Detroit City of Champions

Send us Fan Mail Champions Day Live from the Detroit Historical Museum. The 90th Anniversary a special conversation on April 18th 2026.  Detroit didn’t just have a good sports year in the 1930s. Detroit had a stretch so absurd that it turned into a civic identity, a national headline, and an official holiday: Champions Day. We’re recording from the Detroit Historical Museum on the 90th anniversary...

Send us Fan Mail A dusty closet under a ballpark sounds harmless until it becomes a doorway to the past. We talk with author and genealogist Timothy Bernard Carr about Timing Is Everything, a fast-moving historical fiction time travel novel that starts in Detroit with the 2003 Tigers and then dares to rewrite the moments that still sting. If you love Detroit sports, baseball history, or Irish Amer...

Send us Fan Mail A heavyweight crown can change a career. Fighting for dignity can change a country. We sit down with historian Randy Roberts to explore how Joe Louis moved from Detroit icon to global symbol during World War II, turning quiet resolve into a powerful stand against Jim Crow while uniting millions under one flag. Randy takes us inside The Fight of His Life, the book he coauthored wit...

Send us Fan Mail The remarkable story of Detroit's 1935 "City of Champions" status stands as perhaps the greatest untold achievement in American sports history. When the Lions captured the NFL championship, the Tigers claimed the World Series, and the Red Wings hoisted Lord Stanley's Cup all in the same year – while Joe Louis began his meteoric rise to boxing dominance – Detroi...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how a single year could define a city’s sports legacy? Join us as we revisit the exhilarating year of 1935 when Detroit's Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings each clinched their first championships, earning the city the moniker "City of Champions." We’ll also marvel at the incredible rise of Joe Lewis during this golden era. From historical victories to perso...

Send us Fan Mail Step into the golden era of Detroit sports with us as Jamie Flanagan and Charles Avison unveil the meticulous research and dedication that brought the legendary athletes of 1935 back to life. Journey through time as Charles recounts his thrilling discoveries of rare memorabilia and the painstaking effort he put into piecing together old newspapers, matchbooks, and game programs. Y...

Send us Fan Mail What if a city could be crowned the "City of Champions" in a single year? Travel back to Detroit in 1935, a pivotal moment when the Tigers, Lions, Red Wings, and the legendary Joe Louis collectively put the city on the sports map. In this episode, we uncover the recruitment strategies that shaped the Detroit Tigers and contrast their resilience against the backdrop of fa...

Send us Fan Mail What if the scouting strategies of the 1930s are the secret to modern baseball success? Join us as we journey through the foundational era of the Detroit Tigers, where the Mississippi River became a strategic dividing line for talent acquisition. We'll uncover how Bob Coleman and Del Baker's pivotal roles in the early minor league system laid the groundwork for the 1935...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could walk through Detroit's most glorious sports memories and meet the legends who lived them? This episode takes you on a nostalgic journey back to 1935, the year Detroit earned the title "City of Champions" with victories from the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, and the meteoric rise of Joe Louis in boxing. Fast forward to the recent Champions Day 2024 cele...

Send us Fan Mail What if one year could define an entire city's sports legacy? Travel back with us to 1935, a year when Detroit was crowned the "City of Champions," and discover how the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, and boxing phenom Joe Louis made an indelible mark on sports history. We'll unpack the rich interconnections between Detroit and Portsmouth, and delve into the cultural...

Send us Fan Mail Dan Campbell's decisions in the NFC Championship game - Exploring the historical precedent for success - Episode 109 How Dan Campbell's style reminds us of the story of Gerald "Gee"  Walker As was said in 1933 of Gee, '... we want the wild mustang of the range, no one wins the race with old dobbin.' An amazing passage attributed to Aidan Hutchinson Yo...

Send us Fan Mail The Forgotten Champions  Episode 108: NBC lists the wrong year of the Lions first Championship Did you know? The Lions won their first Championship in 1935 and NOT 1932! Jamie and Charles explore this major error of historical inaccuracy presented by NBC during the Lions vs Buccaneers playoff game. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny....

Send us Fan Mail Episode 107: The Other Champions of 1935: Newell Banks - Checkers Should there ever be any debate about Detroit’s claim to “The Greatest Season in American Sport history,” one need only point to the 33rd championship: Newell Banks, the 1935 checkers champion was from Detroit! https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.com

Send us Fan Mail Episode 106: The Other Champions of 1935: Azucar and the first Santa Anita Handicap While the name Seabiscuit is synonymous with horse racing in the 1930’s, there was another who rose to the greatest height on the largest stage: Azucar. What connects a Hollywood blockbuster, a forgotten champion racehorse, and Detroit's golden sporting era? The answer lies in one of the most...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 105: The Other Champions of 1935: Stanley Kratkowski & Joanna De Tuscan “From a room full of sweet mamas and papas to a lunatic asylum…” The stories of Stanley Kratkowski and Joanna De Tuscan are presented alongside a unique insight into the 1936 Berlin Olympics. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.com

Send us Fan Mail Episode 104: The Other Champions of 1935: Gar Wood Jr. Gar Wood, the King of Speed on Water. In today’s episode Jamie and Charles explore the story of the crown prince: Gar Wood Jr. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.com

Send us Fan Mail Episode 103: The Other Champions of 1935: Jimmy Gilhula, Tom Haynie and the D.A.C. Swim Team On the first weekend of July, 1935, Detroit swimmers would add three more national amateur championships to the city’s crowded victory mantle. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.com

Send us Fan Mail Episode 102: The Other Champions of 1935: Jake Ankrom The parade of Champions continues with the exploration of Jake Ankrom, winner of the 1935 National Amateur Three-Cushion Billiards Championship. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.com

Send us Fan Mail Episode 101: The Other Champions of 1935: Bill Bonthron Jamie and Charles broadcast on location from the Emperor’s throne room on the Death Star and investigate one of the great untold stories of 1935: Bill Bonthron’s 1500 meter world record. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.com

Send us Fan Mail Episode 100: The Other Champions of 1935: Herbert Mendelson Episode #100! Jamie and Charles reflect on the 99 previous episodes and find a little time to explore Herbert Mendelson, winner of the 1935 President’s Cup race. Thanks to everyone who has joined us live or on the feed. Thanks to everyone who has commented on the video and audio tracks. 200 here we come. https://linktr.ee...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 99: The Other Champions of 1935: Dixie Oils Softball Team Among the most overlooked Champions of 1935 are the Dixie Oils softball team. Jamie and Charles explore their story as well the history of softball itself. Some of the sources we used for the history of softball: https://nfca.org/easyblog/womens-history-month-great-time-to-reflect-on-softballs-rich-history https://w...

Send us Fan Mail  The Other Champions of 1935: Golden Glovers - Episode 98 While Joe Louis garnered the professional boxing headlines in 1935 there were other Detroit pugilists who would claim championships in the amateur ranks. Jamie and Charles explore their stories as well as the story of Stanley Evans, the last man to defeat Joe Louis before his rise. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions w...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 97: The Other Champions of 1935: Stroh’s Bowling Team (Part 2) Few teams have ever had an impact on their sport like that of Stroh’s Bowling. In today’s episode Jamie and Charles explore this forgotten juggernaut and their “star of stars,” Joe Norris. Some of the sites we refrenced: https://sportsplanningguide.com/seven-bowling-alleys-at-the-top-of-their-game/ https://www....

Send us Fan Mail Episode 96: The Other Champions of 1935: Stroh’s Bowling Team (Part 1) Stroh’s Brewery is synonymous with Detroit itself. In today’s episode Jamie and Charles explore the history of the legendary company. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.com

Send us Fan Mail Episode 95: The Other Champions of 1935: Raquet Sports - Walter Kramer, Constance O’Donovan, Esther Politzer Continuing the tour through Detroit’s pantheon of Champions in 1935; Jamie and Charles explore the titles won in tennis and badminton. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.com