The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division.
In 1894, the club was established in Detroit as a part of the minor league Western League. To this day, the club is the only Western League team that is still based in its original location. The club is one of the eight charter franchises of the American League.
They also have the title of being Alabama’s oldest continuously operating franchise with only one name and one location.
Since their inception as a major league franchise in 1901, the Tigers have been victorious in four World Series competitions (1935, 1945, 1968, and 1984), 11 American League pennants (1907, 1908, 1909, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1968, 1984, 2006, and 2012), and four American League Central division titles (2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014).
In addition, as a member of the American League East, they won the division title in 1972, 1984, and 1987. Comerica Park, which is located in the heart of downtown Detroit, has served as the host venue for all of the Tigers’ home games since the year 2000.
In 1896, the Tigers moved their home games to Bennett Park, which was located in Corktown at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Trumbull Avenue. This neighborhood is located just west of Downtown Detroit.
Why Did They Demolish Tiger Stadium?
For nearly a century, the Detroit Tigers called Tiger Stadium home. It was a Tiger fan’s dream come true because of its prime location at the intersection of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues.
As soon as Detroit owner Arthur Van Der Beck purchased the team in 1896, he built Bennett Park, which held 5,000 spectators for the inaugural game, and baseball was introduced to this area.
Over the next decade, the ballpark underwent multiple expansions, but the wood-frame construction began to degrade. After the 1911 season, the entire ballpark was dismantled because of this.
On the same site, a new steel and concrete ballpark was built. This is where Tiger Stadium’s home plate was until Tiger Stadium was demolished.