1912-1914

1912-The Tigers would begin play in their new ballpark Navin Field named for owner Frank Navin, a place they would call home for the next 87 years. Finishing the season 69-84, 36 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox, the season would not have been memorable except for the suspension of Ty Cobb and the subsequent strike by his Tiger teammates.

During a game against New York in May, Cobb is getting his typical heckling. This time, after being called a "half-nigger", Cobb goes into the stands and beats the heckler relentlessly. Unfortunately the fan had no hands and thus was defenseless. The American League suspended Ty Cobb indefinitely. The Tiger teammates decided to strike in protest of Cobb's suspension feeling he was in the right after being called such an insult. The Tigers are forced to field a sandlot team and lose to the Philadelphia Athletics 24-2. The Tigers are ordered back by the American League and fined. Cobb misses a week and still goes on to hit .410 and win his sixth straight batting title.

1913-Finishing 30 games behind the Philadelphia Athletics with a record of 66-87, 1913 is remembered for the debut of first baseman Wally Pip (who would join the New York Yankees in 1915 and would later lose his starting spot to a man named Lou Gehrig). Cobb won his seventh straight batting title hitting .390.

1914-A better year but still only a fourth place finish. 19 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Athletics with a 80-73 record. Ty Cobb won his eighth straight batting title with a .368 average. Joe Crawford continued his hitting prowess slugging 8 Hr, 104 RBI, and a .314 average.