History of Detroit Tigers in Timeline
The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 1894 as part of the Western League, they are a charter franchise of the American League (AL) and compete in the AL Central Division. Notably, the Tigers are the only Western League team still in its original city and the oldest AL team maintaining both its original city and name.
5 hours ago : Detroit Tigers clash with Kansas City Royals on Sunday Night Baseball.
The Detroit Tigers faced the Kansas City Royals in a 'Sunday Night Baseball' game. The game was highly anticipated, with predictions and odds heavily discussed.
1900: Western League renamed to American League
In 1900, the Western League renamed itself the American League but remained a minor league.
1901: Established as a major league franchise
In 1901, the Detroit Tigers were established as a major league franchise.
1901: Referenced in City Connect Jersey
In 2024, the Detroit Tigers unveiled their first City Connect jersey, which is a nod to Detroit's automobile industry. It references the Detroit Tigers' first American League season of 1901 and its four World Series championships.
1901: Start of overall win-loss record
The Detroit Tigers' overall win-loss record began in 1901.
1902: Dropo Ties Kling's Record
In 1952, Tiger first baseman Walt Dropo got a hit in 12 consecutive plate appearances over a three-game stretch from July 14 to 15, tying a major league record set by Johnny Kling in 1902.
1903: Leagues made peace
In 1903, the American League and National League made peace and signed a new National Agreement.
1903: Simple Block D on Uniforms
In 1903, the Detroit Tigers used a simple block D on uniforms.
1903: Mascot replaced by the letter "D"
In 1903, the Detroit Tigers' initial mascot on their ballcap was replaced by the letter "D".
1904: Blackletter D on Uniforms
In 1904, a version of the team's blackletter D was first seen on Detroit Tigers uniforms, after using a simple block D in 1903.
1905: Acquired Ty Cobb
In 1905, the Detroit Tigers acquired 18-year-old Ty Cobb, who became one of the greatest players of all time.
1907: Won AL pennant
In 1907, the Detroit Tigers, led by Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford, won the AL pennant by 1.5 games and moved on to their first World Series appearance against the Chicago Cubs.
1908: Lost World Series to the Chicago Cubs
In 1908, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Detroit Tigers in the World Series in five games.
1909: Won AL pennant; Ty Cobb won the batting triple crown
In 1909, the Detroit Tigers won the AL pennant, and Ty Cobb won the batting triple crown, hitting .377 with 9 home runs and 107 RBIs.
1909: Lost World Series to Pittsburgh Pirates
In the 1909 World Series, the Detroit Tigers lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in seven games, with an 8-0 loss in the final game.
1910: Finished third in the American League
In 1910, the Detroit Tigers finished third in the American League with an 86-68 record.
1911: Finished second in the American League
In 1911, the Detroit Tigers finished second in the American League with 89 wins.
May 15, 1912: Ty Cobb attacked a fan and was suspended
On May 15, 1912, Ty Cobb went into the stands to attack a fan and was suspended, leading to a protest by the Detroit Tigers.
1912: Moved into Navin Field
In 1912, the Detroit Tigers moved into Navin Field, which was built on the same location as Bennett Park.
1913: Finished sixth in the American League
In 1913, the Detroit Tigers finished sixth in the American League.
1915: Previous Instance of Missing Postseason with 100+ Wins
The 1961 Detroit Tigers missing the postseason despite winning over 100 games was one of the few times in MLB history that a team failed to reach the postseason despite winning 100 or more games; it had happened once before to the Tigers in 1915.
1916: Dropped to third place in the American League
In 1916, the Detroit Tigers dropped to third place in the American League with an 87-67 record.
1920: Hughie Jennings left the Tigers
Hughie Jennings left the Detroit Tigers after the 1920 season, having accumulated 1,131 wins as a manager.
August 19, 1921: Ty Cobb collected his 3,000th career hit
On August 19, 1921, Ty Cobb collected his 3,000th career hit off Elmer Myers of the Boston Red Sox, becoming the youngest player to reach that milestone.
1921: Ty Cobb took over managerial duties
In 1921, Ty Cobb took over managerial duties for the Detroit Tigers.
1921: Highest team hit total and batting average in AL history
In 1921, the Detroit Tigers amassed 1,724 hits and a team batting average of .316, the highest in AL history, but finished in sixth place due to poor pitching.
1923: Finished as high as second
The Detroit Tigers finished as high as second place in 1923, and Harry Heilmann hit .403.
1925: Heilmann collected six hits in a season-ending doubleheader to win the batting title
In 1925, Harry Heilmann collected six hits in a season-ending doubleheader to win the batting title, finishing at .393 to Tris Speaker's .389.
November 1926: Ty Cobb announced his retirement
In November 1926, Ty Cobb announced his retirement from the Detroit Tigers after 22 seasons.
1927: Harry Heilmann won fourth AL batting title
In 1927, Harry Heilmann won his fourth AL batting title, finishing with a .398 batting average.
1930: Script "Detroit" on Road Jersey
In 1930, the script "Detroit" design was first used as part of the Detroit Tigers' road jersey, and would remain so until 1959.
1933: Acquired Mickey Cochrane
Following the 1933 season, the Detroit Tigers acquired Mickey Cochrane from the Philadelphia Athletics to serve as player-manager.
1934: Compared to the 1934 Team
Although the 1935 Detroit Tigers team did not challenge the 1934 team's 101 wins, their 93–58 record was good enough to give them the AL pennant.
1934: Blackletter D Established
In 1934, the Detroit Tigers established the blackletter D on uniforms.
1934: Best winning percentage
In 1934, the Detroit Tigers had their best winning percentage at .656.
1934: Won AL pennant with a 101-53 record
In 1934, the Detroit Tigers won the AL pennant with a 101-53 record, which was a team record for wins at the time and still the best win percentage in team history.
1934: McLain First 30-Game Winner Since 1934
In 1968, Denny McLain became the first pitcher to win 30 or more games in a season since Dizzy Dean accomplished the feat in 1934.
1934: Standard Home Uniform Established
Since 1934, the Detroit Tigers have worn essentially the same home uniform: a solid white jersey with navy blue piping and an Old English "D" on the left chest, white pants, and a navy blue hat with a white Old English "D".
1934: Last World Series Meeting with Cardinals Before 1968
The 1968 World Series between the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals was their first meeting in the World Series since 1934.
1934: Lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals
The Detroit Tigers lost the 1934 World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games, with the final game marred by an ugly incident involving Joe Medwick.
1934: Better winning percentage than the 1915 squad
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.
1935: 1935 Lineup Featured Four Hall of Famers
The 1935 Detroit Tigers lineup featured four future Hall of Famers (Hank Greenberg, Mickey Cochrane, Goose Goslin and Charlie Gehringer). They secured the AL Pennant with a 93-58 record, and Hank Greenberg was named AL MVP.
1935: Won World Series championship
The Detroit Tigers won the World Series championship in 1935.
1936: Finished second behind the New York Yankees
In 1936, the Detroit Tigers finished in a distant second place behind the New York Yankees.
1937: Finished second behind the New York Yankees
In 1937, the Detroit Tigers finished in a distant second place behind the New York Yankees.
1938: Held out doubts about pennant in 1939
During the final week of the 1938 season, the Detroit Tigers held out doubts about a pennant in 1939.
1938: Hank Greenberg challenged the single-season home run record
In 1938, Hank Greenberg challenged Babe Ruth's single-season home run record, finishing with 58 home runs.
1938: Navin Field expanded and renamed Briggs Stadium
Navin Field was expanded in 1938 and renamed Briggs Stadium.
1939: Held out doubts about pennant in 1939
During the final week of the 1938 season, the Detroit Tigers held out doubts about a pennant in 1939.
1939: Finished with an 81-73 record
In 1939, the Detroit Tigers finished with an 81-73 record.
1940: Predicted 1940 would be their year
During the final week of the 1938 season, the Detroit Tigers figured that 1940 would be their year.
1940: Aftermath of 1940 World Series Loss
Following their loss in the 1940 World Series, the Detroit Tigers struggled to recapture their glory due to Hank Greenberg's service in World War II.
1940: Won AL Pennant
In 1940, Bobo Newsom was the ace of the Detroit Tigers pitching staff. Rookie Floyd Giebell pitched the pennant-clinching game against Bob Feller of the Indians, winning 2–0.
1940: Tigers Lose World Series
In 1940, the Detroit Tigers lost the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in seven games, with a final game score of 2-1. Bobo Newsom's father passed away after watching his son win Game 1, and Newsom went on to win Game 5 and pitch Game 7 on one day's rest. This marked the third time the Tigers had lost a World Series in a deciding seventh game.
1941: Ted Williams hit .406
In 1941, Ted Williams became the first AL player to hit over .400 since 1923 with a .406 average.
1944: Tigers Finish Second
In 1944, the Detroit Tigers finished second in the AL, largely due to pitchers Hal Newhouser and Dizzy Trout, who won 29 and 27 games, respectively. Hal Newhouser also won the first of his two consecutive AL MVP awards this season. The team was in first place as late as September 18.
1945: Winning Records Post World Series
Following their World Series win in 1945, the Detroit Tigers continued to have winning records for the remainder of the decade, finishing second in the AL three times but never winning the pennant.
1945: Tigers Win World Series
In 1945, with Newhouser, Trucks, and Trout pitching, and Greenberg leading the offense, the Detroit Tigers won World Series Game 7 against the Cubs with a score of 9-3. Due to the absence of many stars serving in the military, this World Series is considered among the worst-played in history.
1945: Won World Series championship
The Detroit Tigers won the World Series championship in 1945.
1946: Newhouser's Outstanding Season and Kell's Acquisition
In 1946, Hal Newhouser led the league in wins and ERA while striking out a career-high 275 batters, finishing second in AL MVP voting. The Tigers also acquired George Kell, who would become a 10-time all-star and Hall of Famer.
1949: George Kell Wins Batting Title
In 1949, George Kell won the batting title in a close race with Ted Williams, edging him out on the last day of the season with a .34291 average to Williams' .34276.
1950: Frustrating Season for the Tigers
The 1950 season was frustrating for the Detroit Tigers as they posted a 95–59 record, a .617 winning percentage. They finished three games behind the New York Yankees.
1952: Trucks Throws Two No-Hitters
In 1952, despite a dismal season, Virgil Trucks threw two no-hitters. Also, Walt Dropo got a hit in 12 consecutive plate appearances over a three-game stretch from July 14 to 15, tying a major league record.
1952: Death of Walter Briggs Sr.
In 1952, team owner Walter Briggs Sr. passed away. His son, Walter Briggs Jr., inherited the team.
1952: Tigers Post Low Win Total
In 1952, the Tigers recorded a low win total, and their 57 wins in the 1975 season was the lowest since this year.
1953: Debut of Al Kaline
In 1953, outfielder Al Kaline debuted for the Detroit Tigers. He never played a day in the minor leagues.
1955: Kaline Youngest Batting Champion
In 1955, Al Kaline hit .340 to become the youngest-ever batting champion in major league history. He finished runner-up to Yogi Berra in that season's AL MVP voting.
1956: Briggs Jr. Forced to Sell Team
In 1956, Walter Briggs Jr. was forced to sell the Detroit Tigers to broadcast media owners John Fetzer and Fred Knorr.
1957: John Fetzer Owned Tigers
Since 1957, the Detroit Tigers had been owned by broadcasting magnate John Fetzer.
1958: Ozzie Virgil Sr. joins the Tigers
In 1958, the Detroit Tigers became the second to last team to integrate their roster when Dominican player Ozzie Virgil Sr. joined the team.
1959: Block Lettering on Road Jersey
In 1959, the Detroit Tigers changed their road jersey from a script "Detroit" design to a block lettering style.
1960: Block "Detroit" Lettering on Road Uniforms
From 1960 to 1993, the Detroit Tigers sported road uniforms with a block "Detroit" lettering.
1960: Improvement from 1960 to 1961
In 1961, the Detroit Tigers made a 30-game improvement over the 71-83 1960 team, winning 101 games.
1961: Briggs Stadium renamed Tiger Stadium
In 1961, Briggs Stadium was renamed Tiger Stadium.
1961: Tigers Win 101 Games
In 1961, the Detroit Tigers won 101 games but finished eight games behind the Yankees. Norm Cash won the batting title with a .361 average. Rocky Colavito had 45 home runs and 140 RBI.
1961: Maris and Mantle Hit 50 Home Runs
Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle were the first AL players to hit 50 home runs since 1961.
1961: Non-White Starters on the Team
The Detroit Tigers' 1961 team featured two non-white starters, Bill Bruton and Jake Wood.
1962: Stolen base record broken
In 1962, Maury Wills broke Ty Cobb's stolen base record that was set in 1915.
1963: Lolich and McLain Join Rotation
In 1963, pitchers Mickey Lolich and Denny McLain joined the Detroit Tigers' rotation. Willie Horton also joined the team.
1964: Stanley and Northrup Come Aboard
In 1964, Mickey Stanley and Jim Northrup joined the Detroit Tigers.
1966: Bizarre Season with Managerial Changes
The Detroit Tigers had a bizarre 1966 season where manager Chuck Dressen and acting manager Bob Swift resigned due to health problems, and Frank Skaff took over. Both Dressen and Swift died during the year. Following the season, Mayo Smith was hired as the new manager.
1968: "Go Get 'Em, Tigers" Phrase Popularized
During the 1968 season, the Detroit Tigers were cheered on by the phrase "Go Get 'Em, Tigers", which was popularized by a song of the same name written and recorded by Artie Fields. "Sock it to 'em, Tigers!" was also a popular phrase during this time.
1968: Tigers Clinch Pennant, McLain Dominates
In 1968, the Detroit Tigers clinched the AL pennant, finishing with a 103-59 record. Denny McLain went 31-6, winning both the AL MVP and Cy Young Award.
1968: World Series vs. Cardinals
In the 1968 World Series, the Detroit Tigers faced the St. Louis Cardinals. Manager Mayo Smith made the bold decision to play Mickey Stanley at shortstop. This marked the first time the Tigers and Cardinals had met in the World Series since 1934.
1968: 1968 World Series Season
Just as in 1968, the Tigers' next World Series season in 1984 would be preceded by a second-place finish the year before.
1968: Won World Series championship
The Detroit Tigers won the World Series championship in 1968.
1969: Martin Managed Twins in 1969
Billy Martin, who was named the Detroit Tigers' manager in 1970, managed the Minnesota Twins to an AL West Division title in 1969 before being fired.
1969: Expansion and McLain's Second Cy Young
In 1969, both leagues realigned into two divisions. Denny McLain had another great season, earning his second straight Cy Young Award (co-winner with Mike Cuellar). The Tigers finished second in the AL East to the Baltimore Orioles.
1969: Oakland Athletics Become Competitive
Starting in 1969, the Oakland Athletics steadily grew more competitive after the league realignment.
1970: Disappointing Season and Manager Change
The Detroit Tigers had a disappointing 1970 season, finishing fourth in the AL East. Mayo Smith was replaced by Billy Martin as manager.
1971: Tigers Finish Second; Lolich's Strikeout Record
In 1971, Billy Martin's Detroit Tigers posted 91 wins but finished second behind the Baltimore Orioles. Mickey Lolich had 308 strikeouts, which led the AL and is still the single-season record in franchise history.
1971: John Hiller Suffers Heart Attack
In 1971, relief pitcher John Hiller suffered a heart attack.
1972: ALCS Game 2 Incident
During the 1972 ALCS Game 2, a controversial incident occurred where Tigers reliever Lerrin LaGrow hit A's shortstop Bert Campaneris with a pitch, leading to Campaneris throwing his bat at LaGrow. Both were suspended for the series.
1972: Feud Starts Between Northrup and Martin
During the 1972 ALCS, a feud began between Jim Northrup and Billy Martin. Northrup attributed his reduced playing time in 1973 to the feud with Martin.
1972: Tigers Capture AL East Title
In 1972, Joe Coleman, Eddie Brinkman, and Aurelio Rodríguez played vital roles as the Detroit Tigers secured their first AL East division title. Despite an 86-70 record, an unusual schedule due to an early-season strike allowed them to win by a narrow margin. Brinkman earned the title of Tiger of the Year with a .203 batting average but an impressive .990 fielding percentage, committing only 7 errors. Mickey Lolich had 22 wins with a 2.50 ERA and Coleman had 19 wins with a 2.80 ERA. Woodie Fryman, acquired on August 2, contributed significantly with a 10-3 record and a 2.06 ERA, also pitching the division-clinching game on October 3 against the Boston Red Sox.
1972: Orange Trim Added to Road Uniforms
In 1972, the Detroit Tigers added orange trim to their road uniforms.
1972: Won AL East division title
The Detroit Tigers won the AL East division title in 1972.
1973: John Hiller's Successful Return
In 1973, John Hiller had a great year after recovering from a 1971 heart attack. He achieved a league-leading 38 saves, with a 1.44 ERA. This saves total stood as a Tiger record until Todd Jones broke it with 42 saves in 2000.
1973: Tigers Drop to Third Place
In the 1973 season, the Tigers finished third in their division with an 85-77 record. Joe Coleman had 23 wins, but other starters struggled. Willie Horton hit .316 but was limited to 111 games due to injuries. Jim Northrup, despite his .307 average, saw limited playing time (119 games) because of a feud with Billy Martin. Martin was fired in September 1973 for instructing his pitchers to throw spitballs, protesting Gaylord Perry.
1974: Kaline Retires After 3,000th Hit
After notching his 3,000th career hit, Kaline retired at the end of the 1974 season.
1975: Tigers Lowest Win Total Since 1952
The Tigers only had 57 wins in the 1975 season, which was the team's lowest since 1952.
1976: Mark Fidrych's Debut and Success
In 1976, 21-year-old rookie Mark Fidrych, known as "The Bird," debuted for the Tigers. He was famous for talking to the baseball. He entered the All-Star break at 9-2 with a 1.78 ERA and started the All-Star Game. He finished the season with a 19-9 record and a league-leading 2.34 ERA and won AL Rookie of the Year. Despite Fidrych's success, the Tigers finished near the bottom of the AL East.
1976: Aurelio Rodríguez Wins Gold Glove
In 1976, Aurelio Rodríguez won the Gold Glove Award at third base, ending Brooks Robinson's 16-season winning streak.
1977: George Foster Hits 50 Home Runs
George Foster was the first player to hit 50 home runs since 1977.
1977: Tigers Continue Losing Seasons
In 1977, the Tigers continued their streak of not having a winning season, which began in 1974.
1977: Morris, Parrish, Trammell and Whitaker Debut
Jack Morris, Lance Parrish, Alan Trammell, and Lou Whitaker all debuted in 1977, strengthening the Tigers farm system.
1978: Ralph Houk's Last Season
1978 was Ralph Houk's last season as the Tigers' manager.
1978: Tigers Achieve Winning Season Under Houk
In 1978, the Tigers had 88 wins, making it their only winning season under Ralph Houk.
June 14, 1979: Sparky Anderson Becomes Tigers Manager
On June 14, 1979, George "Sparky" Anderson became the manager of the Detroit Tigers.
1980: Kaline Elected to Hall of Fame
In 1980, Kaline was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
1982: White Trim Removed from Caps
Until 1982, the Detroit Tigers' caps initially featured white trim within the orange "D".
1983: Hernandez Acquired From Phillies
During the offseason before the 1984 season, Willie Hernandez was acquired from the 1983 NL champion Philadelphia Phillies.
1983: Tigers Finish Second in AL East
In 1983, the Detroit Tigers finished second in the AL East, winning 92 games, six games behind the Baltimore Orioles.
1983: Team Sold to Monaghan
In late 1983, broadcasting magnate John Fetzer sold the Tigers to Tom Monaghan.
1984: "Bless You Boys" Phrase Coined
During the 1984 World Series championship run, the Detroit Tigers were cheered on to the cry, "Bless You Boys," a phrase coined by sportscaster Al Ackerman.
1984: Tigers Hot Start and Season
In 1984, the Detroit Tigers had a 9-0 start, highlighted by Jack Morris's no-hitter. They posted a 35-5 record over their first 40 games, winning a franchise-record 104 games. Willie Hernández, acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies, won both the Cy Young Award and AL MVP.
1984: Tigers to Face Padres in World Series
In 1984, the San Diego Padres rallied from losing the first two games to overcome the Chicago Cubs and prevent a fifth Cubs-Tigers series, meaning the Tigers would open the 1984 World Series against the Padres in San Diego.
1984: Inspiration for New Uniforms
In 2026, the Detroit Tigers unveiled two new alternative uniforms: an orange home alternate and a navy road alternate. Both uniforms draw inspiration from the striping and logos used during the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s, including the 1984 World Series championship team.
1984: Won World Series championship
The Detroit Tigers won the World Series championship in 1984.
1985: Third-Place Finish
The Detroit Tigers finished in third place in 1985.
1986: Another Third-Place Finish
The Detroit Tigers finished in third place again in 1986.
1987: Tigers Gain Ground on Rivals
After an 11-19 start to the 1987 season, the Detroit Tigers gained ground on their AL East rivals after acquiring pitcher Doyle Alexander, who posted a 9-0 record and 1.53 ERA. The Tigers entered September neck-and-neck with the Toronto Blue Jays, splitting seven close games.
1987: Tigers Division Title Victory
Despite winning their division in 1987, the Tigers would be unable to build on their success.
1987: Tigers Upset in ALCS
In 1987, the Detroit Tigers were upset in the American League Championship Series by the Minnesota Twins 4-1, marking their last postseason appearance until 2006.
1987: Won AL East division title
The Detroit Tigers won the AL East division title in 1987.
1988: Tigers Slump and Miss Playoffs
After losing Kirk Gibson to free agency, the Detroit Tigers spent much of 1988 in first place but a late season slump resulted in a second-place finish.
1989: Tigers Collapse
In 1989, the Detroit Tigers collapsed to a 59-103 record, which was the worst in the majors.
December 1990: Announcement of Harwell's Departure
In December 1990, the Tigers and radio station WJR announced that they were not renewing the contract of Ernie Harwell.
1990: Fielder Leads AL in Home Runs
In 1990, Cecil Fielder led the American League with 51 home runs, becoming the first player since George Foster in 1977 and the first AL player since Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle in 1961 to hit 50, finishing second in the AL MVP voting.
1991: Harwell's Last Season
In December 1990, it was announced that the 1991 season would be Hall of Fame announcer Ernie Harwell's last with the Detroit Tigers, sparking fan protests.
August 1992: Franchise Sold to Ilitch
In August 1992, the Detroit Tigers franchise was sold to Mike Ilitch.
1992: Hughie Jenning's record broken by Sparky Anderson
In 1992, Sparky Anderson broke Hughie Jenning's record of 1,131 wins as a manager.
1992: Fielder Wins RBI Title
In 1992, the Detroit Tigers won only 75 games, however Cecil Fielder won the AL RBI title for a third straight season with 124. The franchise was sold to Mike Ilitch, who rehired Ernie Harwell. Sparky Anderson surpassed Hughie Jennings for most franchise wins.
1993: Block "Detroit" Lettering on Road Uniforms End
In 1993, the Detroit Tigers stopped sporting road uniforms with a block "Detroit" lettering.
1993: Tigers Post Winning Record
In 1993, the Tigers had a winning 85-77 season, their last for a while.
1994: Current Road Uniform First Worn
In 1994, the current version of the Detroit Tigers' road uniform was first worn, initially with racing stripes.
October 2, 1995: Sparky Anderson Retires
On October 2, 1995, Sparky Anderson chose to end his managerial career with the Tigers and retire from baseball altogether.
1995: Stripe-Free Road Uniform Design
From 1995 to 1997, the Detroit Tigers went with a stripe-free road uniform design.
1995: Navy Blue Alternate Jersey Introduced
In 1995, the Detroit Tigers introduced a solid navy blue alternate jersey, which featured the team's primary logo, a tiger stepping through the D, on the chest, which was worn for one home game.
1995: End of Sparky Anderson's Tenure
The 1995 season marked the end of George "Sparky" Anderson's management of the Detroit Tigers.
1996: Tigers Lose Record 109 Games
In 1996, under general manager Randy Smith, the Tigers lost a then-team record of 109 games.
1997: Current Road Uniform Design with Navy Piping
In 1997, the Detroit Tigers adopted the current road uniform design featuring navy piping inspired by the team's mid-1950s road uniforms.
1998: Tigers Move to AL Central
In 1998, the Tigers moved from the AL East to the AL Central as part of a realignment due to the addition of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays expansion team.
1999: Played at Tiger Stadium until 1999
2000: Todd Jones Breaks Save Record
In 2000, Todd Jones broke John Hiller's Tigers record by recording 42 saves.
2000: Opening of Comerica Park Draws Criticism
In 2000, after its opening, Comerica Park faced criticism for its deep dimensions, hindering home runs. Juan González, acquired from the Texas Rangers, cited these dimensions as a reason for declining a contract extension after hitting only 22 home runs.
2000: Played home games at Comerica Park
Since 2000, the Detroit Tigers have played their home games at Comerica Park in Downtown Detroit.
2001: Dave Dombrowski Hired as Team President
In late 2001, Dave Dombrowski, former general manager of the 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins, was hired as team president for the Detroit Tigers.
2002: Dombrowski Fires Smith and Garner
In 2002, after a 0-6 start to the season, Dave Dombrowski fired general manager Randy Smith and manager Phil Garner. Dombrowski took over as general manager and appointed Luis Pujols as interim manager to finish the season.
August 30, 2003: Tigers Reach 100 Losses Before September
On August 30, 2003, the Tigers' loss to the Chicago White Sox marked them as only the second modern MLB team to lose 100 games before September.
2003: Comerica Park Fence Moved
In 2003, the Detroit Tigers addressed criticism of Comerica Park by moving the left-center fence to 370 feet, removing the flagpole from play.
2003: Tigers Finish with Worst Record in Franchise History
In 2003, the Detroit Tigers finished with a 43-119 record, marking the worst in franchise history.
2003: Worst winning percentage
In 2003, the Detroit Tigers had their worst winning percentage at .265.
2003: 1952 Worst Season Until 2003
The Detroit Tigers' 1952 season, where they went 50-104, was the worst in team history until the 2003 team lost 119 games.
2004: Tigers Improve Record After Acquiring Veterans
In 2004, the Detroit Tigers signed or traded for veterans like Fernando Viña, Rondell White, Iván Rodríguez, Ugueth Urbina, and Carlos Guillén, improving their record by 29 games compared to the previous season.
June 8, 2005: Tigers Trade Urbina and Martínez for Polanco
On June 8, 2005, the Detroit Tigers traded pitcher Ugueth Urbina and infielder Ramón Martínez to the Philadelphia Phillies for Plácido Polanco.
October 2005: Jim Leyland Replaces Trammell as Manager
In October 2005, Jim Leyland was hired as manager of the Detroit Tigers, replacing Alan Trammell.
2005: Bullpens Moved at Comerica Park
In 2005, the Detroit Tigers relocated the bullpens to the area beyond the left field fence at Comerica Park and added seats in the previous bullpen location.
2006: "Gum Time" Rally Cry
During a June 2006 game against the New York Yankees, Tigers pitcher Nate Robertson was featured in an in-game interview with FSN Detroit and began stuffing Big League Chew bubble gum into his mouth. The Tigers rallied, leading to the phrase "Gum Time" becoming popular.
2006: Playoff Rivalry with the New York Yankees
In 2006, the Detroit Tigers began a significant playoff rivalry with the New York Yankees.
2006: Tigers Advance to World Series
In 2006, the Detroit Tigers defeated the New York Yankees and swept the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS, advancing to the World Series where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
2006: Tigers Clinch Playoff Berth
In 2006, the Detroit Tigers reached a high point of 40 games over .500, securing their first winning season since 1993 and clinching their first playoff berth since 1987, eventually settling for the AL wild card.
2006: Tigers Make Postseason Appearance
The Detroit Tigers made a postseason appearance in 2006, after not making one since 1987.
September 26, 2007: Tigers Eliminated from Playoff Contention
On September 26, 2007, the Detroit Tigers were officially eliminated from playoff competition when the New York Yankees clinched a wild card berth. The Tigers finished second in the AL Central with a record of 88-74.
2007: Magglio Ordóñez Wins AL Batting Title
In 2007, Magglio Ordóñez captured the AL batting title with a .363 average, becoming the first Tiger to win it since Norm Cash in 1961.
September 25, 2008: Todd Jones Retires
On September 25, 2008, Todd Jones retired from the Detroit Tigers. Despite a disappointing season, the team set an attendance record drawing 3,202,654 customers.
2009: Rodney Assumes Closer Role
In 2009, Fernando Rodney became the Tigers' closer, replacing the retired Todd Jones, while Edwin Jackson made the All-Star team and Justin Verlander finished third in the AL Cy Young balloting.
2009: Tigers Lose Tie-Breaker Game
In 2009, the Detroit Tigers lost a 12-inning tie-breaker game to the Minnesota Twins on October 6 after leading the AL Central for 146 days, missing the playoffs.
June 2, 2010: Joyce's Controversial Call
On June 2, 2010, Armando Galarraga's perfect game was ruined by a controversial call by first-base umpire Jim Joyce, who incorrectly called Jason Donald safe at first base. Joyce apologized, and the incident led to discussions about expanding instant replay.
2010: Tigers Trade Granderson and Jackson
In 2010, the Detroit Tigers traded Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson in a three-way deal, acquiring Austin Jackson, Phil Coke, Max Scherzer, and Daniel Schlereth. Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch were named AL Rookies of the Month.
2011: José Valverde Breaks Save Record
In 2011, José Valverde broke Todd Jones's Tigers record with 49 saves.
2011: Playoff Rivalry with the New York Yankees
In 2011, the Detroit Tigers continued their playoff rivalry with the New York Yankees.
2011: Won AL Central division championship
The Detroit Tigers won the AL Central division championship in 2011.
2012: Won AL pennant and AL Central division championship
In 2012, the Detroit Tigers won both the AL pennant and the AL Central division championship.
2012: ALCS Sweep Against the New York Yankees
In 2012, the Detroit Tigers won each series against the New York Yankees, including a four-game sweep in the ALCS.
August 7, 2013: Rivalry Game at Progressive Field
On August 7, 2013, a game between the Tigers and Cleveland at Progressive Field intensified their rivalry. Tigers fans started 'Let's go Tigers!' chants, countered by Cleveland fans chanting 'Detroit's bankrupt!' in reference to Detroit's bankruptcy in 2013. The Tigers won the game 6-5 in 14 innings.
2013: Max Scherzer broke George Mullin's record
In 2013, Max Scherzer broke George Mullin's 1909 Tigers record for the best start to the season, with a 13-0 start.
2013: Postseason Series Win and ALDS Defeat
In 2013, the Detroit Tigers swept the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card Series, marking their first postseason series win since 2013. However, they were later defeated by the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Division Series in five games.
2013: Won AL Central division championship
The Detroit Tigers won the AL Central division championship in 2013.
2014: Won AL Central division championship
The Detroit Tigers won the AL Central division championship in 2014.
2015: John Smoltz Inducted into Hall of Fame
In 2015, John Smoltz was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
2016: Chicago Cubs won World Championship
The Chicago Cubs won their first World Championship since 1908, in 2016.
2017: Players Weekend Inaugural Games
During the inaugural Players Weekend games from August 25–27, 2017, the Detroit Tigers wore grey away jerseys with bright orange with "Tigers" on the chest, and 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.
2018: "Rally Goose" Phenomenon
During a May 2018 game against the Los Angeles Angels, a goose appeared on the field during a rain delay and flew into the scoreboard. When the game resumed, the Detroit Tigers scored five runs and won, leading to the goose being referred to as the "Rally Goose" and the phrase becoming popular.
2018: Uniform Logo Change
In 2018, the Detroit 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.
2018: Players Weekend Jersey
In the 2018 season, the Detroit Tigers wore a blue jersey with orange sleeves that said "Tigers" on the chest, with an orange cap that had a tiger on it for Players Weekend.
2019: Logo Reversion on Cap
In 2019, the Detroit Tigers reverted to the smaller logo on the cap, but kept the cap sharp-cornered D on the home jerseys.
August 3, 2024: Jim Leyland's No. 10 Retired
On August 3, 2024, the Detroit Tigers retired Jim Leyland's No. 10.
2024: City Connect Jersey Unveiled
In 2024, the Detroit Tigers unveiled their first City Connect jersey, which is a nod to Detroit's automobile industry featuring "Motor City" emblazoned in front with racing stripes, a sleeve patch referencing Comerica Park's location on Woodward Avenue and the city's 313 area code, and a vehicle identification number tag referencing the team's first American League season of 1901 and its four World Series championships.
2025: Newhouser's MVP Record Still Stands
As of 2025, Hal Newhouser remains the only pitcher in AL history to win the MVP Award in two consecutive seasons.
2025: Lolich's World Series Record Still Stands
As of 2025, Mickey Lolich remains the last pitcher to have three complete-game victories in a single World Series.
2025: End of overall win-loss record
The Detroit Tigers' overall win-loss record spans until 2025.
February 2026: MLB Local Media Broadcast Agreement
In February 2026, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment announced that the Detroit Tigers' regional broadcasts would be distributed by MLB Local Media beginning in the 2026 season. The agreement also included the co-owned Detroit Red Wings.
2026: New Alternative Uniforms Unveiled
In 2026, the Detroit Tigers unveiled two new alternative uniforms: an orange home alternate and a navy road alternate. Both uniforms draw inspiration from the striping and logos used during the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s, including the 1984 World Series championship team. The orange jersey features the Old English D on the left breast in navy, outlined in white. The navy jersey displays the Detroit script in orange, double-outlined in navy and white. Additionally, a new cap was introduced to be worn with both uniforms, featuring a navy crown, an orange Old English D, and an orange bill.
Mentioned in this timeline
Meijer is an American supercenter chain operating primarily in the...
Babe Ruth an American professional baseball player - is widely...
Justin Verlander is a highly decorated American professional baseball pitcher...
Max Scherzer nicknamed Mad Max is a highly decorated MLB...
Seattle is the most populous city in Washington and the...
Miami is a major coastal city in Florida and the...
Trending
24 minutes ago Memory ETF surges, challenging traditional stocks with AI focus and significant investment gains.
1 hour ago Chris Bacon shares Tim Burton's scoring advice for 'Wednesday' soundtrack.
2 hours ago ED Attaches Assets in Meghalaya Ponzi Scheme Linked to Crypto Scam
2 hours ago Chernobyl: Baby Moose Rescued, Drone Crash Sparks Fire, Wildfire Erupts in Exclusion Zone
5 hours ago Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Pulled Over by Police After Walk of Fame Event
5 hours ago Detroit Tigers clash with Kansas City Royals on Sunday Night Baseball.
Popular
Ted Turner is an American entrepreneur and media mogul best...
Michael Joseph Jackson the King of Pop was a highly...
William Franklin Graham III known as Franklin Graham is an...
Rudy Giuliani is an American politician and disbarred lawyer best...
Graham Cunningham Platner is an American oyster farmer and Marine...
Marco Rubio is an American politician and diplomat currently serving...