Detroit Sports

Franchise History

Detroit Sports

Franchise History

Teams / Detroit

The evolution of organized baseball in Detroit, from a game played strictly by local amateurs to a business employing imported professionals, encompassed the second half of the 19th century. Here are the historic firsts reached along the way: Hollinger's Nine was a house team of Eastern professionals organized specifically as an attraction for Recreation Park, Detroit's first enclosed ballyard, which opened at Brush and Brady streets in 1879. Although the team was not affiliated with any league, Hollinger's Nine can be considered the first play-for-pay baseball team to represent Detroit. |As such, its 7-1 loss to the Troy (N.Y.) Haymakers before 1,500 park patrons two days after the facility opened can be judged the first professional game in the city and Detroit's first Opening Day. The Detroit Wolverines, newest member of the country's most powerful baseball circuit, the National League, inaugurated big-league ball in the city on May 2, 1881 with a 6-4 loss to Buffalo before 1,265 at Recreation Park. The Wolverines won the National League pennant in 1887 and an unusual cross-country "world's series" against the St. Louis Browns of the American Association. The Wolverines disbanded in 1888 after eight seasons. On May 2, 1894 Detroit was awarded a franchise in Ban Johnson's reorganized Western League, a minor-league circuit of eight Midwestern clubs. In its first game, Detroit lost to Toledo, 4-3, at Boulevard Park. The Detroit actually wasn't referred to as the 'Tigers' until 1895; prior to that, they were alternately known as the "Creams" and the "Wolverines." On April 28, 1896, the Western league Tigers, after having spent their first two seasons at Boulevard Park, christened Bennett Park with a 17-2 drubbing of Columbus. The Tigers kicked off play in Ban Johnson's renamed American League to begin the 1900 season with an 8-0 loss to Buffalo, as Doc Amole twirled a no-hitter. After operating for six seasons as the Western league, the name change signified little; the circuit was still a minor league and a signatory to the National Agreement, ,meaning its players were subject to being drafted by major league clubs. Before the 1901 season opened, American League owners voted to withdraw from the National Agreement and to declare themselves a major league. This launched a two-year war with the National League over players and territorial rights. At Bennett Park, the Tigers beat Milwaukee, 14-13, in the city's first big-league contest since 1888. For the purpose of recognizing records and anniversaries, the Tigers and the American League date the team's history to 1901. But as this primer illustrates, it took a long time for them to get there.^

The evolution of organized baseball in Detroit, from a game played strictly by local amateurs to a business employing imported professionals, encompassed the second half of the 19th century. Here are the historic firsts reached along the way: Hollinger's Nine was a house team of Eastern professionals organized specifically as an attraction for Recreation Park, Detroit's first enclosed ballyard, which opened at Brush and Brady streets in 1879. Although the team was not affiliated with any league, Hollinger's Nine can be considered the first play-for-pay baseball team to represent Detroit. |As such, its 7-1 loss to the Troy (N.Y.) Haymakers before 1,500 park patrons two days after the facility opened can be judged the first professional game in the city and Detroit's first Opening Day. The Detroit Wolverines, newest member of the country's most powerful baseball circuit, the National League, inaugurated big-league ball in the city on May 2, 1881 with a 6-4 loss to Buffalo before 1,265 at Recreation Park. The Wolverines won the National League pennant in 1887 and an unusual cross-country "world's series" against the St. Louis Browns of the American Association. The Wolverines disbanded in 1888 after eight seasons. On May 2, 1894 Detroit was awarded a franchise in Ban Johnson's reorganized Western League, a minor-league circuit of eight Midwestern clubs. In its first game, Detroit lost to Toledo, 4-3, at Boulevard Park. The Detroit actually wasn't referred to as the 'Tigers' until 1895; prior to that, they were alternately known as the "Creams" and the "Wolverines." On April 28, 1896, the Western league Tigers, after having spent their first two seasons at Boulevard Park, christened Bennett Park with a 17-2 drubbing of Columbus. The Tigers kicked off play in Ban Johnson's renamed American League to begin the 1900 season with an 8-0 loss to Buffalo, as Doc Amole twirled a no-hitter. After operating for six seasons as the Western league, the name change signified little; the circuit was still a minor league and a signatory to the National Agreement, ,meaning its players were subject to being drafted by major league clubs. Before the 1901 season opened, American League owners voted to withdraw from the National Agreement and to declare themselves a major league. This launched a two-year war with the National League over players and territorial rights. At Bennett Park, the Tigers beat Milwaukee, 14-13, in the city's first big-league contest since 1888. For the purpose of recognizing records and anniversaries, the Tigers and the American League date the team's history to 1901. But as this primer illustrates, it took a long time for them to get there.^

MLB: 1894-2018 (125 seasons)

One of the eight original American League teams beginning with the 1901 season.

NFL: 1929-2018 (90 seasons)

detroit local team that was founded in 1900s to join the other teams from the midwest.

Detroit Pistons

NBA: 1942-2018 (77 seasons)

detroit local team that was founded in 1900s to join the other teams from the midwest.

Detroit Red Wings

NHL: 1927-2018 (92 seasons)

detroit local team that was founded in 1900s to join the other teams from the midwest.

Defunct Teams

23 teams have folded or moved away from the Detroit area

Michigan/Baltimore Stags/Blades

WHA: 1975-1975 (1 season)
21-53 record

Grand Rapids Hornets

NPBL: 1951-1951 (1 season)
6-13 record

Detroit Vagabond Kings

NBL: 1949-1949 (1 season)
2-17 record

The Vagabond Kings only played half a season in the NBL before dropping out and being replaced by the Dayton Rens, but they did not totally disband and were playing barnstorming games well into the 1950s. The Vagabond Kings were owned by Dearborn, Michigan, entrepreneur C. King Boring who had previously owned the Detroit Gems. Boring sold the Gems in 1946 to Minneapolis business men Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen, who relocated the team to Minneapolis and renamed it the Lakers. Boring would use the money he made from that sell to fund the Vagabond Kings.

Flint/Midland Dow A.C's

NBL: 1948-1948 (1 season)
8-52 record

Grand Rapids Rangers

PBLA: 1948-1948 (1 season)
3-3 record

NBL: 1947-1947 (1 season)
4-40 record

Detroit Falcons

BAA: 1947-1947 (1 season)
20-40 record

Detroit Motor City Giants

USNL: 1945-1945 (1 season)

NBL: 1940-1941 (2 seasons)
15-12 average record

NAL: 1937-1937 (1 season)
13-25 record

Detroit Altes Lagers

MBC: 1936-1937 (2 seasons)
6-8 average record

Windsor Cooper Buses

MBC: 1936-1936 (1 season)
2-11 record

NNL: 1920-1933 (14 seasons)
44-35 average record

NEWL: 1932-1932 (1 season)
38-12 record

Detroit/Jackson Olympics

NPBL1: 1930-1930 (1 season)
4-5 record

Pontiac/Detroit Chiefs/Toolshops

NPBL1: 1930-1930 (1 season)
3-7 record

Detroit Wolverines

NFL: 1928-1928 (1 season)
7-2 record

Detroit Cardinals

ABL1: 1928-1928 (1 season)
5-13 record

Detroit Pulaski Post

ABL1: 1926-1927 (2 seasons)
3-9 average record

Detroit Panthers

NFL: 1925-1926 (2 seasons)
6-4 average record

NFL: 1911-1921 (11 seasons)
3-4 average record

Grand Rapids Bob-o-Links

WL: 1894-1897 (4 seasons)
45-86 average record

One of the eight original American League teams beginning with the 1901 season.

Detroit Wolverines

NL: 1881-1888 (8 seasons)
53-55 average record

After 8 years in the National League, the franchise folded following the 1888 season.

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