History of Detroit Tigers in Timeline
The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, competing in MLB as part of the AL 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, a legendary player for the Tigers, was the first team member inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.
1900: Western League Renamed American League
In 1900, the Western League renamed itself the American League, still a minor league.
1901: Establishment as a Major League Franchise
In 1901, the Detroit Tigers were established as a major league franchise.
1901: Referenced the team's first American League season
The City Connect jersey, unveiled in 2024, the right side features a faux vehicle identification number tag, "1901354566884", referencing the Tigers' first American League season of 1901.
1902: Walt Dropo ties major league record set by Johnny Kling
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: Peace Agreement
In 1903, the American League and National League signed a new National Agreement, ending relocation rumors.
1903: Ballcap Logo Change
In 1903, the Detroit Tigers' ballcap logo, which initially featured a red tiger on a dark background, was replaced by the letter "D".
1903: Simple block D on uniforms
The Detroit Tigers used a simple block D on their uniforms in 1903, before introducing the blackletter D in 1904.
1904: Blackletter D on uniforms
A version of the Detroit Tigers' blackletter D was first seen on their uniforms in 1904, following a simple block D in 1903.
1905: Ty Cobb's First Season
In 1905, Ty Cobb played his first season with Detroit. He was later inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.
1905: Acquisition of Ty Cobb
In 1905, the Detroit Tigers acquired 18-year-old Ty Cobb, who became one of the greatest players of all time.
1907: AL Pennant Win and World Series Appearance
In 1907, the Detroit Tigers, led by Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford, won the AL pennant and appeared in their first World Series against the Chicago Cubs.
1908: World Series Loss to Cubs
In 1908, the Detroit Tigers were defeated by the Chicago Cubs in the World Series in five games.
1909: World Series Loss to Pirates
In 1909, the Detroit Tigers lost the World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates in seven games.
1909: AL Pennant Win and Cobb's 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.
1910: Third Place Finish
In 1910, the Detroit Tigers dropped to 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's Suspension for Attacking a Fan
On May 15, 1912, Ty Cobb went into the stands to attack a fan and was suspended, leading to a protest by the Tigers.
1912: Move to Navin Field
In 1912, the Detroit Tigers moved into Navin Field, which was built on the same location as Bennett Park.
1913: Dismal Sixth Place Finish
In 1913, the Detroit Tigers sunk to a dismal sixth place.
1915: Tigers fail to reach postseason despite winning 100 or more games.
The 1961 Tigers marked one of the few times in major league history that a team failed to reach the postseason despite winning 100 or more games, though it had happened once before to the Tigers 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
In 1920, Hughie Jennings left the Detroit Tigers after accumulating 1,131 wins as a manager.
August 19, 1921: Cobb's 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: Cobb Takes Over Managerial Duties
In 1921, Ty Cobb took over managerial duties for the Detroit Tigers.
1921: Record-Breaking Hitting and High Batting Average
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: Heilmann Hits .403
In 1923, Harry Heilmann hit .403, becoming 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's Retirement Announcement
In November 1926, Ty Cobb announced his retirement after 22 seasons with the Detroit Tigers.
1927: Heilmann Wins Batting Title
In 1927, Harry Heilmann won his fourth AL batting title with a .398 batting average.
1930: Script Detroit on road jersey
In 1930, the Detroit Tigers first used the script "Detroit" design on their road jersey, which remained until 1959.
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: Lineup Comparison
Although the Detroit Tigers of 1935 had a strong lineup they did not challenge the 1934 team's 101 wins.
1934: Best Winning Percentage
In 1934, the Detroit Tigers achieved their best winning percentage of .656.
1934: World Series Loss to Cardinals
In 1934, the Detroit Tigers lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. The final game included a controversial incident with Joe Medwick being removed from the game.
1934: AL Pennant Win and Record Season
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 the best win percentage in team history.
1934: The first time the Tigers and Cardinals had met in the World Series since 1934.
In 1968, This was the first time the Tigers and Cardinals had met in the World Series since 1934.
1934: Dizzy Dean wins 30 games.
In 1968, starter Denny McLain went 31–6 (with a 1.96 ERA), the first time a pitcher had won 30 or more games in a season since Dizzy Dean accomplished the feat in 1934
1934: Classic home uniform established
Since 1934, the Detroit Tigers have worn essentially the same home uniform featuring a solid white jersey with navy blue piping, an Old English "D" on the left chest, white pants, and a navy blue hat with a white letter D.
1935: World Series Championship
In 1935, the Detroit Tigers won a World Series championship.
1935: AL Pennant Win and Greenberg's MVP
In 1935, the Detroit Tigers won the AL pennant, and 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 second place behind the New York Yankees.
1937: Second Place Finish
In 1937, the Detroit Tigers finished in second place behind the New York Yankees.
1938: 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.
1938: Home Run Record Chase
In 1938, Hank Greenberg challenged Babe Ruth's single-season home run record but fell short.
1938: Expansion and Renaming to Briggs Stadium
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: Drop in Standings
In 1939, the Detroit Tigers finished with an 81-73 record.
1940: Hopes for 1940
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: Bobo Newsom leads Tigers and Giebell pitches pennant-clinching game.
In 1940, Bobo Newsom excelled as the ace pitcher with a 21-5 record and a 2.83 ERA. On September 27, 30-year-old rookie Floyd Giebell pitched the pennant-clinching game against Bob Feller, securing a 2-0 victory.
1940: Tigers experience glory.
In 1940, the Detroit Tigers experienced a season of glory.
1940: Tigers lose World Series to Cincinnati Reds.
In 1940, the Detroit Tigers lost the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in seven games. Despite Bobo Newsom's efforts, they lost the deciding game 2-1. This marked the third time the Tigers lost a World Series in a deciding seventh game.
1940: AL Pennant Win and Greenberg's MVP
In 1940, the Detroit Tigers won the AL pennant, and Hank Greenberg won his second AL MVP award.
1941: Ted Williams Hits .406
In 1941, Ted Williams became the first AL player to top .400 since Harry Heilmann in 1923, hitting .406.
1941: Tigers finish fifth place without Greenberg.
In 1941, with Hank Greenberg serving in World War II, the Tigers finished no higher than fifth place.
1943: Tigers finish fifth place without Greenberg.
In 1943, with Hank Greenberg serving in World War II, the Tigers finished no higher than fifth place.
1944: Tigers finish second place, Newhouser wins MVP.
In 1944, the Tigers managed a second-place finish, largely due to pitchers Hal Newhouser and Dizzy Trout. Newhouser won the first of his two consecutive AL MVP awards. The Tigers finished one game behind the St. Louis Browns for the AL pennant after being in first place as late as September 18.
1945: Tigers continue winning records after World Series win.
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: World Series Championship
In 1945, the Detroit Tigers won a World Series championship.
1945: Tigers win World Series against Cubs.
In 1945, with Newhouser, Trucks, and Trout pitching and Greenberg leading the offense, Detroit won World Series Game 7 against the Cubs, 9-3. Some scholars consider the 1945 World Series among the worst-played in history due to the absence of stars still in the military.
1946: Newhouser leads league, Kell acquired.
In 1946, Hal Newhouser led the league in wins and ERA, finishing second in MVP voting. The Tigers 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, finishing with a .34291 average to Williams' .34276.
1950: Tigers finish second despite strong record.
In 1950, the Detroit Tigers had a 95-59 record, but finished three games behind the New York Yankees.
1952: Team owner Walter Briggs Sr. dies.
In 1952, Walter Briggs Sr., the team owner, died.
1952: Tigers have worst season, Trucks throws two no-hitters.
In 1952, the Detroit Tigers had their worst season, going 50-104. Despite this, Virgil Trucks threw two no-hitters. Walt Dropo tied a major league record with hits in 12 consecutive plate appearances.
1952: The Tigers Had Their Lowest Win Total
The Tigers had their lowest win total since 1952 in 1975.
1953: Al Kaline debuts.
In 1953, outfielder Al Kaline debuted for the Detroit Tigers.
1955: Kaline becomes youngest batting champion.
In 1955, Al Kaline became the youngest batting champion in major league history, hitting .340 at age 20.
1956: Briggs Jr. sells team to Fetzer and Knorr.
In 1956, Walter Briggs Jr. sold the Detroit Tigers to John Fetzer and Fred Knorr.
1958: Tigers integrate roster with Ozzie Virgil Sr.
In 1958, the Detroit Tigers integrated their roster with Dominican player Ozzie Virgil Sr., becoming the second-to-last team to integrate.
1959: Change to block lettering on road jersey
In 1959, the Detroit Tigers changed their road jersey to a block lettering style, replacing the script "Detroit" that had been used since 1930.
1960: Block "Detroit" lettering on road uniforms
From 1960 to 1993, the Detroit Tigers sported road uniforms with block "Detroit" lettering.
1960: Tigers finish with 71-83 record.
The 1961 Detroit Tigers won 101 games, a whopping 30-game improvement over the 71–83 1960 team
1961: Renaming to Tiger Stadium
In 1961, Briggs Stadium was renamed Tiger Stadium.
1961: Tigers feature non-white starters.
In 1961, the Detroit Tigers featured two non-white starters, Bill Bruton and Jake Wood.
1961: Tigers improve, Cash wins batting title.
In 1961, the Detroit Tigers won 101 games and led the majors in runs scored. Norm Cash won the batting title with a .361 average.
1962: Stolen Base Record Broken
In 1962, Maury Wills broke Ty Cobb's 1915 stolen base record.
1963: Lolich, McLain, and Horton enter rotation.
In 1963, pitchers Mickey Lolich and Denny McLain entered the Detroit Tigers' rotation. Outfielder Willie Horton also debuted.
1964: Stanley and Northrup come aboard.
In 1964, outfielders Mickey Stanley and Jim Northrup joined the Detroit Tigers.
1966: Managerial changes due to health problems.
In 1966, the Detroit Tigers had multiple managerial changes due to health problems, with Chuck Dressen and Bob Swift resigning and Frank Skaff taking over. Both Dressen and Swift died during the year. Mayo Smith was hired as the new manager following the season.
1967: Carl Yastrzemski Last Triple Crown Winner
In 1967, Carl Yastrzemski was the last player to accomplish the Triple Crown in batting, before Miguel Cabrera accomplished it in 2012.
1968: "Go Get 'Em, Tigers" becomes popular
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.
1968: Tigers clinch pennant, McLain wins MVP and Cy Young.
In 1968, the Detroit Tigers clinched the pennant and finished with a 103-59 record. Denny McLain went 31-6, winning both the AL MVP and Cy Young Award.
1968: Tigers face Cardinals in World Series.
In 1968, the Detroit Tigers faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, the first time since 1934. Manager Mayo Smith made the bold move to play Mickey Stanley at shortstop.
1968: World Series Championship
In 1968, the Detroit Tigers won a World Series championship.
1968: Previous World Series Season
In 1968, the Tigers had won the World Series.
1969: Martin Managed Twins to AL West Division Title
In 1969, Billy Martin managed the Minnesota Twins to an AL West Division title, but was fired after that season due to rocky relationships with his players.
1969: Tigers fail to defend title, McLain wins Cy Young.
In 1969, the Detroit Tigers failed to defend their title, despite Denny McLain winning his second Cy Young Award. The Tigers finished second in the AL East to the Baltimore Orioles.
1969: American League West division champion Oakland Athletics
In 1969, the Oakland Athletics became steadily competitive ever since the realignment, eventually facing the Detroit Tigers in the 1972 American League Championship Series.
1970: The Tigers Finished Fourth in AL East
In 1970, the Detroit Tigers finished fourth in the AL East with a 79–83 record. Following the season, Mayo Smith was let go and replaced by Billy Martin.
1971: John Hiller suffers a heart attack
In 1971, John Hiller suffered a heart attack.
1971: Mickey Lolich sets strikeout record
In 1971, the Tigers posted 91 wins but finished second to the Orioles. Mickey Lolich led the AL with 308 strikeouts, setting a franchise single-season record. Lolich also won 25 games with a 2.92 ERA.
1972: Orange trim added to road uniforms
In 1972, the Detroit Tigers added orange trim to their road uniforms, which featured block "Detroit" lettering.
1972: Tigers captured AL East division title
In 1972, the Detroit Tigers captured their first AL East division title with an 86–70 record due to schedule oddities from an early-season strike. Eddie Brinkman was named Tiger of the Year and Woodie Fryman was the winning pitcher in the division-clinching game against the Boston Red Sox on October 3.
1972: AL East Division Title
In 1972, the Detroit Tigers won an AL East division title.
1972: ALCS Game 2 marred by incident
In the 1972 American League Championship Series Game 2, Tigers reliever Lerrin LaGrow hit Bert Campaneris with a pitch, resulting in Campaneris throwing the bat at LaGrow and both being suspended.
1972: Jim Northrup's Feud with Billy Martin
The feud between Jim Northrup and Billy Martin began during the 1972 ALCS.
1973: John Hiller's first full season since heart attack
In 1973, John Hiller marked his first full season since his 1971 heart attack by collecting a league-leading 38 saves and posting a 1.44 ERA.
1973: Tigers Drop to Third Place, Martin Fired
In the 1973 season, the Tigers dropped to third place in the division. Billy Martin was fired that September after ordering his pitchers to throw spitballs.
1974: Kaline's Retirement
In 1974, Al Kaline retired after notching his 3,000th career hit.
1975: Team's Lowest Win Total
In 1975, the Tigers had their lowest win total (57) since 1952.
1976: Mark Fidrych's Debut
In 1976, 21-year-old rookie Mark Fidrych made his debut for the Tigers. He finished the season with a 19–9 record, an American League-leading ERA of 2.34 and was named the 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: Morris, Parrish, Trammell and Whitaker Debut
In 1977, Jack Morris, Lance Parrish, Alan Trammell, and Lou Whitaker all made their debuts for the Tigers.
1978: Houk's Last Season
1978 marked the end of Ralph Houk's five full seasons as manager of the Tigers.
1978: Tigers had a Winning Season
In 1978, Jack Morris, Lance Parrish, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker helped the team to 88 wins.
June 14, 1979: Sparky Anderson became 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 removed from orange "D" on caps
Initially, the Detroit Tigers caps featured white trim within the orange "D" until 1982.
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: Sale of Tigers to Monaghan Announced
In late 1983, it was announced that John Fetzer would sell the Detroit Tigers to Tom Monaghan.
1983: Hernández Acquired in Offseason
Willie Hernández was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in the offseason of 1983.
1984: "Bless You Boys" phrase coined
During the Detroit Tigers' 1984 World Series championship run, the team was cheered on to the cry, "Bless You Boys," a phrase coined by sportscaster Al Ackerman.
1984: Al Ackerman Initiated "Bless You Boys"
In 1984, Detroit TV sports anchor Al Ackerman's phrase "Bless You Boys" took on a new meaning.
1984: Tigers had a hot start
In 1984, the Detroit Tigers got off to a 9–0 start, including a Jack Morris no-hitter, and finished with a franchise-record 104 victories. Willie Hernández won the Cy Young Award and AL MVP.
1984: World Series Championship
In 1984, the Detroit Tigers won a World Series championship.
1984: Tigers to Open World Series in San Diego
In 1984, the Tigers would open the World Series on the road in San Diego.
1985: Tigers finish in third place
After winning the 1984 World Series, the Detroit Tigers finished in third place in 1985.
1986: Tigers finish in third place again
After winning the 1984 World Series, the Detroit Tigers finished in third place again in 1986.
1987: AL East Division Title
In 1987, the Detroit Tigers won an AL East division title.
1987: Tigers Faced Lowered Expectations
In 1987, the Tigers faced lowered expectations and had an 11–19 start to the season but acquired pitcher Doyle Alexander.
1987: Tigers Upset in ALCS
In 1987, the Tigers were upset in the American League Championship Series by the Minnesota Twins.
1988: Tigers Finish Second
In 1988, the Tigers spent much of the season in first place but finished in second place, one game behind the Boston Red Sox.
1989: Team Collapses
In 1989, the Detroit Tigers collapsed, posting a 59-103 record which was the worst in the major leagues.
December 1990: Ernie Harwell's contract not renewed
In December 1990, the Tigers and radio station WJR announced they were not renewing the contract of Hall of Fame announcer Ernie Harwell, leading to fan protests and Harwell's last season with the team in 1991.
1991: Tigers Post Winning Record
In 1991, the Tigers had a winning record of 84-78, but the team lacked quality pitching, despite Bill Gullickson's 20 wins.
1992: Dennis Eckersley Wins AL MVP Award
In 1992, Dennis Eckersley was the last pitcher to win AL MVP, before Justin Verlander won it in 2011.
1992: Sparky Anderson Breaks Jennings' Record
In 1992, Sparky Anderson broke Hughie Jennings' record of 1,131 wins as a manager.
1993: Block "Detroit" lettering until 1993
From 1960 to 1993, the Detroit Tigers sported road uniforms with block "Detroit" lettering.
1993: Last Winning Season for Several Years
In 1993, the Detroit Tigers had an 85-77 season, which would be their last winning season for a number of years.
1994: Road uniform with racing stripes
In 1994, the Detroit Tigers first wore the current version of their road uniform, initially featuring racing stripes.
October 2, 1995: Sparky Anderson Retires
On October 2, 1995, manager Sparky Anderson retired from baseball, ending his career with the Detroit Tigers.
1995: Stripe-free road uniform
From 1995 to 1997, the Detroit Tigers wore a stripe-free version of their current road uniform.
1995: Solid navy blue alternate jersey introduced
In 1995, the Detroit Tigers introduced a solid navy blue alternate jersey featuring the team's primary logo, a tiger stepping through the D, on the chest, and it was worn for one home game.
1995: Sparky Anderson's Last Season as Manager
The 1995 season was the last for George "Sparky" Anderson as the Detroit Tigers manager.
1996: Team Record Losses
In 1996, the Detroit Tigers lost a then-team record 109 games under new general manager Randy Smith.
1997: Current road uniform featuring navy piping
After wearing a stripe-free design from 1995 to 1997, the Detroit Tigers changed their road uniform to the current version featuring navy piping inspired by the team's mid-1950s road uniforms.
1997: Tigers Record 79-83
In 1997, the Detroit TIgers recorded a 79-83 record, which was their best record over the span of 1994 to 2005.
1998: Moved to AL Central
In 1998, the Detroit Tigers moved from the AL East, where they had been since 1969, to the AL Central as part of a realignment due to the addition of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
1998: Local television rights holder
In 1998, the Tigers picked up the television rights taking them away from Pro-Am Sports System, owned by Post-Newsweek Stations.
1998: First AL Central Title
In 1998, this was the year for their first AL Central title.
2000: Todd Jones Breaks Save Record
In 2000, Todd Jones broke John Hiller's save record with 42 saves.
2000: Tigers Record 79-83
In 2000, the Detroit TIgers recorded a 79-83 record, which was their best record over the span of 1994 to 2005.
2000: Inaugural Season at Comerica Park
In 2000, the Detroit Tigers had their inaugural season at Comerica Park, with Juan González joining the team. The deep dimensions of the park led to criticism and the nickname "Comerica National Park."
2001: Dave Dombrowski Hired
In late 2001, Dave Dombrowski, former general manager of the 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins, was hired as team president of the Detroit Tigers.
2002: Curt Schilling Reaches 20 Wins Before August Ends
In 2002, Curt Schilling became the first major league pitcher to reach 20 wins before the end of August.
2002: Smith and Garner Fired
In 2002, after the Tigers started the season 0-6, Dave Dombrowski fired general manager Randy Smith and manager Phil Garner. Dombrowski took over as general manager, and Luis Pujols was named interim manager.
2003: Tigers Vow to Make Changes
After the embarrassing 2003 season, the Detroit Tigers vowed to make changes and demonstrated a willingness to sign marquee free agents.
2003: Worst Record in Franchise History
In 2003, the Detroit Tigers finished with a 43-119 record, which was the worst in franchise history.
2003: Worst Winning Percentage
In 2003, the Detroit Tigers had their worst winning percentage of .265.
2003: Fence Moved In
In 2003, the Detroit Tigers quieted criticism of Comerica Park by moving in the left-center fence to 370 feet, removing the flagpole from play.
2003: 2003 team loses 119 games.
The 1952 team had the worst season in Tigers history until the 2003 team lost 119 games.
2004: Significant Improvement
In 2004, the Detroit Tigers finished 72-90, a 29-game improvement over the previous season.
June 8, 2005: Trade with Phillies
On June 8, 2005, the Detroit Tigers traded pitcher Ugueth Urbina and infielder Ramón Martínez to the Philadelphia Phillies for Plácido Polanco.
October 2005: Leyland Replaces Trammell
In October 2005, Jim Leyland, who managed Dombrowski's 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins, replaced Alan Trammell as manager of the Detroit Tigers.
2005: Bullpens Moved at Comerica Park
In 2005, the Detroit Tigers moved the bullpens to the vacant area beyond the left field fence at Comerica Park and filled the previous location with seats.
2006: "Gum Time" rally cry
During the 2006 season, a rally cry called "Gum Time" became popular in the Detroit Tigers' dugout after pitcher Nate Robertson was featured in an in-game interview with FSN Detroit and began stuffing Big League Chew bubble gum into his mouth during a rally against the New York Yankees.
2006: World Series Appearance
In 2006, the Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics in the playoffs to advance to the World Series, where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
2006: Playoff Berth
In 2006, the Detroit Tigers finished the season with a 95-67 record and clinched their first playoff berth since 1987, securing the AL wild card.
2006: Next Postseason Appearance
The 1987 season was the Tigers' last postseason appearance until 2006.
September 26, 2007: Eliminated From Playoff Competition
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: Cameron Maybin Prospect
In 2007, minor leaguer Cameron Maybin, an athletic five-tool outfielder, was ranked #6 in Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects.
September 25, 2008: Todd Jones Retirement
On September 25, 2008, Todd Jones retired from the Detroit Tigers.
2008: Tigers renewed television rights
In 2008, the Detroit Tigers renewed their television rights, over a bid from a rival regional sports channel by Dish Network and AT&T's U-verse.
2009: Struggle to hold lead in AL Central
In 2009, the Detroit Tigers struggled to hold their lead in the AL Central, entering September with a 7-game lead but ultimately tying with the Minnesota Twins and losing the tie-breaker game on October 6, finishing with an 86-77 record.
June 2, 2010: Controversial Umpire Call Costs Galarraga Perfect Game
On June 2, 2010, Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers was pitching a perfect game against the Cleveland Indians when a controversial call by first-base umpire Jim Joyce ruled Jason Donald safe at first with two outs in the ninth inning. Replays showed Donald was out. Despite apologies and nationwide support for overturning the call, commissioner Bud Selig let it stand.
2010: Roster Additions
In 2010, the Detroit Tigers maintained much of their previous roster while adding relief pitcher Joaquín Benoit, catcher/DH Victor Martinez, and starting pitcher Brad Penny.
2010: Trades and Rookie Debuts
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 made the opening day roster and was named American League Rookie of the Month for April. Brennan Boesch also debuted and earned AL Rookie of the Month honors for May and June.
May 7, 2011: Justin Verlander's no-hitter
On May 18, 2021, Spencer Turnbull pitched a no-hitter, the first since Justin Verlander's no-hitter on May 7, 2011.
2011: José Valverde Breaks Save Record
In 2011, José Valverde broke Todd Jones' save record with 49 saves.
2011: Five Tigers Selected for All-Star Game
In 2011, the Detroit Tigers had five players selected for the All-Star Game: Alex Avila, Justin Verlander, José Valverde, Miguel Cabrera, and Jhonny Peralta. Verlander was unable to play due to pitching on the Sunday before the game.
2011: AL Central Division Championship
In 2011, the Detroit Tigers won an AL Central division championship.
November 15, 2012: Miguel Cabrera Named AL MVP
On November 15, 2012, Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers was named the American League MVP.
2012: Tigers Clinch AL Central Division Title
In 2012, the Detroit Tigers clinched the AL Central division title on October 1 with a 6–3 win against the Kansas City Royals, marking their first back-to-back divisional titles since 1934-35. They finished the season with an 88–74 record.
2012: Prince Fielder Signs with Tigers
In 2012, the Detroit Tigers signed free agent first baseman Prince Fielder to a 9-year, $214 million contract. This move was prompted by Víctor Martínez's injury. Miguel Cabrera moved to third base, leading to the release of Brandon Inge.
2012: AL Pennant and AL Central Division Championship
In 2012, the Detroit Tigers won both an AL Pennant and an AL Central division championship.
2013: Scherzer Breaks Mullin's Record
In 2013, Max Scherzer broke George Mullin's 1909 record of 11-0 start, with a 13-0 start.
2013: Key Acquisitions and All-Star Selections
In 2013, the Detroit Tigers signed Torii Hunter, Aníbal Sánchez, and Brayan Peña. Justin Verlander signed a contract extension. Six Tigers players were selected for the 2013 American League All-Star team: Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Jhonny Peralta, Torii Hunter, Max Scherzer, and Justin Verlander.
2013: AL Central Division Championship
In 2013, the Detroit Tigers won an AL Central division championship.
2013: First postseason series win since 2013
In the American League Wild Card Series, the Detroit Tigers swept the Houston Astros 2–0, securing their first postseason series win since 2013.
May 2, 2014: Tigers Sign Joel Hanrahan
On May 2, 2014, with their bullpen struggling, the Detroit Tigers signed free agent reliever Joel Hanrahan to a one-year contract. He never pitched for the team due to injury.
2014: Tigers Swept in ALDS
In 2014, the Detroit Tigers were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Division Series, 3-0. J.D. Martinez hit home runs in his first two postseason games.
2014: AL Central Division Championship
In 2014, the Detroit Tigers won an AL Central division championship.
2014: Last playoff berth until 2024
The Detroit Tigers clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2014 on September 27, 2024.
2015: Four Tigers Selected for MLB 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. Cabrera was unable to play due to injury.
2015: John Smoltz Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame
John Smoltz, who was traded by the Tigers to the Atlanta Braves in 1987, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.
2016: Average rating on primetime TV broadcasts
During the 2016 season, the Detroit Tigers averaged a 7.56 rating and 138,000 viewers on primetime TV broadcasts.
2016: Michael Fulmer Wins AL Rookie of the Year
In 2016, Michael Fulmer, a pitcher acquired from the New York Mets, won the AL Rookie of the Year Award.
2016: Cubs Win World Series
In 2016, the Chicago Cubs won their first World Championship since 1908.
February 10, 2017: Death of Mike Ilitch
On February 10, 2017, Mike Ilitch, the owner of the Detroit Tigers since 1992, passed away at the age of 87. The team remained under the leadership of his son, Christopher Ilitch, and honored him with a "Mr. I" uniform patch.
October 20, 2017: Ron Gardenhire Hired as Manager
On October 20, 2017, Ron Gardenhire was announced as the new manager of the Detroit Tigers, succeeding Brad Ausmus. The team, rebuilding with young players, faced challenges with injuries to Miguel Cabrera and Michael Fulmer, resulting in a 64–98 record.
2017: Inaugural Players Weekend jerseys
During the inaugural Players Weekend games from August 25–27, 2017, the Detroit Tigers wore highly stylized and brightly colored away jerseys with bright orange "Tigers" on the chest and an orange cap featuring a tiger instead of the Old English "D". Players were encouraged to use nicknames on the back of their jerseys.
2017: Tigers Commit to Rebuild
In 2017, the Detroit Tigers began a rebuild, trading J. D. Martinez, Alex Avila, Justin Wilson, Justin Upton, and Justin Verlander. Brad Ausmus' contract was not extended, and the team finished with a poor record, earning the number one overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.
2017: Average rating on primetime TV broadcasts
Through 25 games in 2017, the Detroit Tigers' games have averaged a 5.57 rating on primetime TV broadcasts, which was fifth in the major league.
2018: "Rally Goose" becomes popular
During the 2018 season, the "Rally Goose" became popular with the Detroit Tigers players and fans after a goose appeared on the field during a game against the Los Angeles Angels, leading to a Tigers victory.
2018: Uniform logo changes
In 2018, the Detroit Tigers changed the classic curved logo on their home uniforms to match the sharp-cornered hat logo and enlarged the logo on the cap.
2018: Players Weekend jerseys
In the 2018 season, for Players Weekend, 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.
2019: Significant roster changes and a tough season
In 2019, the Detroit Tigers experienced significant roster changes, including the departure of José Iglesias and the acquisition of Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison. Michael Fulmer underwent Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the season. The Tigers concluded the 2019 season with a 47–114 record, the worst in Major League Baseball, tying the 1939 St. Louis Browns for the most home losses during the season in the modern era.
2019: Reversion to smaller logo on cap
In 2019, the Detroit Tigers reverted to the smaller logo on the cap but kept the sharp-cornered 'D' on the home jerseys.
October 30, 2020: A. J. Hinch hired as manager
On October 30, 2020, the Detroit Tigers hired A. J. Hinch as their new manager.
May 18, 2021: Spencer Turnbull pitches a no-hitter
On May 18, 2021, Spencer Turnbull pitched a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners, marking the eighth no-hitter in Detroit Tigers history and the first since Justin Verlander's on May 7, 2011.
August 10, 2022: Al Avila fired as general manager
On August 10, 2022, the Detroit Tigers fired Al Avila from his position as general manager.
September 19, 2022: Scott Harris hired as president of baseball operations
On September 19, 2022, Scott Harris was hired by the Detroit Tigers 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: Jeff Greenberg hired as general manager
On September 21, 2023, the Detroit Tigers announced the hiring of Jeff Greenberg as their new general manager.
2023: Uniform sponsorship deal with Meijer
In 2023, the Detroit Tigers entered into a uniform sponsorship deal with Meijer, with the logo patch displayed on the sleeve of the player's dominant hand. The uniform patch's logo is rendered solely in navy blue on white for the home uniform, and white text on a black background for the road jersey with an orange outline.
August 3, 2024: Jim Leyland's No. 10 retired
On August 3, 2024, the Detroit Tigers retired Jim Leyland's No. 10 jersey.
2024: Newhouser still only pitcher to win MVP Award in two consecutive seasons
As of 2024, Hal Newhouser remains the only pitcher in the history of the AL to win the MVP Award in two consecutive seasons.
2024: Lolich remains last pitcher with three complete-game victories.
As of 2024, Mickey Lolich remains the last pitcher to have three complete-game victories in a single World Series.
2024: Overall Win-Loss Record
From 1901 to 2024, the Detroit Tigers' overall win–loss record is 9,676–9,567–93 (.503).
2024: Tigers clinch a playoff berth
In 2024, the Detroit Tigers clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2014 after going 31-11 to finish the season with an 86-76 record.
2024: First City Connect jersey unveiled
In 2024, the Detroit Tigers unveiled their first City Connect jersey, a nod to Detroit's automobile industry, featuring a navy blue jersey with electric blue tire tread patterns, the "Motor City" nickname, and racing stripes. The sleeve patch features the diamond highway shield for the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System and alludes to Comerica Park's location on Woodward Avenue, with the team's "D" logo replacing the "block M".
2025: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit current rights holder
As of 2025, the Detroit Tigers' current exclusive local television rights holder is FanDuel Sports Network Detroit.
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