A Basic History of the Detroit Tigers Baseball Team

The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team that plays in Major League Baseball. The Tigers play in the Central Division of the American League.

The Detroit Tigers were founded in 1894. They became a charter member of the American League in 1901.

The Tigers first played their home games at Boulevard Park from 1984-1985. From 1896-1911, the team played its home games at Bennett Park. From 1901-1902, however, games on Sundays were played at Burns Park.

In 1912, the team began playing its home games in one of the most famous stadium in Major League Baseball, Tiger Stadium, which was known as Navin Field from 1912-1938 and Briggs Stadium from 1938-1960.

The Detroit Tigers played in Tiger Stadium through the 1999 season. Prior to the 2000 season, the team moved to its current location, Comerica Park.

In the franchise history of the Detroit Tigers, the team has won their division three times. The Tigers won the AL East in 1972, 1984, and 1987. They have yet to win the AL Central.

Detroit has won the American League Championship a total of ten times in 1907-1909, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1968, 1984, and 2006. The Tigers have won four World Series titles in 1935, 1945, 1968, and 1984.

Eleven players and two managers in the National Baseball Hall of Fame were inducted at least partly based on their performance with the Tigers. The eleven players are Jim Bunning, Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, Charlie Gehringer, Goose Goslin, Hank Greenberg, Harry Heilmann, Al Kaline, George Kell, Heinie Manush, and Hal Newhouser. The two managers are Sparky Anderson and Hughie Jennings. Mickey Cochrane, also in the Hall of Fame, was a player and a manager of the Tigers.

Several others members of the Hall of Fame were at some time associated with the Tigers. They are Earl Averill, Ed Barrow, Larry Doby, Bucky Harris, Waite Hoyt, Eddie Matthews, Al Simmons, and Sam Thompson.

Five former Detroit Tigers have their numbers retired by the team. They are Willie Horton - 23, Hank Greenberg - 5, Charlie Gehringer - 2, Hal Newhouser - 16, and Al Kaline - 6. Ty Cobb played when there were no numbers on jerseys, so he is honored with his name with no number. Jackie Robinson's number 42 is also retired by the Tigers as it was retired throughout baseball in 1997.

The Detroit Tigers are currently owned by Mike Illitch. Jim Leyland is the manager, and Dave Dombrowski is the general manager.

The official colors of the Detroit Tigers are navy blue, orange, white, and gray. The team's mascot is a tiger named Paws.