Tag: Detroit Tigers

From the time I can remember, I have always watched and been a fan of Detroit sports teams, as well as a University of Michigan fan (college sports). My grandfather (Papa), my cousin, and I would watch sports together. Sometimes it would just be me and my Papa listening to Tiger’s games on the radio with Hall of Fame announcer Ernie Harwell commentating with that signature voice.

I will never forget that October evening when my friends and I were playing outside, listening to the Tigers play the final winning game in the 1984 World Series at home in the historic Tiger Stadium. You would have thought a bunch of eleven-year-old kids had just won the lottery! In fact, we sort of did because, sadly, that would be the last time our beloved Detroit Tigers won a World Series.

The Detroit Tigers have won a total of four World Series titles and eleven American League (AL) pennants. Baseball is divided into two leagues – the American and the National. We’ve made it to the World Series a few times, but only came home with winning the following years:

• 1935: Defeated the Chicago Cubs, 4 games to 2
• 1945: Defeated the Chicago Cubs, 4 games to 3
• 1968: Defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 4 games to 3
• 1984: Defeated the San Diego Padres, 4 games to 1

Unfortunately, our Detroit Lions have not had as many title wins as the Tigers have. Of course, we won championships before there was an official Super Bowl, defeating the Cleveland Browns in 1957! Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Lions football games with my Papa. He made it quite interesting by making bets of 50 cents (or as he called it, “two bits”) with me and then magically letting me win every time!

My cousin, who’s more like my brother since we are only four days apart and neither of us has siblings, learned so much from our Papa about football. To this day, both of us love the game very much. We used to play mini games with an imaginary football with our Papa on the living room floor while we watched the Lions games. We would also go outside and play one-on-one in our grandparents’ front yard, with our Papa commenting from the front porch.

Although neither of us played football (he played hockey and I softball), we are huge Lions fans. He loves it so much that he has season tickets and does some serious tailgating at all the home games. We’ll either ride with friends or rent a charter bus to downtown Detroit to watch the Lions play at Ford Field. And guess what? Our Lions are actually a winning team right now! Especially under the leadership of Coach Dan Campbell and the ownership of:

• Sheila Ford Hamp Principal Owner & Chair
• Martha Ford Morse Owner/Vice Chair
• William Clay Ford, Jr. Owner/Vice Chair
• Elizabeth Ford Kontulis Owner/Vice Chair
• Martha Firestone Ford Owner/Chair Emeritus

The last Detroit team to win a championship was the Detroit Red Wings, winning the Stanley Cup in 2008. That same year, the Detroit Shock (women’s professional basketball) won the WNBA championship.

The Detroit Pistons basketball team also has a history of being a strong competitive team for many years, most notably winning championships in 1989, 1990 and 2004.

More recently, my alma mater, the University of Michigan Wolverines men’s football team, won the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship – GO BLUE!

What is the most successful Detroit sports team?

The Red Wings have historically had many winning seasons. I remember going downtown Detroit to watch them win many games at Joe Louis Arena in the 1990s, with Stevie Yzerman at the helm as our longtime captain, skating alongside Sergei Fedorov, who was also a captain at different times. In total, we have won eleven Stanley Cups – there is a reason we are known as “Hockey Town”!

According to Pro Stock Hockey, “The Red Wings have won 11 Stanley Cups, the most of any U.S.-based NHL team.

1935-36, 1936-37, 1942-43, 1949-50, 1951-52, 1953-54, 1954-55, 1996-97, 1997-98, 2001-02, 2007-08.

The Red Wings have retired numbers for seven players:

#1 — Terry Sawchuck, Red Wings goalie in the 1950s and ’60s.

#5 — Nicklas Lidstrom, Wings defenseman from 1991-92 to 2011-12.

#7 — Ted Lindsay, left winger who played 13 seasons for the Wings in the 1940s and ’50s.

#9 — Gordie Howe. The legendary Wings right winger is certainly one of the best to ever take the ice. Able to shoot right- and left-handed, Howe set scoring records during his long career that stood for years until Wayne Gretzky came along. He played a league record 26 seasons in the NHL (tied with Chris Chelios, another Red Wing), and was also the oldest player to play in the NHL when he was 52.

#10 — Alex Delvecchio, who played 24 seasons, all for the Wings, in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.

#12 — Sid Abel, center who played 12 seasons for the Wings in the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s.

#19 — Steve Yzerman, center who played his entire 22-year NHL career with the Red Wings, and he was team captain for 19 seasons — more seasons than any team captain in any major professional sport,”.

What is the biggest rivalry in Detroit sports?

Off the top of my head, the biggest rivalry in Detroit sports, I think, is College football: University of Michigan (U of M) vs. Ohio State. In fact, when my oldest son was in middle school, he asked if I would be upset if he went to Michigan State University, since I went to U of M. I said, “Of course not, sweetie, we’re friendly in-state rivals. But if you go to Ohio, I will disown you!” I was just kidding, but it is that serious of a rival.

There is also the Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks rivalry. Most notably, when I think of rivalries, I think of the games against the Green Bay Packers (22), the Chicago Bears (19), and, most recently, the Minnesota Vikings (5) versus our Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. This longstanding tradition began in 1934, and we have played 84 games in total so far.

Let’s not forget the Detroit Pistons’ longtime rivalries: Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Wikipedia notes that, “The Tigers–White Sox rivalry is a Major League Baseball rivalry between the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox of the American League Central division. The series has been one of the oldest in league history. Both teams were founded in 1901 as charter members of the American League,”.

Last Detroit team to win a championship

In conclusion, although we were hopeful for the Tigers this year, they unfortunately lost to the Seattle Mariners in one of MLB’s longest postseason games, which lasted fifteen innings. We are still hopeful for the Lions this year as they have had a good start to the season so far. The Red Wings look good as well. But as it stands, the last time a professional team has won a championship was in 2008.

(Photo Credit: Pure Michigan )

#DetroitVSeverybody !