Detroit Tigers Financial Records

Collection

Identifier: MSSP_0016

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Financial records related to the Detroit Tigers American League professional baseball team.Two bound accounting ledgers document the business operation of the Detroit Base Ball and Amusement Company and its successor the Detroit Base Ball Company. Entries in the ledgers record income and expenses for a wide variety of transactions, including player salaries, spring training trips, world series games, routine business matters, and other subjects. Among the notable names in the ledgers are Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, and manager Hughie Jennings. Formats include account books.

Dates

Creation: 1903-1911

Creator

Detroit Tigers (Baseball team) (Organization)
Navin, Frank J., 1875-1935 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Biographical / Historical

The Detroit Tigers were a charter member of the American League in 1901 when the League declared itself a major league rival of the National League. Led by stars like Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford, the Tigers won American League pennants in 1907, 1908, and 1909.

Francis Joseph Navin began working as the Tigers business manager, treasurer, and secretary in 1902. Soon after, he become an investor in the franchise. By 1908, Navin was the Team President and a part owner of the club. In these years, Navin was also the team's bookkeeper and managed the financial side of the business. Later, from 1919 to 1935, Navin was the principal owner of the Tigers.