John Earl Fetzer

John Earl Fetzer

Detroit Tigers Owner (1961 – 1983)

John Fetzer was born in Decatur, Indiana and was introduced at a young age to the early workings of radio communications. While radio was still in its infancy, Fetzer built his first transmitter-receiver in 1917. He was hired by Emmanuel Missionary College now known as Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan to build a radio station. He bought the radio station from Emmanuel Missionary College and moved it to Kalamazoo. He won a lawsuit that allowed for a directional antenna for broadcasting at night. In World War II he was appointed the national radio censor, so radio stations would not broadcast information beneficial to the enemy. In 1956 he purchased part ownership of the Detroit Tigers and in 1961 purchased full ownership and was active in negotiating broadcast packages for Major League Baseball. Under Fetzer’s ownership, the Tigers won the 1968 World Series. He owned the Tigers for 22 seasons before selling them to Tom Monaghan in 1983.  John Fetzer was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. He passed away on February 20, 1991 at 89 years of age.