Why was that important? Well, because not everyone had access to candle light in the 1100s. The Blackletter typeface was chosen for the Guthenburg Bible because it was so bold and easily distinguishable. The font you know as Old English is actually technically called Blackletter typeface (also sometimes referred to as Gothic or Fraktur, which is Latin for “broken”).īlackletter typeface was first used in the Guthenburg Bible in the 12th century, which, in case you have forgotten, was one of the first books printed in Europe, because folks were just crazy about God. If you’re in Frankfurt, you probably call the font Old German, and if you’re hanging your knickers in Manchester or York or any “Shire,” then you’ll call it Old English.

Well, there really isn’t much difference between Old English and Old German. Like something you’d see on a diploma from a wizard’s school.īut what is it and why is it so popular? How the heck did it even get to America? And how did the Tigers end up using it on their baseball caps? What’s the difference between Old English and Old German?Īn old Englishman and an old German walk into a pub…įirst, let’s establish what font we’re talking about. It may feel like a given that the Detroit Baseball Club has always worn an Old English D cap and always had a ferocious Tiger as their mascot, but it’s not quite that simple. I first started becoming interested in font history and typesetting a few years ago when I was researching an article about the history of the Detroit Tigers uniform. Maybe that’s why I usually have no plans on Saturday night. Maybe that’s why my children roll their eyes at me and call me a “dork” in front of my back.

Ok, so maybe it’s only me that finds print and typesetting history interesting. If you’re like me, you love nothing more than to curl up on a hammock with a copy of a thick book like “The History of Fonts in Europe” or “The 16th Century Guide To Typesetting.” Am I right, or am I right? You may not know it, but the Tigers Old English D is definitely old, but it may not be English at all. The Old English D, which has pretty much been on the Detroit uniforms for more than 125 years, is only surpassed by the “A” used by the Athletics for longevity. The Tigers are lucky to be able to wear one of the most iconic uniforms in American sports. The Detroit Tigers may not win a lot of baseball games any more, but at least they look good on the field.

D old english font letters