Detroit Tigers
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The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are in the Central Division of the American League.
- Founded: 1893, in the minor Western League. In 1900 that league became the American League.
- Home ballpark: Comerica Park
- Mascot: Paws
- Uniform colors: Navy blue, White, and Orange
- Logo design: An Old English font "D" with a roaring tiger walking through it
- Division titles won (3): 1972, 1984, 1987 (Note: Divisional play began in 1969.)
- American League pennants won (9): 1907, 1908, 1909, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1968, 1984
- World Series championships won (4): 1935, 1945, 1968, 1984
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Franchise history
The Detroit Tigers played their first game for the newly established American League on April 25, 1901 at Bennett Park in front of 10,000 fans. After trailing 13-4 entering the ninth inning, the team staged a dramatic comeback to win the game 14-13.
There are various legends about how the Tigers got their nickname. One has to do with the orange stripes they wore on their black stockings. Another has to do with a sportswriter equating that 1901 Detroit club's opening day victory to the ferocity of his alma mater, the Princeton Tigers.
However, the truth is revealed in Richard Bak's 1998 book, A Place for Summer: A Narrative History of Tiger Stadium. In the 19th century, the city of Detroit had a military unit called the Detroit Light Guard, who were known as "The Tigers." They had played a significant role in certain Civil War battles and also in the recently-fought Spanish-American War. The ballclub received permission from the Light Guard to use their trademark, and from that day forth the ballclub was officially the Tigers.
That 1901 team eventually finished third in the eight team league. Eleven years later, an elegant stadium was constructed on the site of Bennett Park and named Navin Field. In 1961, Briggs Stadium, as it was then known, was renamed Tiger Stadium. Tiger Stadium was used by the Tigers until the end of the 1999 season. Since 2000, the Tigers have played in Comerica Park.
In 1905, the team acquired Ty Cobb, a player who would be considered one of the greatest of all-time. The addition of Cobb to an already talented team that included Sam Crawford, Hughie Jennings, Bill Donovan, and George Mullin quickly yielded results, as the Tigers won three consecutive American League Championships from 1907-09. However, the team came up short in the World Series each time, and would not win its first World Series until 1935. The team won additional World Series crowns in 1945, 1968 and 1984.
The 1968 title, which occurred one year after the 1967 race riots ravaged Detroit, is thought to have helped to heal citywide tensions. The Tigers came back to win the American League Pennant on the Last Day of the Season and Defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series 4 Games to 3, coming back from a 3 Games to 1 Deficit.
From 1979 to 1995, the team was managed by the colorful, eccentric George "Sparky" Anderson, one of baseball's winningest managers. When Sparky came on board, he made the bold move of predicting a pennant winner within 5 years. He proved to be as good as his word.
The 1984 team started out at a record 35-5 pace (including Jack Morris throwing a no-hitter early in the season against the Chicago White Sox), and cruised to a franchise-record 104 victories. The Tigers Swept the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series and defeated the San Diego Padres in the World Series in 5 Games. That team featured the great double play combination of shortstop Alan Trammell (the team's current manager) and second baseman Lou Whitaker; the duo would play together a record 19 seasons. The team also included Kirk Gibson, Chet Lemon, Larry Herndon, Morris, Dan Petry, Dave Rozema, the late Aurelio Lopez and relief ace Willie Hernandez, who won the 1984 American League Cy Young Award.
In 1987, The Tigers made a Historic Rally. Detroit was seven games out of first with a week to play. The Tigers chased down the Toronto Blue Jays to win what would be their last American League Eastern Division Championship. The Tigers swept the The Blue Jays in consecutive weekends, once in Toronto and the following weekend at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers clinched the division in a 1-0 Sunday Afternoon win, pitched by Frank Tanana and won on a homerun by outfielder Larry Herndon. Unfortunately, they lost the American League Championship Series to the Minnesota Twins in five games.
The Tigers last Winning Season came in 1993, and only twice since then have they even finished within 5 games of .500 (1997 and 2000). In 1996, the Tigers lost a then-team record 109 games.
In 2000, the team left legendary Tiger Stadium, then tied with Fenway Park as the oldest active baseball stadium, in favor of the new Comerica Park. Many longtime fans complained that the "CoPa" lacked the charm of its predecessor, while others saw it as a necessary replacement of an aging facility. In 2003, the Tigers avoided the 1962 New York Mets' modern record for losses in one season by winning five out of the last six games of the season, finishing with a 43-119 record.
In 2004, the team signed or traded for several talented but high-risk veterans, such as Iván Rodríguez, Ugueth Urbina, Rondell White, Omar Infante and Carlos Guillén, and the gamble paid off. The '04 Tigers had a 29-game improvement over the previous season, one of the greatest improvements in baseball history. However, it was not enough to avoid an 11th consecutive losing season.
Recently the Tigers traded pitcher Ugueth Urbina, and Ramon Martinez to the Philadelphia Phillies for Placido Palanco.
Players of note
Baseball Hall of Famers
- Sparky Anderson
- Earl Averill
- Jim Bunning
- Ty Cobb
- Mickey Cochrane
- Sam Crawford
- Larry Doby
- Charlie Gehringer
- Goose Goslin
- Hank Greenberg
- Bucky Harris
- Harry Heilmann
- Waite Hoyt
- Hughie Jennings
- Al Kaline
- George Kell
- Heinie Manush
- Eddie Mathews
- Hal Newhouser
- Al Simmons
- Sam Thompson
Current 25-man roster (updated on June 9, 2005)
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Pitchers
Catchers |
Infielders
Outfielders
Disabled list
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Manager
Coaches
- 29
Bruce Fields (hitting)
- 22 Kirk Gibson (bench)
- 13 Lance Parrish (bullpen)
- 8
Juan Samuel (third base)
- 54 Bob Cluck (pitching)
- 18 Mick Kelleher (first base)
Not to be forgotten
Awards
- Most Valuable Player
- Ty Cobb (1911)
- Mickey Cochrane (1934)
- Charlie Gehringer (1937)
- Hank Greenberg (1935, 1940)
- Willie Hernández (1984)
- Denny McLain (1968)
- Hal Newhouser (1944-45)
- Cy Young
- Willie Hernández (1984)
- Denny McLain (1968, 1969)
- Rookie of the Year
- Mark Fidrych (1976)
- Harvey Kuenn (1953)
- Lou Whitaker (1978)
- Manager of the Year
- Sparky Anderson (1984-87)
- Gold Glove Award
- Frank Bolling (1958)
- Ed Brinkman (1972)
- Bill Freehan (1965-69)
- Al Kaline (1957-59, 1961-67)
- Frank Lary (1961)
- Lance Parrish (1983-85)
- Gary Pettis (1988-90)
- Aurelio Rodríguez (1976)
- Iván Rodríguez (2004)
- Mickey Stanley (1968-70, 1973)
- Alan Trammell (1980-81, 1983-84)
- Lou Whitaker (1983-85)
Retired numbers
- Ty Cobb (No official number, as he played in the era prior to uniform numbers, but has been honored nonetheless)
- Ernie Harwell (former broadcaster; has retirement honors)
- 2 Charlie Gehringer
- 5 Hank Greenberg
- 6 Al Kaline
- 16 Hal Newhouser
- 23 Willie Horton
- 42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball)
Single Season Records
- Home Runs: 58 (1938) Hank Greenberg
- Runs Batted In: 183 (1937) Hank Greenberg
- Batting Average: .420 (1911) Ty Cobb
- Hits: 248 (1911) Ty Cobb
- Runs: 147 (1911) Ty Cobb
- Doubles: 63 (1934) Hank Greenberg
- Triples: 26 (1914) Sam Crawford
- Stolen Bases: 96 (1915) Ty Cobb
- Hitting Streak: 40 games (1911) Ty Cobb
- Strikeouts: 182 (1990) Cecil Fielder
- Walks: 137 (1947) Roy Cullenbine
- Pitching Wins: 31 (1968) Denny McLain
- Pitching Strikouts: 308 (1971) Mickey Lolich
External links
- Detroit Tigers official web site (http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/det/homepage/det_homepage.jsp)
- Tigers Central and Tigers History - Excellent fan site (http://www.tigerscentral.com)
- Motown Sports - Excellent fan site (http://www.motownsports.com)