The Five Most Expensive Detroit Tigers Jerseys Ever Sold

The Detroit Tigers are one of Major League Baseball’s most historic franchises, as they were one of eight charter teams of the American League in 1901. Fun Fact: the Tigers are the oldest franchise to have just one team name for the whole history of their franchise, as they never had a team name switch. The Tigers got their team name in tribute to the Detroit Light Guard, a military unit that dates back to the early 1800s and earned its Tigers nickname during the Civil War. As of 2021, the Tigers won three American League East division titles, they’ve won a total of 4 American League Central division titles, they have 11 American League Pennants to add to their name, and they have 4 World Series championships won in the years 1935, 1945, 1968, and 1984. The history of the franchise is littered with legendary players such as Ty Cobb, Miguel Cabrera, Al Kaline, Charlie Grehinger, Alan Tramell, and countless others. Because of their impact on the game can be measured in numerous ways such as revenue, endorsements, and memorabilia. Recently we’ve discovered some of the Tigers jerseys have been sold for extremely high amounts. Today we will take a look at the five most expensive Tigers jerseys ever sold to date:

5. 2015 Miguel Cabrera Game Worn Jersey – $2,270

Miguel Cabrera is a once in a lifetime generational type of player you just don’t see appear that often, as good players will put up good numbers in their primes, Cabrera has been able to put up immaculate numbers wherever he has played and throughout his whole entire career. In 2015, Miggy represented the Tigers on the American League All-Star team as he led the majors in batting with an immaculate batting average of .338, he also led the league in on-base percentage with a fantastic percentage of .440, he hit a total of 18 home runs, and drove in a total of 76 runs that season. Miggy is one of the elite members of the 3,000 hit club and has been a fan favorite ever since he first step foot on the field at Comerica Park and first arrived in Detroit to play for the Tigers. His jersey was sold as part of the Heritage Auctions as part of the Sports Collectibles Platinum Night Auction that was located in Chicago, as he jersey was sold for a total of $2,270 and was sold on July 31st, 2015.

4. 1979 Alan Trammell Game Worn and Signed Jersey – $5,880

Alan Trammell was one of the fan favorites of the Tigers throughout his career and he was the model of what consistency was. Trammell was awarded with the Gold Glove award 6 different times throughout his career, he won a total of three Silver Slugger awards, and he helped the Tigers win one World Series championship in 1984 against the San Diego Padres, where he was named the World Series Most Valuable Player. 1979 was his third season in the big leagues, as he hit a total of 6 home runs, drove in a total of 50 runs, he had a batting average of .276, and he had a total of 17 stolen bases. His jersey was sold as a part of the Heritage Auctions as part of the Summer Platinum Night Sports Collectibles Catalog Auction that was located in Dallas, as his jersey was sold for a total of $5,880 and the jersey was sold on August 30th, 2020.

3. 1924-1926 Charlie Gehringer Game Worn Rookie Jersey – $ 31,070

Charlie Gehringer was just getting settled as he didn’t play many games for the Tigers in the 1924 and the 1925 Major League Baseball season’s, but 1926 was his first full season in the big leagues as he hit only one home run, he drove in a total of 48 runs, he had a batting average of .277, and he had a total of 9 stolen bases. Gehringer was awarded with the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1937, as in that season he led the major leagues with an immaculate batting average of .371, he hit a total of 14 home runs, he drove in a total of 96, and he had over 200 base hits that season with a total of 209 hits recorded. He helped lead the Tigers to two World Series Championships in 1935 where the Tigers defeated the Chicago Cubs, and then again in 1945 where the Tigers defeated the Chicago Cubs once again. His jersey was sold as a part of the Heritage Auctions as a part of the 2011 April Dallas Signature Sports Collectibles Auctions that was located in Dallas, as his jersey was sold for a total of $31,070 and was sold on April 22nd, 2011.

2. 1968 Al Kaline World Series Clincher Game Worn Jersey – $47, 800

Al Kaline was a key contributor to the Tigers World Series Championship in 1968 as they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in 7 games that year. This particular Kaline jersey that was sold was the exact jersey that he wore when the Tigers won the American League Pennant and clinched their ticket to the November Classic. In 1968, Kaline posted an efficient batting average of .287, he hit a total of 10 home runs, he drove in a total of 52 runs, and he only played in a total of 102 games that season. His best season of his major league career came in 1955, where he represented the Tigers on the American League All-Star team, he had an amazing batting average of .340, he hit a towering 27 home runs, he drove in a total of 102 runs, and he led the majors in total base hits that season with exactly 200 base hits. His jersey was sold as part of the Heritage Auctions as part of the Sports Collectibles Platinum Night Auction that was located in Chicago, as his jersey was sold for $ 47,800 and was sold on July 30th, 2015.

1. 1922 Game Worn Ty Cobb Jersey – $300,000

Ty Cobb was arguably the greatest hitter that Major League Baseball has ever seen, as in his 22 year Major League Career, Cobb had a total career batting average of .367, which is very very good. Cobb had a total of 4,191 total career base hits, as he his one of two players in the 4,000 hit club, he also racked up a total of 893 career stolen bases and was just a great all-around player on the field. Cobb was awarded with the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1911, as he led the league in total runs scored with 148, led the league in total base hits with a total of 248, led the league in doubles with 47, led the league in triples with 24, led the league in RBI’s with 127, led the league in stolen bases with 83, and he hit 8 home runs that season. Cobb was nicknamed the “Georgia Peach” and he was the greatest player to ever put on a uniform for the Detroit Tigers. His grey flannel jersey that he wore during a game in 1922 was sold for $300,000 at the Heritage Auctions.