Detroit Tigers uniforms through the years: How they have changed (2024)

The Detroit Tigers in 2018 tweaked the Old English "D" on their uniform to match the design on the team's hat. Let's look back through history to see how the franchise's uniforms have changed since the early 1900s, from the classic look to the throwbacks to funky alternates and everything in between.

Tigers pitcher Ralph Works in 1909.

Ed Killian, Tigers pitcher, throws the ball in 1908.

Sheet of eight postcards in 1908 from the Detroit Free Press featuring Tigers players: Ed Summers (pitcher); Ed Willett (pitcher), Matty McIntyre (left field); Red Downs (second base); Boss Schmidt (catcher); Germany Schaefer (third base); Claude Rossman (first base) and Charley O'Leary (shortstop).

Charles Schmidt, Tigers catcher, in a picture dated 1909.

Tigers Hall of Fame outfielder Ty Cobb, bat in hand, in 1910.

Ty Cobb stands on a baseball field in 1913.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Ty Cobb, left, and Cleveland Naps outfielder "Shoeless" Joe Jackson stand alongside each other holding bats in 1913.

Detroit Tigers manager Bucky Harris, left, and Washington Senators manager Walter Johnson meet in Washington, D.C. in June 1929.

Heinie Schuble played shortstop, third base and second base for the Tigers in 1929 and 1932-35.

Plenty of base hits in these bats in Washington D.C. on July 7, 1937 at the All- Star Game at Griffith Stadium. Left to right: Lou Gehrig, Joe Cronin, Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio, Charlie Gehringer, Jimmie Foxx, and Hank Greenberg.

Detroit Tiger catcher George Tebbetts (left) and Pat McLaughlin, new Tigers recruit in 1937.

Detroit Tigers stars Charlie Gehringer, left, and Hank Greenberg in an undated photo.

Frank Shellenback, Tigers pitching coach, in 1946.

Earl Rapp, Tigers outfielder, in 1949.

Tigers first baseman Keith Little in 1954.

Switching uniforms is Jay Porter, right, Tigers outfield prospect who was discharged from the 6th inf. Div. at the Fort Ord (Calif.) separation center in 1955. Joe Gordon, Tiger West Coast scout, was on hand to greet him as he shed his Army uniform.

Tigers utility man Jay Porter, left, in 1955.

Tigers outfielder Charles "Chick" King in 1955.

Bob Scheffing, the new Tiger manager in 1961, is a man of conservative tastes. He dresses quietly, in blues, grays, and blacks.

Bruce Maher in 1961. Maher played safety for the Detroit Lions in the 1960s.

Al Kaline (left), Jake Wood (center) and Rocky Colavito are shown Aug. 28, 1961 in the dressing room after the Detroit Tigers defeated the Washington Senators 7-3. Kaline and Colavito both homered in the 1st and Wood hit a grand slam home run in the 6th.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain went 31-6 with a 1.96 ERA in 1968 to win the American League MVP and Cy Young Award.

Wayne Redman, left, and Willie Horton on April 8, 1970.

With 3,000 hits behind him and only three games left to play, Al Kaline says his thanks and good-byes at Tiger Stadium in 1974.

Left to right, standing: Lou Whitaker, Alan Trammell and Chet Lemon, with Garfield the Tiger and Lance Parrish, during spring training in Florida in 1984.

Howard Johnson, infielder for the Tigers, in 1984 during spring training.

Tigers catcher Lance Parrish raises his bottle of champagne to the fans still in the stands long after the Tigers won the 1984 World Series in Game 5 over the Padres, 8-4, at Tiger Stadium in Detroit on Oct. 14, 1984.

Eric King, who came to the Tigers in the trade for Juan Berenguer, is in front of the line as the pitching staff stretches during spring training in 1986.

Tigers shortstop Alan Trammell photographed on March 23, 1989.

Mickey Tettleton, right, with Cecil Fielder on June 7, 1991.

Tigers' Tony Phillips has a laugh during spring training in Lakeland, Fla. in 1994.

Tigers first baseman Tony Clark high fives third base coach Lance Parrish after hitting a home run against Oakland on June 21, 1999. The patch on the left sleeve honored the last season played at Tiger Stadium.

Tigers pitcher Drew Smyly throws his glove in disgust in the fifth inning against the Pirates at Comerica Park on May 19, 2012. Both teams honored the Negro Leagues with their uniform, as the Tigers repped the Detroit Stars.

Tigers' Rick Porcello after pitching the third inning against the Rays at Tropicana Field on June 30, 2012 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

James McCann has his picture taken in spring training in Lakeland, Fla. on Feb. 27, 2016. This version of the Old English "D" on the uniform was first introduced in the 1930s and has either been a primary or alternate logo for the franchise since. Note the slight difference of the "D" on the hat.

Jordan Zimmermann pitches during spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. on Mar 26, 2017. The Tigers will wear this version of the Old English "D" on their regular season uniforms, beginning with the 2018 season.

Matthew Boyd, sporting different variations of the Old English "D" on his uniform and hat, delivers against the Twins at Comerica Park on April 11, 2017.

Tigers starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann delivers to the White Sox in the first inning May 28, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) walks off the field after throwing the first inning against Oakland Athletics of the home opening day at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, April 5, 2024.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal models the new City Connect uniforms in Detroit, Michigan.

Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan on April 29, 2024.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal models the new City Connect uniforms in Detroit, Michigan.