1996 Detroit Tigers season


The 1996 Detroit Tigers had a record of 53–109 for what was, at the time, the most losses and worst winning percentage in team history -- both of which since been surpassed twice by the 2003 and 2019 teams.
With a number of capable batters, the team scored a respectable 783 runs. However, the 1996 Tigers lacked pitching, allowing their opponents to score 1,103 runs and posting a team ERA of 6.38. No team in American League history and only one in major league history has given up more runs. No pitcher on the team had more than 7 wins. Of the 109 games the Tigers lost, 58 were by four or more runs, a record for the number of games lost by such a margin. 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. The 1996 Tigers did not have a winning record against any AL opponent.

Regular season

Opening Day roster

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Detailed records




MonthGamesWonLostWin %
April27918152211
May2742384194
June271017146187
July261214146168
August291415137159
September26422118184
Total162531097831103

Notable transactions

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
CBrad Ausmus7522656.248422
1BTony Clark10037694.2502772
2BMark Lewis145545147.2701155
3BTravis Fryman157616165.26822100
SSAndújar Cedeño5217935.196720
LFBobby Higginson130440141.3202681
CFKimera Bartee12021755.253114
RFMelvin Nieves110431106.2462460
DHEddie Williams7721543.200626

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
Chad Curtis104400105.2631037
Cecil Fielder10739197.2482680
Curtis Pride9526780.3001031
Alan Trammell6619345.233116
Rubén Sierra4615835.222120
John Flaherty4715238.250423
Chris Gomez4812831.242116
Phil Nevin3812035.292819
Mark Parent3810425.240717
Damion Easley216723.343210

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Other pitchers

Relief pitchers

League leaders and award winners

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Jacksonville
Visalia affiliation shared with Arizona Diamondbacks