James D. Burns

James Dennis Burns (July 28, 1865 – January 2, 1928) was an American businessman, hotel operator, politician, and baseball team owner. He was elected sheriff of Wayne County, Michigan, and served a four-year term. He also served three times as a delegate from Michigan to the Democratic National Convention, in 1908, 1912, and 1916. He was also the first owner of the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball, owning the club during the inaugural 1901 season.

Burns was born in 1865 at Springwells, Michigan, a district that was later incorporated into the City of Detroit.

As a teenager, Burns was a boxer and wrestler and won the state amateur championship as a middleweight in both events. He did not compete professionally, but he played an influential role in the careers of Tommy Ryan (welterweight champion, 1884–98; middleweight champion, 1898–1906) and Noah Brusso (heavyweight champion, 1906–08). Brusso fought under the name "Tommy Burns" in honor of his friend and sponsor. He led the team to major league status in 1901 as an inaugural member of the American League and served as the team's president. The team played its home games at Bennett Park except on Sundays, when Detroit's blue laws forbade the team from playing there; Burns Park in Springwells served as the Tigers' Sunday home ball park. The 1901 Tigers had a 74–61 win–loss record. Burns sold his interest in the team to Samuel F. Angus in 1902 for $20,000.

In April 1905, Burns was elected as the sheriff of Wayne County, Michigan. He was re-elected in November 1906. He was also a member of the Democratic Party and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1908, 1912 and 1916.

Burns died in January 1928 at age 62 at Grace Hospital in Detroit.