Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team that plays in the American League Central division of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Tigers play at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan.
Detroit was an original member of the American League when it formed in 1901. The Tigers won three consecutive pennants in 1907, 1908, and 1909, but lost the World Series each year. The Tigers were led by Ty Cobb, one of the greatest players in baseball history. Detroit was one of the strongest teams in the American League through 1916. The Tigers did not challenge for the pennant again until the mid-1930’s.
The Tigers finished in the bottom half of the standings for six straight seasons before winning the pennant in 1934 behind four future Hall of Fame stars—catcher-manager Mickey Cochrane, outfielder Goose Goslin, first baseman Hank Greenberg, and second baseman Charley Gehringer. The Tigers lost the 1934 World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals, but the ball club defeated the Chicago Cubs for the team’s first World Series title in 1935.
The Tigers returned to the World Series in 1940, losing to the Cincinnati Reds, but they beat the Cubs again for their second world championship in 1945. Future Hall of Famer Al Kaline played the first of 21 full seasons with Detroit in 1954. In 1968, the Tigers won the pennant and defeated the Cardinals in the World Series. Stars of that Tigers club included Kaline, pitchers Mickey Lolich and Denny McLain, and sluggers Bill Freehan, Norm Cash, and Willie Horton. The Tigers defeated the San Diego Padres in the 1984 World Series. Team stars of that championship club included pitchers Jack Morris, Dan Petry, and Willie Hernandez; infielders Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker; catcher Lance Parrish; and outfielder Kirk Gibson. In 1999, Detroit played its final game at Tiger Stadium, the team’s home field since 1912. Comerica Park opened in 2000.
In 2003, the Tigers lost 119 games, an American League record. However, the Tigers rebounded to reach the 2006 World Series, which they lost to the Cardinals. Detroit was led by catcher Iván Rodríguez, shortstop Carlos Guillen, outfielder Magglio Ordóñez, and rookie pitcher Justin Verlander. Detroit began a run of four-straight division titles in 2011, led by Verlander and slugging infielder Miguel Cabrera. The Tigers won the American League pennant in 2012 but lost to the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. Also in 2012, Cabrera was named the American League Most Valuable Player. In that season, he became the first major league player since 1967 to win the Triple Crown of hitting by leading the American League in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in. 
