History of Detroit Tigers in Timeline
The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, competing in MLB as part of the American League Central Division. Founded in 1894 as a Western League team, they are the only original team still in its founding city and the oldest continuous one-name, one-city franchise in the AL. Ty Cobb, who joined the team in 1905, was the first Tiger inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936.
1900: Western League Renamed American League
In 1900, the Western League renamed itself the American League, still as a minor league.
1901: Franchise Win-Loss Record Begins
From 1901 to 2024, the Detroit Tigers' overall win-loss record is 9,676-9,567-93 (.503).
1901: The series between the Tigers and Chicago White Sox is one of the oldest active rivalries
In 1901, both the Tigers and Chicago White Sox joined the American League after being charter members of the original Western League, marking the beginning of one of the oldest active rivalries in the league.
1901: Major League Franchise Establishment
In 1901, the Detroit Tigers were established as a major league franchise.
1901: Reference to First American League Season
The City Connect Jersey unveiled in 2024 references the Tigers' first American League season of 1901 and its four World Series championships mentioned by the year in two digits.
1902: Dropo Ties Kling's Record
In 1952, Tiger first baseman Walt Dropo tied a major league record set by Johnny Kling in 1902 by getting a hit in 12 consecutive plate appearances.
1903: Peace Agreement Signed
In 1903, the American League and National League signed a new National Agreement, ending a period of competition and relocation rumors for the Detroit Tigers.
1903: Simple Block D Used
In 1903, the Detroit Tigers used a simple block D on their uniforms.
1903: Mascot Replaced on Ballcap
In 1903, the Detroit Tigers' initial mascot on their ballcap, a red tiger on a dark background, was replaced by the letter "D".
1904: Blackletter D on Uniforms
In 1904, a version of the Detroit Tigers' blackletter D was first seen on uniforms.
1905: Acquisition of Ty Cobb
In 1905, the Detroit Tigers acquired 18-year-old Ty Cobb, who would become one of the greatest players of all time.
1907: AL Pennant Win and World Series Appearance
In 1907, the Detroit Tigers won the AL pennant with a 92-58 record and advanced to their first World Series appearance against the Chicago Cubs.
1907: AL Pennant Win
In 1907, the Detroit Tigers won the American League (AL) pennant.
1908: World Series Loss to the Cubs
In 1908, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Detroit Tigers in five games in the World Series. This was the Cubs' last World Championship until 2016.
1908: AL Pennant Win
In 1908, the Detroit Tigers won the American League (AL) pennant.
1909: World Series Loss to Pittsburgh Pirates
In 1909, the Detroit Tigers lost the World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates in seven games, with an 8-0 defeat in the decisive game at Bennett Park.
1909: AL Pennant Win and Ty Cobb's Triple Crown
In 1909, the Detroit Tigers won the AL pennant with a 98-54 record. Ty Cobb won the batting triple crown, hitting .377 with 9 home runs and 107 RBIs.
1909: AL Pennant Win
In 1909, the Detroit Tigers won the American League (AL) pennant.
1910: Third Place Finish
In 1910, the Detroit Tigers finished in third place in the American League with an 86-68 record.
1911: Second Place Finish
In 1911, the Detroit Tigers posted 89 wins to finish second in the American League.
May 15, 1912: Cobb Attacks Fan, Gets Suspended
On May 15, 1912, Ty Cobb went into the stands to attack a fan and was suspended, leading to a protest by the Tigers using replacement players.
1912: Move to Navin Field
In 1912, the Detroit Tigers moved into Navin Field, which was built on the same location as Bennett Park.
1912: Mullin's No-Hitter
On July 4, 1912, George Mullin pitched the franchise's first no-hitter in a 7-0 win over the St. Louis Browns on his 32nd birthday.
1913: Sixth Place Finish
In 1913, the Detroit Tigers sunk to a dismal sixth place in the American League standings.
1915: Tigers Fail To Reach Postseason Despite Winning 100 Games
In 1961, the Detroit Tigers became one of the few teams in MLB history to fail to reach the postseason despite winning 100 or more games, marking only the second time this had happened to the Tigers, previously occurring in 1915.
1916: Third Place Finish
In 1916, the Detroit Tigers dropped to third place with an 87-67 record.
1920: Hughie Jennings Leaves the Tigers
After the 1920 season, Hughie Jennings left the Detroit Tigers, having accumulated 1,131 wins as a manager, a record that stood until 1992.
August 19, 1921: Ty Cobb's 3,000th 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: Cobb Takes Over Managerial Duties
In 1921, Ty Cobb took over managerial duties for the Detroit Tigers.
1921: High Team Batting Average and Hit Total
In 1921, the Detroit Tigers amassed 1,724 hits and a team batting average of .316, the highest in AL history, but finished sixth due to poor pitching.
1923: Heilmann hits .403
In 1923, Harry Heilmann hit .403, the last AL player to top .400 until Ted Williams in 1941.
1925: Heilmann Wins Batting Title
In 1925, Harry Heilmann collected six hits in a season-ending doubleheader to win the batting title, finishing at .393.
November 1926: Cobb Announces Retirement
In November 1926, Ty Cobb announced his retirement after 22 seasons with the Detroit Tigers.
1927: Heilmann Wins Batting Title
In 1927, Harry Heilmann flirted with a .400 batting average all year, eventually finishing at .398 and winning his fourth AL batting title.
1930: Script "Detroit" on Road Jerseys
In 1930, the Detroit Tigers introduced the script "Detroit" design on their road jerseys.
1933: Acquisition of Mickey Cochrane
Following the 1933 season, the Detroit Tigers acquired catcher Mickey Cochrane from the Philadelphia Athletics to serve as player-manager.
1934: Best Winning Percentage
In 1934, the Detroit Tigers achieved their best winning percentage in franchise history at .656.
1934: Home Uniform Design Established
In 1934, the Detroit Tigers established their home uniform design, featuring 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 "D".
1934: Tigers' Longest Winning Streak Since 1934
In 1934, the Detroit Tigers had their longest winning streak in franchise history, winning 14 straight games. The 2011 team had the longest winning streak since then.
1934: AL Pennant Win
In 1934, the Detroit Tigers won the AL pennant with a 101-53 record, the best win percentage in team history.
1934: 1935 Lineup featuring four Hall of Famers
In 1935, The Tigers 1935 lineup featured four future Hall of Famers: Hank Greenberg, Mickey Cochrane, Goose Goslin and Charlie Gehringer.
1934: McLain First 30 Game Winner Since 1934
In 1968, Denny McLain became the first pitcher to win 30 games in a season since Dizzy Dean did in 1934.
1934: First World Series Meeting Since 1934
In 1968, the World Series between the Tigers and Cardinals marked their first matchup in the World Series since 1934.
1934: First Back-to-Back Postseason Appearances
In 2012, the Tigers division title marked the first back-to-back postseason appearances since 1934–35.
1934: World Series Loss and Fan Incident
In the 1934 World Series, the Detroit Tigers lost in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals. Game 7 was marred by an incident involving Joe Medwick and angry fans.
1934: 1934 Team Comparison
The 1915 Tigers was the only team in Tigers history with a better winning percentage than the 1934 team that lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals.
1935: World Series Championship
In 1935, the Detroit Tigers won one of their four World Series championships.
1935: AL Pennant Win and Greenberg's MVP
In 1935, the Detroit Tigers won the AL pennant. Hank Greenberg was named AL MVP after leading the league in home runs and RBIs.
1936: Second Place Finish
In 1936, the Detroit Tigers finished in a distant second place behind the New York Yankees.
1937: Second Place Finish
In 1937, the Detroit Tigers finished in a distant second place behind the New York Yankees.
1938: Doubts about 1939 Pennant
During the final week of the 1938 season, the Detroit Tigers held out doubts about a pennant in 1939, but figured that 1940 would be their year.
1938: Expansion and Renaming of Navin Field
In 1938, Navin Field was expanded and renamed Briggs Stadium.
1939: Doubts about Pennant in 1939
During the final week of the 1938 season, the Detroit Tigers held out doubts about a pennant in 1939, but figured that 1940 would be their year.
1939: Further Down the Standings
In 1939, the Detroit Tigers fell further down the standings with an 81-73 record.
1939: Tigers tied the 1939 St. Louis Browns for the most home losses
The 2019 Tigers tied the 1939 St. Louis Browns for the most home losses (59) during a season in the modern era
1940: 1940 Prediction
During the final week of the 1938 season, the Detroit Tigers held out doubts about a pennant in 1939, but figured that 1940 would be their year.
1940: Struggling to Recapture 1940 Glory
Following their loss in the 1940 World Series, the Tigers struggled to recapture the same level of success in the subsequent seasons.
1940: Bobo Newsom's Ace Status and Giebell's Heroics
In 1940, Bobo Newsom was the ace of the Detroit Tigers' pitching staff, and rookie Floyd Giebell pitched the pennant-clinching game against Bob Feller of the Indians.
1940: Tigers lose World Series to Reds
In 1940, the Detroit Tigers lost the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in seven games. Bobo Newsom's father died in Cincinnati after watching his son win Game 1. Newsom won Game 5 and pitched Game 7 on one day's rest, but the Tigers lost the deciding game 2–1.
1940: AL Pennant Win and Greenberg's MVP Award
In 1940, the Detroit Tigers won the AL pennant. Hank Greenberg was persuaded to move to left field and won his second AL MVP award at a different position.
1941: Ted Williams Hits .406
In 1923, Harry Heilmann hit .403, the last AL player to top .400 until Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941.
1941: Tigers Struggle Without Hank Greenberg
In 1941, without Hank Greenberg for parts of the season due to World War II, the Tigers struggled, finishing no higher than fifth place.
1943: Tigers Finish No Higher Than Fifth Place
In 1943, the Detroit Tigers finished no higher than fifth place, continuing their struggle to reach the top of the league standings.
1944: Tigers finish second
In 1944, the Tigers finished in second place, one game behind the St. Louis Browns, due to the performance of pitchers Hal Newhouser and Dizzy Trout. Newhouser won his first AL MVP award.
1945: Tigers Win World Series
Following their World Series win in 1945, the Tigers continued to have winning records, finishing second in the AL three times but not winning the pennant again that decade.
1945: World Series Championship
In 1945, the Detroit Tigers won one of their four World Series championships.
1946: Newhouser's Stellar Season and Kell's Arrival
In 1946, Hal Newhouser led the league in wins and ERA but finished second in MVP voting to Ted Williams. The Tigers also acquired George Kell, a future Hall of Famer.
1949: Kell Wins Batting Title
In 1949, George Kell won the batting title, narrowly edging out Ted Williams with a .34291 average to Williams' .34276.
1950: Frustrating Season for Tigers
In 1950, the Tigers had a 95–59 record, the fourth-best in team history at the time, but finished three games behind the New York Yankees.
1952: Trucks Throws Two No-Hitters
In 1952, despite a dismal season for the Tigers, Virgil Trucks threw two no-hitters. Walt Dropo got a hit in 12 consecutive plate appearances.
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 have win total
In 1952, the Tigers had a win total higher than 57.
1953: Debut of Al Kaline
In 1953, outfielder Al Kaline debuted for the Tigers. He never played a day in the minor leagues and would hit over .300 nine times in his career.
1955: Kaline Becomes Youngest Batting Champion
In 1955, 20-year-old Al Kaline hit .340 to become the youngest-ever batting champion in major league history.
1956: Briggs Jr. Forced to Sell Team
In 1956, Walter Briggs Jr. was compelled to sell the Detroit Tigers to broadcast media owners John Fetzer and Fred Knorr.
1958: Tigers Integrate Roster
In 1958, the Tigers became the second to last team to integrate their roster when Dominican player Ozzie Virgil Sr. joined the team.
1959: Change to Block Lettering on Road Jerseys
In 1959, the Detroit Tigers changed the script "Detroit" on their road jerseys to a block lettering style.
1960: Block "Detroit" Lettering
From 1960 to 1993, the Detroit Tigers sported road uniforms with a block "Detroit" lettering.
1960: Significant Improvement from 1960
The 1961 Detroit Tigers team improved by 30 games from the 71-83 team of 1960.
1961: Non-White Players Join Starting Lineup
In 1961, Bill Bruton and Jake Wood started for the Detroit Tigers, marking increased diversity in the team's lineup.
1961: Briggs Stadium Renamed Tiger Stadium
In 1961, Briggs Stadium was renamed Tiger Stadium.
1961: Tigers Improve Significantly
In 1961, the Tigers had an outstanding campaign, leading the majors in runs scored and winning 101 games, but still finished eight games behind the Yankees. Norm Cash won the batting title.
1961: Maris and Mantle last AL player to hit 50 home runs
Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, in 1961, were the last AL players to hit 50 home runs.
1962: Stolen Base Record Broken
In 1915, Ty Cobb set a stolen base record with 96 steals, that stood until Maury Wills broke it in 1962.
1963: Lolich and McLain Enter Rotation; Horton Joins
In 1963, pitchers Mickey Lolich and Denny McLain joined the Tigers' rotation. Outfielder Willie Horton also came aboard.
1964: Stanley and Northrup Join
Around 1964, outfielders Mickey Stanley and Jim Northrup joined the Detroit Tigers.
1966: Bizarre Season for Tigers
In 1966, the Tigers had a bizarre season, with manager Chuck Dressen and acting manager Bob Swift resigning due to health issues. Frank Skaff took over, and both Dressen and Swift died during the year. Mayo Smith was hired as the new manager.
1967: Tigers Miss Pennant by One Game
In 1967, the Tigers were involved in a close pennant race, finishing one game behind the Boston Red Sox. They lost the second game of a doubleheader on the last day of the season, preventing a playoff.
1967: Cabrera first to earn Triple Crown since Yaz in 1967
In 2012, Miguel Cabrera earned the Triple Crown in batting, leading the AL in batting average (.330), home runs (44), and runs batted in (139). No player had accomplished this feat since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.
1968: World Series Championship
In 1968, the Detroit Tigers won one of their four World Series championships.
1968: Tigers Clinch Pennant; McLain's Dominance
In 1968, the Tigers clinched the AL pennant and reached the World Series. Denny McLain went 31–6, winning the AL MVP and Cy Young Award.
1968: Tigers Face Cardinals in World Series
In the 1968 World Series, the Detroit Tigers faced the St. Louis Cardinals, led by Bob Gibson. Manager Mayo Smith played Mickey Stanley at shortstop, allowing an outfield of Horton, Northrup, and Kaline.
1968: Tigers World Series season
The 1968 season was the Tigers' World Series season.
1969: Martin Managed Twins to AL West Title
Billy Martin, the new manager for the Detroit Tigers in 1970, previously managed the Minnesota Twins to an AL West Division title in 1969 before being fired.
1969: McLain Wins Second Cy Young Award
In 1969, Detroit Tigers failed to defend their title, despite Denny McLain having a 24–9 campaign, earning him his second straight Cy Young Award. The Tigers finished second in the division.
1969: Oakland Athletics competitive after realignment
The Oakland Athletics became steadily competitive ever since the 1969 realignment.
1970: Tigers Finish Fourth; Smith Replaced by Martin
In 1970, the Tigers finished fourth in the AL East, and Mayo Smith was replaced by Billy Martin as manager.
1971: John Hiller suffers a heart attack
In 1971, relief pitcher John Hiller suffered a heart attack.
1971: Lolich's Dominance, Tigers Finish Second
In 1971, the Tigers posted 91 wins but finished second to the Orioles. Mickey Lolich led the AL with 308 strikeouts, setting a franchise record.
1972: Tigers capture first AL East division title
In 1972, Joe Coleman, Eddie Brinkman and Aurelio Rodríguez played critical roles as the Tigers captured their first AL East division title. The 86–70 Tigers won the division by just 1⁄2 game due to an odd schedule because of an early season strike. Brinkman was named Tiger of the Year with a .203 batting average, but committed only 7 errors. Mickey Lolich won 22 games and Woodie Fryman, acquired on August 2, went 10–3 with a 2.06 ERA.
1972: AL East Division Title
In 1972, the Detroit Tigers won a division title as a member of the AL East.
1972: ALCS Game 2 marred by incident
In the 1972 ALCS Game 2, Tigers reliever Lerrin LaGrow hit A's shortstop Bert Campaneris on the ankle with a pitch. Campaneris threw the bat at LaGrow, leading to both players being suspended for the remainder of the series.
1972: Martin and Northrup feud begins
The feud between Jim Northrup and Billy Martin started in the 1972 ALCS, with Northrup attributing his part-time duty in 1973 to the feud.
1973: John Hiller leads league in saves
In 1973, John Hiller had his first full season since his heart attack in 1971, collecting a league-leading 38 saves and posting a 1.44 ERA.
1973: Tigers drop to third place, Martin fired
In 1973, the Tigers dropped to third place in the division with an 85–77 record, despite Joe Coleman posting 23 wins. Willie Horton hit .316 but was limited to 111 games. Billy Martin was fired that September after ordering his pitchers to throw spitballs in protest of Indians pitcher Gaylord Perry.
1974: Kaline retires
Al Kaline retired following the 1974 season, after reaching 3,000 career hits.
1975: Tigers have lowest win total since 1952
In 1975, the Tigers had their lowest win total since 1952, with 57 wins.
1976: Mark Fidrych makes debut, becomes All-Star
In 1976, 21-year-old rookie Mark "The Bird" Fidrych made his debut. He started the All-Star Game and finished the season with a 19–9 record and a league-leading 2.34 ERA, also becoming AL Rookie of the Year.
1976: Aurelio Rodríguez wins Gold Glove Award
In 1976, Aurelio Rodríguez won the Gold Glove Award at third base, ending Brooks Robinson's 16-year streak.
1977: Tigers did not have a winning season
From 1974 to 1977, the Tigers did not have a winning season.
1977: George Foster hit 50 home runs
George Foster hit 50 home runs in 1977, the first player to hit 50 since then.
1977: Morris, Parrish, Trammell, and Whitaker debut
In 1977, Jack Morris, Lance Parrish, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker all made their debuts.
1978: Houk's final season
1978 was Ralph Houk's final season as manager of the Tigers.
1978: Tigers have only winning season under Houk
In 1978, the Tigers won 88 games, the only winning season under manager 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
Al Kaline was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980, his first year of eligibility.
1982: White Trim in Orange D
Until 1982, the Detroit Tigers caps initially featured white trim within the orange "D".
1983: Tigers finish second in AL East
In 1983, the Tigers finished second in the AL East with 92 wins, six games behind the Baltimore Orioles.
1983: Fetzer sells team to Monaghan
In late 1983, broadcasting magnate John Fetzer, who had owned the Tigers since 1957, sold the team to Tom Monaghan for $53 million.
1983: Hernández acquired in the offseason
In the 1983 offseason, Willie Hernández was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies.
1984: World Series Championship
In 1984, the Detroit Tigers won one of their four World Series championships.
1984: Tigers start 9-0, win 104 games
In 1984, the Tigers started the season 9–0 with Jack Morris throwing a no-hitter. They posted a 35–5 record over their first forty games, finishing with a franchise-record 104 victories. Willie Hernández won both the Cy Young Award and AL MVP.
1984: "Bless You Boys" takes on new meaning
In 1984, the phrase "Bless You Boys," originally used sarcastically by Detroit TV sports anchor Al Ackerman, took on a new meaning.
1984: Tigers open World Series on the road
The Tigers opened the 1984 World Series on the road in San Diego.
1985: Tigers have third place finish
In 1985, the Detroit Tigers finished in third place.
1986: Tigers have third place finish
In 1986, the Detroit Tigers finished in third place.
1987: Tigers clinch division title
In 1987, the Detroit Tigers clinched the division title in a 1-0 victory over Toronto, with Frank Tanana pitching a complete-game shutout.
1987: Tigers acquire Alexander, clinch AL East
In 1987, the Tigers acquired pitcher Doyle Alexander, who went 9–0 with a 1.53 ERA. They entered September neck-and-neck with the Blue Jays and clinched the division on October 4 in a 1-0 victory over Toronto.
1987: Tigers lose ALCS to Twins
In 1987, the Tigers lost the American League Championship Series to the Minnesota Twins 4–1.
1987: Tigers' First Division Title Since 1987
On September 16, the Tigers clinched the AL Central Division title with a 3–1 win over the Oakland Athletics. It was their first division title of any kind since 1987.
1988: Tigers finish second
In 1988, the Tigers finished in second place at 88–74, one game behind the Boston Red Sox, after being in first place for most of the season.
1989: Tigers have worst record
In 1989, the Detroit Tigers had a 59–103 record, the worst in the majors.
December 1990: Harwell's contract not renewed
In December 1990, the Tigers announced that they were not renewing the contract of Ernie Harwell, with the 1991 season to be Harwell's last with the team, drawing protests from fans.
1991: Tigers have winning record
In 1991, the Tigers posted a winning record at 84-78.
August 1992: Ilitch buys franchise, rehires Harwell
In August 1992, Mike Ilitch bought the franchise and rehired Ernie Harwell.
1992: Sparky Anderson Breaks Managerial Wins Record
In 1992, Sparky Anderson broke Hughie Jennings' record of 1,131 managerial wins for the Detroit Tigers.
1992: Verlander First Pitcher to Win AL MVP Since 1992
In 2011, Justin Verlander won AL MVP, becoming the first pitcher to do so since Dennis Eckersley in 1992.
1992: Mike Ilitch, Tigers owner
On February 10, 2017, Mike Ilitch, the owner of the Detroit Tigers since 1992, passed away at the age of 87.
1993: End of Block "Detroit" Lettering
In 1993, the Detroit Tigers block "Detroit" lettering ended.
1993: Last winning season for years
The 1993 season was the last winning season for the Detroit Tigers for a number of years.
1994: Current Road Uniform Introduced
In 1994, the current version of the Detroit Tigers' road uniform was first worn, initially with racing stripes.
October 2, 1995: Anderson retires
On October 2, 1995, manager Sparky Anderson retired from baseball.
1995: Stripe-Free Road Uniform Design
From 1995, the Detroit Tigers went with a stripe-free design on their road uniforms.
1995: Sparky Anderson manages Tigers through 1995 season
From June 14, 1979, until the end of the 1995 season, the Detroit Tigers were managed by George "Sparky" Anderson.
1995: Introduction of Alternate Jersey
In 1995, the Detroit Tigers introduced a solid navy blue alternate jersey, featuring the team's primary logo at the time.
1997: Current Road Uniform Design Continues
In 1997, the Detroit Tigers continued with the stripe-free design on their road uniforms, and then to the current version featuring navy piping inspired by the team's mid-1950s road uniforms.
1998: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit Picks Up Rights
In 1998, FanDuel Sports Network Detroit picked up the Detroit Tigers' television rights from Pro-Am Sports System.
1998: Tigers' First AL Central Title Since 1998
On September 16, the Tigers clinched the AL Central Division title with a 3–1 win over the Oakland Athletics. It was their first AL Central title since joining the division in 1998.
2000: Todd Jones breaks Hiller's saves record
In 2000, Todd Jones broke John Hiller's Tiger record by collecting 42 saves.
2000: Inauguration of Comerica Park
Since 2000, the Detroit Tigers have played their home games at Comerica Park in Downtown Detroit.
2003: Worst Winning Percentage
In 2003, the Detroit Tigers had their worst winning percentage in franchise history at .265.
2003: Worst record in Franchise History
In 2019, The Tigers finished the season with a 47–114 record, the worst in all of Major League Baseball, and their second worst season in franchise history after their 43–119 record in 2003
2003: Omar Infante Played for Detroit
On July 23, 2012, the Tigers acquired veteran second baseman Omar Infante, who played for Detroit in 2003–07
2003: Tigers Pitchers Break Strikeout Record
On September 25, the Tigers' pitchers struck out 1,428 batters during the regular season, breaking the 2003 Chicago Cubs' record of 1,404.
2003: Worst Season in Tigers History Until 2003
The 1952 season was the worst season in Tigers history until the 2003 team lost 119 games.
June 8, 2005: Trade for Placido Polanco
On June 8, 2005, the Tigers traded pitcher Ugueth Urbina and infielder Ramón Martínez to the Philadelphia Phillies for Plácido Polanco.
2006: AL Pennant Win
In 2006, the Detroit Tigers won the American League (AL) pennant.
2006: First postseason appearance
The 2006 season was the Tigers' first postseason appearance
September 25, 2008: Todd Jones Retirement
On September 25, 2008, Todd Jones retired from the Detroit Tigers.
2008: Rights Renewed with FanDuel
In 2008, the Detroit Tigers renewed their television rights with FanDuel Sports Network Detroit.
May 7, 2011: Turnbull First to Throw No-Hitter since Verlander
On May 18, 2021, Spencer Turnbull became the first Detroit Tigers player to throw a no-hitter since Justin Verlander on May 7, 2011.
2011: José Valverde breaks Jones' saves record
In 2011, José Valverde broke Todd Jones' Tiger record by collecting 49 saves.
2011: Verlander, Valverde, and Cabrera win awards
In 2011, Justin Verlander won the pitching triple crown and the AL Cy Young and MVP awards. José Valverde won MLB Delivery Man of the Year, and Miguel Cabrera won the AL batting title.
2011: Tigers send five players to the All-Star Game
In 2011, the Detroit Tigers sent five players to the All-Star Game, including Alex Avila, Justin Verlander, José Valverde, and Miguel Cabrera. Jhonny Peralta was added later due to an injury.
2011: AL Central Division Championship
In 2011, the Detroit Tigers won the American League (AL) Central division championship.
2011: Tigers looked to defend their AL Central Division title
In 2012, the Detroit Tigers looked to defend their 2011 AL Central Division title and hoped to earn a second consecutive playoff appearance.
2011: First Back-to-Back Divisional Titles
In 2012, the Tigers division title was the first back-to-back divisional titles in team history, since 2011.
November 15, 2012: Cabrera named AL MVP
On November 15, 2012, Miguel Cabrera was named AL MVP.
2012: AL Pennant and Central Division Championship
In 2012, the Detroit Tigers won both the American League (AL) pennant and the AL Central division championship.
2012: Tigers Clinch AL Central Division Title
On October 1, 2012, the Detroit Tigers clinched the AL Central division title with a 6–3 win against the Kansas City Royals.
2012: Tigers looked to defend their AL Pennant
The Detroit Tigers entered the 2013 season looking to defend their 2012 AL pennant. Key acquisitions in the offseason included signing free agent outfielder Torii Hunter and pitcher Aníbal Sánchez.
August 7, 2013: Tigers Defeat Cleveland Amidst Controversial Chants
On August 7, 2013, during a game at Progressive Field between the Tigers and the Cleveland Indians, a "Detroit's bankrupt!" chant was directed towards Tigers fans in reference to Detroit's 2013 bankruptcy. The Tigers ultimately won the game 6–5 in 14 innings.
2013: Max Scherzer Breaks Record
In 1909, George Mullin had an 11-0 start, a Tigers record that was broken by Max Scherzer in 2013 with a 13-0 start.
2013: AL Central Division Championship
In 2013, the Detroit Tigers won the American League (AL) Central division championship.
2013: First Postseason Series Win Since 2013
In 2024, In the American League Wild Card Series, the Tigers swept the Houston Astros 2–0, securing their first postseason series win since 2013.
2013: Tigers sign Joe Nathan and Joba Chamberlain
In an effort to improve a bullpen that often struggled in 2013, the Tigers signed veteran closer Joe Nathan and later signed Joba Chamberlain.
2013: Tigers Add Hunter and Sánchez
In the 2013 offseason, the Tigers signed Torii Hunter and Aníbal Sánchez.
2013: Tigers Place Six Players on All-Star Team
The Detroit Tigers placed six players on the 2013 American League All-Star team, including Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Jhonny Peralta, Torii Hunter, Max Scherzer, and Justin Verlander.
May 2, 2014: Tigers Sign Joel Hanrahan
On May 2, 2014, the Tigers signed free agent reliever Joel Hanrahan to a one-year contract to bolster their struggling bullpen.
2014: Brad Ausmus Management
Brad Ausmus' Contract Not Extended past the 2017 season, he won one AL Central division title in 2014.
2014: Tigers Swept in ALDS by Orioles
In 2014, the Detroit Tigers were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Division Series.
2014: AL Central Division Championship
In 2014, the Detroit Tigers won the American League (AL) Central division championship.
2014: First Playoff Berth since 2014
In 2024, the Detroit Tigers clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2014 on September 27, finishing the season with a 86–76 record.
2015: John Smoltz inducted into Hall of Fame
In 2015, John Smoltz was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
2015: Four Tigers Selected for All-Star Game
In 2015, the Detroit Tigers sent four players to the MLB All-Star Game: Miguel Cabrera, David Price, J.D. Martinez, and Jose Iglesias.
2015: Michael Fulmer was acquired from the Mets
In 2016, Michael Fulmer won the AL Rookie of the Year Award, Michael Fulmer was acquired from the New York Mets organization in 2015
2015: Nine of the Tigers' roster replaced.
In 2016, nine of the members of the 2015 Tigers roster were replaced through trades and free agency.
2016: Primetime TV Ratings
During the 2016 season, the Detroit Tigers averaged a 7.56 rating and 138,000 viewers on primetime TV broadcasts.
2016: Chicago Cubs Win World Series
In 1908, the Detroit Tigers lost the World Series to the Chicago Cubs, which was the Cubs' last World Championship until 2016.
2016: Michael Fulmer wins AL Rookie of the Year
In 2016, Michael Fulmer won the AL Rookie of the Year Award.
2016: Tigers add Zimmermann, Upton, Maybin, Rodriguez
In 2016, the Tigers added pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, outfielder Justin Upton, outfielder Cameron Maybin, and closer Francisco Rodriguez.
2016: Joe Nathan had a club option for 2016
In an effort to improve a bullpen that often struggled in 2013, the Tigers signed veteran closer Joe Nathan with a club option for 2016.
February 10, 2017: Mike Ilitch Passes Away
On February 10, 2017, Mike Ilitch, the owner of the Detroit Tigers since 1992, passed away at the age of 87.
October 20, 2017: Ron Gardenhire Hired as Manager
On October 20, 2017, the Detroit Tigers hired Ron Gardenhire as their new manager.
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 and a tiger on the cap, instead of the Old English "D".
2017: Tigers Begin Rebuild, Trade Key Players
In 2017, after a disappointing record, the Tigers began a rebuild by trading J.D. Martinez, Alex Avila, Justin Wilson, Justin Upton, and Justin Verlander.
2017: Ausmus' Contract Not Extended
On September 22, 2017, the Tigers announced that Brad Ausmus' contract would not be extended, ending his four-year tenure as manager.
2017: Game Ratings
Through 25 games in 2017, the Detroit Tigers' games have averaged a 5.57 rating.
2018: Tigers awarded number one overall pick
In 2017, the Tigers awarded number one overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.
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 Jerseys
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
In 2019, the Detroit Tigers reverted to the smaller logo on the cap, but kept the cap sharp-cornered 'D' on the home jerseys.
2019: Tigers Sign Harrison and Mercer
In 2019, the Detroit Tigers signed Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison.
2019: Michael Fulmer Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
On March 19, 2019, Michael Fulmer underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the season.
October 30, 2020: Tigers Hire A. J. Hinch as Manager
On October 30, 2020, the Detroit Tigers hired A. J. Hinch as their manager.
2021: Rights Renewal Term
The Detroit Tigers renewed their rights apparently until 2021.
August 10, 2022: Al Avila Fired as General Manager
On August 10, 2022, the Detroit Tigers fired Al Avila as their general manager.
September 19, 2022: Scott Harris Hired as President of Baseball Operations
On September 19, 2022, the Detroit Tigers hired Scott Harris as their president of baseball operations.
October 25, 2022: Rob Metzler Hired as Vice President and Assistant General Manager
On October 25, 2022, the Detroit Tigers hired Rob Metzler as their vice president and assistant general manager.
September 21, 2023: Tigers Hire Jeff Greenberg as General Manager
On September 21, 2023, the Detroit Tigers hired Jeff Greenberg as their general manager.
August 3, 2024: Jim Leyland's No. 10 Retired
On August 3, 2024, the Detroit Tigers retired Jim Leyland's No. 10.
2024: Newhouser Only AL Pitcher With Consecutive MVP Awards
As of 2024, Hal Newhouser remains the only pitcher in AL history to win the MVP Award in two consecutive seasons.
2024: Lolich Last To Have Three Complete Game Victories
As of 2024, Mickey Lolich is the last pitcher to have three complete-game victories in a single World Series.
2024: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit Rights Holder
As of 2024, the Detroit Tigers' current exclusive local television rights holder is FanDuel Sports Network Detroit.
2024: Tigers' Win-Loss Record
From 1901 to 2024, the Detroit Tigers' overall win-loss record is 9,676-9,567-93 (.503).
2024: Tigers Clinch Playoff Berth
In 2024, the Detroit Tigers clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2014 on September 27, finishing the season with a 86–76 record.
2024: City Connect Jersey Unveiled
In 2024, the Detroit Tigers unveiled their first City Connect jersey, a nod to Detroit's automobile industry, featuring the "Motor City" nickname and tire tread patterns.
February 12, 2025: Roster Update
On February 12, 2025, the Detroit Tigers' roster, coaches, and NRIs were updated.
