The Detroit Tigers is one of the American League's most winning teams. Seventy percent of the time, the Tigers have had a winning season. In 18 of those 61 winning seasons, they easily made it to the playoffs. Eleven times the Tigers emerged triumphant as the American League's best team. However, it took them a while to get as good as they are.

In 1901 when the American League was formed, the team raised their ball club to major league status. The Tigers were terrible. In their first couple of seasons, they never threatened for the league title. Luckily all that changed in 1907. Young outfielder and hard hitter Ty Cobb (who led the league in batting, slugging, hits, RBIs and stolen bases in his first big league season) sparked the squad, and new manager Hugh "Eeyah" Jennings gave them a better chance of making the World Series.

Until 1911, the Tigers put up outstanding fights only to lose in the World Series twice. Ty Cobb played terrifically until his retirement in 1916 including a .420 season average and 96 stolen bases in a single season. After a third place finish in 1915, the Tigers were not a challenge at all for the next eighteen years.

In 1934, the Tigers returned from the second division and started a phenomenon that lasted for a decade. In 1934 the Tigers acquired Mickey Cochrane, Goose Goslin (who enjoyed a fine season at bat), and first baseman Hank Greenberg who hit .339 with 139 RBIs. Along with the help of Charlie Gehringer, the Tigers finished 101-53. Through 1945, the Tigers won three World Series. Unfortunately players don't last forever and soon enough the Tigers were depending on Hammerin' Hank to lead the team. That season of 1945, the Tigers won the World Series due to Hal Newhouser's terrific pitching.

It took 23 years before the Tigers won their next pennant. After winning the pennant once, the Tigers had their first cellar finish with 104 losses. After a decade of finishing no better than fourth, the Tigers rebounded forward led by Norm Cash and left fielder Rocky Calavito to come up with 101 wins. However, they only got second place because the Yankees won 109 games.

After many pennants, the Tigers finally won the World Series again in 1968 after a 103 win season. After that the Tigers were very shaky. Once they lost the pennant to the Athletics in 1972, they seemed to have their talent drained out. Then in the 1980s the hope kind of came back but it was all washed out. Nothing productive came from their bats and since then the Tigers have been a lonesome club with a very slight chance of winning the World Series. If they can all contribute together, then they have the potential to win pennants and soon win the World Series.