1935 World Series Championship

Lore & Background

The Tigers won despite losing the services of first baseman Hank Greenberg. In Game 2, Greenberg collided with Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett and broke his wrist, sidelining him for the rest of the Series. The Cubs had won 21 consecutive games in September (still a club record), eventually taking the National League pennant by four games over the defending World Series champions, the St. Louis Cardinals. In Game 6, Tommy Bridges pitched a complete-game victory to win the Series for Detroit. With the score tied 3–3 in the top of the ninth inning, Bridges gave up a leadoff triple to Stan Hack, but retired the next three batters without the runner on third scoring. In the bottom of the ninth, Goose Goslin drove in the winning run with two outs. After the game, manager Mickey Cochrane said of Bridges' performance: 'A hundred and fifty pounds of courage. If there ever is a payoff on courage this little 150-pound pitcher is the greatest World Series hero.' In addition to Bridges, the Tigers had a hitting hero. Right fielder Pete Fox accumulated ten hits and an average of .385 for the Series. Fox hit safely in all six games. Detroit owner Frank Navin, then 64 years old, had been running the organization for 30 years and had seen four of his teams win American League pennants, only to lose four World Series. Six weeks after the Tigers finally won the World Series in October 1935, Navin suffered a heart attack while riding a horse and died.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Briggs Stadium on October 1935 crackled with an electric tension that only a World Series Game 7 could provide. Thousands of fans, bundled against the autumn chill, watched as Schoolboy Rowe took the mound for the Tigers. The roar of the crowd was a physical force, a collective heartbeat syncing with every pitch thrown and every swing taken. As the final out was recorded, the stadium erupted in a chaotic symphony of cheers, horns, and tears, marking the moment Detroit finally claimed its own crown.

Reader's Guide

Game 1: A pitching duel between Lon Warneke and Schoolboy Rowe, both of whom went the distance, was decided by its leadoff batter, Augie Galan, doubling, and scoring on an error by Rowe that allowed Billy Herman to reach and eventually score on a Gabby Hartnett single. Frank Demaree added a homer in the ninth inning for the visiting Cubs. Game 2: In the bottom of the first, Jo-Jo White hit a leadoff single and scored on a double by Mickey Cochrane, who scored on Charlie Gehringer's single before Hank Greenberg's two-run home run knocked Cubs' starter Charlie Root out of the game. In the fourth, Roy Henshaw got two outs before letting the Tigers load the bases on a single, hit-by-pitch and walk. A wild pitch scored a run, then after a walk reloaded the bases, Gehringer's two-run single made it 7–0 Tigers. The Cubs got on the board in the fifth when Phil Cavarretta reached first on an error, moved to second on a groundout and scored on Billy Jurges's single. The Cubs got two more runs in the seventh on Billy Herman's single with runners on second and third, but the Tigers added a run in the bottom half on Pete Fox's RBI single off Fabian Kowalik. Tommy Bridges pitched a complete game as the Tigers' 8–3 tied the series heading to Chicago. Game 3: In Game 3, Frank Demaree's leadoff home run in the second off Elden Auker put Chicago on the board. A one-out single and subsequent error put runners on first and third before Bill Lee's ground out made it 2–0 Cubs. They added a run in the fifth when Billy Jurges drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Augie Galan's single. The Tigers got on the board in the sixth when Goose Goslin singled off Lee and scored on Pete Fox's triple. In the eighth, after a walk and double, Goslin's two-run single tied the game and knocked Lee out. Reliever Lon Warneke allowed two singles, the second of which to Billy Rogell scoring a run, then Fox stole home to make it 5–3 Tigers. Detroit brought back Game 1 starter Schoolboy Rowe in relief. He allowed three straight one-out singles in the ninth, the last of which to Ken O'Dea, before Augie Galan's sacrifice fly sent the game into extra innings, but Rowe nailed down the victory after Jo-Jo White's RBI single scored the winning run off Larry French in the 11th. This game remarkably featured four ejections. The Tigers lost coach Del Baker while The Cubs lost Wo

Did You Know?

• The Tigers won despite losing first baseman Hank Greenberg to a broken wrist in Game 2.
• Tommy Bridges pitched a complete-game victory in Game 6, escaping a ninth-inning triple by Stan Hack.
• Right fielder Pete Fox had ten hits and batted .385 for the Series, hitting safely in all six games.
• Detroit owner Frank Navin died of a heart attack six weeks after the Series win.

The Tigers' Historic First Title

The 1935 World Series marked a monumental turning point for Detroit baseball, as the Tigers finally secured their first championship after four heartbreaking defeats in 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1934. This victory was not only the franchise's inaugural title but also the first ever won by any team based in Detroit. Despite facing a formidable opponent that had dominated the league's defending champion Cardinals, the Tigers prevailed in six games. This triumph ended decades of frustration for the organization and its fans, establishing Detroit as a legitimate powerhouse on the national stage. The victory was particularly sweet given the team's recent history of near-misses, transforming their narrative from perennial contenders to ultimate victors in the 32nd edition of baseball's premier postseason event.

Overcoming the Loss of Hank Greenberg

The Tigers' path to glory was significantly complicated by a devastating injury to their star first baseman, Hank Greenberg. During Game 2, Greenberg collided with Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett, suffering a broken wrist that forced him out for the remainder of the Series. This loss deprived Detroit of one of its most potent offensive weapons during a critical juncture. However, the team displayed remarkable resilience and depth to compensate for his absence. While Greenberg had contributed early in the series with a two-run home run in Game 2, his teammates stepped up to fill the void. The roster's ability to maintain high performance without their ace hitter highlighted the collective strength of the squad. This adversity tested the team's character, proving that their championship was not reliant on a single individual but rather on a cohesive unit capable of adapting to sudden misfortune and still delivering a historic victory against a highly motivated Chicago opponent.

Tommy Bridges' Heroic Final Performance

The series concluded with a dramatic Game 6 where pitcher Tommy Bridges delivered a legendary complete-game performance that sealed the championship for Detroit. With the score tied 3–3 in the top of the ninth inning, Bridges faced immense pressure when he allowed a leadoff triple to Stan Hack, leaving a runner in scoring position. Yet, he managed to retire the next three batters without allowing the run to score, preserving the tie. In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs, Goose Goslin delivered the walk-off single that drove in the winning run. Manager Mickey Cochrane later praised Bridges as '150 pounds of courage,' calling him the greatest World Series hero if courage ever received a payoff. This gutsy outing was Bridges' second win of the series and cemented his legacy as the man who held the line when it mattered most, preventing a Cubs comeback and securing Detroit's place in history.

Offensive Firepower and Owner Frank Navin

While pitching carried the team through tight games, right fielder Pete Fox emerged as the offensive hero of the Series. His consistent production provided the necessary run support to keep Detroit competitive throughout the matchup. The emotional weight of this victory fell heavily on team owner Frank Navin, who had managed the organization for 30 years at age 64. Navin had witnessed four American League pennants only to see his teams lose every World Series appearance prior to this one. Tragically, just six weeks after celebrating this long-awaited triumph in October 1935, Navin suffered a fatal heart attack while riding a horse. His death marked the end of an era, capping a career defined by persistence and finally rewarded with the ultimate prize before his sudden passing.