1901 Detroit Tigers season

The Detroit Tigers season was the Tigers' first in Major League Baseball. The team was a charter member of the American League, which was originally formed as the minor-league Western League, of which it was also a charter member. The Tigers finished in third place with a record or 74-61, eight-and-a-half games behind the Chicago White Stockings. Led by the team's first 20-game winner, Roscoe Miller (23-13), the team had the third best team ERA (3.30) in the American League. Joe Yeager had an ERA of 2.61, for the second best Adjusted ERA+ in the AL behind Cy Young. The offense was not as strong, scoring 741 runs -- fifth among the eight teams in the league. The team's best hitters were shortstop Kid Elberfeld (.308 average) and center fielder Jimmy Barrett (.293 average; 110 runs).

Regular season

Season highlights

After years in the Western League, the Tigers were scheduled to take the field for their first official American League game on April 24, 1901. A standing room only crowd was anticipated at Bennett Park, but the Tigers' inaugural American League game was postponed due to weather. The following day, in front of 10,023 fans, the Tigers entered the ninth inning trailing the Milwaukee Brewers 13–4. Third basemen Doc Casey started the ninth-inning rally with a ground rule double. The Tigers continued the rally to eventually reduce their deficit to one run. Now only down one run, 13–12, with two runners on base and two out, Tiger Frank......
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