1996 Detroit Tigers season

The 1996 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 96th season and the 85th season at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers finished with a record of 53–109 for what was, at the time, the most overall losses (109) and worst winning percentage (.327) in a 162-game season in team history — both of which have since been surpassed 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. The team's pitchers recorded 6,713 batters faced, more than any other team in MLB history. 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 losses, 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.