1995 in Michigan

Decades:	1970s; 1980s; 1990s; 2000s; 2010s;
See also:	History of Michigan; Historical outline of Michigan; List of years in Michigan; 1995 in the United States;

This article reviews 1995 in Michigan, including the state's office holders, performance of sports teams, a chronology of the state's top news and sports stories, and notable Michigan-related births and deaths.

Office holders

Sports

Baseball

1995 Detroit Tigers season – Under manager Sparky Anderson, the Tigers compiled a 53–62 record and finished fifth in American League East. The team's statistical leaders included Junior Felix with a .306 batting average, Cecil Fielder with 28 home runs and 90 RBIs, Mike Moore with 11 wins, and Storm Davis with a 3.56 earned run average.

American football

1995 Detroit Lions season – Under head coach Wayne Fontes, the Lions compiled a 10–6 record. The team's statistical leaders included Scott Mitchell (4,338 passing yards), Barry Sanders (1,500 rushing yards), and Herman Moore (1,686 receiving yards).
1995 Michigan Wolverines football team – In their first season under head coach Lloyd Carr, the Wolverines compiled a 9–4 record, lost to Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl, and were ranked No. 17 in the final AP poll. The team's statistical leaders included Brian Griese (1,395 passing yards), Tshimanga Biakabutuka (1,724 rushing yards), and Mercury Hayes (888 receiving yards).
1995 Michigan State Spartans football team – In their first season under head coach Nick Saban, the Spartans compiled a 6–5–1 record. The team's statistical leaders included Tony Banks (1,741 passing yards), Marc Renaud (978 rushing yards), and Derrick Mason (713 receiving yards).

Basketball

1994–95 Detroit Pistons season – Under head coach Don Chaney, the Pistons compiled a 28–54 record. The team selected Grant Hill with the third overall pick in the NBA draft. In his first season in the NBA, Hill led the team with 1,394 points scored. The team's other statistical leaders included Joe Dumars (368 assists) and Terry Mills (558 rebounds).

Ice hockey

1994–95 Detroit Red Wings season – Under head coach Scotty Bowman, the Red Wings compiled a 33–11–4 record and lost to the San Jose Sharks in the conference quarterfinals. Sergei Federov led the team with 56 goals, 64 assists, and 120 points.

Other

1995 Big Ten softball tournament - finals held in Ann Arbor, Michigan won the title
1995 GM Goodwrench Dealer 400
1995 Miller Genuine Draft 400 (Michigan)
1995 Michigan 500
Motor City Mustangs
1995 Skate America

Chronology of events

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Births

March 29 - Kay Felder, basketball point guard, in Detroit
July 21 - Bill G. Schuette, Michigan politician
July 24 - Kyle Kuzma, basketball player, in Flint

Deaths

January 11 - Joseph Gingold, concertmaster and violinist with Detroit Symphony Orchestra, at age 85
February 9 - David Wayne, actor and singer, at age 81
February 23 - Melvin Franklin, singer with The Temptations, at age 52
February 23 - Margaret Woodbridge, swimmer for Detroit Athletic Club, gold medalist at 1920 Olympics, at age 93
April 16 - August E. Johansen, US Congress (1955–65), at age 89
April 22 - Jane Kenyon, poet, at age 47
April 24 - Emelia Christine Schaub, Michigan's first elected woman prosecutor
May 16 - Harold Schultz, Marine corporal who raised the flage atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima, at age 70
June 7 - Eddie Lake, Detroit Tigers shortstop (1946–1950)
June 23 - Jonas Salk, virologist and researcher who developed polo vaccines, at age 80
June 24 - Andrew J. Transue, US Congress (1937–39), at age 92
July 26 - George W. Romney, Governor of Michigan (1963–69), at age 88
July 27 - Rick Ferrell, Hall of Fame catcher, Detroit Tigers executive, at age 89
August 10 - Baba Rexheb, Albanian Muslim scholar and Sufi, founder of Bektashi tekke in Taylor, at age 93
August 16 - J. P. McCarthy, Detroit radio personality, 30 years as the morning man and interviewer on WJR, at age 62
August 16 - Bobby DeBarge, singer and musician, at age 39
August 24 - Richard Degener, 1936 Olympic gold medalist in diving
August 26 - Ronnie White, co-founder of the Miracles, discovered Stevie Wonder, at age 57
September 19 - Mr. Bo, blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, at age 63
October 21 - Vada Pinson, Detroit Tigers coach (1985–91), at age 57
October 31 - Jim Campbell, Detroit Tigers general manager (1962–83), at age 71
November 23 - Junior Walker, singer and saxophonist, in Battle Creek
December 5 - Bill Bruton, Detroit Tigers outfielder (1961–64), at age 70
December 22 - Ferris Jennings, UM quarterback (1934–36), at age 82

References

↑ "1995 Detroit Tigers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
↑ "1995 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
↑ "1995 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
↑ "1995 Michigan State Spartans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
↑ "1994–95 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
↑ "1994–95 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
↑ Gary Graff (February 24, 1995). "Melvin Franklin 1942-1995: Temptations' rumbling bass is stilled". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1A, 9A – via Newspapers.com.
↑ Wylie Gerdes (February 25, 1995). "Champ kept swimming into her late 70s". Detroit Free Press. p. 8A – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Ex-congressman dies in Florida: August Johansen served 5 terms". Battle Creek Enquirer. April 17, 1995. p. 3A – via Newspapers.com.
↑ Jo Becker (April 23, 1995). "Poet Jane Kenyon dies at here home in Wilmot". Concord Monitor. pp. A1, A10 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ Ernest Sander (June 24, 1995). "Polio vaccine pioneer Salk dies". The Ann Arbor News. pp. A1, A13 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ Tim Doran (June 27, 1995). "Lawyer remembered for beliefs". The Flint Journal. pp. C1, C2 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ Joe H. Stroud (July 27, 1995). "George W. Romney 1907-1995". Detroit Free Press. p. 1A – via Newspapers.com.
↑ Joe Falls (July 28, 1995). "Ferrell dies, but not the memory of his response when he thought DiMaggio was out of bounds". The Detroit News. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
↑ John Smyntek (August 17, 1995). "J. P. McCarthy 1933-1995: Detroit radio legend falls silent; Local WJR broadcaster victim of blood ailment". Detroit Free Press. p. 1A – via Newspapers.com.
↑ Jaye Beeler (August 18, 1995). "Family, friends gather to celebrate life of Bobby DeBarge". The Grand Rapids Press. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ Laurie Bennett (August 26, 1995). "Richard Degener was '36 Olympic gold medalist". Detroit Free Press. p. 9A – via Newspapers.com.
↑ David C. Butty (August 28, 1995). "Ronnie White 1938-1995: Motown singer discovered Stevie Wonder". The Detroit News. pp. 1A, 4A – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Ex-Tigers boss Campbell dies at 71 (part 1)". Detroit Free Press. November 1, 1995. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
↑ Trace Christenson (November 24, 1995). "Junior Walker dies: Motown star got his start at B.C. club". Battle Creek Enquirer. p. 1A, 2A – via Newspapers.com.
↑ Helene St. James (December 7, 1995). "Bruton dies at 69; ex-Tiger was fast, once outran his age". Detroit Free Press. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.

[1] "1995 Detroit Tigers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2025.

[2] "1995 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2025.

[3] "1995 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2025.

[4] "1995 Michigan State Spartans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2025.

[5] "1994–95 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2025.

[6] "1994–95 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2025.

[7] Gary Graff (February 24, 1995). "Melvin Franklin 1942-1995: Temptations' rumbling bass is stilled". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1A, 9A – via Newspapers.com.

[8] Wylie Gerdes (February 25, 1995). "Champ kept swimming into her late 70s". Detroit Free Press. p. 8A – via Newspapers.com.

[9] "Ex-congressman dies in Florida: August Johansen served 5 terms". Battle Creek Enquirer. April 17, 1995. p. 3A – via Newspapers.com.

[10] Jo Becker (April 23, 1995). "Poet Jane Kenyon dies at here home in Wilmot". Concord Monitor. pp. A1, A10 – via Newspapers.com.

[11] Ernest Sander (June 24, 1995). "Polio vaccine pioneer Salk dies". The Ann Arbor News. pp. A1, A13 – via Newspapers.com.

[12] Tim Doran (June 27, 1995). "Lawyer remembered for beliefs". The Flint Journal. pp. C1, C2 – via Newspapers.com.

[13] Joe H. Stroud (July 27, 1995). "George W. Romney 1907-1995". Detroit Free Press. p. 1A – via Newspapers.com.

[14] Joe Falls (July 28, 1995). "Ferrell dies, but not the memory of his response when he thought DiMaggio was out of bounds". The Detroit News. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.

[15] John Smyntek (August 17, 1995). "J. P. McCarthy 1933-1995: Detroit radio legend falls silent; Local WJR broadcaster victim of blood ailment". Detroit Free Press. p. 1A – via Newspapers.com.

[16] Jaye Beeler (August 18, 1995). "Family, friends gather to celebrate life of Bobby DeBarge". The Grand Rapids Press. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.

[17] Laurie Bennett (August 26, 1995). "Richard Degener was '36 Olympic gold medalist". Detroit Free Press. p. 9A – via Newspapers.com.

[18] David C. Butty (August 28, 1995). "Ronnie White 1938-1995: Motown singer discovered Stevie Wonder". The Detroit News. pp. 1A, 4A – via Newspapers.com.

[19] "Ex-Tigers boss Campbell dies at 71 (part 1)". Detroit Free Press. November 1, 1995. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.

[20] Trace Christenson (November 24, 1995). "Junior Walker dies: Motown star got his start at B.C. club". Battle Creek Enquirer. p. 1A, 2A – via Newspapers.com.

[21] Helene St. James (December 7, 1995). "Bruton dies at 69; ex-Tiger was fast, once outran his age". Detroit Free Press. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.

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