[519][520] One involves the striped socks they wore.[519][520][521] George Stallings, the team's manager, took credit for the name. However, the earliest known use of it appeared in the Detroit Free Press on April 16, 1895, a year prior to Stallings joining the team.[519][520][522] In the book A Place for Summer: A Narrative History of Tiger Stadium, Richard Bak states that the name originated from the Detroit Light Guard military unit, who were known as "The Tigers". They had played significant roles in certain Civil War battles and in the 1898 Spanish–American War. Upon entry into the majors, the ballclub sought and received formal permission from the Light Guard to use its trademark. From that day forth, the team has been known as the Tigers.[519][520] Rivalries Chicago White Sox Main article: Tigers–White Sox rivalry The series between the Tigers and Chicago White Sox is one of the oldest active rivalries in the league today. Both teams joined the American League in 1901 after being charter members of the original Western League. Both have actively played one another annually for over 120 seasons. As is often the case between professional sports teams located Chicago or Detroit, there usually exists a rivalry as such with the Bulls–Pistons rivalry of the NBA, the Blackhawks–Red Wings rivalry of the NHL, and the Bears–Lions rivalry of the NFL.[523] Despite playing one another for over 2,200 games, both teams have yet to meet in the postseason.[524][525] Divisional The Tigers also maintain divisional rivalries with the Cleveland Guardians, the Kansas City Royals, and the Minnesota Twins.[526][527][528] The rivalry with Cleveland came to a head when the Tigers played at Progressive Field on August 7, 2013, with the teams first and second in the AL Central standings. Many Tigers fans who made the short trip to Cleveland started several "Let's go Tigers!" chants while the game was tied in the 9th inning. Cleveland fans countered with a "Detroit's bankrupt!" chant, in reference to the city's 2013 bankruptcy. Footage of the game from SportsTime Ohio that had the chants clearly audible quickly went viral, with many baseball fans on social media criticizing Cleveland fans for the chant due to the circumstances of Detroit's financial situation.[529] The Tigers ended up defeating Cleveland 6–5 in 14 innings.[530] Other teams The Tigers have a holdover rivalry with the Toronto Blue Jays due to when the Tigers competed in the AL East.[531] Additionally, the Tigers have had some rivalries with NL teams that they have faced repeatedly in the World Series, such as the Chicago Cubs (four times) and St. Louis Cardinals (three times).[532][533] In interleague play, the Pittsburgh Pirates are the Tigers' "natural rival."[534] Fanbase There are numerous Tigers fans along the Lake Erie region throughout the state of Michigan, northwestern Ohio, southwestern Ontario, as well as a small fan base in and around the Erie, Pennsylvania area, due in part to Detroit's proximity to these regions as well as the presence of the Tigers' Double-A affiliate Erie SeaWolves in northwestern Pennsylvania.[535][536][537][538][539] The Tigers have their Triple-A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens in Toledo, Ohio in addition to their Double-A affiliate in Erie.[540] The cities of Windsor and Sarnia, Ontario, have large fan bases of loyal Tigers fans.[536][537] The Tigers continue to develop a strong and long line of baseball fans in Ontario; the majority of baseball fans in southwestern Ontario are considered Tigers loyalists.[536][537] Home attendance Tigers opening day 2007; view from section 324 at Comerica Park Comerica Park Home attendance at Comerica Park[541] 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 Rally cry During the 1968 season, the team was cheered on by the phrase, "Go Get 'Em, Tigers", which was made popular by a song of the same name written and recorded by Artie Fields.[542] "Sock it to 'em, Tigers!" was also a popular phrase during this time.[543][544] During the 1984 World Series championship run, the team was cheered on to the cry, "Bless You Boys," a phrase coined by sportscaster Al Ackerman.[229][230][545] In 2005, the team began using the phrase "Who's Your Tiger?" as its slogan.[546] During the 2006 season, a rally cry caught on in the Tigers' dugout. In a June game against the New York Yankees, Tigers pitcher Nate Robertson was featured in an in-game interview with FSN Detroit. During the interview, Robertson began to stuff Big League Chew bubble gum into his mouth. The Tigers would spark a rally, in which they came back to tie the game. As a result, the phrase "Gum Time" became popular.[547][548] Additionally, the chant of a local man, the late James Van Horn, who patrolled the streets around Comerica Park yelling out "Eat 'Em Up Tigers! Eat 'Em Up!", was very popular.[549] In 2009, the team used the phrase "Always a Tiger" as its slogan.[550] In 2011, the slogan was switched back to "Who's Your Tiger?"[546] During the 2018 season, a rally cry caught on with both players and fans. In a May game against them Los Angeles Angels, a goose appeared on the field during a second rain delay. After a few minutes, it left the field only to fly into the scoreboard. The goose was unharmed. When the game resumed, the Tigers scored five runs in the sixth inning and won the game, 6–1. As a result, the goose was referred to as the "Rally Goose" and the phrase became popular.[551][552] Uniforms and logos Primary logo 2016–present Cap logo 1924–present. It is orange for road games. Logo used on the home jersey until 2018. It was also the primary logo prior to 2016. See also: Major League Baseball § MLB uniforms Outfielder Ron LeFlore wearing the traditional Tigers home uniform with navy blue piping down the front and an Old English "D" on the left chest The Tigers have worn essentially the same home uniform since 1934 — solid white jersey with navy blue piping down the front and an Old English "D" on the left chest, white pants, navy blue hat with a white letter D in the blackletter or textur/textualis typeface associated with Middle and Early Modern English and popularly referred to as "Old English" even though it was not used for that language.[553][554] On the Tigers' road uniforms, the D on their hats is orange and a script "Detroit" appears across the jersey. A version of the team's blackletter D was first seen on Tigers uniforms in 1904, after using a simple block D in 1903. The blackletter D appeared frequently after that until being established in 1934.[553][554] In 1960, the Tigers changed their uniform to read "Tigers" in script form, but the change only lasted one season before the traditional uniform was reinstated.[554][555] The Tigers used to have different versions of the Old English D on the cap and jersey.[553][556] In 2018, the Tigers changed the classic curved logo on their home uniforms to match that of the sharp-cornered hat logo; additionally, the logo on the cap was enlarged.[553][557][558] In 2019, the Tigers reverted to the smaller logo on the cap, but kept the cap curved 'D' on the home jerseys.[559] In 2023, the Tigers entered into a uniform sponsorship deal with Michigan-based supermarket chain Meijer. The patch, which is located on either sleeve depending on the player's handedness, matches the colors of the team's uniforms.[560] Unique characteristics of the Tigers uniforms: The Tigers are the only team in Major League Baseball to have a color on their road uniforms that is not on their home uniforms (orange). The Tigers first added orange to their road uniform in 1903, but it was not until 1972 that the Tigers made orange an accent color on their road uniforms full-time. The Tigers also wore the "orange D" navy caps at home during the late 1940s through the 1950s.[561][562][563] The Tigers' uniforms have more belt loops than those of any other team, owing to the fact that their uniform pants do not feature the wide "tunnel" loops that appear on most baseball pants.[564] Alternate jerseys: In 1995, the Tigers introduced a solid navy blue alternate jersey, which featured the team's primary logo at the time, a tiger stepping through the D, on the chest. It was worn for one home game.[565] The Tigers wear the throwback jerseys of the Detroit Stars for their annual Negro Leagues Tribute Game in order to pay tribute to the Negro leagues players and their contributions to the game of baseball.[566] The Tigers wear a white and navy blue home jersey with "Tigres" across the chest for their annual "¡Fiesta Tigres!" game to recognize and honor the contributions of Hispanic and Latino players and coaches to the game of baseball.[567] Like all of MLB, the Tigers wore a highly stylized and brightly colored jersey for Players Weekend. In the inaugural games from August 25–27, 2017, their away jerseys were grey with bright orange with "Tigers" on the chest, the orange cap had a tiger instead of the Old English "D" on it. Players were also encouraged to use nicknames on the back of their jerseys.[568] In the 2018 season, the Tigers wore a blue jersey with orange sleeves that said "Tigers" on the chest, with an orange cap that had a tiger on it.[569] Baseball Hall of Famers Detroit Tigers Hall of Famers Affiliation according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Detroit Tigers Sparky Anderson1[570] Earl Averill[571] Ed Barrow[572] Jim Bunning2[573] Ty Cobb[574] Mickey Cochrane3[575] Sam Crawford[576] Larry Doby[577] Billy Evans[578] Rick Ferrell[579] Charlie Gehringer[580] Joe Gordon[581] Goose Goslin[582] Hank Greenberg[583] Bucky Harris[584] Harry Heilmann[585] Whitey Herzog[586] Waite Hoyt[587] Hughie Jennings4[588] Al Kaline[219] George Kell[589] Jim Leyland[590] Heinie Manush5[591] Eddie Mathews[592] Jack Morris[593] Hal Newhouser[594] Iván Rodríguez[595] Al Simmons[596] Sam Thompson[597] Alan Trammell[598] 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.[570] 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.[573] 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.[575] 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.[588] 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.[591] 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[599] Names in bold received the award based primarily on their work as broadcasters for the Tigers. Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Mickey Cochrane Sam Crawford Charlie Gehringer Harry Heilmann George Kell Lou Whitaker Main article: Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Detroit Tigers in the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame[600] No. Name Position Tenure 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 See also: List of Major League Baseball retired numbers This is how the retired numbers and honored names are displayed on the outfield walls at Comerica Park: In left field:[601][602][603] 23 Willie Horton LF, DH Retired July 15, 2000 TC Ty Cobb CF Manager Honored 2000 5 Hank Greenberg 1B Retired June 12, 1983 2 Charlie Gehringer 2B Coach, GM Retired June 12, 1983 16 Hal Newhouser P Retired July 27, 1997 6 Al Kaline RF Broadcaster Executive Retired August 17, 1980 47 Jack Morris P Retired August 12, 2018 3 Alan Trammell SS Coach, Mgr Retired August 26, 2018 1 Lou Whitaker 2B Retired August 6, 2022 In right field:[601] HH Harry Heilmann RF, 1B Honored 2000 HM Heinie Manush LF Honored 2000 HJ Hughie Jennings Manager Honored 2000 SC Sam Crawford OF Honored 2000 MC Mickey Cochrane C Manager Honored 2000 GK George Kell 3B Broadcaster Honored 2000 EH Ernie Harwell Broadcaster Honored 2000 11 Sparky Anderson Manager Retired June 26, 2011 42 Jackie Robinson – All MLB Honored April 15, 1997 Ty Cobb, Harry Heilmann, Heinie Manush, Hughie Jennings, and Sam Crawford are honored by their names on the wall at Comerica Park. They all played in an era where numbers were not worn on jerseys.[602][604][585][591][588][576] Though their numbers are not officially retired, the names of Mickey Cochrane and George Kell are displayed at Comerica Park to honor their contributions to the Detroit Tigers organization. Cochrane wore No. 3, later retired for Alan Trammell, and Kell wore No. 21 for five years, 7 for two years, and 15 for one year.[604] They both entered the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum as Detroit Tigers, and their plaques in the Hall show them wearing the Tigers' cap.[575][589] Al Kaline was also a TV color commentator for the Tigers from 1975 to 2002.[605] George Kell was also a play-by-play announcer for the Tigers from 1959 to 1963 and again from 1965 to 1996.[589] Ernie Harwell spent 42 years (in two stints) calling Tigers games on radio and television.[606] Jackie Robinson's No. 42 was retired throughout Major League Baseball in 1997.[601] Almost all the players with retired numbers (and Ty Cobb) also have statues of themselves that sit behind their names, which are painted on the left-center field wall.[607] National Avenue, which runs behind the third-base stands at the Tigers' previous home Tiger Stadium, was renamed Cochrane Street for Mickey Cochrane.[608] Cherry Street, which runs behind the left-field stands at Tiger Stadium, was renamed Kaline Drive for Al Kaline.[609] Team captains Bill Coughlin 1907–1908[610] Germany Schaefer 1907–1909[611] George Moriarty 1911–1916[612] Brad Ausmus 1999[613][614] Doug Brocail 1999[613][614] Dean Palmer 1999[613][614] Award winners Main article: Detroit Tigers award winners and league leaders Roster Detroit Tigers 2024 spring training rostervte 40-man roster Non-roster invitees Coaches/Other Pitchers  4 Beau Brieske 17 Andrew Chafin 58 Miguel Díaz 53 Mason Englert 49 Alex Faedo 45 Jack Flaherty -- Wilmer Flores 68 Jason Foley 66 Sawyer Gipson-Long 87 Tyler Holton 55 Alex Lange -- Kenta Maeda 25 Matt Manning -- Shelby Miller 12 Casey Mize -- Keider Montero 40 Reese Olson 29 Tarik Skubal 19 Will Vest 43 Joey Wentz 52 Brendan White Catchers -- Dillon Dingler 15 Carson Kelly 34 Jake Rogers Infielders 28 Javier Báez 77 Andy Ibáñez 32 Ryan Kreidler -- Eddys Leonard 27 Andre Lipcius  9 Nick Maton 39 Zach McKinstry 18 Tyler Nevin 46 Wenceel Pérez 20 Spencer Torkelson Outfielders 60 Akil Baddoo 21 Mark Canha 30 Kerry Carpenter 31 Riley Greene 22 Parker Meadows  8 Matt Vierling Pitchers 75 Brenan Hanifee 50 Garrett Hill 62 Trey Wingenter Catchers -- Anthony Bemboom Outfielders -- Bligh Madris -- Ryan Vilade Manager 14 A. J. Hinch Coaches 37 Keith Beauregard (hitting) 90 Michael Brdar (hitting) 98 Jeremy Carrell (bullpen catcher) 56 Joey Cora (third base) 41 Chris Fetter (pitching) 99 Anthony Iapoce (first base) 44 Gary Jones (major league coach) 26 George Lombard (bench) 63 Robin Lund (assistant pitching) 61 Juan Nieves (assistant pitching) 83 Ryan Sienko (catching) 91 Lance Zawadzki (assistant hitting) 40 active, 0 inactive, 0 non-roster invitees  7-, 10-, or 15-day injured list * Not on active roster † Suspended list Roster, coaches, and NRIs updated December 22, 2023 Transactions • Depth chart → All MLB rosters Minor league affiliations Main article: List of Detroit Tigers minor league affiliates The Detroit Tigers farm system consists of seven minor league affiliates.[615] Class Team League Location Ballpark Affiliated 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 Ernie Harwell served as a broadcaster for the Tigers from 1960 to 1991 and 1993–2002 Radio Main article: Detroit Tigers Radio Network The Tigers' current flagship radio stations are Detroit sister stations WXYT (1270 AM) and WXYT-FM (97.1 FM).[616] Dan Dickerson does play-by-play with Bobby Scales and Cameron Maybin rotating on color commentary.[617] Games are syndicated throughout Michigan, Toledo and Archbold, Ohio.[616] Television As of 2023, the Tigers' current exclusive local television rights holder is Bally Sports Detroit, which picked up the rights in 1998 taking them away from Pro-Am Sports System, owned by Post-Newsweek Stations.[618] The Tigers renewed in 2008, over a bid from a rival regional sports channel by Dish Network and AT&T's U-verse,[619] apparently until 2021. Through 25 games in 2017, their games have averaged a 5.57 rating, which was fifth in the major league.[618] During the 2016 season, the Tigers averaged a 7.56 rating and 138,000 viewers on primetime TV broadcasts.[620] The Tigers' television broadcast team consists of Jason Benetti on play-by-play and former Tigers players Kirk Gibson, Todd Jones, Cameron Maybin and Craig Monroe rotating on color commentary. On games where Benetti is assigned to work for Fox Sports, Dan Dickerson serves as an alternate.[617][621] Former Main article: List of Detroit Tigers broadcasters Franchise records Main article: Detroit Tigers team records Facilities The team maintains a training center in the Dominican Republic.[622] See also List of Detroit Tigers seasons Detroit Tigers all-time roster Managers and ownership of the Detroit Tigers Notes  Known as Navin Field from 1912 to 1937 and Briggs Stadium from 1938 to 1960.  The Tigers played at Burns Park on Sundays during the 1901 and 1902 seasons.  The 1952 Tigers had the top three losers in the AL, but not the major leagues.[308]
  • Condition: Used
  • Industry: Sports
  • Sport: Baseball
  • Signed: Yes
  • Autographed Item: Photo
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States

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