For the short-lived NFL team, see 1928 Detroit Wolverines (NFL) seasonFor the 1880s baseball team, see Detroit Wolverines.The 1928 Detroit Wolverines season was their fifth in the league and only season as the Wolverines. The team improved on their previous output of 4-6-2, winning seven games. They finished third in the league.-Season schedule:-League...
.
The
Detroit Wolverines were a 19th century
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The goal is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond...
team that played in the
National LeagueThe following is a list of United States Major League Baseball teams that played in the National League during the 19th century.-Surviving teams:*Boston Red Stockings 1876–1900 - now Atlanta Braves...
from 1881 to 1888 in the city of
Detroit, MichiganDetroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwest region of the United States. Located north of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada. It was founded...
. In total, they won 426 games and lost 437 before disbanding, taking their lone pennant (and
World SeriesThe 1887 World Series was won by the Detroit Wolverines of the National League, over the St. Louis Browns of the American Association, 10 games to 5. It was played between October 10 and October 26, and played in numerous neutral cities, as well as in Detroit and St. Louis...
) in 1887.
Founded at the suggestion of Detroit mayor
William G. ThompsonWilliam G. Thompson served two terms as mayor of Detroit, Michigan, from 1880 to 1883. He was also a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Michigan in 1880....
, the Wolverines played the first game of major league baseball in Detroit on May 2, 1881, in front of 1,286 fans.
For the short-lived NFL team, see 1928 Detroit Wolverines (NFL) seasonFor the 1880s baseball team, see Detroit Wolverines.The 1928 Detroit Wolverines season was their fifth in the league and only season as the Wolverines. The team improved on their previous output of 4-6-2, winning seven games. They finished third in the league.-Season schedule:-League...
.
The
Detroit Wolverines were a 19th century
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The goal is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond...
team that played in the
National LeagueThe following is a list of United States Major League Baseball teams that played in the National League during the 19th century.-Surviving teams:*Boston Red Stockings 1876–1900 - now Atlanta Braves...
from 1881 to 1888 in the city of
Detroit, MichiganDetroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwest region of the United States. Located north of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada. It was founded...
. In total, they won 426 games and lost 437 before disbanding, taking their lone pennant (and
World SeriesThe 1887 World Series was won by the Detroit Wolverines of the National League, over the St. Louis Browns of the American Association, 10 games to 5. It was played between October 10 and October 26, and played in numerous neutral cities, as well as in Detroit and St. Louis...
) in 1887.
Franchise History
Founded at the suggestion of Detroit mayor
William G. ThompsonWilliam G. Thompson served two terms as mayor of Detroit, Michigan, from 1880 to 1883. He was also a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Michigan in 1880....
, the Wolverines played the first game of major league baseball in Detroit on May 2, 1881, in front of 1,286 fans. Their home field was called
Recreation ParkRecreation Park was a ballpark located in Detroit. The ballpark was home to the Detroit Wolverines of the National League from 1881 to 1888. The Wolverines won the National League Pennant while playing at Recreation Park during the 1887 season...
, and it consisted of a wooden grandstand located between Brady Street and Willis Avenue. This stadium was demolished in 1894, though its location is indicated by a historical marker in what was once left field. The name of the ball club derives from Michigan being known as "The Wolverine State". The team name "Wolverines" is now primarily associated with
University of MichiganThe University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a public research university located in the state of Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university, the flagship campus of the University of Michigan, and one of the top public universities in the world...
sports.
Though they folded after only eight seasons, the Wolverines occupy an important place in baseball history. In 1885, new owner Frederick Kimball Stearns began spending heavily in an attempt to create a 'super-team' by buying high-priced players. Most notably, he purchased the entire
Buffalo BisonsThe original Buffalo Bisons baseball club played in the National League between 1879 and 1885. The Bisons played their games at Riverside Park and Olympic Park .-Year-by-year records:-Players of note:*Dan Brouthers*Bill Crowley...
franchise that August, to secure the services of its stars:
Dan BrouthersDennis Joseph "Dan" Brouthers Dennis Joseph "Dan" Brouthers Dennis Joseph "Dan" Brouthers ( (May 8, 1858 – August 2, 1932) was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball whose career spanned the period from to , with a brief return in...
,
Jack RoweJohn Charles Rowe was a baseball player for the Buffalo Bisons of the National League , Detroit Wolverines , Pittsburgh Alleghenys , and the Buffalo Bisons of the Players League...
,
Hardy RichardsonAbram Harding "Hardy" Richardson was a second basemen and outfielder mostly, who played in the Major Leagues for a number of teams throughout the 19th century. Most of Richardson's career was with the Buffalo Bisons...
, and
Deacon WhiteJames Laurie "Deacon" White was an American baseball player who was one of the principal stars during the first two decades of the sport's professional era...
, the so-called "Big Four". This strategy quickly met resistance from his fellow owners, who changed the league's rules governing the splitting of gate receipts, reducing the visiting team's maximum share to $125 per game. Detroit was not yet the Motor City, and its population was too small to support a highly paid team. The Wolverines' home gate receipts were not sufficient to sustain their payroll, and Stearns was forced to sell his stars to other clubs.
The Wolverines' most successful season came in 1887, when they were crowned as the champion of the National League with a record of 79 wins and 45 losses. After the season, they defeated the
St. Louis BrownsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball...
, champion of the rival
American AssociationThis article refers to the former Baseball major league that existed from 1882 to 1891. For other leagues with a similar name see: American Association....
, in a series of exhibition matches, winning ten of the fifteen games played. These games were a predecessor to the modern
World SeriesThe World Series has been the annual championship series of the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada since 1903, concluding the postseason of Major League Baseball...
, which did not begin until 1903.
Three Detroit players hit for the cycle: George Wood on June 13, 1885,
Mox McQueryWilliam Thomas "Mox" McQuery was a Major League Baseball first baseman. He played for the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds of the Union Association, the Detroit Wolverines and the Kansas City Cowboys , both of the National League, and the Syracuse Stars and Washington Statesmen , both of the American...
on Sept. 28, 1885, and
Jack RoweJohn Charles Rowe was a baseball player for the Buffalo Bisons of the National League , Detroit Wolverines , Pittsburgh Alleghenys , and the Buffalo Bisons of the Players League...
on Aug. 21, 1886.
Prominent players
- Charlie Bennett
Charles Wesley Bennett was a catcher in Major League Baseball.-Career overview:Born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Bennett played 15 seasons in the major leagues. He played in 1062 games, had a .340 on base percentage and collected 978 hits, 203 doubles, 67 triples, 55 home runs, and 533 RBIs...
- Dan Brouthers
Dennis Joseph "Dan" Brouthers Dennis Joseph "Dan" Brouthers Dennis Joseph "Dan" Brouthers ( (May 8, 1858 – August 2, 1932) was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball whose career spanned the period from to , with a brief return in...
- Fred Dunlap
Frederick C. Dunlap , nicknamed "Sure Shot", was a second baseman in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Blues , St. Louis Maroons , Detroit Wolverines , Pittsburg Alleghenys , New York Giants , and the Washington Statesmen...
- Ned Hanlon
- Deacon McGuire
James Thomas "Deacon" McGuire was a catcher, manager and coach in Major League Baseball who spent over a quarter of a century playing professional baseball in a much-traveled career which saw him set several records for durability...
- Hardy Richardson
Abram Harding "Hardy" Richardson was a second basemen and outfielder mostly, who played in the Major Leagues for a number of teams throughout the 19th century. Most of Richardson's career was with the Buffalo Bisons...
- Jack Rowe
John Charles Rowe was a baseball player for the Buffalo Bisons of the National League , Detroit Wolverines , Pittsburgh Alleghenys , and the Buffalo Bisons of the Players League...
- Billy Shindle
William D. "Billy" Shindle was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Detroit Wolverines , Baltimore Orioles , Philadelphia Athletics , Philadelphia Phillies , and the Brooklyn Grooms & Bridegrooms . Shindle batted and threw right-handed...
- Sam Thompson
Samuel Luther Thompson was a 19th century Major League Baseball player. "Big Sam" was known for his offensive production and was second on the career home runs list at the time of his retirement...
- Deacon White
James Laurie "Deacon" White was an American baseball player who was one of the principal stars during the first two decades of the sport's professional era...
- Chief Zimmer
Charles Louis Zimmer was a catcher in Major League Baseball for 19 seasons from to , playing for the Detroit Wolverines , New York Metropolitans...
Brouthers, Hanlon, and Thompson are members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
See also
- Detroit Wolverines football team
For the 1880s baseball team, see Detroit Wolverines.The 1928 Detroit Wolverines season was their fifth in the league and only season as the Wolverines. The team improved on their previous output of 4-6-2, winning seven games. They finished third in the league.-Season schedule:-League...
-- 1928 NFL franchise
- 1881 Detroit Wolverines season
In , Detroit Mayor William G. Thompson bought most of the players from the defunct Cincinnati Reds franchise and formed the Detroit Wolverines, which joined the National League. The team finished the season with a 41-43 record, good enough for fourth place in the NL race.-Roster:-Starters by...
- 1882 Detroit Wolverines season
The Detroit Wolverines finished the season with a 42-41 record, good for fifth place in the National League.-Roster:-Starters by position:...
- 1883 Detroit Wolverines season
The Detroit Wolverines finished the season with a 40-58 record, good for seventh place in the National League.-Roster:-Starters by position:...
- 1884 Detroit Wolverines season
The Detroit Wolverines finished the season with a 28-84 record, finishing in last place in the National League.- Offseason :* January, 1884: Milt Scott was purchased by the Wolverines from the Fort Wayne Hoosiers.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
- 1885 Detroit Wolverines season
The Detroit Wolverines finished the season with a 41-67 record, finishing in sixth place in the National League.- Notable transactions :* June 15, 1885: Jim Keenan was purchased by the Wolverines from the Indianapolis Hoosiers....
- 1886 Detroit Wolverines season
The Detroit Wolverines had the best winning percentage of any major league baseball team to play in Detroit. They compiled a record of 87-36 for a .707 winning percentage...
- 1887 Detroit Wolverines season
The Detroit Wolverines won the 1887 National League pennant and the 1887 World Series against the St. Louis Browns. The season was their 7th since they entered the National League in 1881...
- 1888 Detroit Wolverines season
The Detroit Wolverines finished the season with a 68-63 record, finishing in fifth place in the National League. After the season, the ownership announced that they had lost so much money on the team that disbanded the team and sold off the players....
- Detroit Wolverines all-time roster
* The following is a list of players and who appeared in at least one game for the Detroit Wolverines franchise of the National League from through .ß= indicates Baseball Hall of Famer-B:*Lady Baldwin*Ed Beatin*Dave Beatle*Charlie Bennett...
External links