The first 50 years that the Tigers were in existence did not go very well. They won 2 world championships during that time. The majority of those years they were in 3rd place or lower. The bright spots for the team were few and far between. How will they fare over the next 50 years?
1951 to 1954 was very dismal, they ended the seasons in fifth place or lower. In 1955 a rookie by the name of Al Kaline came on board. He would receive the hitting crown with an average of 340. He was the youngest player to receive that title. However, the season was still sad. In the years from1956-1960 the Tigers continued to do poorly. In 1961 Norm Cash was signed to the team. He was a first baseman and a good hitter. This put them in second place but no pennant or series. The name of the stadium was changed in 1960, this time to Tiger Stadium. They continued to fail until 1967 when on the final day of the season they lost again.
1968 proved to be the year for the Tigers. With Denny McLain winning 31 games and Mickey Lolich winning many of his games, the Tigers won 103 games for the season. The Cardinals were there opponents for the World Series and they did not make it easy. They went to the seventh game before the Tigers pulled it out and won. In 1969 even with McLain they ended up nineteen games behind the first place Orioles. In 1970, Denny McLain was suspended for gambling. After another disappointing season the Tigers traded him to the Senators. In 1971 and 72 they ended in second place. From 1973 to 1983 the team had few bright spots. During this period the Tigers would get many young players that would prove an asset to them in 1984. Al Kaline retired in 1974 and Sparky Anderson became manager in 1979.
In 1984 the Tigers won their fourth World Series. They started the season winning 35 of their first 40 games. After this terrific season they could not keep it together. From 1985 to 2000 they have remained rather dormant. Most of the players from the 1984 season retired and the building started all over. In 1999 after 87 years in the same stadium (different names) the last pitch was made. It was a sad moment for the fans that had gone there for so many years.
In 2000 the new stadium was opened as
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