Detroit Tigers Baseball

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Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers became charter members of the American League in 1901 after spending the first eight years (1881-1888) of their primitive existence in the National League. They dropped out of major league ball in 1889-1900 until their return in 1901.

The Tigers are one of the most storied teams in baseball with memorable players like Cobb, Cash, Horton, Kaline, Newhouser, and Trammell. When a team is around for over 100 years there is a lot of territory to cover.

Lets Play Ball!

The Bless You Boys 

WDIV was the home for Detroit Tigers baseball and in 1984 announcer Al Ackerman coined the phrase "Bless You Boys" which became the team's beloved monicker. I can remember my grandfather talking about the "Bless You Boys" and what a great team they were.

I was born into a long line of Detroit Tigers fans from my great grandfather who moved to Michigan from Chicago (even a native Chicagoan like him hated the White Sox) and it was the "Bless You Boys" that cemented the Tigers in my heart for good.

It's hard to believe this year is the 25th anniversary of the "Bless You Boys" of 1984 who led the American League from start to finish and had the greatest 40 game start (35-5) in baseball history. They went on to sweep the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship and win the World Series in five games against the San Diego Padres.
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Mark "The Bird" Fidrych 

Mark "The Bird" Fidrych was killed in an accident on his farm on April 13th, 2009. Mark will always be remembered for the joy and exhuburance with which he played the game of baseball. For one magical season in 1976 he was the highlight of the year for the Detroit Tigers winning 19 games in an otherwise dismal year for the ball club.
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Get Ready for 2009 Detroit Tigers Tickets!! 

The Tigers are looking for redemption this season after last year's debacle. Catch all the excitement at Comerica Park!

2009 Detroit Tigers Tickets - Season Package (Includes Tickets for all Regular Season Home Games) April 9, 2009



No luck getting the Tigers tickets you want? Get your Detroit Tigers Tickets at StubHub.

2009 AL Central Current Standings 

AL Central

W

L

GB


Detroit Tigers

45

38

-


Chicago White Sox

43

40

2.0


Minnesota Twins

43

41

2.5


Kansas City Royals

36

47

9.0


Cleveland Indians

33

51

12.5



 



Detroit Tigers Schedule for 2008 

You can view the Detroit Tigers Schedule for 2009 online here.

Get your Detroit Tigers Tickets at StubHub.

How did they get the Nickname of Tigers? 

During their early years in the National League (beginning in 1881) the Detroit baseball team was known as "The Detroits." It was common practice in that time to be known as the town you were located.

In 1894 they became known as the Detroit Creams after their owner, George Arthur Vanderbeck, stated that this team would be "the cream of the league."

Some information on the early history of the Detroit Tigers states that they were known as the Detroit Wolverines, but I did not come across that in any of the books I used as reference material.

When and how they became known as the Detroit Tigers is up to some debate. An 1895 Detroit Free Press featured the headline, "Stallings' Tigers Show Up Nicely."

Another claim to naming the team is by Phillip J. Reid city editor of the Detroit News. His claim supposedly took place in 1896 which would place it after the Detroit Free Press called the team the Tigers.

Still others claim that the team became known as the Tigers due to the "tiger" stripes on the socks they wore for their uniforms.

I'll stick with the date of 1895 by the Detroit Free Press as that is backed up by the fact that it had appeared in print.

Recent Detroit Tigers News 

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More Detroit Tiger Related lenses 

I had to create a separate lens for Tiger Stadium and Ernie Harwell as those two Detroit Tiger icons needed their own place.

History of Tiger Stadium
Ernie Harwell

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Retired Numbers of Detroit Tigers Players 


#6 - Al Kaline
#2 - Charlie Gehringer
#5 - Hank Greenberg
#16 - Hal Newhouser
#23 - Willie Horton

Numbers were not put on uniforms in the major leagues until 1929.

The following players are honored even though they did not have a uniform number:

Ty Cobb
Harry Heilmann
Heinie Manush
Hughie Jennings
Sam Crawford

Just the stats please 

You can get the basic Detroit Tiger stats anywhere with a little searching. Here are some of the stranger and less known stats.
  • No-Hitters

    George Mullin 7/14/1912
    Virgil Trucks 5/15/1952*
    Virgil Trucks 8/25/1952*

    Jim Bunning 7/20/1958
    Jack Morris 4/7/1984
    Justin Verlander 6/12/2007 - Listen to Dan Dickerson's Call of Justin Verlander's No Hitter

    *Interesting to note that in 1952 those two no-hitters that Virgil Trucks pitched would be 2 of his 5 wins for the year. He had a 5-19 record in 1952.
  • In 1990 when Cecil Fielder belted 51 home runs (second most on the All-Time Tiger list to Hank Greenberg's 58 during the 1938 season) he also had 182 strikeouts for tops on the All-Time Tiger list.
  • Ty Cobb holds 6 of the top 10 spots on the All-Time Tigers Batting Average list. The guy with the other 4 spots? Ty Cobb's protege, Harry Heilmann.
  • Lou Whitaker "Sweet Lou" is the All-Time Tiger leader in Strikeouts with 1,099. He is also second on the All-Time Tiger list for Walks with 1,197.
  • Other players appearing in both the Strikeouts leaders and Walks leaders lists are:
    Al Kaline - 1,020 SO, 1,277 BB (All-Time Tiger Leader in Walks)
    Norm Cash - 1,081 SO, 1,025 BB
    Dick McAuliffe - 932 SO, 842 BB
    Alan Trammell - 874 SO, 850 BB
  • Mickey Lolich ranks 3rd in both All-Time Tiger Wins (207) and Losses (175). Funny how those two go together. By the way, that gives him a lifetime Tiger winning percentage of .542.
  • Jack Morris also ranks 5th in both All-Time Tiger Wins (198) and Losses (150). His Tiger winning percentage was .569.
  • The Detroit Tigers have a winning percentage of .507 from 1901 through the 2006 Season.
  • George Kell won the AL Batting Crown in 1949. He denied Ted Williams of his third Triple Crown. Kell just beat out Williams with a .3429 average,over Williams' .3427.

Get your Detroit Tigers Gear 

Detroit Tigers Navy Franchise Fitted Hat

You gotta have your "English D" cap.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $23.00

Detroit Tigers Logo Ringer T-Shirt

The "English D" in all its glory.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $19.00

Detroit Tigers Goalie Hooded Sweatshirt

You're gonna need a sweatshirt for home games at Comerica Park well into June.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $52.99

The Detroit Tigers Weblog 

My favorite Tigers blogger, Billfer, runs The Detroit Tigers Weblog.

He has a great insight into the game and even crunches numbers for all of the Stat-Heads out there to digest.

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Tiger Tales 

Another nice blog about the Detroit Tigers.

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Detroit Tigers Memorabilia on eBay 

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eBay

Super cool Detroit Tigers clips 

The last out of Justin Verlander's No-Hitter, Jeff Daniels singing "Tiger Fan Blues, an interview with Mark "The Bird" Fidrych, 1968 World Series tribute, and a montage of some of the best players to ever wear the "English D."

Tigers Past and Present 1 point

Mark "The Bird" Fidrych 0 points

1968 Detroit Tigers - Ernie Harwell 0 points

Verlander No Hitter - Last out 0 points

Jeff Daniels - Tiger Fan Blues Revisted VIDEO 0 points

Detroit Tigers books 

Well after winning the American League Championship in 2006 it seems that a number of new books have come out about the Tigers.

Here are a handful that I either have read or plan on reading.

The Detroit Tigers Reader

The Detroit Tigers Reader

Great way to get the basic history of the Detroit Tigers without being boring.1 point

The Detroit Tigers Encyclopedia (Honoring a Detroit Legend) by Jim Hawkins

The Detroit Tigers Encyclopedia (Honoring a Detroit Legend) by Jim Hawkins

Extensive history and stats of the Detroit Tigers. For all you stat freaks out there - this is the book for you.0 points

The Detroit Tigers: An Illustrated History by Joe Falls

The Detroit Tigers: An Illustrated History by Joe Falls

I call this the "readers digest" version of the Detroit Tigers Encyclopedia. Some similar stats and facts as the encyclopedia, but shorter and not as in-depth.0 points

Wire to Wire: Inside the 1984 Detroit Tigers Championship Season by George Cantor

Wire to Wire: Inside the 1984 Detroit Tigers Championship Season by George Cantor

Interesting behind-the-scenes tales and insight into what it takes to win a championship in professional sports.0 points

Detroit Tigers in the Hall of Fame 

I am only including players who spent the majority of their careers with the Detroit Tigers in this list of Hall of Fame players.
  • Ty Cobb - 1905-26 - OF/Mgr.
  • Sam "Wahoo" Crawford - 1903-17 - OF
  • Hughie Jennings - 1907,1909,1912-20 - 1B/Mgr.
  • Harry Heilmann - 1914,1916-30 - OF
  • Heinie Manush - 1923-27 - OF
  • Mickey Cochrane - 1934-38 - C/Mgr.
  • Charlie Gehringer - 1924-42 - 2B
  • Hank Greenberg - 1930,1933-41,1945-46 - 1B/OF
  • Al Kaline - 1953-74 - OF
  • George Kell - 1946-52 - 3B
  • Hal Newhouser - 1939-53 - LHP
  • Sparky Anderson - 1979-1995 Manager
    Yeah, he's wearing a Cincinnati Reds jersey in his plaque at the Baseball Hall of Fame, but I think he meant more to the Tigers organization than he did to the Reds.
  • Ernie Harwell - 1960-2002 - Radio Broadcaster

Movies that mention the Detroit Tigers 

For Love of the Game

Amazon Price: $7.49 (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now

Tiger Town

Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now

The Detroit Tigers: The Movie

Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now

Detroit Tigers World Series teams and results 


The Detroit Tigers have been in 10 World Series with the most recent occurring in 2006. Out of those 10 World Series the Tigers have only faced 5 different teams.

Chicago Cubs - 4 Times (1907,1908,1935,1945)
St. Louis Cardinals - 3 Times (1934,1968,2006)
Cincinnati Reds - One time in 1940
Pittsburgh Pirates - One time in 1909
San Diego Padres - One time in 1984
  1. 1907 World Series
    Lost 4 games to 0 to the Chicago Cubs
  2. 1908 World Series
    Lost 4 games to 1 to the Chicago Cubs
  3. 1909 World Series
    Lost 4 games to 3 to the Pittsburgh Pirates
  4. 1934 World Series
    Lost 4 games to 3 to the St. Louis Cardinals
  5. 1935 World Series
    Won (finally) 4 games to 2 over the Chicago Cubs
  6. 1940 World Series
    Lost 4 games to 3 to the Cincinnati Reds
  7. 1945 World Series
    Won 4 games to 3 over the Chicago Cubs. That was the last time the Cubs were in the World Series.
  8. 1968 World Series
    Won 4 games to 3 over the St. Louis Cardinals. Down 3 games to one the Tigers came back to win the series on the strength of Mickey Lolich's victories in Games 2, 5, and 7 (on 2 days rest).
  9. 1984 World Series
    The "Bless You Boys" win easily 4 games to 1 over the San Diego Padres.
  10. 2006 World Series
    Lost 4 games to 1 to the St. Louis Cardinals. Hopefully they will be back again this year.

Tiger Talk 


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Hey, Tiger Fans! Share your thoughts about any Tiger teams, players, the current season, and this Detroit Tigers lens.

Jaebird88 wrote...

Fellow Michigander here. Great lenses you have. Joined your fan club. Although I wouldn't admit that you like the Tigers...not the greatest.

ReplyPosted April 04, 2009

amandak wrote...

Hey--great lens! The Tigers really have some great history. My favorite Tiger is Curtis Granderson. 15 triples so far this season!

ReplyPosted July 02, 2007

benson712 wrote...

Hi Michigan,
I haven't checked my guestbooks in awhile so I just saw your entry on my Brewer's lens. Congrats on the no-hitter, although it was painful for me to watch. You guys have got one heck of a special player with Verlander. Hopefully he'll stick around with you for years to come.

ReplyPosted June 19, 2007

Visit these other Detroit Tigers lenses 

Here are a couple of other Detroit Tiger related lenses that might be of interest to you.