1996 Detroit Tigers season

The 1996 Detroit Tigers had a record of 53–109 for what was, at the time, the most losses (109) and worst winning percentage (.327) in team history—both of which have since been surpassed twice by the 2003 and 2019 teams.

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, 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 (the 1930 Philadelphia Phillies) 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.

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

Game log
Bold = Tigers team member''
 * ''Legend:      = Win       = Loss
 * ''Legend:      = Win       = Loss

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''

Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

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 flies (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