When the Cincinnati Reds were booted out of the National League following the 1880 season they were replaced in the league by the Detroit Wolverines.

In their first five seasons the Wolverines never finished higher that fourth, but things turned around when the Wolverines purchased the entire Buffalo Bisons team for $7,000 at the end of the 1885 season. Among the players they acquired from Buffalo were baseball's "Big Four": infielder Dan Brouthers, outfielders Hardy Richardson and Jack Rowe, and catcher Deacon White.

In 1886 the "Big Four" along with slugger Sam Thompson and pitcher Lady Baldwin (with 42 wins) led the Wolverines to a 87-36 record and a second place finish.

The following season the Wolverines won their one and only the pennant with a 79-45 record. They then took on the A.A's St. Louis Browns in a 15 game roadshow version of the World Series which was played in 10 different cities. The Wolverines trounced the Browns 10 games to five in the series.

In 1888 the Wolverines slipped down to fifth place, the fans lost interest, the club lost money, and management sold off the some of the best players. This resulted in the demise of the franchise at the end of the season.