Detroit Tigers

The oldest American League team still playing in its original city under its original name.

The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club 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 American League team still playing in their original city under their original name.

Quick Facts

First appears: 1901
Original league status: Western League (Minor) -> American League (Major)
Official team name origin: Carried over from Western League days

Lore & Background

Since their establishment as a major league franchise in 1901, the Tigers have won four World Series championships, 11 AL pennants (1907, 1908, 1909, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1968, and three others), 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.

Reader's Guide

From 1901 to 2025, the Tigers' overall win–loss record is unclear. The franchise's best winning percentage was in 1934, while its worst was in 2003. The franchise record for most wins in a season is 104 in 1984, when the club won 35 of its first 40 games en route to the World Series championship.

Did You Know?

The Tigers were the first major league team to have a mascot—a red tiger on a dark background—on their ballcap in 1901.
On August 19, 1921, Ty Cobb collected his 3,000th career hit off Elmer Myers of the Boston Red Sox.
The 1915 Tigers outfield of Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, and Bobby Veach has been ranked by baseball historian Bill James as the greatest in the history of baseball.