The Detroit Tigers, a professional baseball team, are based in Detroit MI and are in the MLB’s American League Central Division. They have played in Comerica Park since 2000. Their nicknames are “the Motor City Kitties,” “The Bengals,” “the Tigs,” and “the Bless You Boys.” Their name comes from the 19th century military unit, the Detroit Light Guard, which played a major role in certain Civil War battles and the Spanish-American War in 1899. The team was still being called “Wolverines” and “Tigers” in the news, though informally. When they gained entry into the majors, they asked for formal permission from the Light Guard to use its trademark and got it.

The team, founded in Detroit in 1894, is one of four clubs still located in its founding city. The other three are the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians. They played in Bennett Park at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull; and in 1912, moved to historic Tiger Stadium built on Bennett Park’s site. They played their 1st game in the majors on April 25, 1901 against the Milwaukee Brewers. Detroit’s 1st major league team was the NL’s Detroit Wolverines from 1881 to 1888. The nickname, which is now used by the University of Michigan, came from the state’s nickname, “The Wolverine State.” Their rivals have changed over the years: some rivalries are with teams nearby, like the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays; one is with the New York Yankees; some are for 1st place during the regular season, with all AL teams until 1969, AL East teams from 1969 to 1997 and AL Central teams since 1998; and still some are with NL teams they’ve faced a lot in the World Series, like the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.