The Detroit Tigers have had their ups and downs since their first action-packed game in 1901 at Bennett Park. After a rain-delay of a day, a crowd of 10,000 cheered the Tigers to a come-from-behind win over Milwaukee.

Early fans didn’t enjoy the comfort of the Tigers’ new stadium, Comercia Park. Rather, seats were often precariously located, and depending on the day, the venue changed locations. Early Tigers tickets were sold for ‘Wildcat’ seats by crafty landowners who erected towering, rickety bleachers on their land for viewing the Tigers games. Seats cost five to ten cents, depending on location. Because of a law that prohibited Sunday games, fans had to trek to Burns Park, just outside of the Detroit city limits, to enjoy those games scheduled on Sundays.

However, those intrepid fans had a lot to cheer about. Some excellent players have generated fan support for the Tigers over the years. In 1905, legendary outfielder Ty Cobb donned a Tigers uniform for the remainder of his 22-year career. Outfielder Al Kaline took Gold Glove honors every year but one from 1957 to 1967. In the 1980s, stellar players Lance Parrish, Lou Whitaker, and Alan Trammell took multiple Silver Slugger awards.

After two World Series losses in 1907 and 1909, team owner Frank Navins decided the fans and the team needed a new home to boost morale. So, in 1911, the 23,000 seat Navin Field was built. It was later expanded to 53,000 seats in 1938, when the name was changed to Briggs Stadium. This would remain the home of the Tigers until the mid 1960s, when Tiger Stadium was created. In 2000, Tiger Stadium was retired and Comercia Park took over to welcome the team’s fans.

The 1984 Tigers team was one of the most impressive in history, with an astounding sweep of the division title, the American League Championship and the World Series. Dubbed the 'Bless You Boys,' this team sold an astounding 2.7 million Tigers tickets to fans eager to cheer on the pride of Michigan.

After a dismal season in 2005, Detroit Tigers fans are hoping for more excitement in the next half of the decade. Comercia Park baseball tickets should skyrocket in sales now that the team has acquired pitcher Justin Verlander, and a new manager, Jim Leyland.
Hopefully, the roster of healthy players and management changes will bring fans out to purchase Tigers tickets in record amounts. Who knows, maybe the Tigers have another World Series in them. We’ll have to watch and see.