Neha Patil (Editor)

1996 Detroit Tigers season

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Owner(s)
  
Mike Ilitch

Manager(s)
  
Buddy Bell

General manager(s)
  
Randy Smith

Local television
  
WKBD (George Kell, Al Kaline) PASS (Ernie Harwell, Fred McLeod, Jim Price)

Local radio
  
WJR (Frank Beckmann, Lary Sorensen)

The 1996 Detroit Tigers had a record of 53-109 for the third worst winning percentage (.327) in team history. With a number of capable batters (Cecil Fielder, Tony Clark, Bobby Higginson, Alan Trammell, Rubén Sierra, and Damion Easley), the team scored a respectable 783 runs. However, the 1996 Tigers lacked pitching and allowed their opponents to score 1,103 runs. No team in American League history and only one in major league history (the 1930 Philadelphia Phillies) has given up more runs. No pitcher on the team had more than 7 wins. The Tigers made more unwanted history when they were swept 12-0 by the Cleveland Indians in the regular season series, losing all twelve games played while being outscored, 79-28.

Contents

Opening Day roster

  • Chad Curtis CF
  • Bobby Higginson RF
  • Travis Fryman 3B
  • Cecil Fielder 1B
  • Melvin Nieves LF
  • Eddie Williams DH
  • Mark Lewis 2B
  • John Flaherty C
  • Alan Trammell SS
  • Felipe Lira SP

    • Notable transactions

  • March 22, 1996: Melvin Nieves was traded by the San Diego Padres with Raul Casanova and Richie Lewis to the Detroit Tigers for Sean Bergman, Todd Steverson, and Cade Gaspar (minors).
  • March 31, 1996: Curtis Pride was signed as a Free Agent with the Detroit Tigers.
  • April 27, 1996: Joe Boever was selected off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Detroit Tigers.
  • July 31, 1996: Cecil Fielder was traded by the Detroit Tigers to the New York Yankees for Rubén Sierra and Matt Drews (minors).
  • July 31, 1996: Chad Curtis was traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Los Angeles Dodgers for John Cummings and Joey Eischen.
  • August 6, 1996: Todd Van Poppel was selected off waivers by the Detroit Tigers from the Oakland Athletics.

    • Starters by position

    Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Other batters

    Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    League leaders and award winners

  • Kimera Bartee: #5 in AL times caught stealing (10)
  • Chad Curtis: #5 in AL times caught stealing (10)
  • Cecil Fielder: MLB leader in salary ($9,237,500)
  • Travis Fryman: AL leader in fielding percentage at third base (.979)
  • Travis Fryman: #3 in AL in sacrifice filies (10)
  • Travis Fryman: #4 in AL in outs (483)
  • Richie Lewis: #2 in AL in wild pitches (14)
  • Felipe Lira: #4 in AL in shutouts (2)
  • Mike Myers: AL leader in games (83)
  • Melvin Nieves: #2 in AL in strikeouts (158)

    • Farm system

    LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Jacksonville

    Visalia affiliation shared with Arizona Diamondbacks

    References

    1996 Detroit Tigers season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA